Insulated Coolers for Great ICE Retention
The Best Hard Shell Coolers are also found to be called high-end coolers because the price reflects the design construction, size, durability, and cost. Why are these hardshell coolers so pricy? Well, the Roto-Molded Design and Extra Thick Insulation are why! The rotational molded hard exterior shell and dense insulation with thicker walls keep the outside temperatures from influencing the interior temperatures. Our Shaggy Outdoor Team has researched twelve of these Roto Molded Hard Shell coolers and has provided a brief review of the brand and features.
If you’re looking to keep your food and drinks cold and ice in your cooler over the next 5-7 days, check out these neoprene sealed, bear, and UV resistant coolers.
If you are looking for a convenient cooler that you can take to the beach and on your next hiking trip check out our review of the Best Backpack Coolers on the Market.
Before we start walking you through the Best Hard Shell Coolers on the market, here is a summary of how to Maximize your ice in ANY cooler.
- Pre-Chill/Freeze Everything – Including the Cooler – HOW DO I DO THIS? Easy just toss in 1-2 bags of ice into the cooler the evening before you plan to pack the cooler. This will allow it time to cool down. Don’t put room temp drinks in the hot cooler with a new bag of ice and expect it to last 5 – 7 days. This just won’t happen.
- Use Lots of Ice – Yes use the ice and KEEP the water to help keep the cooler cool. Once the temperature of the cooler has gone down then drain the water and add more ice. This second or third bag with retain the ice much longer and keep your food cool for your trip.
- Keep the Cooler Lid Closed – yes this is a tough one, but you need to remember every time the lid opens the air influences the temp inside the cooler.
Yeti Cooler
Made in the U.S.A. – Tundra Coolers and LoadOuts
A Yeti Cooler is a lot like other Yeti products you may have heard of. They are durable from the base through the latches to survive whatever Mother Nature throws at them. They come with solid lids with an easy hooking design either two dropdown latches or one stainless steel latch in the middle
Ice retention for YETI is based on several factors. But one common factor is the design and 3 inches of polyurethane foam insulation. The freezer-style sealing gasket and dual latches keep the cool temperatures inside while the cooler is closed.
Choosing the right size Tundra Cooler may be your toughest decision. YETI provides twelve different Tundra model sizes from a Roadie 24 through a 350. For your commercial offshore fishing teams, the Tundra 350 may be your best choice to keep all those fish fresh.
Tundra and Roadie Hard Coolers by Yeti are designed to stand up to the bears in the wild. The coolers need to be locked with approved bear-proof locks to be certified bear-proof.
See More Features on Yeti Coolers and Pricing in our Review – Click Here
Features:
- Ice Life: Five to fourteen days – according to unreported users
- Hot Food Life: Five to fourteen days
- Number of Styles: Three
- Warranty: YETI Tundra has a five-year warranty
Canyon Coolers
A Canyon Cooler comes with intense insulation in an easy-to-pack square or rectangle. They have one-piece construction that ensures the longevity of the cooler for a lifetime of use. The square design ensures you can easily fit the coolers in the back of a jeep or behind a seat.
The coolers feature thick insulated walls and a rubberized seal. Locking hinges ensures your cooler will stay cold and keep your food and drink cold. The coolers come with such a tight seal that they guarantee your ice will keep anywhere from five to seven days, depending on outside temperature and where you store it.
See More Features on Canyon Coolers and Pricing in our Review – Click Here
Features:
- Ice Life: Eight to Eleven Days
- Hot Food Life: N/A
- Number of Styles: Three
- Warranty: Lifetime
RTIC Coolers
An RTIC Coolers feature impact protection and long-term ice. The coolers make good companions for multiple types of camping or hunting trips as they survive rough treatment in the woods or mountains well. They can be as small or as large as your family and friends require.
The RTIC coolers have integrated locking systems that ensure your coolers are tightly sealed. They come with anchor sites for tie-downs on for the back of a jeep or boat and non-slip feet, so they do not slide around in the back of a truck bed. You also can keep ice mostly frozen for up to ten days, depending on weather conditions and the placement of the cooler.
Features:
- Ice Life: up to 11 Days – based on a private test
- Hot Food Life: N/A – many roto coolers can keep your food warm
- Number of Styles: Three
- Warranty: Lifetime
Kong Coolers
Made in the U.S.A.
See More Features on KONG Coolers and Pricing in our Review – Click Here
Kong Coolers have extreme reinforcement for withstanding the forces of nature from extreme temperatures to rain and hail. The coolers come with special certifications for use in bear country, so you can be secure in the knowledge your food is safe from bears breaking into your cooler.
The Kong Coolers are flexible in the design, so you can add and remove section dividers for storage and extra accessories to help make your cooler fit your adventure. Rigid padded handles make moving the cooler easier on your hand while the coolers have super-insulated seals using gasket and custom latches.
Features:
- Ice Life: – Private reviews have ice up to 9 days depending on cooler size and outside temperature
- Hot Food Life: N/A – many roto coolers can keep your food warm
- Number of Styles: Four
- Warranty: Lifetime Limited Warranty
Pelican Cooler
Made in the U.S.A.
Pelican Coolers come with large locks and sturdy feet that can grip the ground and backs of pickups or jeeps. The coolers have lock hasp and stainless-steel plates. They have large seals that grip the lid and prevent heat from penetrating the seals and spoiling your food.
The coolers have integrated cup holders and a built-in bottle opener, so you can find preparation for anything you choose to do. Any ice you put in the cooler will be long-lasting. The manufacturers have high standards for performance, durability, and ergonomic design.
Features:
- Ice Life: Up to Eight Days
- Hot Food Life: N/A – many roto coolers can keep your food warm
- Number of Styles: Nine
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Bison Cooler
Made in the U.S.A.
A Bison Cooler comes with solid and sturdy latches and reinforced handles. The latches are rubber and designed to hook below the rim of the cooler onto the top of the cooler. The cooler has an oversized drain plug to help you clean the cooler out when you are through using it.
Skid-resistant feet keep your cooler in place on the back of a boat or jeep. The lid comes with a lock, so you can ensure no one can open the lid without your knowledge. The added feature also helps keep out animals that can open lids.
Features:
- Ice Life: up to five days
- Hot Food Life: N/A – many roto coolers can keep your food warm
- Number of Styles: One
- Warranty: Five Year Limited Warranty from Date of Purchase
Grizzly Coolers
Made in the U.S.A.
Grizzly Coolers come in various styles and configurations that you can select to fit your adventure. They have similar construction with rubber latches that are easy to open by hand, though not easy enough to open on their own accidentally. Grizzly coolers are molded LLDPE plastics that make the walls thick for long-term durability and increased functionality.
The coolers come with pressure injection of polyurethane foam that is at least two inches thick on the sides and back. You can lock your cooler to help prevent bears or other animals from easily opening them, and the hinges have reinforcement with an integrated interlocking design that can help ensure the security of the hinges.
Features:
- Ice Life: Independent study shows Grizzly Coolers can last anywhere from 3-7 days
- Hot Food Life: N/A – Many roto coolers can keep your food warm
- Number of Styles: Six
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty
K2 Coolers
K2 coolers come with a long-term design to help your ice and food stay cold for as long as you need them to. The coolers are one-piece coolers with molded construction that ensures the top and the bottom sections of the cooler match and fight tightly together. The roto-molded construction helps make the coolers tough and durable.
The coolers are UV resistant to help extend the life of your ice as well as the extra insulation injected into the walls, back, and sides. The coolers lock with lid latches that create a tight seal that latches into a molded locking design.
Features:
- Ice Life: N/A – many roto coolers can hold ice up to seven days depending on conditions
- Hot Food Life: N/A – many roto coolers can keep your food warm
- Number of Styles: Eight
- Warranty: Limited Seven Year Warranty
Igloo Coolers
Made in the U.S.A.
Igloo coolers come with universal designs to ensure the lid stays sealed with rubber hooks for latches. The playmate coolers have the traditional sliding top, which is large enough for a six-pack and some light snacks. Igloo coolers have multiple choices for style and shape with durable, long-lasting designs that come with wheels or sturdy carrying handle depending on the type of cooler.
You can select your cooler by the number of quarters or the features you require, such as a drain plug or tie-down loops. Some of the styles of the cooler also come with UV inhibitors to help extend the life of your ice.
Features:
- Ice Life: N/A
- Hot Food Life: N/A
- Number of Styles: Eight
- Warranty: Limited Warranty
Coleman Coolers
Made in the U.S.A.
Coleman coolers come with unique ways to select the right cooler for your needs. You can select your cooler for cold retention from one day up through seven days. The coolers get larger by the amount of ice you can add and the increase in size. Your Coleman cooler can hold the temperature from one to seven days, depending on the size of the color and outside temperatures.
The coolers come in multiple styles and configurations for latching, carrying, and rolling. Some styles of their coolers come with locks, while others have cup holders. You can select the cooler that fits your adventure.
Features:
- Ice Life: Up to Seven days
- Hot Food Life: N/A
- Number of Styles: Eight
- Warranty: Limited Warranty from date of purchase
Ozark Trail Coolers
Ozark Trail Coolers features premium insulation in their coolers that hold the temperatures down. All the Ozark Trail coolers come with airtight seals around the lid to prevent any cool from leaking out or heat from leaking in. The coolers come with different styles of latches to keep the lid tight, including T-handle latches that are easy to hook and go.
Some styles of Ozark trail colors come with anti-skid bottoms and wheels. There are options for wire baskets and drink holders. Each style includes heavy-duty handles, so you do not need to worry about breaking them, and some styles come with bear-resistant certifications.
Features:
- Ice Life: N/A
- Hot Food Life: N/A
- Number of Styles: Six
- Warranty: Contact manufacturer for warranty
Orca Coolers
Made in the U.S.A.
Orca Coolers come in a multitude of colors with sturdy pull-down latches and a front lock that ensures no animals get into your food. Each cooler comes with sturdy anti-slip feet that can grip the ground or the back storage area of a car. They come with a large stainless-steel handle or extendable handles that is ergonomic in design and has a cushioned handgrip to make them easier to carry.
The lids feature tight lid gaskets that keep a tight seal on your food. The entire cooler uses an integrated insulation system that is roto-molded and durable. When you clean out the cooler, you can use the easy-flow drainage spout at the base of the coolers.
Features:
- Ice Life: Ten Days
- Hot Food Life: N/A
- Number of Styles: Eight
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty with proof of purchase
Final thoughts
Coolers are for more than just camping, hunting, or fishing trips. A cooler can become whatever you need it to be wherever you happen to be. It can be a table, chair, or footstool. Building a cooler sturdy not only enables you to travel with it securely, but you can use it for multiple purposes.
The right cooler extends beyond the original purpose. You should find one that you can see yourself using for use. Whether you like to go camping or travel by car to new destinations, the right cooler can fit easily into the back of your car for every adventure.
Coolers will keep your food cold for anywhere from a day to over ten days, depending on the brand you select. Make sure you read reviews to ensure you are getting the product you want for the duration you require it. You will not regret your decision if you take your time and research the final product you purchase.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
Yeti, Official Brand Website
Canyon Coolers, Official Brand Website
RTIC Coolers, Official Brand Website
KONG Coolers, Official Brand Website
Pelican Cooler, Official Brand Website
Igloo Coolers, Official Brand Website
Orca Cooler, Official Brand Website
Coleman Coolers, Official Brand Website
Bison Coolers, Official Brand Website
Grizzly Coolers, Official Brand Website
K2 Coolers, Official Brand Website