And the best quality overall is the YETI Roadie 24. Still, the Orca 40 achieved 3.5 days at food-safe temperatures of sub 40F in our hot room plenty of time for a weekend of camping and most needs. Thanks to the built-in features like a bottle opener, cup holders, lockable lid, fish ruler and wire basket the compact 24-quart IMX is the bestselling cooler countless adventurers rely on. Im rarely carrying just beer, and the YETI is often much more useful for picnics than the above graph suggests. It costs extra, but we bought it, tried it, and now we can't imagine life without it. On the other hand, if you're the type of explorer heading off the grid for extended periods and pushing your gear to the limits, the extra cash you'll drop on the Yeti Tundra 65 is well worth the investment. By adding a small hole in one or both sides of the drain plug, many manufacturers have increased drainage options to make cleaning up after your trip even easier. Despite this oversized stature, it's more portable than we expected, with comfortable handles on each end that make carrying it that much easier. Bring it all along with your handy dandy Rovr RollR. ), or you'll need twice as much ice as food (gonna need a bigger cooler) While all these things will of course help extend the life of your ice and, therefore, the freshness of your food, it's unlikely that you'd actually be able to follow all these rules every time you use it. Additionally, you get bonus storage on the outside of the ice chest with this line's external, velcro-sealed mesh pocket stretching across the entire back of the box. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Portable. Igloo Heavy-Duty 25 Qt BMX Ice Chest Cooler with Cool . The worst in this category is the YETI Roadie 24, though I found through practical use that the YETI is excellent for carrying a variety of goods. From models with "5-Day" in the name to stickers boasting up to 16 days of ice retention, it seems that just about every product out there will knock your socks off. Another metric where Igloo makes big claims. Both the Orca 40 (pictured) and the Orca 58 have a velcro-sealed mesh pocket on the back to help you more easily get everything you need all in one trip. Through numerous rounds of our intensive insulation testing, the Tundra 65 continued to outlast the rest in keeping contents at safe temperatures for consumption. They boast it has "20% thicker foam" and can maintain four days of ice retention, though admit that such results are achieved under their controlled tests. We also aren't in love with the comfort of its narrow, plastic handles in the shadow of some of the broader, more cushioned options utilized by its competitors. As the market continues to grow, many manufacturers have stopped including specific number-of-day claims or have started adding asterisks to those claims that require limiting conditions to exist for them to be met. We overextended hinges, jumped on lids, yanked on latches and handles, and dropped full chests from a carrying height. These two top-scoring options continued to warm at nearly equal rates, with the Tundra 45 topping out at 4.2 days of sub 50 F and the 40-quart Orca 40 crossing that final threshold at 3.8 days. We spent a significant amount of time standing and jumping on these coolers and have no complaints about the BMX 25. We think the handle could be improved a bit by a more forgiving, squishy section, but honestly, the overall larger size and ergonomic shape of the handle and cooler edges make this ice chest a breeze to carry, compared to the other coolers in this review. Comparing results from our insulation testing, showing performance differences between small models with capacities lower than 35 quarts. Though it can't match the premium models' rotomolded insulation prowess and rugged durability, the Coleman clearly shows its worth and value, considering the massive chunk of change you'll save. The Igloo BMX 25 is my top budget pick in the 20-25 quart hard-sided cooler category. It should also be noted that the price of the RTIC 65 tends to fluctuate, so sometimes this cooler is a better deal than others. Many of the options we tested have this feature, including the Pelican Wheeled, Arctic Titan, Xspec, and Igloo IMX. The small, personal-sized models can't keep up with their larger brethren regarding insulation. It's not the prettiest cooler, but it gets the job done. No, the Igloo BMX 25 doesnt have a gasket in the lid. This is one of many chests we tested with a bear-resistance certification from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). Though the number of backpack-style soft coolers has continued to increase, this one is the only one we truly find comfortable to carry for serious and longer distance hikes. Though the Dometic CFX3 doesn't have an energy-saving mode like many other powered coolers, it does have different levels of battery conservation that ensure it won't prevent you from starting your car in the morning. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Many competitors have visible screws holding on the latches (Kenai 65) or hinges (Igloo BMX 25, Coleman Xtreme 70, and others), rope ends and knots visible (RTIC, Engel, and others), or even tiny plastic ridges leftover on edges from the manufacturing process (Yeti Tundra models). Your level of enthusiasm for using a product can be affected by small details. They combine a rubber latch for tightness and security with a plastic locking mechanism that makes them a breeze to use and requires much less brute strength than any of the 100% rubber latches demand. A certification from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee verifies that the product in question has been tested by said committee and meets minimum standards for design and structural standards that are considered "bear-resistant" by a team of grizzly bear experts. The Orca 58 and 40 are those coolers. While most of the Orca 40's competitors include some sort of rubber seal around the lid, this is one of the very few that actually creates an airtight seal, with a thick tube that squishes flat when closed, filling in gaps, and a cleverly welded-shut seam (rather than the taped-over gap we see in so many others). The Xspec's dimensions are right in the sweet spot of being shallow enough to find the last can of your favorite brew, tall enough to bring along a 2L of soda upright, and narrow enough to carry by yourself, all while still boasting a 61 quart capacity. If you prefer thicker, sturdier latches and don't mind the extra muscling they require to operate, the Orca 58 and Orca 40 both have brawny rubber T-grips (in the shape of orca tails) that practically exude security and confidence. I made a special note of when the temperature crossed the 40-degree and 50-degree marks (safe internal temperature for meats, and the limit at which beer ceases to be frosty). We started in the lab with rigorous insulation testing and continued assessments through a wide range of real-world uses. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. The drain plug isn't the only factor that makes emptying water easy or annoying. Little Details That Go a Long Way Im not going to share too many details about industrial plastic production because thats super boring, but there are a few key differences between blow-molded construction and the popular rotomolded construction that YETI, RTIC, and many other brands use. How many cans does the Igloo BMX 25 hold? However, the rubber latches are a bit on the soft side and could be damaged eventually by temperature, sunlight, or pulling too hard, though they did fine during our testing. The corners unclip, allowing the top to open quite far for swift loading and locating items. The Engel and Tundra 65 both are relatively portable as well; their combined overall shapes and mid-50-quart capacities make finding what you're looking for easier. After years of regular use, this durably constructed soft-sided model looks and works just about the same as the day we first bought it. The world of coolers is a vast and variable market, and the BMX 25 threads the needle in the middle. We wish it had exterior pockets. The results of our insulation tests might shock you. Despite these few minor gripes, we love the all-around size, feel, and performance of the Orca 40 as the best mid-sized option on the market today. A free app on your phone lets you easily control and monitor your powered cooler without having to get out of your sleeping bag or camping chair. This review covers 16 top ice chests available today we bought and tested side-by-side. However, many parks still require the use of bear lockers, regardless of what kind of gear you're using. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. If you're dreaming of a cold, refreshing beverage at the top of that peak you just summited, the IceMule Pro is the backpack cooler that can make those dreams come true. A reasonably compact cooler, the Engel isn't terrible to carry if it's not loaded down, though the hard plastic hand grips aren't our favorite. We are a bit disappointed to have measured this large model with "65" in the name at just 56 quarts, but our testers ended up appreciating this surprisingly useful size more than the models that are actually 65 quarts. A low and long model is easy to find things in but harder for one person to carry. Still, this large and heavy model is not the easiest to transport. Yeti also continues to diversify the colors and personalization options available for this cooler, providing more choices to match your style better. It's built to be a seat when you finally reach your destination (Yeti even sells a seat cushion to go with it, though we haven't tried that out). All trademarks property of their respective owners If you just want a cooler that works and you dont care about the bells and whistles, the BMX 25 is perfect. The first thing I thought when I saw the Igloo BMX 25 was man, that things ugly.. This bear-resistant box provides top-notch insulation and superb usability that's become our team's go-to companion for longer trips. Even after several years of use, the Tundra 65's latches are virtually the same as the first day we got it. Simply click "User Guide" for more info. Thats right: Cooler Bill. The RovR RollR 60 is easily our rolling favorite. It offers solid insulation to keep your peak-bagging beverages chilled until you reach the summit and an easy roll-top design that's beyond simple to use. But not all features, add-ons, and extras are created equal, and their value may depend on how and where you intend to use your gear. From being thrown into vehicles, dropped from waist height, jumped on by a 200 lb tester, dragged across hot surfaces, yanked on, jerked around, and otherwise abused, these chests have seen it all. The most obvious feature of the BMX 25 is the inches and centimeter approximate measurements right across the top of the lid to help measure the (surely impressive) size of the fish you may be catching while using this little chest. The Xspec and Roadie 24 are also notable for innovative and fairly effortless latch experiences. The beach trip. We found these two features to be very handy in countless situations. The Coleman Xtreme and Pelican coolers have leashes attaching their drain plugs to the body of the chest. Many models accomplish this by having two sets of handlesone indented in the sides of the chest for single-person lugging and a second set of mobile handles that extend above the top of the chest for two-person toting. In the chart above you can really see how much the Igloo BMX 25 outperforms in this category, with a space efficiency ratio of 1.48 (compared to second-best RTIC 20 with a 1.2). 5. It's also narrow enough for a single person to load into a truck. This metric is also the source of a lot of really extraordinary claims from manufacturers. Write Review. If you're interested in a smaller capacity option, we're big fans of the exceptionally useful 40-quart volume and compact shape of the Orca 40. While the YETI Roadie 24 has more insulating power, I think the RTIC 20 is more than enough to keep your goods cold for a weekend and the value-for-money is phenomenal. No problem with the Rovr RollR. Still, despite the thinner plastic, the Igloo is still a tough cooler and Im sure you could put it through a beating and itll come out fine. Maggie has been playing and guiding in the outdoors for over fifteen years, from backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail to kayaking the Caribbean. We also wish there were leashes for the drain plugs, and there isn't a dry bin included (it's sold separately at a low price). That said, it lags a little in the insulation department compared to some intense rivals, which is likely due to the imperfect seal between the top of the body and lid. All trademarks property of their respective owners Just as its name suggests, this little box has proved itself to be our go-to road trip companion. We think the latches are a bit stiff to manipulate but can become easy to learn with some practice. Recently I've been shopping for wheeled coolers, and considering the Trailmate. No ads. The. Igloo BMX 25 Heavy Duty 23L Cool Box. jail view madison county alabama How many YETI cooler colors are there now? It's also treated with UV inhibitors to prevent materials from degrading from long-term sun . Below, we discuss our test results and which models stand out in each area. The Orca models we've tested prove themselves not only to be durable, but to look clean, polished, and put together as well. Large capacity? You can also read my review of the Roadie 24 here. By AndoAndes - Day Tours. And even while cooling, it draws just 50.7 watts, which is on the low end of powered coolers we tested. The plastic is thinner and the manufacturing method allows for sharper corners, so theres more internal space to go around. A well-performing, personal-sized cooler for a fraction of the price of its competition, This tough little cooler surprised us with its long-lasting, thick-walled insulation, shockingly low weight, and cost that's a fraction of the competition. Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 16.34 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue Heavy duty blow-molded construction with reinforced base for increased strength and protection. Yet, because it's so small (relatively speaking), we hardly miss those extra features. Lightweight Durability - Its injection-molded design is super durable with amazing ice retention but weighs 40% less than coolers with similar performance. Camping -> IMX; Beach/Pool/Neighbors -> Trailmate; The only exception I experienced in Santiago was the BIP card, which requires cash for some reason. The Tundra(s), RTIC, Engel, Arctic Titan, Orca(s), Kenai, Xspec, and RovR all have this handy dual drain hole feature. No bottle opener or can holder, though it does come with a three-year manufacturer's warranty, which is a nice safety net just in case. Those things cost more than a few bills, now. We ran and re-ran insulation tests under controlled but harsh laboratory conditions. In terms of ice retention, Igloo quote 4 days at 90oF, which is pretty impressive and means that you can use this cooler . Theres no drain spigot, but I doubt youll find yourself wanting one with a cooler this sizeits small enough that you can generally pick it up and tip excess water out on your own. Take a load off your mind -- and maybe your wallet -- with the RTIC. Lastly, the bike attachment accessory is seriously impressive. The inside of this cooler is also decently spacious for its size and can fit 34 cans if you only add a little bit of ice around the sides, and easily accommodates an upright standard-sized wine bottle. The internal temperature of the goods I measured when doing my insulation test rose about 40 degrees at 68 hours, and above 50 degrees at 78 hours. No ads. Even just a small drainage channel allows the opening to be below the floor of the chest, making it easier to effortlessly empty it after an outing. It lasted 2.8 days in keeping its contents under 40 F and just a few minutes shy of 3 full days under 50 F. Not far behind, the Igloo BMX 25 also scores well in this arena. Igloo IMX White 24 qt Cooler . We compare YETI, RTIC, Igloo, ORCA, and Pelican to see which of their 20 qt coolers is the best. She spent eight years at Iowa State University completing two science degrees and teaching numerous college science courses, so she has a comprehensive understanding of the importance of rigorous and scientific testing processes. We are impressed with the insulation performance of this rather inexpensive product. A comparison of results from our insulation testing of coolers 55 quarts and larger. If you're looking for a darn good cooler but don't need it to withstand being filled with fireworks, tossed off a cliff, or chewed on by a bear, we think the Igloo BMX is a quality performer and a great value. The Roadie 24 has plastic and rubber latches similar to the Xspec, but they're both exceptionally easy to use, requiring less finagling and feeling much stronger overall. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Mid-sized models offer a middle ground between the many large options that can often be overkill for a simple picnic or road trip but offer more storage space than the small personal chests. The Igloo BMX 25 (represented by the green line), was consistently lagging behind the other coolers throughout the 96-hour test. The Roadie is not airtight or leakproof there is a sizeable gap where the ends of the rubber seals meet that's only covered by a piece of fabric tape. Our bestselling BMX coolers have a durable, feature-loaded design and advanced insulation for extended ice retention, making them the perfect go-to rugged cooler for any outdoor adventure, whether you're camping, road tripping, fishing or just chilling out back. $150.00. Of course, thats 150% of the price of the Igloo, but Im willing to pay that for the style and build quality. While competitors may point to this as a downside (more maintenance, the potential for flats, etc. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. We also considered the overall shape and size of each competitor as part of its usability score. Needing a smaller volume option for day trips, we recently acquired the IMX 24Qt cooler to see how the offering from the mainstream brand performs in comparison to the high-end models. Whether you're setting out on a road trip or a hunting trip, we can help you choose your perfect icebox. All in all, this big cooler bag is our favorite thanks to excellent insulation and great features like rounded handles and a removable bottle opener. Of the options we tested with a bear-resistance certification from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee ( IGBC ) inhibitors prevent... 'S go-to companion for longer trips long model is not the easiest to transport over fifteen years, backpacking. 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