I'm a firm believer in the idea that you get what you pay for. Having said that, I think it can be taken to extremes.

I was at Cabelas earlier and was looking at Yeti coolers, and I've heard a good bit about them, but looked at the price and thought they were extremely overpriced for something that keeps beer cold.

Does anybody out there have a Yeti cooler, and if so, what is so great about them? Are they worth the hundreds of dollars they cost? I mean, Igloo does a pretty good job imho.

6/29/2015 9:11:51 AM

I don't have one but used one for a weekend once.. It kept ice all weekend no problem. But it's not that hard to get more ice or use a cooler for less than a weekend. I wouldn't get one but I don't need one for that type of thing. If you camp a lot or whatever it may be worth it

6/29/2015 9:18:52 AM

I've never thought to myself, "man, that cooler just didn't keep shit cold enough this time." Can't imagine it being worth the price.

6/29/2015 9:19:18 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgItbGA0tJg

6/29/2015 9:48:53 AM

If you have a need to keep ice that long, yes, they are worth it. Overkill for the vast majority of users.

6/29/2015 9:54:26 AM

They are an absolute bitch to haul around.

6/29/2015 10:01:19 AM

Quote :

"thought they were extremely overpriced for something that keeps beer cold."

if this is all you are using it for you don't need a Yeti cooler.

6/29/2015 10:26:39 AM

I have a couple, the definitely have their plusses and minuses. The biggest downsides are the weight and that they are small inside compared to their outside dimensions. Of course this is part of what makes them so well insulated.

The biggest upside to me is the durability. I think these will literally last me a lifetime if taken care of. I have broken my fair share of Igloos.(hinges dying, plastic wearing through on high abrasion areas, latches breaking). All the parts that could break are replaceable and available. They dont flex when used as a seat, which is a plus for a big guy like me.

They arent for everyone but I do feel like I'll get my moneys worth over the life of the cooler.

6/29/2015 10:27:26 AM

Quote :

" if this is all you are using it for you don't need a Yeti cooler."

I highly doubt anyone actually needs a Yeti cooler. Unless people are planning on hunting bears in the wilderness for a week+

6/29/2015 10:43:24 AM

The beer thing was just an example, as I don't really even drink anymore. But keeping drinks in general cold is the only reason I've ever really used a cooler.

6/29/2015 10:48:46 AM

if you have to ask, then you don't need one. The folks who need that level of cooler know it.

Some folks need to keep food, drinks, bait, and fish on ice during a week-long fishing/camping trip on Core Banks, where there are no ice machines. Just one example.

[Edited on June 29, 2015 at 10:54 AM. Reason : dh]

6/29/2015 10:51:29 AM

and some folks just want the hat and sticker.

6/29/2015 10:56:03 AM

that's true

6/29/2015 10:57:30 AM

Apparently a lot of people need to keep a 12 pack cold for 4 days

6/29/2015 11:21:01 AM

Yeti Coolers are great if you're needing something to keep your ice for longer than just a day at the beach. They are great for camping trips where you can't just run to the ice machine. They are kinda small on the inside, but that's just because of the insulation.

6/29/2015 11:23:49 AM

^ Great info that no one has mentioned yet. Thanks.

6/29/2015 11:30:40 AM

Quote :

"Yeti Coolers are great if you're needing something to keep your ice for longer than just a day at the beach. They are great for camping trips where you can't just run to the ice machine. They are kinda small on the inside, but that's just because of the insulation."

What I was looking for.

Quote :

"if you have to ask, then you don't need one. The folks who need that level of cooler know it."

It was only a matter of time before someone who pays $400 for a cooler comes in with a condescending tone.

6/29/2015 11:34:09 AM

^^Oh, thanks for the feedback!

6/29/2015 11:36:00 AM

my friend bought a large one and then went back and got the small one to go with it. the large one was a huge pain in the ass to lug out onto the beach and the small one just doesn't have all that much room in it.

Yeti coolers are supposed to be for taking out on boats where you're fishing all day (i.e. Gulfstream trips, etc.) or especially overnight so that you can keep the fish on ice rather than relying on your live wells. Whoever mentioned camping above makes a good point that they could be useful then, but again, they are heavy as fuck so you'd have to be camping out of your car or close to it.

For 95% of people they are not worth the money.

[Edited on June 29, 2015 at 11:43 AM. Reason : .]

6/29/2015 11:42:20 AM

I went the cheapo route and bought a $30 coleman cooler from Wal-Mart. Has the pull-out with wheels so I can drag it around.

Says clearly on the outside, "Keeps ice frozen for 5 days"

I'm lucky if that cooler keeps ice for 5 hours. I filled it with ice and sodas at 2AM in the morning before a road trip. By 9AM all the ice was just about melted and the water was barely cool.

So, I do agree that you get what you pay for, but for what I need it for, a yeti is a little bit out of my price range. I have buddies that do hardcore camping and fishing and they swear by it, and I understand that reasoning.

6/29/2015 11:43:57 AM

Yea I looked up the 110 and it weighs 45 lbs empty!

I didn't see any complaints though about the small one as far as it being too small (in the comments section at Cabelas), but if you're gonna be packing fish that you catch, I could see where you would need a bigger one.

6/29/2015 11:46:54 AM

Quote :

"Says clearly on the outside, "Keeps ice frozen for 5 days" I'm lucky if that cooler keeps ice for 5 hours. I filled it with ice and sodas at 2AM in the morning before a road trip. By 9AM all the ice was just about melted and the water was barely cool."

most of those ratings are BS. you really want to look at a cooler yourself. Does the lid close tightly with a good seal. Does it have a good thick wall insulation, or is it thin and pliable? Get one with a solid flat lid. Cup holders = thin spots in the insulation.

but the user also has to realize their habits impact the performance. Are you placing the cooler in a hot trunk or in direct sun? Are you opening it more often than really necessary?

I try to use two coolers when i'm camping or on the boat for an extended period. One for drinks that i know will be opened 100x a day. and another for food and other perishables that's stowed away out of direct heat and will only be opened when necessary.

6/29/2015 11:54:39 AM

Jeepin- cooler extraordinaire

6/29/2015 11:57:42 AM

i did a lot of research after my thread about coolers, last year, led me nowhere.

6/29/2015 12:06:49 PM

I've got a large Igloo that I bought at Sam's Club back in 2000. It's fairly solid and will store ice for several days whilst out camping. It cost me like $35.

The key to keeping the ice from melting is to not open the cooler that often. i.e. every 5 minutes for a beer.

6/29/2015 1:14:41 PM

Quote :

"Apparently a lot of people need to keep a 12 pack cold for 4 days "

That's a pretty common thing if you camp. If I go camping for an extended weekend and getting more ice would involve a 1.5-2 hour drive then having a nice cooler is worth it.

I considered getting one for car camping and short backpacking trips to carry in beer but the problem is I have a cheap Igloo cooler that keeps beer cold for days. Even in the summer it gets down to freezing in the mountains and even if it's hot during the day keeping it in the shade works fine. I just couldn't justify the price.

Plus most of the lakes or rivers at elevation are 40-45 degrees (snow melt) and it's pretty easy to toss in a few and cool them down rather rapidly.

Now if I still lived in NC or further south and did a lot of camping or boating I would probably already have one as I imagine there isn't another way to keep your beer cold if you're out for 3-4 days.

6/29/2015 3:43:39 PM

Where do you live?

6/29/2015 3:44:43 PM

Me? Denver but most of the time I'm in the mountains and it's cold at night regardless or there's cold water near by. If I'm rafting or kayaking like on the Colorado then a Yeti would be nice. We've had warm beer at the end of a 4-5 day rafting trip. Probably due to opening it too often and not having a good beer to ice ratio (too much beer). I certainly see the value in them for back country camping and stuff.

If it's a day trip or you're close to ice then probably not though.

6/29/2015 3:49:32 PM

I have a 45 and a 25 Yeti, I love mine. Yes I got them because they are cool and I love gadgets and man shit like that, but they ended up being great. I fish, I camp, I hike, I do other outdoorsy stuff.

Take camping for example, I keep beer in either of mine, if I cool the cooler down before putting the beer in on lets say a Friday afternoon, I can keep the beer cold with ice until I'm done on Sunday, with ice to spare. Other guys in the camp use normal coolers, they are always having to make ice runs and their beer and food is warm and soggy.

Yes they are heavy, yes they are expensive. In my mind, worth every penny. Although, I will admit I'd sacrifice some of the ice holding ability to save some weight. I dont need to keep ice for 7 days, maybe 2-3.

The Yeti bag cooler seems like it would work better for me, 2-3 days ice holding, but much lighter.

6/29/2015 9:19:04 PM

all y'all must camp on a different level than me.

[Edited on June 29, 2015 at 9:46 PM. Reason : Red wine, potted meat, peanut butter, bagels and ramen - no cooler needed.]

6/29/2015 9:44:25 PM

The majority of camping I never bring a cooler. That's why it's a luxury to occasional car camp and bring a cooler.

Lately I've been making this stuff:

http://www.patsbcb.com/

It's not bad. The key is carbonating it right and getting really cold stream/lake water.

6/29/2015 9:48:41 PM

i've only got the little "roadie" or whatever they call it. it was a christmas gift. on those super hot days on the boat, the ice in my old drink cooler would be completely melted before noon. with this one, all i do is put my bottles of water in, dump in the bucket from the ice maker in my fridge, and it's good to go for the whole day.

i don't need one of the big ones, so i don't have one. if i still went on long surf fishing/camping trips, i would probably have one. not really for food, but for making sure i've got ice for the fish i catch.

[Edited on June 29, 2015 at 9:59 PM. Reason : fdas]

6/29/2015 9:56:59 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-TE4RnqT0Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-TE4RnqT0U

Excellent review, and if I remember it correctly, Yeti doesn't win.

I hear ya though, it's been hard for me to justify the expense of a Yeti....

6/30/2015 12:42:34 AM

I could understand their functionality to a boater, possibly for camping in a remote location.

Other than that if you are near electrical power or fresh ice you are wasting money!

6/30/2015 1:06:29 AM

^^ Too lazy for the price comparisons, but that Coleman looked like it did just as good a job as the Yeti. Bigger, lighter, keeps cold just as well...and I'm sure is much less expensive. Why would you get a Yeti?

6/30/2015 8:00:41 AM

I have that Coleman and that video, and some other research, was largely the factor in my purchase. As i said earlier, those test results quickly go out the window when you're constantly opening the cooler throughout the day and after my first trip with the Coleman i was disappointed in it's performance. but then i started using another smaller cooler for my drinks and kept the larger Coleman stored in the shade and only opening it when necessary. The results were much better.

6/30/2015 8:30:46 AM

Seems like a lot of people don't recognize what a status symbol is.

6/30/2015 8:59:32 AM

I have a yeti hopper 20. It's the most durable soft sided cooler I've seen and it definitely keeps ice for multi-day trips, so beach camping has been awesome with it. I like that it won't leak in my car even if it tips, so that's a huge plus. Overall, I feel that the yetis are niche products and you should only spend the money if you absolutely need a cooler that does what they do.

6/30/2015 10:12:43 AM

I lived in a camper with no fridge in it from May to November one year and used a 5 day Igloo to store my food and drinks. I ended up needing to drain and replace with one small bag of ice about every 4 days. I could have gone a couple days more if that was going to be the end of my trip I think.

And it lived outside in the shade.

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 10:28 AM. Reason : .]

6/30/2015 10:27:11 AM

I see people draining coolers to add ice when what is being stored is waterproof and there is plenty of room for the added ice. why are you wasting this energy? other than weight



[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 10:44 AM. Reason : .]

6/30/2015 10:39:45 AM

I drained because I needed the space, and if I didn't need the space I didn't drain. I kept all my food in airtight containers but eventually some water needed to go.

6/30/2015 10:48:39 AM

still waiting on my coolest to arrive in july-ish. looks like they're in the home stretch for production.

6/30/2015 10:49:53 AM

Quote :

"I like that it won't leak in my car even if it tips, so that's a huge plus"

i've never met a soft-sided cooler that didn't form a leak in it's seal at some point in it's lifespan. what makes this one any different and worthy of $300?

Quote :

"The YETI Hopper 20 lets you keep at least 12 cans ice-cold for days, putting all other soft coolers to shame no matter where you haul it: to the campground, barbecue or BYOB restaurant. $300.00"

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 10:54 AM. Reason : ...]

6/30/2015 10:51:39 AM

Dryhide™ shell with rf-welded seams
The Hopper sports a DryHide™ shell made of high tenacity 840 denier nylon with RF-welded seams that offer the same leakproof performance of whitewater rafts.

hydrolok™ zipper & u-dock locking system
The HydroLok™ zipper teams up with the U-Dock locking system to create a waterproof and airtight seal, much like the zippers on survival suits and HazMat gear, ensuring liquid and ice stay where they belong.

These features are legit.

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 10:56 AM. Reason : never said it was worth $300 though. I didn't pay for mine.]

6/30/2015 10:55:06 AM

Quote :

"i've never met a soft-sided cooler that didn't form a leak in it's seal at some point in it's lifespan. what makes this one any different and worthy of $300?"

I read a few reviews on the Hopper 20/30 when I was interested in it (my REI dividend would have covered it - haha).

Apparently it doesn't leak and they dragged it behind a car off road for 3 miles and it looked brand new afterwards.

http://www.outsideonline.com/1785621/yeti-hopper-worth-300

Quote :

"I should also note the Hopper was, as advertised, 100 percent leakproof. Water couldn’t get in or out of the cooler once the Hydrolock zipper was closed. The other two coolers leaked like sieves along their zippers, although, to be fair, neither was billed as leakproof."

Quote :

"The Result: After the Grand Canyon trip, I found that the Hopper’s six D-rings withstood the constant wrenching and torsional stress of life on a raft in big-water rapids extremely well. The Hopper showed up no worse for wear—not even scratches on the D-rings. I was also very impressed by how well the Yeti’s Dryhide shell stood up to the car torture test. The Ozark Trail disintegrated after the first half mile, while the Coleman lasted two miles before falling apart. The Hopper, on the other hand, had only minor scuffs on two of the D-rings and two-inch-long, millimeter-thick abrasions after three miles behind the car: Nothing to prevent it from keeping contents cold."

Quote :

"So, the $300 question: Is it worth the money? If you value durability and quality construction and need a soft-shell cooler to add to your roto-molded quiver, go with the Hopper. We’re thinking fly fishermen, paddlers, raft guides, and hunters who want a packable, lightweight cooler that’ll last forever despite seasons of abuse. If you just need a cooler for the occasional picnic, car-camping trip, or trip to the beach, save your money and go with a $25 option."

Now yeah after 10 years...who knows. They have a 5 year warranty.

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 10:56 AM. Reason : s]

6/30/2015 10:55:06 AM

hey afprino, there are a lot of bad reviews of the hopper with people complaining about the zippers tearing up your arms, and that it is too hard to get ice and everything else in and out of it. Have you had that problem?

What about the longevity of ice? People also said it did not perform any better than the other soft-sided coolers out there.

6/30/2015 10:56:02 AM

Quote :

"Seems like a lot of people don't recognize what a status symbol is."

6/30/2015 10:56:28 AM

the opening is pretty narrow, so I could see the concern of the zippers scraping your arm if you're constantly reaching in and out of there. I didn't have a problem getting a bag of ice and some beers and food in it.

the ice I had in it lasted 3 days on the beach with no problem. it was primarily in the shade, so I guess YMMV if you're in the sun. there was still ice in it to dump out when we left.

6/30/2015 10:59:43 AM

I've got a Yeti 65. Ice lasts forever and I can sit on it without deforming it.
Even in the hot sun on the beach, the ice doesn't melt.

6/30/2015 4:19:43 PM

BTTT


(if anything, just to break up the sexual tension induced spat between synapse and nodata)

10/19/2015 8:49:10 PM