YETI, the American brand has established itself as one of the leading outdoor equipment manufacturers in the world. Since the foundation in 2006, this Austin-based company has been manufacturing a wide variety of hard and soft coolers for avid campers and outdoorsmen.
Today. YETI has been able to develop a brand reputation for producing exceptionally high-quality coolers that hold ice for days and are nearly unbreakable. However, their coolers are comparatively expensive than the competing brands. This is why the question comes around – are yeti coolers worth it? Should you spend your hard-earned money on YETI coolers?
In this article, we will be talking about all these things. We will investigate whether YETI coolers are still worth the money or not.
Let’s get right into it:
YETI Cooler Hype
You probably have seen a lot of hype and excellent marketing of YETI coolers before. However, this doesn’t mean that these coolers aren’t worth the money. YETI was able to create the hype by providing extremely superior quality coolers.
How Much are Yeti Coolers?
If you’re ever in the market for a cooler, you probably know that YETI coolers are very expensive. Even the smallest cooler from YETI costs around $200. We have a detailed article regarding the YETI cooler price. You can read this to get a detailed idea about the cost of YETI coolers.
In summary, the Tundra series cooler costs around $150 – $1300 and the soft coolers are ranging from $150 to $300.
Are YETI Coolers Worth It?
The straightforward answer to this question is – it depends on several factors. It depends on your requirement and most importantly it depends on your budget.
Yeti coolers are well worth the investment because they have excellent ice retention capacity, superior build quality, and are virtually indestructible.
On the other hand, YETI coolers may not be worth the price since there are other less expensive alternatives that perform better.
YETI’s reputation may have been well-deserved a decade ago, but with the advancement of technology, a lot of new and competing brands have entered the market and some are doing really great. Yeti coolers are still at the top of the list for a lot of people. But, some discovered that few competing brands have almost similar coolers, if not better, than YETI.
For some people, investing in YETI coolers may not be worth it. They may not use the cooler often enough. So they’d be better off saving their money and purchasing a less expensive cooler.
However, people who require a heavy-duty roto-molded cooler that can withstand rough usages and can hold ice longer may find YETI coolers worthy.
Why Are YETI Coolers Worth the Money?
In order to determine whether a cooler is worth the money or not we need to make sure that it comes with all of the essential features and functionalities. For coolers, we need to make sure that it comes with durable construction, can hold ice for a long time, and has all the essential features.
Here are some of the reasons why YETI coolers are worth the price:
Extremely Durable Rotomolded Construction
A good quality cooler should be made of a sturdy material that will last for a long time. After all, you are not going to purchase a cooler every-day. So, make sure that the cooler is made of superior quality materials.
Yeti coolers are widely popular for their toughness and durability. Many coolers have the flaw of being too weak. They can break after some rough use. Yeti coolers, on the other hand, are capable of withstanding a variety of physical impacts.
Yeti coolers are made of roto-molded plastic, which is much thicker and stronger than the cheaper coolers. The polyurethane insulation of these coolers also give them additional strength and stability. The single pin hinges of YETI coolers make them almost unbreakable.
Superior Ice Retention Capacity
Yeti coolers are known for their ability to keep ice for an extended period of time. Sometimes, far longer than traditional non-brand coolers.
The reason behind this is – YETI uses 2-3 inches thick insulation on each side of the wall and the lid. This thick insulation ensures better ice retention. In addition, many models include a freezer-style gasket that seals the cooler’s lid for better insulation.
YETI cooler ice test:
The above ice test shows that YETI Tundra 45 cooler was able to hold ice for more than 10 days.
The Tundra series cooler can hold ice for around 3-10 days which is very impressive compared to other coolers. YETI’s soft coolers are also great for ice retention. Even the cheapest soft cooler from YETI can hold ice for up to 24 hours.
Note: Please note that the ice retention time mostly depends on how you pack and use the cooler. By prechilling the cooler before packing may increase the ice retention time. Also, packing the cooler by maintaining 1:1 ice-to-content ration will also improve the overall ice retention time.
Certified Bear Resistant Cooler
The Tundra series coolers of YETI are tested and certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). This ensures that YETI coolers can withstand bear attacks. You can see the proof by watching the following video:
Variety of Sizes
Yeti coolers are available in a variety of sizes. YETI manufactures a variety of coolers to meet a variety of requirements. They manufacture both hard and soft-sided coolers. YETI’s soft-sided coolers are suitable for individuals and couples. The Tundra series hard coolers are suitable for small to large families.
YETI has 13 hard coolers in their Tundra series, 2 ice buckets, 1 water cooler, and 7 soft-sided coolers in their store. Along with size variations, most of the coolers are available in a wide variety of coolers. So, you can easily pick the perfect size cooler for your requirement.
Reliable Brand
Yeti is one of the best cooler brands in the world. While a brand name isn’t everything, Yeti has established a good reputation for producing high-quality, robust, and reliable coolers. It’s a well-known brand that anyone can trust without any doubt.
Since the foundation, they emphasise on producing high-quality items, as well as incredible brand marketing strategies. This strategy has propelled them to become the world’s leading cooler manufacturer and the most recognizable cooler brand.
Yeti has been in business for over a decade. They have no intention of going away anytime soon. On Amazon, you will find thousands of positive reviews and ratings for their coolers.
Overall, Yeti coolers are worth it because you know you’re having a decent product when you buy one. Currently, YETI has become a status symbol for many people.
Longer Warranty
Having a longer warranty from the cooler is a very positive sign especially when you are investing a lot of money. Most of the companies offer 1-10 years warranty for their coolers. YETI is very confident about their products and they offer 5-years warranty for their Tundra series coolers and 3-years warranty for soft coolers.
Why YETI Coolers May Not Worth the Money?
Yeti coolers are high-performance coolers with excellent built quality and ice retention capacity. But they are pricey and may not be suitable for all. Yeti coolers aren’t worth it for many people because they don’t fit into their budget, but don’t worry, there are plenty of other great options available to choose from. Along with the high price tag, there are some other reasons why YETI coolers may not worth it.
Here we are going to discuss about some of the negative sides of YETI coolers:
YETI Coolers are Expensive
You probably know that YETI coolers are expensive. The high price tag of these coolers is one of the key reasons why people wonder if they are worth it. The majority of their coolers are pricey, with even the smallest model costing around $200. You will find some non-brand coolers at a half or even quarter of that amount.
It’s absurd to deny that Yeti coolers are exorbitantly priced. However, this is due to the well-known brand name that YETI achieved, as well as bragging rights.
YETI coolers are not worth the money if you don’t use them frequently or your requirements are very limited. On the other hand, if you use coolers on a regular basis, and you need longer ice retention from your cooler, these will worth the money for you.
YETI Coolers are Heavy
Yeti coolers are fairly heavy due to their high quality construction and thick insulation. The heavy weight can be a challenge for carrying the cooler. A medium size Yeti cooler, when full with food and drinks, becomes so heavy that it requires at least people to hold or move it. You may put some wheels on them yourself, but that will take more time, effort, and money.
People who need a lightweight cooler that can be easily carried by 1 or 2 people, may not find YETI cooler worthy.
Cheaper Alternatives Available on the Market
Yeti was the first to introduce roto-molded coolers that are capable of holding ice for days. However, as a result of their popularity, a number of rival companies have released very similar coolers at much lower prices.
For example, RTIC is a direct competitor of YETI. They have been manufacturing coolers with similar features and ice preservation capacity to Yeti. And the noticeable thing this – these coolers are less expensive.
Another example can be Lifetime coolers. They are very new to the cooler industry. But they are also manufacturing high-end coolers that are sold for a half or quarter of the price of YETI coolers.
There are some other brands such as – Pelican, ORCA, Grizzly, etc. who offer high-end coolers, work similarly to Yeti coolers, and come at a lower price tag.
Limited Features
Another downside of Yeti coolers is their limited features. Features like cup holders, fish ruler, food basket, dividers, etc. are not present at any of the YETI’s hard coolers. Though you can buy them separately, it will cost you additional money.
Verdict
So, after reading all these positive and negative features of YETI coolers what do you think? Are yeti coolers worth it?
Our investigation shows that it mostly depends on your personal needs and desires. Yeti coolers are a great choice if you like the glitz and glitter of brand names and want to pay more money for something you know will last.
Yeti coolers are worth considering if you need a high-quality cooler for regular camping or adventures. The design, performance, and reliability make it a great value for the money. If you are looking for a high-end cooler you can rely on and maintain for years, take a look at the coolers Yeti has to offer.
On the other hand, Yeti coolers may not be your best option if you need long ice retention but don’t have enough budget to invest in premium coolers. You can find a lot of competing brands that offer similar size coolers with good ice retention and lighter weight at a cheaper price.
Overall, Yeti coolers are of excellent quality, and the brand is one you can rely upon without thinking twice. We think they’re worth it for those who are looking for high-quality coolers.
