The Best Coolers of 2024

YETI has long since made a name for itself in the cooler world, and the Tundra 45 ($325) is popular for good reason. This mid-sized cooler is the perfect companion for a family weekend getaway, is a reliable road trip companion, and is definitely built to last. With superior insulation qualities and a robust design, this cooler is our top pick with the only downside being the hefty price tag.  

The Tundra 45 actually only has a 32.9L capacity. This size will hold 28 cans, and plenty of ice, and is designed to fit long-neck bottles. It will not fit a 750 mL wine bottle standing upright, however. A dry-goods rack keeps items you don’t want to get soggy lifted above the ice, and this cooler’s extra thick walls will retain ice for days.

A rotomolded polyurethane construction, a freezer-quality gasket, burly haul handles, tie-down slots, a drain plug, and a certification of bear resistance from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee all help to explain the $325 price tag. 

YETI is the brand that pioneered the rotational molding or “rotomolding” technique which has become the gold standard in premium cooler construction today. This design process ensures perfectly uniform thickness, extra durability, and superior ice retention. The cooler walls are filled with polyurethane foam which is superior to the lighter-weight styrofoam used in more basic coolers, and 2 inches of insulation make YETI coolers the best at retaining cold air.  

How did this cooler measure up when put through our testing ringer, you ask? Well, the Tundra 45 retained ice for the full 10 days we tested it, to no surprise. Some ice melt occurred, of course, but plenty of cubed ice remained attesting to YETI’s gold standard of ice retention. 

Some folks out there aren’t looking for the latest and greatest, most expensive cooler on the market. That’s why something like the Igloo ECOCOOL ($60) is the perfect budget pick for those who use a cooler for the occasional day trip, keeping groceries cold, or going on an overnight camping trip.

This cooler is not roto-molded like many of the others in our lineup and instead has a plastic frame injected with an insulated foam layer. The ECOCOOL is extremely lightweight at 9.84 pounds., which is over 75% lighter than many of the other coolers we tested. This also makes it a good choice for someone who might not want to throw out their back picking up a fully loaded 30-pound cooler. 

This cooler is not the most durable we tested, and while we used all the others as a step stool and a seat, we wouldn’t want to do the same with this one. The lid flexes considerably when weighted, making us wary of its strength.

The plastic handles are also flimsy and don’t inspire confidence when lifting the cooler fully loaded. This ample cooler also doesn’t come with a drain plug. This is typical of smaller coolers, but for a 52-quart cooler with inferior insulation properties, there is going to be a lot of water to drain. 

Despite these setbacks, one of the biggest selling points of this cooler in our tester’s opinion is that it is made with recycled post-consumer resin, and its foam layer is made in such a way that decreases CO2 and VOC emissions. Surprisingly, it retained some ice at the end of our 10-day ice retention test. This was especially surprising because at 48 hours in it had the highest interior temperature of all the coolers at 34.6 degrees F.

While this might not be the best-performing cooler, nor is it as high-quality as our top pick, the ECOCOOL remains a great choice for the occasional cooler user who wants something to keep items cold for a day or two, and doesn’t want to break the bank. 

Look familiar? The RTIC 45 ($250) is nearly identical in design to our top pick, the YETI Tundra 45, and with a lower price tag is a more affordable option. Following in YETI’s footsteps with 3 inches of insulation and a rotomolded design, it also has a tight-sealing rubber gasket lid, sturdy rope handles, no-slip feet, and thick rubber latches. Tie slots also allow you to lash it down in a truck bed or on a roof rack, and two plugs make draining water quick and easy. It is the only cooler in our lineup to feature dual drain plugs.

So why isn’t it our top pick? A few things keep YETI the reigning king of coolers. The YETI Tundra 45 is a whole 6 pounds lighter than the RTIC 45, which is a considerable amount of weight, especially when loaded up with ice, food, and drinks. The RTIC is also considered “bear-proof,” but only the YETI holds the actual certification from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

The handles on this cooler are made of a soft foam material, while the YETI has sturdy, grooved rubber grips which feel more durable and more comfortable to carry. YETI invented the rotomolded cooler, and stands behind the quality of its product with a 5-year warranty, while RTIC only has a 1-year warranty. The YETI Tundra 45 also comes with a dry basket while you have to purchase this accessory separately if you want one for your RTIC 45.

And when it comes down to actual ice retention, the Tundra 45 outperformed the RTIC 45 in our 10-day test, with a much higher amount of cubed ice left in its interior in that timeframe whereas the RTIC only lasted 8 days with passable ice. 

All that being said, money talks, and the RTIC 45 is considerably less expensive than many of the premium coolers in our lineup, thus making it a fantastic choice for those who want quality without having to break the bank. Because of its value-to-performance ratio, it earns its spot as the best runner-up.

The RovR RollR 45 ($349) is nothing if not an impressive-looking specimen. With beefy, all-terrain wheels, a bear-resistant, roto-molded body, several different places to attach accessories, and a deep main compartment with a dry bin, this roller makes the most of being a medium-sized cooler. 

The first thing that is striking about this cooler is the almost comically large wheels. While they may look overbuilt for a medium-sized cooler, they performed impressively over rocky and sandy terrain on a desert camping trip in the Alabama Hills of California, and make transport overall a much easier affair. Getting from point A to point B lugging a heavy cooler can be the least enjoyable part of a camping trip. But the RovR couldn’t make it easier to roll your perishables to wherever you need them to be. 

Another noticeable feature of this cooler is that it ditches the typical rectangular shape typical of most models in favor of a taller, cubic one. This makes it convenient to pack into the trunk of a car because it takes up less space and is also easier to handle as one person. 

The interior is deep and spacious with a 42L capacity and has a removable dry bin that makes organizing food and drinks much easier. With the bin inserted, however, there is only enough room to fit 16 lbs of ice. The ice in this cooler lasted 6 days compared to YETI’s 10. 

The telescoping handle is also noticeably lacking in quality compared to the rest of the cooler. It isn’t very smooth to deploy, and feels flimsy, especially considering the $400 price tag. While the Bullseye latches work just fine, our testers preferred wider rubberized pull tabs that you can grab and pull with your whole hand, rather than just using one or two fingers.

It is also one of the heaviest coolers we tested, at 37 pounds. Despite these setbacks, the outer rim of the cooler has attachment points for accessories such as a prep board, cup holders, and an umbrella rod holder, making this cooler the most customizable out of any other in our lineup. If you are looking for a cooler that can really go places, the RovR is our top pick for its ease of transport. 

Tired of dragging a fully loaded cooler that could weigh up to 50 pounds in and out of the back of your car? Enter the RTIC Ultra-Light Hard Cooler ($219) — a premium cooler that is 30% lighter than other coolers of the same capacity. 3 inches of foam insulation and an O-ring gasket for the lid keep your items cold despite the lighter weight. However, this cooler is injection-molded instead of rotomolded, and therefore its ice retention will be a bit less overall than heavier, rotomolded models. 

The ice retention of the ultra-light RTIC cooler ended up actually being pretty comparable to its rotomolded counterpart. This, however, could be due to the fact that it was filled with more ice because of its larger size, and the more ice a cooler can hold, the longer it will retain that ice. But with 8 solid days of ice retention, the RTIC Ultra-Light Hard Cooler really measured up.  

Having a large cooler that is easy to carry around may also be very advantageous for some. This cooler additionally has many of the same features as its rotomolded counterpart, the RTIC 45, with secure rubber latches, two drain plugs, non-skid rubber feet, tie-down slots, molded in side handles, as well as marine-grade nylon rope handles on either side. It also comes in a smaller, 32-quart size, as well as 52-quart and 72-quart wheeled versions.

Small but mighty, the Yeti Roadie 24 ($250) is a great, compact cooler for your shorter outings. This cooler from Yeti lives up to its name-brand quality, and retains ice in warm summer conditions for 5 days. With an internal height of 13.4” this cooler can hold a standard wine bottle or 2-liter soda bottle upright. 

Its nylon carrying strap has a soft, rubber handle for comfortable carrying, though it is not long enough to sling over your shoulder. While it would be nice to be able to carry the cooler this way, the Roadie is a bit bulky anyway and it would probably be uncomfortable. If you’re looking for a more easily transportable cooler, Yeti also has a line of small, soft-sided coolers that would fit the bill. 

We also wish this cooler had a drain plug for releasing melted ice water, but understand that this cooler is intended more so for day outings or short trips where you won’t be emptying and refilling it much. Even so, it would be nice!

All in all, our lead tester, Miya Tsudome has used this cooler for over a year, and if you’re willing to shell out the bucks, it makes a great road trip or weekend trip companion. 

The Xspec Pro 60 Quart Cooler ($230) is nothing if not impressive and is the most feature-filled cooler we tested. A heavy-duty, rotomolded construction with a reasonable price, this 31-pound cooler gives some other more expensive models a run for their money. This 60-quart cooler actually has 60 quarts of usable space, unlike other brands which end up having less capacity than they claim due to their thick, insulated walls. It faired quite well in our ice retention test as well, holding usable ice for a total of 6 days while outside in a mix of shade and direct sunlight. 

The Xspec is dry ice compatible for even longer periods of cold retention. It also features a drain plug with a tether for safe-keeping, heavy-duty grab handles, a molded ruler on the lid, a built-in compass, bottle opener, non-slip feet, and molded tie-down slots — making this a burly cooler for overlanders and other adventurers. And, this cooler is the only one in our lineup to have an air release knob as well, so you’ll never have to worry about your lid getting suctioned to the cooler body while you’re just trying to grab a cold one. No one likes that. 

While the Xspec is a worthy competitor in the world of rotomolded coolers, it’s worth mentioning that while its plastic latches are infinitely easier to open and close than the thick rubber ones you have to use two hands to pull down to secure, they don’t keep the cooler quite as airtight.

With the thick rubber latches found on the Yeti Tundra 45, RTIC 45, or Orca 40, you can feel the air being suctioned out of them as you pull down the latches to essentially “engage” the rubber gasket on the inside of the lid. 

While many of these premium brands hold a certification from the International Grizzly Bear Committee, the Xspec does not. Although it does have stainless steel locking plates to keep the cooler secure, we don’t know if it would withstand a curious grizzly. 

All in all, this feature-laden, rotomolded cooler has decent ice retention and a spacious capacity for a pretty affordable price. So if you’re looking for a larger cooler that has some more bells and whistles than your average ice box, you may love the Xspec Pro 60. 

The Orca 40 ($325) is another robust, roto-molded, medium-sized cooler that has great insulation, a durable design, and is made in the U.S. to boot. Thick rubber latches shaped like orca whale tails give this cooler a nice design touch, and flexible side handles make carrying this 27-pounder not too cumbersome of an affair. A unique feature of this cooler is its exterior cargo net organizer pocket, which we found incredibly convenient for storing small items like wine openers, knives, and a small cutting board. 

The Orca is extremely similar in size, quality, and function to the YETI Tundra 45. The YETI model comes with a wire basket for storing dry goods inside, while the Orca does not. They both have the same price, and with little difference in performance, it’s hard to say which takes the cake. Both the Orca and YETI coolers did comparably in the ice retention test, holding a good amount of ice for the full 10 days.

If the Orca 40 was a little less expensive, we think it could provide incredible value to stand up to the popular brand name of YETI. But because you can find YETI products much more readily than Orca, and because the YETI Tundra is a hair lighter and comes with a wire basket, the Orca doesn’t top our podium.

Sometimes a standard cooler just isn’t big enough. Enter the Coleman 316 Series Chest Cooler ($110). 120 quarts of space at only 20.7 pounds, this oversized ice box is great for birthday parties, barbecues, sporting events, and the like. 

Built-in cup holders and a lid that can double as a seat and support up to 250 pounds make this cooler more versatile than it seems. While the injection-molded design and relatively thin walls make multi-day ice retention less viable than more expensive models, the Coleman 316 is a great choice for single-day events. 

While we think that any cooler of this size should come with a pair of wheels for easier transport, the Coleman 316 is unfortunately wheel-less. Its plastic side handles are also not the most confidence-inspiring, and the size of the cooler when fully loaded necessitates another person to lend a helping hand. For only $6 more, you can get the slightly smaller, 100-quart Coleman 316 Series Insulated Portable Cooler with Heavy Duty Wheels, which solves the wheels issue though sacrifices 20 quarts of space. 

This cooler did quite well in the ice retention test, lasting the full 10 days with ice. This, however, is partially due to the sheer quantity of ice we filled the cooler with. The more ice, the longer a cooler will stay cold. But we were quite pleased with its performance regardless. If you’re looking for an inexpensive, large cooler for the occasional event, it’s hard to beat the Coleman 316.

You were probably all expecting this — yet another YETI in our cooler review. And it was no surprise, with the YETI coolers ranking as a staff favorite and holding out for 10 full days in our ice retention test, that the wheeled Tundra finds its place here. But we can’t claim it will keep contents cold for any amount of time — or at least the brand won’t offer any claim to ice retention (all the other cooler brands we tested do).

The YETI Tundra Wheeled cooler ($450) has all the features you could want: a great design, formidable construction, high-quality materials, versatile volume, and more.

Overall, this cooler is a tried and tested favorite. If you spend much of your time outside, especially for long periods of time, it’s a fantastic cooler to consider. But at $450, these coolers cost a pretty penny. As one of our editors put it, “You get what you pay for, and with YETI you get all that with extra price.”

If you don’t mind the price tag, the Tundra is one of the best rolling coolers money can buy.

This cooler has no drain plug, but the smaller yet capable 25-quart size makes that OK. This Igloo Picnic cooler ($55) is not only a decades-old classic (now out in new “retro” colors), but it’s also a great size for day-trip outings like excursions to the park, city trailhead, beaches, or your favorite lake.

At a park picnic, we were able to fit bottles, cans, and flasks as well as boxes, bins, and bags of snacks galore. If you aren’t packing food for snacking, it can hold 36 cans.

We used it for day trips and car camping and liked its size (it can fit in your passenger seat area), capacity, and convenience for a few days’ worth of food and drinks.

In testing, this cooler kept contents cold for 3 full days, and this was with us periodically opening it on occasion to check ice retention. (Igloo claims retention for this cooler at 1-3 days.)

Given all that, we give this cooler an A+ for not only living up to specs but also being a perfect, portable, budget-friendly option for shorter-length trips outdoors.