For anyone considering a "high end cooler" purchase

[topless87]

Yeti

I have 3 Yeti coolers and love em. But they are not bear proof. Maybe a grizzly is dumber than black bear but they got into it.

 

[MStudt]

I have 3 Yeti coolers and love em. But they are not bear proof. Maybe a grizzly is dumber than black bear but they got into it.

Might be a shot in the dark, but I'd try to warranty that! Yeti does claim on their warranty page that even 2 Grizzly bears can't put a dent in it. They even have a video. They didn't say anything about taking a chunk out of it, but it's worth a try.

***Warranty Page***

 

[pluton]

The heavy-duty coolers put the traditional consumer units to shame.
Personally, like Dous, I switched to a fridge/freezer because I found that coolers(all mine were the normal crummy ones) didn't keep highly perishable food cold very well.

 

[ben550]

No way I'm spending $$$ on a cooler. There are way better things to spend hard earned money on than a disaster proof high end cooler...

This stand-up comedy segment about refrigerator salesmen is exactly what i'm talking about... haha. very funny.

Brian Regan - Refrigerators - YouTube

The $39.99 cooler from walmart will keep your food and drinks just as cold as the $399 cooler...

 

[MStudt]

The $39.99 cooler from walmart will keep your food and drinks just as cold as the $399 cooler...

For one day!

 

[ben550]

For one day!

then buy two. one inside the other.... save hundreds and keeps your food cold. haha

 

[KidVermicious]

For one day!

Yup. Cheap coolers are fine for a picnic. Three nights in southern Utah in July requires something a little higher quality.

My Coleman Extreme has been great so far, it holds ice well and seems sturdy enough. I don't think I'll buy another though. I borrowed a friends Engel and I shouldn't have because now I have seen the light. I'm going to have to get a fridge.

 

[Plano26]

Yup. Cheap coolers are fine for a picnic. Three nights in southern Utah in July requires something a little higher quality.

I know what you mean hot July's! I didn't want to take the route of extra battery with ARB frig (cost a factor, plus not that handy) so I took the plunge on a Pelican; curious to see how it stands up next summer.

 

[Nunyabiz]

I bought a Coleman Extreme 52qt 4 years ago from Cabelas for $29.99.

When I ordered it said it was in stock, however the confirmation email that came in said "backordered" so I waited a couple weeks to get it then when it finally came in it was damaged.
Looked like it was slammed hard onto a sharp edge of a metal table or something similar.
That made a divot on the outer skin, really didn't affect the usability of the cooler just cosmetic, just a tiny triangle dink smaller the size of a dime.
They sent me another one no problem and said to keep the first one for the trouble.
So basically I paid $15 for each cooler.

I only use them for camping, traveling, I don't beat them up in back of a truck they just stay in the back of the 4Runner.
I keep one full time in the very back for hauling groceries.
Been 4 years and other than the shipping damage on the one they are as good as new.
When I went on a 27 day trip cross country they kept everything cold for about 4-5 days with a couple large bags of ice, ice "blocks" work the best.

Now is a Yeti or Pelican a better made and working cooler? Without any doubt, probably 500% stronger and keep ice probably about twice as long.

However for my purpose/use just keeping the cooler in the 4Runner, no need for massive ruggedness and perfectly OK with adding another bag of ice every 4th-5th day for $2 then my $30 ($15) coolers are every bit as good for my particular purpose.
I would have to spend about $620 for 2 65qt Pelicans or about $800 for 2 65 Qt Yeti's.
Vs $60 (in my case $30) for 2, 52 Qt Coleman's.

Not to mention I can leave my $15 Coleman on a table in a campsite without much worry instead of some Ahole making off with my $400 cooler.
You can Google "Stolen Yeti Coolers" its pretty much an epidemic.

I think before I would spend between $620-$800 for 2 Ice Chest, there wouldn't be much need for them anymore because it would be a "Cold day in Hell".

 

[A.Wilson013]

I was also of the opinion that my Igloo ($15 at Wal-Mart) was just as good as any cooler, even if it wasn't "Bear Proof".

Boy was a I wrong.

When GSPRunner and I ran the WABDR this summer over 5 days, I found myself buying ice at every stop. Joe? Not so much. I think he re-filled once, and it was NOT needed. And the shelf to keep things like bread out of the ice? That thing was SWEET.

He had the 105qt Yeti.

My local Costco has the 65qt Pelican... If it wasn't so bulky, I'd probably pick one up.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

I found this to bee kinda neat. Don't get me wrong Pelican is nice stuff. I just kinda like how this setup look all bolted in

 

[KMAYO]

Edgestar 43Q is the way to go! Especially if you can find it on a scratch and dent sale.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/124759022@N06/15579440631" title="20140925_100420 by Keith Mayo, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5611/15579440631_513ce10e6d.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="20140925_100420"></a>

EDIT: 43Q cost me $305 with free shipping on a scratch and dent sale. So almost the same price as the 45Q and not ice is needed.

 

[Limbwalker]

My bad...





These are the only pics I got of the actual cooler. The second pic was to show how much ice was left, there's a can of twisted tea there to show scale size of the cooler.

KidVermicious: I also ordered a coleman extreme and I didn't realise how FREAKING HUGE it was going to be until it got here. So now I only use that one if I have to feed a lot of people or if I decide to drink nothing but beer for like a week straight lol. The very first time I used it it rattled it's way onto a 3/4 inch bolt that was sticking up out of the box and it poked a hole through the bottom but not into the very inside part. If you pack it right, and completely full, it weighs like 120 pounds but it will keep your stuff cold for 4-5 days. The pelican here is half the size and probably 60 lbs loaded.

I'll take some detailed pics of the cooler tonight and put them up here.

what size Pelican cooler is that?

 

[Mgyver1]

what size Pelican cooler is that?

Just a gestimate but it looks to be a 45Q. I just ordered a 45Q in the wheeled variety so we'll see how it does when it gets here.

Pelican 45QW Elite Wheeled Cooler

 

[A.Wilson013]

What makes the Pelican not even an option for me is how incredibly large they are.

A friend's 65qt Pelican is VERY close in size to another friend's 105qt Yeti... 40qts of just bulk...? No thanks.

 

[Mgyver1]

What makes the Pelican not even an option for me is how incredibly large they are.

A friend's 65qt Pelican is VERY close in size to another friend's 105qt Yeti... 40qts of just bulk...? No thanks.

Pelican's model size is at least the amount of quarts it can contain, whereas Yeti's model size is more comparable to it's outer size instead of how much it can hold.

For example, the Yeti 105's ($480) interior dimensions are 23"x12-1/2"x14-1/4" which gives a total volume of 71 quarts. The Pelican 65 ($330) has interior dimensions of 26-1/2"x12"x12.5" which gives an interior volume of 69 qts. So yes, your buddy's Yeti 105 is very close in size to the Pelican 65 because they hold roughly the same volume, around 70 quarts. Just buy the correct size cooler when looking to purchase. If your buddy wanted a 105qt cooler he would need to buy a Yeti 160, because even the Yeti 125 holds less than 100 quarts.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Pelican's model size is at least the amount of quarts it can contain, whereas Yeti's model size is more comparable to it's outer size instead of how much it can hold.

For example, the Yeti 105's ($480) interior dimensions are 23"x12-1/2"x14-1/4" which gives a total volume of 71 quarts. The Pelican 65 ($330) has interior dimensions of 26-1/2"x12"x12.5" which gives an interior volume of 69 qts. So yes, your buddy's Yeti 105 is very close in size to the Pelican 65 because they hold roughly the same volume, around 70 quarts. Just buy the correct size cooler when looking to purchase. If your buddy wanted a 105qt cooler he would need to buy a Yeti 160, because even the Yeti 125 holds less than 100 quarts.

Interesting... I didn't know this.

 

[calimobber]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-TE4RnqT0U

For anyone who has not seem this review, its a must watch for anyone interested in ice chest.

 

[Hepar]

You guys and your fancy coolers. $20 vintage Coleman metal cooler. Keeps ice for 4-5 days AND it has a bottle opener!

 

[JeepKiller]

Might be a shot in the dark, but I'd try to warranty that! Yeti does claim on their warranty page that even 2 Grizzly bears can't put a dent in it. They even have a video. They didn't say anything about taking a chunk out of it, but it's worth a try.

***Warranty Page***

Just a heads up guys that the Pelican 65 is now certified bear proof! I don't work for them but I was just doing some digging and this is directly from their website. They're also only $280 on Homedepots website with free shipping!