I cannot compare them to other brands, but I have been pleased with my Bison. I think it's more likely to get stolen than wear out.
s.

Another vote for Bison. I have their 50 qt and their small soft side cooler. Both are very high quality, made in the USA, and reasonably priced. Orion looked cool but I couldn’t figure out what it did for $150 better than my Bison.

Those Orca coolers, and products in general, look pretty cool.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Huffman:
I've got an Ozark Trail from Walmart that is a copy of the Yeti. I have the small one, I think it's 26 quart, and it cost me $74 ...

I'm not criticizing you. I've purchased plenty of Ozark Trail mugs and stuff, myself. Not-to-mention God knows how much other Chinese-made stuff. But I'm going to try to call a halt to that.

I'd sure like to see American manufacturers get more competitive, but I do know this: Buying all this Chinese-made crap has got to stop.

The Chinese have designs on the world, which they are clearly demonstrating in the South China Sea and with their aircraft carrier build. We're financing those ambitions.

Going forward: I'm going to try hard to either buy American, some other non-Chinese-made brand, or do without.

Yeah, I know: "Good luck with that."

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Huffman:
I've got an Ozark Trail from Walmart that is a copy of the Yeti. I have the small one, I think it's 26 quart, and it cost me $74 ...

I'm not criticizing you. I've purchased plenty of Ozark Trail mugs and stuff, myself. Not-to-mention God knows how much other Chinese-made stuff. But I'm going to try to call a halt to that.

I'd sure like to see American manufacturers get more competitive, but I do know this: Buying all this Chinese-made crap has got to stop.

The Chinese have designs on the world, which they are clearly demonstrating in the South China Sea and with their aircraft carrier build. We're financing those ambitions.

Going forward: I'm going to try hard to either buy American, some other non-Chinese-made brand, or do without.

Yeah, I know: "Good luck with that."

Ensigmatic, thank you. You stated clearly and succinctly what the crux of the issue is.

Apart from electronics, pretty much every product you use or buy can be sourced from other countries.

Yes, they may be more expensive, but we buy too much unneeded stuff anyway. Instead of 20 pairs of socks, buy 8 American made (Darn Tough, for example) which are guaranteed... forever!

quote:

Originally posted by Brett B:
Another vote for Bison. I have their 50 qt and their small soft side cooler. Both are very high quality, made in the USA, and reasonably priced. Orion looked cool but I couldn’t figure out what it did for $150 better than my Bison.

Features.
I liked Orion because of it's features. The corner bottles openers, no more searching for a bottle opener or, fumbling into your shorts to find it. The track rail on the side with the variety of accessories; the side table is a really, really useful add-on. The multiple tie-off points make securing in a truck, boat or, kayak a whole lot easier. Most coolers have maybe two or, four points/areas you can use to secure, Orions are all around.

If what you're looking for is simply a cooler that keeps items cool for a long time, there's a lot of choices at 'reasonable prices'. Use it enough you'll amortize it's costs. This is an interesting time, coolers have gotten heavier but, perform better, with better features and domestically made.

If I ever had to replace my 54 quart stainless steel Coleman, I would have draw straws due to the vast field of good cooler products out there.

They're all going to cool to my satisfaction, but ruggedness and features are what would get me to part with my money.

I was watching several youtube videos on different brands, and the Orions fit the bill pretty well. Still, those retro Colemans look pretty cool if I went nostalgic.

Features

https://permafrostcoolers.com/

Made in Montana.

If you're concerned about which country a product is made, you should dig a step deeper and identify where the company sources their material.

You will likely find, for example, your shiny new widget which is made from aluminium and in Tennessee has its material sourced from China.

Likewise what you find a product made in China or Mexico it has its material sourced from another country. If 80% of a Chinese made product has material sourced from the USA which is then sold in the USA, which country made out?

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
If you're concerned about which country a product is made, you should dig a step deeper and identify where the company sources their material.

You will likely find, for example, your shiny new widget which is made from aluminium and in Tennessee has its material sourced from China.

Likewise what you find a product made in China or Mexico it has its material sourced from another country. If 80% of a Chinese made product has material sourced from the USA which is then sold in the USA, which country made out?

Not knowing anything about manufacturing:

#1. Isn’t most of the value in manufacturing in the conversion of raw material to finished product? I.e. your iPhone could contain iron mined in Chile etc, but Foxconn in China which makes the thing captures most of the manufacturing value. (Apple, which retails it captures even more when it sells it at the Apple Store, but that’s not manufacturing value).

#2. You can’t control global sourcing chains, and information is limited. You can identify where a product is made/assembled fairly readily.

Someone makes a rotomolded cooler that has removable, freezable containers in the corners. You fill the containers with water and freeze it before you load your cooler. Solid ice lasts much longer than ice cubes.

I can't remember the company name, but I'm wanting to buy one.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
#2. You can’t control global sourcing chains, and information is limited. You can identify where a product is made/assembled fairly readily.

This ^^^^^

All you can do is act on what you do know. So if you do know it's made in China, perhaps try to find something as good or better that's made elsewhere?

Why do so many high end coolers do not come with wheels? Especially in the larger sizes.

These things are heavy and bulky as they are without being loaded.

https://www.grizzlycoolers.com/

I have 2 of these coolers. good quality and made in the USA

My brother has an RTIC. Half the price as Yeti, same performance, none of the bullshit.

I love this thread. I'll definitely be investing in a "super-cooler" in the Spring and wasn't gonna buy a stoopid Yeti anyway.

The Orions are totally bad-ass...I just can't see paying that price for a cooler. However, "Permafrost" looks like the Goldilocks one for me. Some of the looks and features similar to the Orion, awesome price!

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:


, but we buy too much unneeded stuff anyway. Instead of 20 pairs of socks, buy 8 American made (Darn Tough, for example) which are guaranteed... forever!

So just how many feet do you have, anyway?

Unless I overlooked it, I didn’t see Engel mentioned. One of my buddies does some catering and turned me on to them. I especially like the latches.

quote:

Originally posted by pawprintsdoc:
Unless I overlooked it, I didn’t see Engel mentioned. One of my buddies does some catering and turned me on to them. I especially like the latches.

They aren’t bad, but made in Thailand, at a price comparable to domestic coolers.