Are Yeti Coolers Worth The Money?

[RoLo]

$400 for a cooler?  I must have misread that.   I didn't pay that much for any of my first 3 refrigerators.  The ones I get free from my vet or doctor that shipped meds are more than good enough for anything I'll ever need one for.  $400???   I think I'm safe from the Cooler Monkey.

 

Hmph, this does not bode well for the future of Yeti.

Yeti 'must' sell lots of coolers just to pay for their TV air time 

 

Roger

[nosdog2]

I can't see myself spending that much on a cooler, but like others have said I am sure they are nice.

 

I have two Coleman 82 quart (they are called Xtreme coolers now) that I have used on dozens of hunting/fishing/family trips and several backyard BBQ's over the past 5-6 years since I purchased them at Sam's club.   

 

I am not easy on stuff and the only things that have broken are the hinge locks and coleman sent me my first sent for free after an email and a second set I purchased for a few bucks.  They have held up pretty well considering the trips sliding around in the back of the pick up and drug across the ground.

 

True story bro:   I went on a week plus long DIY Elk hunt to Wyoming in 2010, I packed frozen meals and food for the week when I left my house in Maryland, drove to Buffalo, NY and picked up my hunting buddy.   We left the next day and drove to WY, hunted though the week, temps ranged from 100 during the drive, to mid 70's during the day most of the week while we hunted.  All our food was frozen as we took it out and still was able to dump out ice at the end of the week for the trip home.  I used those coolers to hold the elk meat and hide for the trip home, all the meat was stacked in and then covered with a layer of cardboard and then dry ice.   My meat was frozen when I reached back to my place in MD.

 

And Coleman coolers are also made in the USA, Kansas I believe.

[Jrob78]

If I needed a cooler every day or needed to keep ice frozen for extended periods of time, I would buy one.  If you need it, it's definitely worth the money.  I would also research and see if any other coolers are as good as the Yeti for less money before I bought one.  There are several companies making that type of cooler now but I don't if they're as good.

[that possum]

If I needed a cooler every day or needed to keep ice frozen for extended periods of time, I would buy one.  If you need it, it's definitely worth the money.  I would also research and see if any other coolers are as good as the Yeti for less money before I bought one.  There are several companies making that type of cooler now but I don't if they're as good.

Brute, actually called Bison Coolers are made in the US...Texas I think. And generally run about a hundred bucks less than an equally sized yeti. They're a fine cooler too. And just as durable.

Pelican is also a good brand but to me their latches feel like they could easily snap but I haven't heard of one actually breaking.

[Redlinerobert]

Just visited the Brute website.  The 100 is the same price as my 75.  The hauler is cool too. 

[NathanW]

I have used the smaller Yetis. They are heavy, dense walls, great latches, will probably last forever. I was not overly impressed by their R-value when compared to cheap coolers. I have a 40 dollar Coleman XTREME (Which I hate) that holds ice longer. My biggest gripe about the Yetis (and this will sound really pathetic) is that it takes a little more effort to open close properly and can get annoying when using as a beer cooler. But really the lid is heavy enough that you don't really need to latch it every time but its most peoples second nature to do so. 

 

My favorite cooler however is the big white 150 quart Igloo cooler. About $80.00 but you have to replace the latches with the metal latches they sell which put you out another $25.00. They also sell metal hinges but I have not had any problem with the plastic hinges. Holds ice pretty good for the size and latches are simple. Versus the $650.00 price tag on the Yetis I will stick with the Igloo.  

[Redlinerobert]

Coolers are no different now than cars.  Do you want a Honda or a BMW?

[K_Mac]

Coolers are no different now than cars. Do you want a Honda or a BMW?

I don't really want either. Whether something is worth the price depends on many things. That something is arguably the best doesn't mean it's worth the price. I have to make my decisions based on value and budget, and I do understand there is a difference between price and value. While a Yeti cooler may be the best, but it is certainly not worth the cost to me.

[HoosierHawgs]

I'm buying one for "My outside me, the .e that finds my dinner by finding my dinner's dinner." Lol. Seriously though, I'm contemplating between Yeti, Engel, and K2. I'm taking a nice long camping trip, and it would be nice to have for that, while canoeing, and taking next year. I only need a really small one though, so shouldn't be that bad money wise.

[wytstang]

There is always the option of beefing up a standard cooler (Yetified if you will)

[mrmacwvu1]

My brother won a yetti in a raffel. He was so proud of it. When I met him at the mountains he was like this thing will hold a case of beer for a week. I looked at him and asked when was the last time we were together that a case of beer lasted more then a day. Kind of put a damper on his cooler.

[snowy]

I go to deer camp to work in the summer and spend a couple of days there. It's hot, I bought an Engels 55 Qt and Artic Ice packs. Now my food is not floating in water, and the beer and drinks stay cold, not cool, but COLD, for the entire time in the heat.

 

CONS: It is heavy as hell.

 

If I'm going for just the day or tailgating I use my Coleman Extreme, lighter and much cheaper, and the Ice last a long time, not as good as the Engels, but great for the day trip.

[snowy]

I'm buying one for "My outside me, the .e that finds my dinner by finding my dinner's dinner." Lol. Seriously though, I'm contemplating between Yeti, Engel, and K2. I'm taking a nice long camping trip, and it would be nice to have for that, while canoeing, and taking next year. I only need a really small one though, so shouldn't be that bad money wise.

Hoosier, I have an Engels and a K2, The love the Engel, but the latches are a pain in the butt, The K2 is about the same, but the latches are the same type as the Yeti, much easier and more durable.

[HoosierHawgs]

Hoosier, I have an Engels and a K2, The love the Engel, but the latches are a pain in the butt, The K2 is about the same, but the latches are the same type as the Yeti, much easier and more durable.

Ok, thanks for the heads up.

[jbsoonerfan]

I have 2, a 45 and a 20. They are nice, but when sitting out in the boat or the back of the truck, I can't really say they are that much better than cheaper coolers. I could have bout a Citica to fish with, but got an Aldebaran instead. Some things are only worth it if you can afford it.

[*Hootie]

Nope.

Hootie

[Al Wolbach]

I bought a Pelican because it was a little cheaper than a Yeti. Works very well but is also heavy. It was worth the price to me.....

[NE-KID]

Yes they are. I own two Yeti tumblers and a Yeti Tundra 45 cooler and it works a lot of charm. Make sure you clean/wash it out from each trip you take. I also use the Yeti ice packs as well.

[AKMully]

I recently purchased a Coho cooler from Costco.  Very similar design to the Yeti soft sided coolers and from what I have read mine works as well as any of them.  I can spend 6-8 hours out with drinks on ice and when I get ready to empty it it's like none of the ice has even begun to melt.  I will vouch for the Yeti can coozie though.  Those things are worth their weight in gold.  They keep a can of beer ice cold for longer than anything I've ever seen before.  

[J Francho]

Fourscore and four years ago....someone was thinking about spending $400 on a cooler.  Look at RTIC.  They're less.

[NYWayfarer]

I have two of the Ozark Trail soft sided coolers from Walmart. They hold ice for 48 hours under normal conditions. They cost a fraction of what a Yeti does.

 

I love my Yeti tumblers, Colster and lowball cup. I have a few Ozark Trail knockoffs that are just as good as well.

[Bluebasser86]

I have a big Ozark Trail/Yeti KO cooler. That thing keeps ice for days, but I bet it weighs at least 25lbs empty. I only paid $70 for it, and the amount of hassle it saves me not having to buy ice every day has made it very well worth the investment to me. No way I'd ever spend what Yeti wants for their coolers though. 

[TnRiver46]

18 hours ago, AKMully said:

I recently purchased a Coho cooler from Costco.  Very similar design to the Yeti soft sided coolers and from what I have read mine works as well as any of them.  I can spend 6-8 hours out with drinks on ice and when I get ready to empty it it's like none of the ice has even begun to melt.  I will vouch for the Yeti can coozie though.  Those things are worth their weight in gold.  They keep a can of beer ice cold for longer than anything I've ever seen before.  

If only it took a long time to drink a beer.....

[Efishin]

18 hours ago, J Francho said:

Fourscore and four years ago....someone was thinking about spending $400 on a cooler.  Look at RTIC.  They're less.

They definitely are something to look at. The cooler market is awfully saturated with competition. A lot of companies to choose from.

[TOXIC]

We use a big Yeti on our week long trip to Michigan.  No cooler is going to perform if you are constantly opening it up to get drinks or whatever.  The Yeti is used to hold our bulk bags of ice.  Other coolers are used to hold drinks and drink ice.  The Yeti will keep ice for the entire week and we don't have to restock it but then again, it is getting opened very sparingly.  For that purpose, yes it is worth the $$.