NEVER going to EVER by a YETI but considering an Orca, Pelican or Otterbox around 50-55qt.
Or anything else that might be a great top end cooler or something I need to know?

Cabela's Polarcap,

basically a YETI knockoff

Somebody posted here about a great deal on RTIC and I bought one. I love it.

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...480083814#3480083814

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chellim1,

I have a Pelican brand cooler, 55qt, that I’m very happy with. I keep it in the bed of my pickup full of ice and water bottles. In July I was putting ice in every three or four days. The ice would be about half melted, not bad for summertime in N TX. My only complaint (minor) would be that it is rather heavy. It is hard for me to move the cooler around with 40-50lbs of ice plus the contents.
I was looking for a smaller cooler of similar construction. I just bought a 25qt Otterbox brand cooler. They have received good reviews and are reasonably priced. It should be delivered next week. Hopefully it will work as well as the Pelican.

K2 makes a nice root-molded cooler.

I'm not in the market for a cooler per se, but I just bought two (2) 10 oz. tumblers from RTIC. They're shop is on Hempstead Rd. here in Houston, so I figured I'd support my local boys. Yeah...pretty much screw Yeti from their 2A shenanigans a while back...

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
Cabela's Polarcap,

basically a YETI knockoff

This. Except it isn't a knockoff so much as it is an improvement. The big molded side handles are great because you can still tie down your cooler, but retain the ability to open it, unlike the Yeti. If you like the rope handles on the Yeti, the Polar Cap has those as well. Also, the latches on the Polar Cap are twice as beefy as the Yeti. The PC has large feet to allow an air gap on the bottom. The PC has a normal size lock hole so you don't have to buy that overpriced Yeti specific one. And the Polar Cap is 1/3 cheaper than a Yeti.

If you want to go a little cheaper, but still have a fantastic cooler, try an Ozark Trail from Walmart (go figure). These coolers are unexpectedly nice for what you pay. I have a 26qt model that was 86 bucks, and it is really awesome. Durable, great handle, nice latches, and it holds ice just as long as the other premium coolers.

Yeti is so full of crap with their letter about not dissing the NRA. Oh yea, just a change in a branding program, huh? If that were true, Yeti picked the shittiest time to make that change, being the week that everybody else (Delta, Dick's, Citigroup, et al) were distancing themselves after Parkland. (Perhaps maybe the guy who convinced Coke to adopt New Coke is working at Yeti now?) Now Yeti wants to walk their stupidity back? Screw you, Yeti. You should get out of NYC and learn who's buying your crap before you go all SJW on your customer base.

I have a couple Rtics. Work really great and cheaper. Only downside is the rotomold type coolers are heavy.

Sorry for the bold, this annoys me a lot.

RTIC is MADE IN CHINA. If you are going to spend that much on a cooler, get a brand that makes them in the USA (Orca, Pelican, etc).

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Didn't know that...thought they were made in the USA. I guess the boys over on Hempstead Rd. are just a distributor/reseller. Drat!

Just looked on Orca's site. They don't have the small tumblers for which I was looking (to enjoy my Woodford Reserve), but they do have AWESOME NHL stuff!! Yeah baby!!!

ORCA -- Made in Nashville TN, USA.

www.orcacoolers.com

Rtic has the following promo code today 25% off orders of $100 or more. Promo code “FB25” at checkout. Saw it on facebook link today only. Worth a try.

I really like my Cabela's 25qt cooler. Holds ice well and keeps stuff cold. It sits in the bed of my RZR side by side so it gets a lot of heat of the engine too but still works. The only bad about this size, is no drain. I have to unstrap it and lift it out to drain it. The next size up has a drain, but takes up too much space in the RZR.

I load it with several drinks, usually 32oz Gatorade and 20oz bottles of water, a small plastic container with snacks to keep them dry, a couple sandwiches and a 7lb bag of ice. So not very big if you need real food for a few people or few days.

I prefer Bison coolers, made in Keller, TX.
Good stuff!

KONG Made in Ridgefield WA. I have two, love them. Some innovative ideas. Open when against a wall, side handles turn into a table and the latches are awsome! I do not like Cabeleas, molded in handles are a waste of space.

RTIC is cheaper than all the alternatives, and they have discount sales with fair regularity. Yes, they are made in China, but they are $100 cheaper than anything else, and just as good. We have several in service at work (wildland fire), and they are the business.

I have a 75 qt. Pelican in my truck, and it does good work as well. However, Pelican is just as expensive as Yeti.

Ive got a Pelican 55. Once i got the drain tightened, it has been great. Made in the USA. I bought it as an Amazon warehouse deal for about $220. Expensive for a cooler, but i imagine it will be the last big cooler I ever buy.

Orion .
The most feature rich of all the super-cooler brands out there and made in Tennessee. Owned by Jackson Kayaks, they use the same super durable plastic that river kayaks use, before manufacturing their own coolers they were Orca's original manufacturer.

Orca or Orion.

Both made in TENNESSEE.

I have an Orca but would be happy to have either as I also have four Jackson boats.