

Additionally, the Ultra-Light’s injection-molded construction means it comes up a bit short in terms of all-out durability compared to the Tundra and other premium rotomolded options, although the tradeoffs are a more manageable weight and reduced cost (for more on this, see our buying advice below).

What are the downsides of buying an RTIC cooler? First is the lack of convenience: While you can see and pick up a YETI and many other brands at your local outdoor shop, you don’t get the same luxury with online-only RTIC. Last but not least is cost: By selling direct to consumer (and consistently discounting their coolers on their own site), RTIC’s prices are significantly lower than much of the competition, with the 52 Ultra-Light checking in a considerable $125 less than the aforementioned Tundra 45. As the name suggests, the 21-pound RTIC is well made yet notably lightweight, making it easier to carry than most similarly sized options, including YETI's smaller Tundra 45 (23 lbs.).

Starting with capacity, you get a versatile 52 quarts of storage, which easily squeezes into a trunk but still offers sufficient space for two campers headed out on a long weekend (for reference, most alternatives are either 45 or 65 qts.). The best hard-sided coolers nicely balance capacity, ice retention, portability, and price, and RTIC’s 52 Ultra-Light checks all those boxes emphatically. What we don’t: Only sold online injection-molded construction is less premium than rotomolded designs. What we like: Great price, versatile size, competitive ice retention, and easy to transport. Best Cooler with Wheels: RovR Products RollR 45īest Overall Hard-Sided Cooler 1.Best Small Cooler for Day Trips: YETI Roadie 24.Best Budget Cooler: Coleman Xtreme 5 Cooler.Best Premium Cooler with Excellent Ice Retention: YETI Tundra 65.Best Overall Hard-Sided Cooler: RTIC 52 Ultra-Light.For more background information, see our cooler comparison table and buying advice below the picks. Below we break down our favorite hard-sided coolers and ice chests of 2022, including budget-friendly Coleman models, ultra-premium YETIs, and popular offerings from brands like RTIC, ORCA, Pelican, and more. Thankfully, the market is packed with high-quality coolers that excel at everything from short day trips to week-long adventures. All in all great cooler, would have gave it 5 stars if not for the product reviews on how many elk it will hold.Whether you’re headed to the beach, tailgating before your favorite sporting event, or camping in the wild, keeping your food and drinks cold is absolutely key. We used dry ice to save space, the cooler done a great job getting it back home in Mississippi. We had other coolers with us so we could take all the meat home. After quartering up the elk it would not hold 2 elk moreless 3. Great cooler for hauling meat, keeps meat cold for a long time. Great cooler but will not hold 3 quartered elk.We made the trip from Wyoming to Mississippi with no issues. It may hold 3 deboned or small elk but will not hold 2 bulls. My son and myself each got an elk and if we had not brought extra coolers we could not have been able to bring home all the meat. The only issue is it will not hold 2 quatered elk moreless 3. Grizzly will hold ice or dry ice as good as any of the other coolers in its class. (The 400 quart Grizzly cooler is said to hold up to 3 quartered elk) molded in hinge with stainless steel pin.
#Grizzly adventure ice chest coolers full
