Cooler Test Comparison - Surprising Results/Money Saver

[pianoman9701]

Let's see which one keeps ice longer for real.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-TE4RnqT0U

[Bean Counter]

Tagging for later 

[pianoman9701]

The Coleman Extreme 70 qt is on sale at Target for 39.99 right now.

[lokidog]

Summary... buy the Coleman, a fraction of the cost, the same ice performance as the Yeti, and less than half the weight of the Yeti and the other "high end" one.

It would be interesting to have a test where it is 90 degrees and the cooler is opened every ten minutes to see if the performance is the same between brands.

[baker5150]

Summary... buy the Coleman, a fraction of the cost, the same ice performance as the Yeti, and less than half the weight of the Yeti and the other "high end" one.

It would be interesting to have a test where it is 90 degrees and the cooler is opened every ten minutes to see if the performance is the same between brands.

I agree, id really like to see an actual real life scenario.  90 degree heat and direct sunlight, infiltration is a major factor considering the coleman doesn't have a lid gasket, and thinner insulation in areas like the cup holders. 
I think a thermometer inside during the test would have been nice as well.  After 8 days, one cooler could have 33 degree water in it, and anther could have 70 degree water in it.

[pianoman9701]

Summary... buy the Coleman, a fraction of the cost, the same ice performance as the Yeti, and less than half the weight of the Yeti and the other "high end" one.

It would be interesting to have a test where it is 90 degrees and the cooler is opened every ten minutes to see if the performance is the same between brands.

I agree, id really like to see an actual real life scenario.  90 degree heat and direct sunlight, infiltration is a major factor considering the coleman doesn't have a lid gasket, and thinner insulation in areas like the cup holders. 
I think a thermometer inside during the test would have been nice as well.  After 8 days, one cooler could have 33 degree water in it, and anther could have 70 degree water in it.

It doesn't appear that not having a gasket hurt the Coleman Extreme. Conducting the test in hotter weather shouldn't affect the overall ranking much. It'll just shorten the time it takes to melt the ice.  With a difference in price of 10 times, I think it's a no-brainer.

[baker5150]

Summary... buy the Coleman, a fraction of the cost, the same ice performance as the Yeti, and less than half the weight of the Yeti and the other "high end" one.

It would be interesting to have a test where it is 90 degrees and the cooler is opened every ten minutes to see if the performance is the same between brands.

I agree, id really like to see an actual real life scenario.  90 degree heat and direct sunlight, infiltration is a major factor considering the coleman doesn't have a lid gasket, and thinner insulation in areas like the cup holders. 
I think a thermometer inside during the test would have been nice as well.  After 8 days, one cooler could have 33 degree water in it, and anther could have 70 degree water in it.

It doesn't appear that not having a gasket hurt the Coleman Extreme. Conducting the test in hotter weather shouldn't affect the overall ranking much. It'll just shorten the time it takes to melt the ice.  With a difference in price of 10 times, I think it's a no-brainer.

The gasket will definitely be a factor in hotter weather.  The greater the delta T between the air inside and the air outside the cooler, than the faster the air will move between the two.  Its all about containing the different air pressures. 

[pianoman9701]

OK. I'm still not spending $450 on a cooler when I can spend $40 and get a positive result. You can buy a lot of dry ice for the difference.

[baker5150]

OK. I'm still not spending $450 on a cooler when I can spend $40 and get a positive result. You can buy a lot of dry ice for the difference.

HA, Im with ya on that one. 

I think curiosity is getting the best of me.  Maybe ill buy the Coleman and do the test myself, I need a new cooler anyway.

[pianoman9701]

OK. I'm still not spending $450 on a cooler when I can spend $40 and get a positive result. You can buy a lot of dry ice for the difference.

HA, Im with ya on that one. 

I think curiosity is getting the best of me.  Maybe ill buy the Coleman and do the test myself, I need a new cooler anyway.

The 39.99 from Target is online only. If you order something else for $11, shipping is free.

[jasnt]

I'd bet the Coleman is not as bear proof lol but I got the Coleman and it works great!

[WSU]

Coleman Extremes do work well.  The biggest problem I've had is the plug on the end only stays attached for a year or two.  After that you have be very careful not to lose it.

[Bean Counter]

I can envision the expensive coolers doing WORSE if not prepped for use properly. We went camping last weekend and pulled the cheaper Coleman cooler out of the 105-110 degree garage and into the air conditioned house several days prior. Then, the night before the trip, loaded it up with all kinds stuff from the freezer that wasn't going on the trip. We only used frozen 2 liter bottles of water and 1 gallon milk jug. After a 3 day trip the ice was still mostly frozen. I imagine if I had loaded up the cooler straight from the garage the morning of the trip then the more insulation in the cooler the worse the ice would have fared because it would have to overcome more retained heat from the Gawd awful heat in the garage.

[BULLBLASTER]

Thats a great point bean counter. Thats a lot of thermal mass there to cool down with the ice. Last weekend i experiemced that with a cooler and 5 bags of ice. 2 melted almost immediately but the 3 i added later stayed the remainder of the 3 days with minimal melting.

[washelkhunter]

Retailers are now looking to clear their shelves. Coolers are starting to go on discount sale, watch for the flyers in the paper.