Determine upfront what youre likely to carry in your cooler and how much room that will take. Igloo Coolers that we have reviewed in the past, Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler Review, Rubbermaid DuraChill Wheeled Cooler Review, Yeti Coolers and the NRA: Everything You Need to Know, 6 Signs It Might Be Time For a New Cooler, Pink Yeti Coolers, Red, Blue and Many More, Best Floating Cooler for River, Lake, Ocean, and More. By the end of our testing, it had loosened to the point that simply lifting on the handle was enough to pop the lid open, making the latch essentially useless. BMX Series coolers from IGLOO are heavy-duty blow-molded for added durability. It's all more than enough for me to recommend the healthiest possible dose of skepticism if you ever find yourself tempted to back a campaign like that with your cold hard cash. They're difficult to pull down, even as a full-grown adult. Some felt that this cooler was overpriced for what it does. Some buyers did their own ice test and report that this cooler only holds ice for about 1 to 2 days. In particular, we felt like the hinges on the lid would be easy to break if the cooler were pushed open too far. When I say "buy literally anything else," I mean it. With the rotomolded design, its essentially two large pieces joined together by a heavy-duty hinge at the back which we dont think we could break if we tried. On all models, you get big and burly wheels that truly work over a variety of terrain, a long pull handle, and you can even attach this cooler to the back of a bike (BikR Kit attachment sold separately for $70). There are a few features that could be added and more color options would be a welcome plus, but these are minor complaints. Many premium models are fully leak-proof and can hold their own against the insulation of hard-sided coolers. In our ice retention test, about 15 of the 20 pounds we put in it had melted after 48 hours. As an Amazon Associate 99Boulders LLC earns from qualifying purchases. The Igloo brand is well known for its cooler products and has a range of hard and soft-sided models, with the BMX range being very popular (ranging from the smallest BMX 25 cooler to the larger BMX 72). Theyre useful for keeping food dry. All the parts are made of rust-resistant stainless steel. I've worked in many areas, including computer hardware, software, technology, networking, graphic design, instruction, construction, music and even ballroom dancing! AO Coolers Canvas Soft Cooler Overall Score: 8.6 13. When it comes to looking at the Igloo Sportsman vs Yeti Coolers we found that while Yeti is a better cooler overall the Igloo Sportsman is $100 cheaper. 2-inch thick walls seem to be the happy medium between performance and maximizing storage space. Keep shopping and you'll find coolers on wheels, thermoelectric coolers, coolers with power and even a cooler backpack or two -- truly coolers as far as the eye can see. Most of the coolers that I tested were, but some took things even further. Here's a linked list with brief insights: If we're going to talk about performance, we should talk about capacity first. Speaking of customer service, we feel it would probably be helpful for this Igloo Coolers review to actually provide that info. Some coolers make that easier by including a bilge drain toward the bottom, similar to the drain found in the bottom of some boats. We are real fans of this tough-look style of cooler, and the BMX 52 backs up its heavy-duty styling withheavy-duty blow moulded construction and thick insulated walls (although not as thick as the more expensive Yeti models). Lower volumes of drained water indicated more ice retention and better insulation. Typically, the larger the cooler, the more ice it can hold, and ultimately the longer the ice lasts. It lacks an air/watertight seal, which loses it some points on insulation, and the rubber latches can catch against your leg if you carry it the wrong way around, but it's miles ahead of your old ice bucket or gas station styrofoam. With the all-white, wide-bodied design, it's meant to fit right in on a boat (fishermen can even use a ruler embossed on the lid to measure whatever they reel in), but you can use it like any other cooler wherever you like. The rope handles made carrying this cooler with two people a breeze, although the hard rubber could be a little uncomfortable when the cooler was fully loaded. Essentially, the coolers body is molded in a one-piece design. Hey, here's another $300 rotomolded cooler. The result is an incredibly durable and high-performing cooler. The only other thing I'll say here is that I'm still surprised not to see more of the high-end options try to separate themselves from the pack with clever bonus features like a built-in battery for charging your devices while you camp outdoors (or better yet, a solar panel). Are the more expensive coolers actually worth their asking prices? If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Period. Less moving parts and its rubber, so it just kind of bends around. The performance of Magellan's largest offering was very close to Cabela's Polar Cap Equalizer. Summer is here, and if you appreciate a frosty beverage on a sunny day as much as I do, then you'll want to be sure to have a dependable cooler on hand. These latches have rubber straps to secure the lid, but at the end of each strap lies a plastic handle which you can leverage against the mounting point to easily achieve the tensioned fit. It didnt take much pressure to hear the rivets straining. Igloo also knows what they are doing when it comes to making coolers and they have impressed us with their BMX Coolers. Rugged. In its closed state, full of water, I sloshed it around without spilling a drop, so it's safe to assume that leaks won't be an issue. While we initially thought that the swivel mechanism was super cool, the plastic component on the lid that it latches into popped out with very little force. Add to cart. My mission? Yep, Bought An Igloo Bmx 52 Cooler And Reviewed It For A Week. For many, the price that you pay to own a Yeti just isnt worth the slight performance advantage you may see. Watch the video for. If your main use is for keeping things cold, then the question is whether or not that extra 0.9 degrees is worth paying another hundred bucks for. That's why we decided to take a quick break from the gadgets and gizmos of the CNET Smart Home to test out 18 hard-bodied coolers that range from $4 to $400 in price. Less ice meant more of a challenge for the coolers, which would hopefully give us a more granular look at how well they perform relative to one another. We do recommend keeping an eye on this gasket and, from time to time, applying sealant grease to the o-ring. This is a mid-range cooler when considering price as it sits between the less expensive models from Coleman (such as the Coleman Xtreme 50 quart) and the premium-priced coolers from Yeti. 65% Ron Swanson, 25% Ben Wyatt, 10% Andy Dwyer. As a knockoff, they're starting to gain popularity, but we're going to list some things that you may want to look into in terms of both, and let you decide which one you want to be buying these days. It performed respectably in our ice retention test, though not quite as well as we had hoped. I asked three other adults to secure these handles and out of the four of us, two were successful, one unsuccessful and the last successful only after an excessive amount of struggling. +9 colors/patterns Igloo BMX Cooler 4.6 (7,711) $16299$194.99 FREE delivery Sat, Mar 4 Or fastest delivery Fri, Mar 3 +9 colors/patterns Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology 4.6 (9,291) $15524 This Coleman cooler isn't much better as far as the design is concerned, although the lid does tend to stay on its hinges when you pull on it, so point Coleman. water, isn't as good at keeping drinks cold). Rugged Blue. The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee keeps a running list of certified options, which includes a number of coolers from this rundown. These sizes hit the normal optimal size ranges that we see most people request. Advertisement. A cooler this size (around 50 quarts) is great for an extended road trip or a few days away camping. I update this list periodically. 0 In Stock. When it comes to large size coolers, there are plenty to choose from. These coolers truly do capture most of the magic of a high-end cooler but for a fraction of the price. We'll show the testing processes, and Andrew and I have a poolside chat about cooler features. submitted by ProductExpert - 2 years ago. Even though the 52 is a lower-priced model it is still a great specified cooler. On top of that, the design is flimsy as hell, with a lid that rips right off of the hinges whenever you give it a gentle yank. Cnoc Outdoors Trekking Poles Review: Are They Any Good. This rugged cooler has a bold, sturdy construction with best-in-category cooling performance that'll keep you and your crew happy for days. My only qualm -- that T-shaped handlebar includes comfy rubber grips on the sides, but not in the middle, the spot you'll actually want to hold as you lug it around one-handed. All right, here's all of them. There are no latches since this is a soft-sided cooler, just a zipper. When readers buy our reviewed picks, we earn affiliate commissions that help to support the site. Bear-resistance: The Yeti Tundra line is certified bear-resistant by the IGBC when used with bolts or padlocks. The easy-to-use, double-latched design means you can open the cooler from either side and, if you'd prefer, you can disengage the latches on both sides to remove the lid altogether. Finally, you have the largest size, the 72 quart. The Igloo BMX 25 filled with equally affordable refreshment. This gasket, working in conjunction with the closing force that the t-latch produces, results in a nice squeeze that helps to lock in cold air. The temperature down in the ice would have been roughly the same in all of the coolers, leaving retention as the only real variable. It has even sparked a debate if Yeti coolers are worth the price. The lid was kept closed at all times. What we did like about this cooler was the large volume. The different model sizes and available colors on Yeti Coolers are seemingly endless. Unlike that MaxCold cooler I just raved about, the Latitude was a lousy performer, and only incrementally better than what you'll get from Rubbermaid or the Igloo Island Breeze. Large "party" ice chest coolers that boast volumes over 60 quarts (over 15 gallons or 56.78 liters). Yeti's Hopper Backflip 24, a soft-sided backpack cooler, had the most understated volume of all coolers we've tested so far. Learn more. Like that Igloo cooler in the previous slide, it lacks both a latch and a drainage spout, and the performance was, again, pitiful. Rotomolded is short for rotationally molded, a process in which heated plastic is slowly rotated inside of a mold, allowing it to form into a shape of perfectly uniform thickness. With two people, its a breeze. Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 11.29 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue Storage Volume 72 Quarts 52 Quarts 25 Quarts Tested Ice Range (Hours) 85-135 72-105 48-72 Cost (Amazon) $159.99 $119.99 $79.99 Prime? We dumped 20 pounds of ice into it and after 48 hours only 3.5 liters of water drained out. Why elevated? How to Clean a Hydration Bladder: 4 Easy Ways Using Household Items. Meanwhile, for almost half the price, the 55-quart Lifetime High Performance Cooler came in well above spec at 62.4 quarts measured -- and while it didn't hold its ice as long as the RTIC did, it still finished an excellent performer. Igloo BMX at 53.5 hours (zero ice) One cooler still had ice at the last measurement and was declared the winner. This Boulder-based wheeled-cooler specialist offers its signature RollR in four capacities ranging from 45 to 85 quarts. Another aspect that is somewhat limiting maximum ice life is the cooler sizes. 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