Luke Cuenco 07.11.24
YETI cooler dupes are a summertime should for these of us who don’t have the finances to blow on the true factor. It’s been one sizzling summer season already and which means a variety of lengthy days spent on the lake, on the seaside, or simply out within the yard having fun with just a few chilly drinks.
Plain styrofoam gasoline station coolers gained’t preserve these drinks chilly for lengthy. You want a stable, thermally environment friendly cooler that may preserve your drinks chilly all day, and even for just a few 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 decide 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 have 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 just a few beers).
YETI coolers are recognized primarily for 2 (possibly three) issues. First, YETI coolers are powerful. The first cause for the toughness of the YETI cooler is its uniform, thick, and stable one-piece physique constituted of a high-temperature, low-pressure plastic forming course of generally known as 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, because of as much as 3 inches of inside 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 preserve ice in superb situations for over per week.
However once more, that efficiency comes with a price: even the least-expensive arduous 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 preserve extra change in your pocket for beer and bait.
Greatest YETI Dupe: RTIC Extremely-Powerful
RTIC in my view ought to simply be the default “finances YETI” decide 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 alternatives that the YETI Tundra collection offers customers. The one main distinction between the 2 is the worth.
RTIC Extremely-Powerful coolers like their YETI counterparts are constructed utilizing rotomolded polyethylene, are full of 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 considered one of its ultra-light coolers can preserve ice for as much as 7 days. RTIC Coolers have been fairly widespread as of late if my most up-to-date journey to the lake is any indication of what persons are shopping for.
For the most important single-person (as in may be carried by one particular person) RTIC cooler —- the 65 quart —- you possibly can 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 at all times a superb floor for setting down a few drinks or making ready a meal.
RTIC does promote just a few 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 inside dividers for conserving the inside of your cooler organized.
All the things I simply listed above is why I believe the RTIC Extremely-Powerful collection is the true “discount-YETI” model. The Extremely Powerful coolers from RTIC are a near-perfect YETI dupe. nearly an identical,
Funds YETI Various: Igloo BMX
Igloo is legendary for its coolers. Once I was a child, the title Igloo was synonymous with tenting because of our household’s outdated, low-cost, plastic vivid purple 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 most important draw is that they’re immensely cheaper than any comparable-sized YETI Tundra cooler. Simply for instance, the Igloo BMX 72-quart cooler is bought 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 superb situations. In my expertise, the trendy Igloo BMX collection coolers do a superbly serviceable job of conserving ice chilly.
The Igloo feels a bit much less sturdy than the Tundra, and that’s possible as a result of it’s blow-molded fairly than rotomolded. As well as, the BMX collection doesn’t use any form of rubber sealing gasket and as a substitute depends on the mating of the lid and most important cooler physique to supply a uniform however possible leaky seal that results in decreased effectivity in additional excessive climate conditions.
The Igloo BMX collection of coolers can be my first decide in case you’re on a finances and wish a decently sturdy and environment friendly cooler.
YETI Dupe with the Most Bells and Whistles: Pelican Elite
Most likely higher recognized for his or her rifle and kit circumstances, Pelican’s Elite collection of sturdy coolers have grow to be a favourite of those that already love the Pelican model—together with myself. The physique of the Elite collection is constituted of a polypropylene shell and full of polyurethane foam, which is why it’s the costliest various on this listing.
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’ll be able to anticipate to pay about $350 for a 70-quart Elite cooler from Pelican. Every Elite collection cooler comes with a lifetime assure. Another neat options value noting are:
- Built-in cup holders
- A tethered and sloped drain
- Optionally available 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 advice for individuals who aren’t married to the actual aesthetic of the YETI Tundra collection.
Remaining Ideas
I don’t do an entire lot of fishing, that’s one thing that fellow author Eugene Lee in all probability has vastly extra expertise with than I do. Nevertheless, I’m a displaced weekend tenting warrior who has examined the entire coolers listed right here.
In brief, listed here are my picks:
- The RTIC is my high advice as a result of mixture of similarities to the YETI Tundra, along with its extraordinarily low asking value.
- For these searching for a ship, or RV cooler, the Igloo BMX is a stable multi-functional alternative that is available in at an unbeatable value.
- Lastly, the Pelican Elite collection 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 damage your pockets.
