YETI Tundra or Cabelas polar cap?

[dreamunelk]

Last minute cooler issue.  Thinking of making  a mad dash to buy a new cooler.  Wondering if I should pull the trigger on one of the expensive ones.  Spend the whole season at camp with maybe one trip out for ice and other.  If I can get 10 days out of one of these it will be worth it.  Thoughts?

[syoungs]

I'm going to go with the Ozark trail when I go to s rotomolded cooler, if I was going nicer it would be an rtic.

How big are you going? Some of the Coleman and igloo coolers hold ice just as long as the rotomded ones do

[dreamunelk]

100qt plus or minus a few.  Was wondering about the Coleman.

[ghosthunter]

Coleman extreme at wall mart.

Six blocks of ice lasts two weeks.

[biggfish]

I use a 70qt Coleman extreme and if you're not worried about bears getting at it your dollar goes a lot further with size and ice retention vs premium brands.

Sent from my LG-K425 using Tapatalk

[PlateauNDN]

Which ever is cheaper? Name brand isn't always the best.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

You don't need to spend the extra cash for a yeti, lot of other brands out there that offer the same type cooler.  I went with a Kong, made in the us and much cheaper.. They don't have 100 qt coolers though, 70 is the biggest.  Check some of the other brands.

[kselkhunter]

What season?

If you're rifle hunting in November in 40F temps, it really doesn't matter and go for a cheap cooler.  Whatever brand.  Just put frozen jugs of water (2/3 full before you freeze them) in the cooler the day before you plan to leave to regulate it's temp down.   Then fill with your preferred chilling method (frozen ice, cooler packs, etc.) and you're good for a week or more.   

The challenge is if you're an August bear or September archery hunter, and that is really when the higher technology coolers shine.  If on a 10 day hunt in 90F temps, frozen blocks in a Yeti will outperform an Igloo or Coleman.  The insulation is indeed better. 

So decide your priorities and budget accordingly. 

[Kokanee]

If it must be now, and in person, spend the money once and get the Yeti.  If you have some time, get the Rtic.  They are little more than 1/2 the price, but have the same results.  I've gone the inexpensive route in my younger days because I just couldn't justify the higher end gear, but you will be happy you did it.

[dfresh96]

I've been looking at Kong, Cordova, Orca, Yeti or Ozark brands & have friends or family with various 1's...Cordova coolers are locally owned outta eastern Wa...

Just gotta budget for a large 1 as I cant justify buying the smaller sizes...

The large igloo I have now does fine for 5 days in summer with 6 ice blocks or I use the costco milk jugs which fit great & few bags of ice on top...

[Boss .300 winmag]

Coleman extreme at wall mart.

Six blocks of ice lasts two weeks.

 

[syoungs]

Ive got a Coleman extreme, and an igloo that is simmiliar, couldn't imagine needing more then what they offer.
I'm going to get a 72qt Ozark trail rotomolded cooler for shorter trips when I just need to pack food, not animals.

[Tinmaniac]

$500 bucks for a cooler?No way.2 Colemans.One with food and ice.One full of ice and 20 lbs of dry ice.Bring an ice pick .

[fowl smacker]

I've had Coleman extremes and igloo coolers for a long time.  I finally bought an RTIC 2 years ago.  Let me tell you there is absolutely ZERO comparison between the cheap ones and the RTIC.  Me and a buddy also did a side by side, my RTIC, vs his YETI.   After 2 weeks with the same exact amount of ice in them and opening each one twice a day for the same amount of time, the RTIC had 4 1/2 cups more ice left than the YETI.  He bought an RTIC for a 2nd cooler after that.  They were both 70's.   The only down side is the weight.

[elkaholic123]

MALUNA is new to the roto molded market but they are by far the best I believe, I own Yeti and 2 Maluna coolers, they are quite a bit less expensive than Yeti also 
http://maluna.com/

[KFhunter]

MALUNA is new to the roto molded market but they are by far the best I believe, I own Yeti and 2 Maluna coolers, they are quite a bit less expensive than Yeti also 
http://maluna.com/

and on sale

http://maluna.com/product/unhinged70/

[jackelope]

I have a couple RTIC's. I've learned that if you don't take the extra day to cool them down ahead of time, you're basically going to get the same results as a less expensive cooler. Once they're cool, they hold ice a lot longer. If they're not cooled down, there's no point in spending the money.
 

Also the roto-molded coolers are heavy as heck!!

[CaNINE]

I just did a pile of research on this issue. I went with the cabelas polar cap 100 quart. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I have a couple RTIC's. I've learned that if you don't take the extra day to cool them down ahead of time, you're basically going to get the same results as a less expensive cooler. Once they're cool, they hold ice a lot longer. If they're not cooled down, there's no point in spending the money.
 

Also the roto-molded coolers are heavy as heck!!

Cool them down with ice?  Or put them in a freezer?

[PlateauNDN]

I think he means from storage or any place where they were at room temp or above?  

I usually turn hose on and let it run cold then spray spray mine down and let some water build up inside then drain, wide down and start stuffing it with food/drinks and ice.

[jackelope]

I have a couple RTIC's. I've learned that if you don't take the extra day to cool them down ahead of time, you're basically going to get the same results as a less expensive cooler. Once they're cool, they hold ice a lot longer. If they're not cooled down, there's no point in spending the money.
 

Also the roto-molded coolers are heavy as heck!!

Cool them down with ice?  Or put them in a freezer?

Either or.

I have a RTIC 65. WE took it to the fair a few weeks ago. We used it for beverages and lunches and left it in the car the whole time we were there.  It was anywhere from 50-90 degrees the whole time we were there so it got really hot inside the car. I put a 20 pound bag of ice in the first morning. It lasted about a day and a half before it was maybe half gone. At that point I bought another 20# bag of ice cubes. That one lasted the remaining 3 days we were there and there was a lot left at the end. Enough that I took it out and put it back in my garage freezer to be used later. Those last 3 days were the hottest too. My conclusion was that the cooler had the ice in it initially and that cooled it down. The 2nd bag of ice lasted a lot longer in significantly hotter temps(inside the car 80-90 degrees outside) because the cooler was cold from the previous bag.

That's my un-scientific experiment.

[baker5150]

I have a couple RTIC's. I've learned that if you don't take the extra day to cool them down ahead of time, you're basically going to get the same results as a less expensive cooler. Once they're cool, they hold ice a lot longer. If they're not cooled down, there's no point in spending the money.
 

Also the roto-molded coolers are heavy as heck!!

Cool them down with ice?  Or put them in a freezer?

Either or.

I have a RTIC 65. WE took it to the fair a few weeks ago. We used it for beverages and lunches and left it in the car the whole time we were there.  It was anywhere from 50-90 degrees the whole time we were there so it got really hot inside the car. I put a 20 pound bag of ice in the first morning. It lasted about a day and a half before it was maybe half gone. At that point I bought another 20# bag of ice cubes. That one lasted the remaining 3 days we were there and there was a lot left at the end. Enough that I took it out and put it back in my garage freezer to be used later. Those last 3 days were the hottest too. My conclusion was that the cooler had the ice in it initially and that cooled it down. The 2nd bag of ice lasted a lot longer in significantly hotter temps(inside the car 80-90 degrees outside) because the cooler was cold from the previous bag.

That's my un-scientific experiment.

I learned the same thing recently with my RTIC.

Throw a bag or a frozen milk jug in the night before (Milk jug is re-usable) then fill it the next day with the intended items and ice.
Even once cooled down, I didn't need ice for a day trip, kept everything that was already cold, cold.  It wasn't very warm out that day.

[pianoman9701]

Coleman extreme at wall mart.

Six blocks of ice lasts two weeks.

  on sale @1/8th the cost of Yeti.

[7mmfan]

I have a couple RTIC's. I've learned that if you don't take the extra day to cool them down ahead of time, you're basically going to get the same results as a less expensive cooler. Once they're cool, they hold ice a lot longer. If they're not cooled down, there's no point in spending the money.
 

Also the roto-molded coolers are heavy as heck!!

Cool them down with ice?  Or put them in a freezer?

Either or.

I have a RTIC 65. WE took it to the fair a few weeks ago. We used it for beverages and lunches and left it in the car the whole time we were there.  It was anywhere from 50-90 degrees the whole time we were there so it got really hot inside the car. I put a 20 pound bag of ice in the first morning. It lasted about a day and a half before it was maybe half gone. At that point I bought another 20# bag of ice cubes. That one lasted the remaining 3 days we were there and there was a lot left at the end. Enough that I took it out and put it back in my garage freezer to be used later. Those last 3 days were the hottest too. My conclusion was that the cooler had the ice in it initially and that cooled it down. The 2nd bag of ice lasted a lot longer in significantly hotter temps(inside the car 80-90 degrees outside) because the cooler was cold from the previous bag.

That's my un-scientific experiment.

I learned the same thing recently with my RTIC.

Throw a bag or a frozen milk jug in the night before (Milk jug is re-usable) then fill it the next day with the intended items and ice.
Even once cooled down, I didn't need ice for a day trip, kept everything that was already cold, cold.  It wasn't very warm out that day.

   Been pre-cooling my coolers for a long time. I started doing it with my old Igloos a long time ago because it was the only way to keep stuff cold longer. Now that I do it with my RTIC's, it keeps stuff cold for a long time. Frozen milk jugs work awesome.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Sweet, I have thrown small day coolers in the freezer, never tried with the big one.  I think look into this.

[TVHunts]

Coleman extreme at wall mart.

Six blocks of ice lasts two weeks.

  on sale @1/8th the cost of Yeti.

But, not 1/8 of some of the Yeti competitors.

I have a Cabelas polar ice cap 80 and,  65 & 45 RTIC coolers.  I feel they are worth the extra money over time. I don't think I will ever need to replace them in my lifetime and that is worth something to me. Pre-cooling is important with any of them. I have used my RTIC 40 to prevent freezing in single digit temps for days on end for beverages in Eastern way during bird season.  They work well for that as well and it is hard to believe in those kind of temps they can prevent freezing. I personally am sold on them and have given away igloo and other coolers that have caused many a trip to a store for more ice in a couple or few days. 

[jackelope]

Sweet, I have thrown small day coolers in the freezer, never tried with the big one.  I think look into this.

I've thought about this and seen people mention putting their coolers in the freezer. Not sure I could have a whole freezer dedicated to cooling my coolers though.

[Angry Perch]

The gallon square milk jugs from Costco work awesome for ice. 4 of them laying down fit perfectly in my 65 quart Pelican.

[dreamunelk]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.  I pulled the trigger on a Cabelas 80qt.  This will mainly be used for early archery.  I take the whole season off.  This year I may miss one day.  Only time we come out is to get ice and whatever.  While we tent it we do not lack for much, especially food.  So I want something that will keep everything cold for a while.  Steak, smoked brisket, fresh baked apple pie and other wonderful delicacies are often found in our camp.  Some of the young ground pounders who make me think there is hope for hunters often find there way to our camp.  They say it is for advice from us old timers.  We are not fooled.  There timing is always around dinner or breakfast.  Our camp boss always feeds them.  We don't gripe they are more then willing to help the old guys pack an elk out.  If you know where to look you can actually see our camp on google earth.  The tent is a small home when we get through with it.  We have the Coleman extremes and they work good.  Even with care we never get a whole season out of ice.  So we will see.   If I am not happy I will take it back and blast it on here.  If it reduces trips to civilization by one it will pay for itself.
The down side of all this is you introduced me to brands I have never heard of.  That is not good for the wallet.

PS: if there is smoke coming from the smoker everyone will be back to camp early.

[HntnFsh]

They just put that Polar cap on sale for $349. If you didn't get it for that price or better they should make the adjustment for you. Also saw that a guy on Ifish has a brand new one hes selling for $300 if anybody is interested.

[Camo]

I've been debating this for awhile. My issue is the weight of the cooler. The RTIC 65 (assume similar to other rotomolded) is 35#. Add the listed capacity of 70# ice, granted, maybe not the same as a cooler full of food, and your lifting a 105# cooler into the back of a 1-ton 4x truck. Pushing 50, I have to take this into consideration, as I often hunt alone due to schedules and weapon choices. These definitely have their place, especially if your 2 hours from additional ice, or have buddies for both onload and offload. Or, if bear-proof is necessary, as I have a 154Qt Igloo with bear tooth marks and yes he got it open the day before he died attempting round 2. Maybe the rotomold design offsets the necessary amount of ice, making up for the 12# weight of conventional design? Would appreciate any experienced thoughts on this, considering that even for myself on a 9 day hunt I usually gravitate to the capacity of 120 qt. cooler.

[dreamunelk]

Well I hate to admit it but, I have to give my approval of the Cabelas polar cap.
16 days since I put food in it and two block and two bags of cubed ice.  A few cubes left and both blocks are still about three quarters.  Kept every thing cold and my frozen stuff was the last to thaw.  Everyone in camp was impressed.  For those that mentioned extremes I own one and there are others in camp.  They do great also just not as long.  We only did one ice run and that was mostly for the beer coolers and the cook wanted flour so she could make more biscuits.  Note: the cooler was only opened every other days or so. I am emptying and cleaning today after it sat in the back of my truck in the sun yesterday.  The truth is it will not replace my extremes or other coolers.  It is heavy and takes up a lot of room.   It's purpose was for the long trips at a base camp were I want to avoid having to leave the woods.  It served that purpose.  I also managed to gain weight again.  It is the cooks fault.
My extreme only got ice added once.  It was holding beverages.  No ice left.  Water and beverages still cold.