Great cooler

[Uplander]

Last year on a hunting trip to Maine in October a member of our group had a new "YETTI" cooler. He had been out there beyond electric power for about two weeks and his cooler still had about 90% of the original ice cubes in bags frozen solid. I was impressed. The cost of the thing was up there $$$$!!!! BUT this thing seemed worth it.
I camp with a Travel Trailer and have no need for a cooler that good but if you are in need of a fantastic cooler look into one of these. Cabelas is on possible source.

Happy Camping!!!

[CaveRun]

Big Katuna wrote:

Coleman is like $40. But the plastic hinges and latches won't last.

Yeah, I had a hinge break on one of mine.

I made some hinges out of some 1/4" rubber, worked great!... I went ahead and cut out some more in case the hinges break on my other coolers!

[majorgator]

I have a Yeti 65. It is amazing.

Now, let me qualify that statement. I received it for free (theoretically), as a result of a sales promotion when I bought about $3K worth of products I would have purchased anyway. In no universe is a 65 QT cooler worth $400. Sure, you can find it on sale for about $350. Still not worth it. And actually, its more like the size of a 50 QT cooler, not 65.

Yes, it holds ice much longer than other coolers. I typically use Igloo Marine coolers, which are excellent, and the Yeti out-performs it hands down. It held ice in my hot Florida garage for about 4 days before it all finally melted. Maine in October for 2 weeks...I don't see why not.

The thing I like about it the most is that it keeps the ice as "ice cubes" rather than chunks of ice. In other coolers, the ice more/less molds together as it melts. But in the Yeti, the ice stays in the cube form until it melts. That alone is huge benefit.

The key is to put cold/frozen items in a cooler that's not hot on the inside. In Yeti's literature, they even tell you to "pre-cool" the cooler prior to use.

Regarding quality, there's not another cooler "type" on the market that is any better. There are a few Yeti look-alikes which are built the same, and I can imagine their quality is just as good. The construction of the cooler is extraordinary. Everything from the hinges to the latches to the handles and beyond is top-notch. When you open the drain, guess what...it drains all the way. Nice rubber-type feet on the bottom that prevents it from sliding around. All-around superior design.

[CaveRun]

I have a Coleman Xtreme and 2 Igloo Maxcold coolers.

Both brands are great and keep stuff real cold!... I use the Maxcold on the pontoon and the drinks have slush in them, even on hot days! 🙂

[Bumpyroad]

Bucky Badger wrote:

Doug33 wrote:

Big Katuna wrote:
There is a 8 day test on YouTube of the Yeti, Engel, igloo marine, IRP and Coleman Xtreme. I think the Coleman Extreme lasted longer than the Yeti. Engel better than Yeti.
Coleman is like $40. But the plastic hinges and latches won't last.

our hinges broke within a year

Ours did too, but I stocked up on them now:B

yep, I've replaced hinges, latches, and drain assemblies on mine. I would suggest stocking up on these if you have a particular cooler you can't live without. $30 for cooler, $15 for extra/spare parts vs. $400 for a Yeti. :s
the Company changed drains in the new ones, now they have it so you can just hook on a garden hose. On one older one I plugged the outside of the drain with a crutch tip and the inside of the drain with a boat bilge drain plug jobby.
bumpy

[westend]

Bucky Badger wrote:
Would Refletix work in a cooler?

Only to the point of the dimension of the Reflectix, i.e. 1/4" of insulation.

[Bucky_Badger]

Doug33 wrote:

Big Katuna wrote:
There is a 8 day test on YouTube of the Yeti, Engel, igloo marine, IRP and Coleman Xtreme. I think the Coleman Extreme lasted longer than the Yeti. Engel better than Yeti.
Coleman is like $40. But the plastic hinges and latches won't last.

our hinges broke within a year

Ours did too, but I stocked up on them now:B

[Bucky_Badger]

Would Refletix work in a cooler?

[jesseannie]

Hunting in Maine in October!! You could probably have ice left after eight days if you used a cardboard box.
jesse

[hddecker]

rockhillmanor wrote:

RoyB wrote:
I get a good solid 5-6 days out of my COLEMAN 5-day COOLER but my trick is to start out with SOLID ICE in the bottom of it. We will freeze up several milk containers filled with water before the trip Then fill up with cubed ice as we go into town etc...


We try not to open the big ice chest unless really necessary - That helps big time...

We also use a sealed plastic box in the top of it to store food etc in.

Two weeks with 90% ice still frozen sounds like a pipe dream to me but who knows what can happen these days haha...Roy Ken

My parents would always add a layer of newspaper to the top of the stuff inside the cooler. Never gave much thought to it as a kid.

I tried it this year and puting a layer of newspaper on top DOES increase the time your food will stay cold.

Stuff will stay frozen longer if you wrap it in newspaper. I use about five pages per and have had steak that was still frozen on day 4.

Newspaper makes for good insulation, my grand parents homestead house still has the newspaper on the walls. The house is 111 years old and I think the newspaper is going to out last the wood.

[Doug33]

Big Katuna wrote:
There is a 8 day test on YouTube of the Yeti, Engel, igloo marine, IRP and Coleman Xtreme. I think the Coleman Extreme lasted longer than the Yeti. Engel better than Yeti.
Coleman is like $40. But the plastic hinges and latches won't last.

our hinges broke within a year

[Bumpyroad]

flguppie wrote:
Clicky

Coleman isn't bad and for 1/3 the price

http://www.campinglife.com/camping-gear/ice-chest-shootout/

sam's club has a yeti look alike for $199. you can take any $45 cooler and glue a few chunks of styrofoam sheets to the inside and make your own.
bumpy

[rockhillmanor]

RoyB wrote:
I get a good solid 5-6 days out of my COLEMAN 5-day COOLER but my trick is to start out with SOLID ICE in the bottom of it. We will freeze up several milk containers filled with water before the trip Then fill up with cubed ice as we go into town etc...


We try not to open the big ice chest unless really necessary - That helps big time...

We also use a sealed plastic box in the top of it to store food etc in.

Two weeks with 90% ice still frozen sounds like a pipe dream to me but who knows what can happen these days haha...Roy Ken

My parents would always add a layer of newspaper to the top of the stuff inside the cooler. Never gave much thought to it as a kid.

I tried it this year and puting a layer of newspaper on top DOES increase the time your food will stay cold.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

Ambient temp of only 75 degrees?
Those things would only last 3 days max out here in AZ in 110 degrees, and the air temp inside would never be food safe temp.

I would save those for drinks and get an Engel or other electric fridge freezer that will hold double the food since you don't waste the space with ice.......and your sandwiches stay dry and at a safe temp.
I use mine with a deep cycle and solar....as long as the sun shines it will run for years.

[thomasmnile]

Saw Yetti coolers at Gander Mountain. Then I saw the prices. Trying to recall if the last side by side fridge we bought for the stick n' brick cost that much..............:E

[Big_Katuna]

There is a 8 day test on YouTube of the Yeti, Engel, igloo marine, IRP and Coleman Xtreme. I think the Coleman Extreme lasted longer than the Yeti. Engel better than Yeti.
Coleman is like $40. But the plastic hinges and latches won't last.