The climate outside seeks equilibrium with the inside, which is why warm air can penetrate the cheap walls of the box. This is especially true when you’re out in the ocean for a few days on a sailing adventure, an off-road trip, or a river excursion, where buying ice is impossible no matter where you are. Even though coolers like Yeti and RTIC cost hundreds of dollars, there is a reasonable business model for selling coolers that don’t have the same level of construction or insulation. If you’re already aware that a basic cooler for $79 isn’t well-constructed or insulated, then you’re probably looking for the best cooler.
Lines proven scientifically, similar in their functionality are both brands, but RTIC was sued by Yeti for closely copying its process. Later, RTIC came up with a bit of innovation along the way – it added a thick blanket that prevents heat from penetrating and maintains the cold ecosystem inside the cooler. Furthermore, RTIC fused the insulation inside its walls, sealing off all air permeability. This resulted in the creation of a seamless plastic shell, a manufacturing process pioneered by Yeti in the automotive industry called “rotomolding,” aiming to prevent that possibility.
In order to definitively determine which is superior, we desired to make a fair comparison. It is evident that both manufacturers produce high-quality goods, and we have previously conducted tests on products from both brands.
Yeti is known for its ability to maintain temperature and provide comfort, making it easy to use in cold conditions. Both coolers are worth the investment and perform impressively. We will provide all the details below, including a head-to-head test of each brand’s ability to keep your belongings cool over an extended period.
Our Selection
The Methodology Used to Test These Coolers
In the midst of a heatwave, we positioned two comparable coolers from the respective companies — Yeti’s Tundra 45 and RTIC’s RTIC 45 — on a scorching outdoor deck. Regrettably, we lacked a sailboat or raft, and there were no plans for extensive desert journeys. Nevertheless, we possessed the means to ensure a fair competition.
The Tree provided some cooling shade in the late afternoon and early morning. The sun overhead was relentless, with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees on average for about six hours from 4 pm to 10 am daily.
Robust, steady solar radiation and there is robust, steady solar radiation. Furthermore, we have numerous additional suggestions to adhere to, regardless of the equipment you employ for the task, you discover a method to shield your cooler (and we have numerous additional suggestions to adhere to, regardless of the equipment you employ for the task) ideally, at present. Nevertheless, we desired a configuration that was essentially the most unfavorable scenario: You are out on that vessel in the sea or stationed at a campground in a National Park.
If you rely on preventing food spoilage, it’s great to know that when you’re at home and experience a power failure, you can count on it. Both models perform well at freezing temperatures and are well-packed for detailed information. During the first week of testing, which incidentally took place in the cool temperatures of the 60s and 50s, we ran our tests relentlessly.
We followed Yeti’s approach and added a ten-pound “sacrificial” bag of ice to each cooler. Then, we put both coolers into storage in the basement where the ambient temperature was about 60 degrees. For our 72-hour test, we followed Yeti’s approach with a few modifications. RTIC, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive packing plan for its coolers.
Each unit of temperature was monitored using a ThermoWorks sensor, which provided readouts from the front of the wall inside. It was pleasant and cool, with a reading of approximately 34 degrees.
We didn’t want to bias towards either brand, so instead of going with the expensive and pretty Ice Blue Rubbermaid cooler, we decided to sell both our own recipe packs. We also didn’t consider RTIC’s or Yeti for the spring flavors. Yeti suggests lining the floor of their cooler with ice packs containing chemicals, but we dumped out the first load of ice and then loaded our own packs.
Each cooler had a two-can middle layer of liquid refreshment as the objective, but the RTIC contains more than the Yeti, so it necessitated a bit of estimation to achieve a fair competition. The RTIC contained 24 beers, consisting of a combination of tallboys and 12-ounce cans, while the Yeti had 21 beers and non-alcoholic soda, topped with a layer of loose ice.
Life is lukewarm. It won’t be pre-cooled, whether it’s food or beverage, something you add without exception. Yes, even though it’s 5:30 am, that individual might still choose to consume one during the journey. (That individual might still choose to consume one during the journey, even though it’s 5:30 am). This is because there’s always that person in your group who enters the car last and brings a room temperature six-pack just bought from the convenience store. Why? We pre-cooled all but six of the cans in each pack, as a wildcard option as well.
Finally, we filled each cooler to the top with additional loose ice.
Let’s be honest, we didn’t follow the proper towel formula for the camping trip this weekend because we didn’t bring spare towels for everyone. Mainly, we wanted to test which cooler performed the best under a decent amount of duress. They suggest adding anything to eliminate that layer, or even using ice, as it melts. Ideally, the cooler should be filled with ice to eliminate any gaps at the top of the interior space, as proper packing demands. It is clear that air is the enemy of a cold cooler, as Yeti emphasizes.
Evaluating the Coolers Side by Side
Over 90 degrees Fahrenheit scorched the area daily, in the meantime, almost all of the ice had transformed into liquid at that specific moment. We observed the internal temperatures of each item for the subsequent three days and nights until 8 pm on Monday (72:00) and stored the refrigerators at 8 pm on a Friday (0:00).
One way to avoid making a map of the contents by taping it to the lid of the cooler is to shut and grab it, then open it in a way that introduces a lot more warm air. By rapidly closing the lids and pulling out two coolers at a time, we opened the lids of each cooler in the middle of the night, saving four hours every night.
The RTIC, with a temperature of 44.5 degrees, increased to 43.9 degrees for the Yeti and, when it was a scorching 97 degrees on the stone patio, they had both reached the same temperature by Monday afternoon (64:23). Both were still freezing at 34.5 degrees each, and by Monday afternoon (64:23), they were both at the same temperature of 34.5 degrees, still freezing. By Saturday morning (12:00), they had leveled out within a half degree. While the RTIC reached 32.9 degrees, by Saturday morning (12:00), they had leveled out within a half degree. At the beginning (0:00), the temperature dropped to 29 degrees Fahrenheit, while the RTIC reached 32.9 degrees, but by Saturday morning (12:00), they had leveled out within a half degree. The Yeti
The atmospheric temperature in both had increased to the low 40-degree span: 42.4 for the Yeti and 44.8 for the RTIC, with external temperatures dropping to the mid-70s, the ice cubes had completely melted by Monday night.
RTIC Vs. Yeti: The Final Decision
Each of these coolers, despite their feature sets being nearly identical, has its own advantages and disadvantages. Whether you need to secure them to the deck of a boat or the bed of a truck, they come with convenient pre-formed slots and rope handles that make transportation easier (comparatively speaking). Additionally, both coolers are equipped with tightly sealed lids that feature double-gaskets.
The most important thing about these coolers is that they are formed using the same rotomolding process, which creates a seamless structure with forced-in insulation that shields the contents from the outside world. Additionally, they have a lockable security feature, preventing critters like bears from getting into your valuable supplies.
When they become full, they may feel awkward if they weigh more than 60 pounds or if they start with just 25 pounds. However, it is much easier to get to your campsite with a wheeled cooler like the Tundra Haul from Yeti, which is why you may prefer it ($450). Although they are both heavy and bulky, the Yeti cooler works just as well and keeps things slightly colder.
The price of RTIC’s cooler, which we love, is less than a hundred dollars, making Yeti’s amount insignificant. However, if you’re cramming extra inches onto a raft or sailboat, it’s a rounding error. We also got a big pickup truck. Additionally, RTIC’s cooler is slightly larger on the outside and has slightly more capacity on the inside, just like a larger hair cooler.
It is worthwhile in the long run, however, you do pay a higher price for these characteristics (and, to be frank, the prestige of the brand name). The carrying handles are extremely comfortable and the fact that its ability to retain temperature is exceptional, along with the brand’s well-known ease of use, ultimately makes Yeti the winner, as we previously mentioned. Nevertheless.
Rather than the logo on the front, it will have a greater impact. To achieve optimal cold retention, we highly recommend employing effective cooler-packing methods — specifically, placing chemical ice packs at the bottom, as they are colder and take up less space compared to loose ice — regardless of the rotomolded option you choose.
Details of the Yeti Tundra 45
The Yeti Tundra 45 comes in six different colors and is made of rotomolded plastic injected with extra-thick three-inch walls infused with polyurethane foam insulation. It holds up to 28 cans of refreshing malt beverage.
You can easily transport these beasts by walking one of them onto the beach from a pickup truck or by using a raft. Two people are letting go of their bodies to hold the cooler, which is strapped with smart ropes. If you need more people to move them, remember that they will easily crest 60 pounds and they will be filled with a bunch of liquid refreshments and 30 pounds of ice. Both of these coolers are bulky, so keep in mind that they come with straps roped with hard, fluted plastic grips that allow for a better purchase, especially when your hands are sweaty or wet. These coolers are from Tundra, which is like Yeti.
If you’re going 4×4’ing, it is important to ensure that your rig and cooler will stay inside but the contents might get shaken. The lid of the cooler also accommodates ratchet straps, making it a must-have. In addition, the front of the Tundra is pre-drilled for padlocks to provide security for both the corners and bear-proofing. The feet are made of non-marring rubber, so you won’t need to worry about damaging the new location in your pickup bed when dragging it along.
Operating in the same fashion, these lids work a lot like the double-sealed gasket at the wall of your fridge, which prevents air leakage and stops the secret sauce from thawing prematurely. You know that “gasp” exhale-like sound your fridge makes when you open it?
Key Specs
Details about the RTIC 45 Quart Cooler
The RTIC Cooler Quart 45 is slightly larger than the Yeti Cooler. It can swallow 36 beer cans vs. The Yeti’s 28 cans, which means it can be good for larger gatherings. It comes in five core colors and three limited-edition colors, and is made of three-inch thick walls infused with extra-thick polyurethane foam insulation injected with rotomolded plastic. It takes up more space and has a bigger footprint, weighing just over half a pound more.
The ledger essentially evens out the pros and cons, utilizing a material grip that is less tactile than the Yeti’s. We have handles on the RTIC that are similar to rope handles, even though they are not as tactile. The Yeti only has one drain plug, while the RTIC has drains at either end.
Additionally, the RTIC Tundra and similar coolers have the capability to securely fasten other objects or straps using cross-lashing. The front corners of the cooler feature soft, non-slip rubber feet that provide a non-marring grip surface. These corners also have points where a padlock can be attached.
Show off those muscles, yes, the icy drinks stay securely in place with the strong suction that works again and again, then release the suction to easily lift and remove the cooler lid. Does RTIC’s cooler have a double-lid gasket fitted here?! You definitely need it for keeping your beer cold. (What would you like to do around here?). (There is an echo in here just like the Yeti).