On the other hand, if you’re actually after a backpack, choose the YETI Hopper BackFlip cooler. It will be a better choice than the Ozark Trail equivalent in the long run. If you think your campsite is most of the time right next to your vehicle or you plan on tailgating only, go for an ice chest, not a backpack. It is not easy to purchase the best cooler for a camping trip. Sometimes, a regular cooler such as the Ozark Trail might be sufficient for you. No, they are different brands and, therefore, different products.
While Rtic coolers aren’t the cheapest coolers on the market, a 20-quart model will run you about $159, and the 65-quart comes in a little under $300. They’re certainly cheaper than their Yeti counterparts, and they’ll still ozark trail canopy get the job done with flair. With its hard-bodied style and blocky black logo, RTIC is clearly making a run at Yeti’s business model. Honestly, a lot of the time the decision really does come down to Rtic cooler vs. Yeti cooler.
Our most recent test compares the best models available today. Soft coolers offer portability and versatility that traditional hard coolers can’t. We fully loaded these coolers, walked with them for miles, and went through hundreds of pounds of ice. No matter your budget or needs, our exhaustive testing will help you identify the perfect cooler for you. Depending on the size you choose, you can expect two to five days of ice life, which is more than enough for a day at the beach or even a weekend camping trip. As soft-sided coolers have become increasingly popular, the market has become more and more innovative.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). The Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler pairs the indestructible nature of a roto-molded cooler with top-of-the-line handles and wheels for moving around with ease. This is because, despite looking like a roto-molded cooler, the Ultra-Light series is injection-molded, which uses less plastic and results in a lighter cooler. Though robust and watertight, the Engel HD zipper is also much easier to use than most, and it comes with zipper lubricant, helping it remain explicative-free.
The additional features also ride the line between being handy and excessive. The shelf is easy to knock loose and fall into the main chamber, and the bottle opener is not the best. For another low-cost option that’s more durable, check out the IceMule Jaunt. Ozark Trail Coolers showed us that it is possible to achieve the impressive ice numbers and rock-hard features of many of the top ice chests in the industry, but at a fraction of the price.
Temperature, how many times the cooler is opened, whether or not the cooler was pre-cooled, the type of ice being used, the type of insulation in the cooler, ect. If you’re on the fence about spending the money, consider how long you will be gone and what it would cost to add ice to your cooler everyday. For us, while a YETI required a larger initial investment, we will save money (and use less water) over time.
If you’re looking for the best cooler for keeping ice for days on your next camping trip, we’ve also tested and outlined our favorite hard-sided models. We’ve got recommendations for a plethora of other camping accessories. The majority of coolers on the market claim to hold ice for an extended period of time.