Yeti Cooler Review

The Yeti Cooler goes where other coolers dare not. It comes home again in one piece. It’s a beast. Our review of Yeti Coolers found them to be the best on the market.

Spotting a Yeti Cooler is pretty common. They are everywhere. You’ve seen them at the sporting goods store. They show up at the park. You’ve seen them on your buddy’s boat. 

So what’s the big deal?

Is this one more overpriced trend? The ice chest version of a label on your shirt? Or is there something genuinely special about this cooler? Read our Yeti Cooler review to find out! 

We reviewed the Yeti Cooler. Here is what we liked.

We reviewed the Yeti Tundra 45. This mid-sized cooler holds about 38 quarts. That’s 28 cans of whatever you’re drinking with twice as much ice. This cooler has several things we love:

• It’s beefy  

Yeti uses rotomolding to make the ice cooler body. This method moves the mold around while the plastic is poured, so there are no thin spots. The result is an ultra-strong body that won’t dent when it bounces off the tailgate.  

• It’s smart 

Yeti designed the Tundra Cooler with Anchorpoint tie-down slots molded right into the body, so there are no separate pieces to work loose. You can be confident your cooler will stay strapped in. It has heavy-duty, patented rubber T-Rex latches that are designed to last for years. 

• It keeps its cool 

The walls of the Yeti Coolers are thicker than other ice coolers on the market. The result is more insulation. More insulation means your ice will stay icy longer. Put ice in once and go for days.

More Features in a Yeti Cooler

• It’s slip-proof

This Yeti has bear feet! These tough little feet will keep your cooler in place. If you’ve ever had a smooth-bottomed cooler go sliding into the lake, you’ll appreciate this feature.

• It’s critter-proof 

The Yeti Tundra Cooler is certified bear-resistant by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.  

• It’s pretty 

Wait – pretty? It’s just a big box. Well, yes. But this big box comes in seven different colors! Seven! And they aren’t your basic red and white. Well, okay, white is one of the choices.

I like white- it’s cool. But there are also choices like Seafoam, Chartreuse, and my favorite, Coral. A wide variety means your Yeti isn’t likely to get mistaken for someone else’s. 

Yeti will also put your school’s officially-licensed logo on the lid if you ask. Just make sure to choose a color that compliments that big red N. 

• It has a five-year warranty

 If you find a way to break it in that time, Yeti will take care of you. 

The Yeti Cooler does have room for improvement.

There were a few things about the Yeti Tundra 45 that didn’t thrill us:

• Getting a grip

The Tundra has handles made of polyester rope. They’re strong, but the flex can cause the cooler to wobble around a bit. A rigid handle would help with that. It does also have Lipgrip handles – fixed handholds on the sides – so you can grab and go with those.

• So, when you say 45…? 

Calling it the Yeti Tundra 45 suggests that it has 45 quarts. The outside of this cooler would lead buyers to expect that much room. But because the Yeti has these awesome, rugged, thick walls, the interior dimensions are smaller than they would be on a standard cooler.

The result is that the Yeti Tundra 45 holds 38 quarts. If you’re upgrading to this model from a cheaper unit, you’ll discover this one won’t hold as many drinks. Yeti also offers the Tundra 35, 65, 75, and 105, so you could size up as needed.

• The elephant in the room 

The Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler retails for about $299. That’s a hefty price tag. A less expensive ice cooler will happily chill your groceries while you run errands.

But if you’re a wilderness-loving, camping-for-days sort, and you want the best cooler out there, the price tag is worth it.  

How does the Yeti compare to other brands? 

There are other brands out there. After Yeti invented rotomolding, other companies raced to copy it. You can find coolers claiming similar construction starting around $149.

But when we reviewed the yeti cooler, we discovered the others frequently come with shorter warranties and poorer ratings. And if the company isn’t around a year from now, good luck with that warranty. 

Amazon reviewers give the Yeti Tundra 45 4.6 out of 5 stars. It is a crazy-strong, bear-proof chest. The rotomolded design means the walls don’t have weak points.

It keeps your drinks cool for days with a single fill-up of ice. It’s the best cooler for your money.

With a five-year warranty, you can be confident that your purchase will last. Yeti makes the coolest cooler! It’s a high-end cooler for those who want only the best.

Check out the whole line of Yeti Coolers HERE

And if you’re looking for other great outdoor gadgets to enjoy with your adventures check out 10 great gifts for the outdoor enthusiast.