Luke Cuenco 07.11.24
YETI cooler dupes are a summertime should for these of us who don’t have the price range to blow on the actual factor. It’s been one sizzling summer season already and which means plenty of lengthy days spent on the lake, on the seaside, or simply out within the yard having fun with a couple of chilly drinks.
Plain styrofoam fuel station coolers gained’t maintain these drinks chilly for lengthy. You want a stable, thermally environment friendly cooler that may maintain your drinks chilly all day, and even for a couple of days.
The undisputed present king of sturdy, hard-sided coolers is YETI, however that crown instructions a excessive asking value.
Listed below are three YETI cooler dupes that you may choose up for a lot much less, and get about the identical efficiency as you’d get from the legendary YETI Tundra cooler and its siblings.
Why Are YETI Coolers So Good?
Earlier than we get into alternate options, let’s have a look at what makes YETI Coolers so good.
YETI its roots in fishing sports activities. It was based in Boca Grande, FL by Ryan and Roy Seiders. They had been uninterested in low cost, inefficient coolers that always broke, and didn’t have the correct insulation to maintain ice chilly sufficient for a haul of fish (and doubtless a couple of beers).
YETI coolers are recognized primarily for 2 (perhaps three) issues. First, YETI coolers are powerful. The first purpose for the toughness of the YETI cooler is its uniform, thick, and stable one-piece physique comprised of a high-temperature, low-pressure plastic forming course of often called rotational molding or “rotomolding,” which ensures that the partitions of every YETI Tundra cooler have a constant wall thickness, robust exterior corners, and naturally unmatched sturdiness with nearly no “weak factors” all through every of the our bodies and lids.
YETI coolers are extraordinarily environment friendly, due to as much as 3 inches of inner polyurethane foam insulation sprayed into the thick polyethylene shell, giving it uniform insulation.
Along with the dense insulation, YETI Tundra coolers include a freezer-style sealing gasket that retains chilly air in and sizzling air out. I’ve had YETI coolers maintain ice in perfect circumstances for over every week.
However once more, that efficiency comes with a price: even the least-expensive exhausting YETI coolers begin at $200, which is far more than most of us can justify for a cooler. Let’s have a look at three appropriate “dupes” that can maintain extra change in your pocket for beer and bait.
Finest YETI Dupe: RTIC Extremely-Robust
RTIC for my part ought to simply be the default “price range YETI” choose for a number of causes. Whereas the sizes of their coolers are by no means the identical (RTIC makes use of a 65 quart vs the YETI’s 75 quart), RTIC coolers nearly completely match the look, efficiency, and even the manufacturing and materials picks that the YETI Tundra sequence supplies customers. The one main distinction between the 2 is the value.
RTIC Extremely-Robust coolers like their YETI counterparts are constructed utilizing rotomolded polyethylene, are stuffed with polyurethane insulation, and have a rubber freezer-style gasket that retains the inside good and chilly. RTIC is so assured in its less-expensive providing that it claims that one in all its ultra-light coolers can maintain ice for as much as 7 days. RTIC Coolers have been fairly in style as of late if my most up-to-date journey to the lake is any indication of what individuals are shopping for.
For the biggest single-person (as in could be carried by one individual) RTIC cooler —- the 65 quart —- you’ll be able to anticipate to pay about $250. There aren’t any fancy built-in bottle openers, fish scalers, or cup holders, however there’s a gigantic flat area on high which is all the time a very good floor for setting down a few drinks or getting ready a meal.
RTIC does promote a couple of aftermarket equipment for his or her coolers, together with cushions for the highest of the cooler so it may be used as a seat, and inner dividers for maintaining the inside of your cooler organized.
All the things I simply listed above is why I feel the RTIC Extremely-Robust sequence is the true “discount-YETI” model. The Extremely Robust coolers from RTIC are a near-perfect YETI dupe. nearly an identical,
Finances YETI Different: Igloo BMX
Igloo is known for its coolers. Once I was a child, the identify Igloo was synonymous with tenting due to our household’s previous, low cost, plastic vivid pink Igloo cooler. Following YETI’s reputation, Igloo has moved into the ultra-tough, insulated cooler market with its BMX line of coolers.
The BMX line’s essential draw is that they’re immensely inexpensive than any comparable-sized YETI Tundra cooler. Simply for example, the Igloo BMX 72-quart cooler is offered for $170 whereas the comparable Tundra (75 qt) from YETI will set you again a whopping $450
Igloo claims that the BMX can maintain ice for as much as 5 days, presumably in perfect circumstances. In my expertise, the trendy Igloo BMX sequence coolers do a superbly serviceable job of maintaining ice chilly.
The Igloo feels a bit much less sturdy than the Tundra, and that’s doubtless as a result of it’s blow-molded reasonably than rotomolded. As well as, the BMX sequence doesn’t use any type of rubber sealing gasket and as a substitute depends on the mating of the lid and essential cooler physique to offer a uniform however doubtless leaky seal that results in decreased effectivity in additional excessive climate conditions.
The Igloo BMX sequence of coolers can be my first choose if you happen to’re on a price range and wish a decently sturdy and environment friendly cooler.
YETI Dupe with the Most Bells and Whistles: Pelican Elite
In all probability higher recognized for his or her rifle and kit circumstances, Pelican’s Elite sequence of sturdy coolers have develop into a favourite of those that already love the Pelican model—together with myself. The physique of the Elite sequence is comprised of a polypropylene shell and stuffed with polyurethane foam, which is why it’s the costliest different on this record.
It’s additionally the tallest of the three, which Pelican claims makes it extra ergonomic. The additional peak permits for inflexible built-in handles, in contrast to the delicate hinged or versatile handles of different coolers.
You possibly can anticipate to pay about $350 for a 70-quart Elite cooler from Pelican. Every Elite sequence cooler comes with a lifetime assure. Another neat options price noting are:
- Built-in cup holders
- A tethered and sloped drain
- Elective built-in hasp and bottle opener (these are equipment that should be bought for a YETI).
The Pelican Elite is my middle-of-the-road suggestion for individuals who aren’t married to the actual aesthetic of the YETI Tundra sequence.
Last Ideas
I don’t do a complete lot of fishing, that’s one thing that fellow author Eugene Lee most likely has vastly extra expertise with than I do. Nonetheless, I’m a displaced weekend tenting warrior who has examined all the coolers listed right here.
Briefly, listed here are my picks:
- The RTIC is my high suggestion as a result of mixture of similarities to the YETI Tundra, along with its extraordinarily low asking value.
- For these on the lookout for a ship, or RV cooler, the Igloo BMX is a stable multi-functional selection that is available in at an unbeatable value.
- Lastly, the Pelican Elite sequence might be extra sturdy than even the Tundra, but in addition comes full with a ton of additional options, and an asking value that gained’t harm your pockets.
