In episode 12, we got. To do that, I started with a modified version of the ice retention test. And you can find some great lightweight coolers from Igloo for less than $50 if you just want something affordable, definitely check out the budget-friendly options from Igloo. After all, with the quantity of ice being equal, a 75-quart cooler like the Frosted Frog has a bigger job on its hands than the 45-quart RTIC. Tundra Haul weighs 37 lbs when totally empty, and I think the wheels are more a necessity than anything else. The bigger options are just so wide that its not comfortable or easy for one person to carry it, and that doesnt even account for the weight of a fully packed 72-quart plastic cooler. A pair of secondary handles is indented in the cooler's rotomolded body, and the Roadie 24 boasts the same staunch integrated hinge as their other hard-sided models. But if youre prioritizing quality, performance, and convenience over everything else, the Hopper is a great option for you. There are no latches since this is a soft-sided cooler, just a zipper. Are you interested more in premium performance or fun features? It is much better than the Yeti cooler, but the Yeti brand still gets our vote for the best locking mechanism, no doubt. Yeti claims this cooler is "30% better thermally than its legendary predecessor", the Roadie 20. Slotted handle attachment points also function as tie-down points for when you really need it. We are quite partial to rotomolded coolers here. Hover to zoom. (I already have a precise measurement of each cooler's total volume from the earlier described capacity test.) In the end, it turned out to be a fruitful test. On the same spot as the lock slot is a bottle opener so you never have to carry your own bottle opener. For instance, the Bison Gen 2 Cooler goes so far as to advertise itself as an ideal casting platform to stand on during your next fishing trip and even sells nonslip traction mats for the lid in a variety of designs. Then I measured out the exact number of quarts each cooler could hold -- important information to have when you're dealing with large quantities of melted ice. On top of all that, this Igloo cooler boasts swing-up handles on the sides. Its going to be hard and almost certainly not one sided (just like their boxes then). Igloo promises up to 8-day ice retention in a cooler that's 40% lighter than rotomolded ice chests of a similar size. It performs slightly worse than Yetis most expensive option, but it is still capable of keeping your drinks cold for days at a time. Our test results show the Roadie 24 is only about 20% better at insulating than the Roadie 20 (which we previously tested), which is still no small feat. I've worked in many areas, including computer hardware, software, technology, networking, graphic design, instruction, construction, music and even ballroom dancing! If you believe that your copyright has been misused, please provide us with a message stating your position and we will endeavor to correct any misuse immediately. While it does slightly outperform the smaller Yetis in this regard, food lasts over a day and a half longer in the Tundra 65 compared to the IMX. Free shipping for many products! But there is a latching mechanism I've seen that is probably a great middle ground between the rubber latches and ones like you'll find on Magellan Outdoors products. They are reinforced with stainless steel and they feature rubber grips, for comfortable and convenient carrying of the BMX. Its much like what you find on the Yeti Tundra, and it is a very strong type of hinge. Not a dealbreaker, but it does get a bit annoying. It oozes durability from just about every detail and is actually made to be sat on you can even purchase a seat cushion for the top for added comfort. SAVE UP TO 5% See all eligible items and terms. I didn't plan it this way. The closest comparable Yeti product we can compare the Igloo IMX 70-qt cooler to is the YETI Tundra (our review here), while the YETI Roadie (review) would be the closes match to the 24-quart version of the IMX. Our experts test thousands of products each year. The Igloo IMX cooler delivers on its promise: it's lightweight, durable, well made and keeps ice for nearly a week. By Maggie Nichols, Genaveve Bradshaw. The Igloo IMX is one of those coolers. The Igloo IMX is one of those coolers. In fact, we squared them off against another industry leader in Hydro Flask for our Yeti vs Hydroflask feature. I suppose it might be because it is a new product line and Igloo still wants to test it out. But if I'm headed to the beach with the family for a day, I'm probably going to opt for the Igloo. Both brands have excellent products in each of these categories and before you can decide which cooler will work best for you, its important to figure out exactly what you need. Find the best coolers of the bunch based on size, features and, most importantly, how cold they stay over time, and then categorize them in a way that will make it easy for you to find the best cooler for your needs. After 48 hours (72 hours for the largest coolers), I had a nifty graph showing me the temperature inside each cooler on a minute-by-minute basis -- and the difference from cooler to cooler was striking. If you want something you can use occasionally, you dont have to spend a lot of money to get the best cooler that exists. But if you want the absolute best coolers on the market and are fine with spending a lot of money on them, then go with Yeti. We won't accept manufacturer's freebies. The expensive guys? A strong, durable cooler but lightweight cooler, with great ice retention that seems to defy all stereotypes we have about non-rotomolded coolers. It also lacks a drain, though considering its small 24L size, this isn't much of an issue as it can be easily tipped over when you're done using it. Hopefully, they introduce more sizes and colors as time goes by. Its also tethered to prevent loss. Alex is a qualified Mountain Leader, adventure writer and content creator with an insatiable passion for the mountains. Theyre not the most functional features out there, but they certainly make the coolers more interesting. The last time I tested coolers for this list, I had Cabela's 60-quart version of this cooler listed as the best large cooler. Igloo coolers are nowhere near as expensive. Its lowest internal temperature during testing was the coldest, but the real treat was the fact that it held that low level temp for around 20% longer than the next best contender. Show more What is the. But they also expect them to cost more than their competitors. I mean, come on -- the literal last thing you want from your cooler is to get burned by it. One of the best things about this softshell cooler is the presence of external attachment points. Moving on. This detailed comparison can help you make up your mind! Our test results show the Roadie 24 is only about 20% better at insulating than the Roadie 20 (which we previously tested), which is still no small feat. It gave the lowest temperatures in the midsize cooler category, and low enough to play ball with the largest of coolers we tested. The Yeti Roadie 24 is a great size for keeping two people refreshed on a hot beach day. The Igloo Trailmate won't be able to keep up with Yeti when it comes to insulation ability. The Yeti Hopper cooler features closed-cell foam insulation that performs incredibly well. However, even while doing that, they still managed to make a high-quality ice chest that actually does its job well! My favorite is the fact that this cooler has a dry foods basket. The 15-liter capacity of the Playmate is enough to hold 30 small cans of beer, which should be plenty for a day outing. It then held temperatures below 50 degrees for an additional several hours, providing a full three days of chilled beverage temperatures. In fact, Im yet to hear of a certified bear-resistant ice chest that isnt rotomolded. I guess it made us even more fond of it. Compared to larger models with lower surface area to volume ratios, this 68-hour performance may not sound that impressive, but among similarly-sized personal coolers, the Roadie outshines the rest. The Roadie 24 has new, two-part latches that combine a plastic clasp with a rubbery arm that holds the lid tightly shut. Even the lid is fully insulated, so you can be certain that whatever you put inside the cooler will stay chill for hours. Like other coolers of its kind made by Igloo, the IMX has a warranty of 5 year. Being injection-molded doesn't mean that this cooler can't take much beating. I get that a rubber bungee-style latching mechanism is probably very efficient from a cost and maintenance perspective for the manufacturers. That hinge is also self-stopping, which means you can stop the coolers lid at any point without it slamming shut. Head over to Amazon to see all the different sizes these coolers are available in, as well as their prices. Its very affordable, durable, and features excellent insulation that keeps ice frozen for days at a time. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. Meanwhile, for almost half the price, the 55-quart Lifetime High Performance Cooler came in well above spec at 62.4 quarts measured -- and while it didn't hold its ice as long as the RTIC did, it still finished an excellent performer. We have very few complaints about the durability of this mighty little cooler. IMX 24 Qt Cooler. Whether you are trekking gear to the beachfront or headed out for a hiking day, having free hands is always a bonus. The YETI Roadie 24 is a significant improvement over the Roadie 20 in every meaningful way. Surprisingly, or not, brands matter. It comes free with the cooler. Lets get to it: Yeti vs Igloo. Thats the Hopper Flip 8, which weighs less than 3 lbs and is perhaps the best cooler for short one-day adventures. The Igloo BMX 25 held its contents below 40 degrees for 68 hours. Reviews ethics statement. At this price-point, it's a no-brainer. (Bonuses like a cup holder or a bottle opener are important, but the most critical thing a quality cooler does is keep your cold drinks cold.) Learn more here. That's several quarts less than the 45 quarts they spec. There are also stainless steel diamond plates that improve overall toughness and durability, making the cooler more resistant to external factors and damage. It's all more than enough for me to recommend the healthiest possible dose of skepticism if you ever find yourself tempted to back a campaign like that with your cold hard cash. I've been an outdoor enthusiast my entire life. Specifically, I wanted to track the ambient temperature in each cooler, so I spread the ice in each one I tested beneath an elevated jar of propylene glycol solution (watered-down antifreeze) with a temperature probe in it. Our top-performing IMX collection features super durable, affordable coolers that keep drinks and food cold (it's #1 in ice retention within our lineup) during your fun outdoor adventures. Launched by two brothers who found themselves frustrated at the apparent lack of quality particularly in terms of durability of the coolers on the market, they decided to create a cooler for the serious outdoor enthusiast.. Labs Manager / Senior Technical Project Manager. The lid also has a lock slot, in case you would like to secure the contents of your cooler with a padlock. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Our experts tested multiple brands to bring you the best cooler to fit your needs. Given that this one costs less than $200, and is so much lighter, we understand why they didn't make this one rotomolded. The walls feature up to two inches of insulation, which virtually guarantees that ice will stay ice for hours, if not days, in the Tundra coolers. Living up to what we've come to expect of the Yeti hard cooler lines, the Roadie 24 is beefy, sturdy, and solidly constructed. Read our Magellan Outdoors Dual Open 20qt Cooler review. Now, the best thing about this cooler is the price point it retails for about $50, which is absolutely insane for the quality and capacity! I think that the priciest cooler they make is about $250, which is virtually the starting price for most Yeti coolers. Reading other online testimonies about the Roadie 24, this seems to be true of many people's units. As well as coolers, Igloo make a range of drinkware, with bottles, cans, jugs and tumblers. Its their best and most impressive cooler, and with the Haul version, they just added a sturdy set of wheels and a lightweight aluminum handle! It lists out a variety of important metrics for each cooler. On the inside of the cooler is 2-inch thick foam, while the lid has 1.5-inch thick foam insulation to keep your food and drinks cold for a long time. As you can see, the Igloo IMX ice chest is a lower budget option for those who still want a good quality cooler without paying an arm and a leg or for those who look for something lighter, and more portable. Soft-sided coolers, which don't have a specific capacity range, but tend to line up with the same offerings as small or personal-sized coolers. Paired with our test lab facilities, I write about lots of outdoor related things - portable power stations, tools, etc. I also renovate, flip and build houses in my 'spare' time. But I think its worth pointing out that this cooler is engineered so that its best for two people to carry it. With similar rugged construction used across the line of Yeti coolers, the Roadie 24 is . We discussed injection molded coolers vs rotomolded coolers in our post about best lightweight coolers, where the IMX has taken one of the top spots. However, Yeti's options go way up from there, with its biggest cooler being the Tundra 350, which measures 24.75 in. The real deciding factor here is the price. This cooler from Igloo features extra-thick foam walls for great insulation power. The entire point of this list is to make finding the best cooler a little easier. 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