Best Coolers: RTIC vs YETI vs Ozark vs Igloo vs Coleman vs Ozark vs Orca

YETI Tundra	ORCA	RTIC
Winner	Runner-Up	Third Place
45 Qt:	40 Qt:	45 Qt:
Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon

Sometimes you need to get away from your smart home and enjoy some fun in the sun. Whether that means the beach, a summer concert, campsite, or just finding a park and a blanket while you lay back and relax. This summer, step up your cooler game and invest in a cooler that travels well and keeps things cold for longer than the cheap styrofoam tubs that haven’t changed since 1970. The best coolers are durable, looks good whether it’s in the back of a truck or seated in the sand next to a beach chair, and are built to match your lifestyle. Today, more than ever, people are seeing the value in what the best coolers can offer them.

With the spirit of summer as our inspiration, we put together the ultimate list of best coolers for your summer. We tested many coolers, and made our top six picks, which include Rtic, Yeti, Ozark, Igloo, Coleman & Orca. Each of these coolers stands out as the best of the best, and we put them in order for quality, durability, features, and ability to keep the contents inside cold. A cooler should be easy to move, even if it’s large, and it should also look good. With all that in mind, here are our picks for best coolers.

Winner: Yeti Tundra Review

We’re not sure if the Yeti was the first of its kind, but it’s certainly the best cooler when compared to other brands like Igloo, Coleman & Ozark. It is durable enough to withstand being thrown around in the back of a truck or SUV, and it keeps ice from melting longer than any other brand we tested. If you want the best, trust Yeti to deliver.

Pricing:

• 45 Qt:
• 75 Qt:
• 125 Qt:

Runner Up: ORCA Review

When you can buy ice one time for a weekend trip and it still look like ice after 3 days, you know you are dealing with a great cooler. That is exactly what you can expect with this ORCA cooler, which features great accessories like a net on the outside of the cooler, comfortable grips, and plenty of storage inside. The seal is great and it rivals the Yeti for the best cooler we tested.

Pricing:

• 40 Qt: B00QXMQPAI
• 58 Qt:

Third Place: RTIC Review

This might contend for our favorite cooler if not for the fact that there is oftentimes a long lead time if the cooler is not in stock. Aside from that, the price is great considering the value you get. It’s probably the most durable cooler we tested, and it kept ice colder longer than just about all the other best coolers we tested. It also weighs just 25 pounds empty (45 Qt.), which is among the lightest heavy duty coolers.

Pricing:

• 45 Qt:
• 65 Qt:

4th Place: Igloo Yukon Review

If there was a “bells and whistles” award, the Igloo Yukon would probably win. If you are a fisherman who would appreciate a fish scale on the lid, then this cooler has what you need. It also includes 3” thick polyurethane that helps to ensure ice stays cold longer, but when we compared it to some of the other coolers listed ahead, the ice melted quicker than with the Yeti vs ORCA. Still a great heavy-duty cooler.

Pricing:

• 50 Qt: 
• 70 Qt: 

5th Place: Ozark Trail 52-Quart High-Performance Cooler Review

While this is on the cheaper side for high end coolers, the downside is that we noticed some leaking and moisture around the spout from the initial test. While this wouldn’t be a big deal if you’re at the beach or outside, it can be annoying if you’re traveling on a long road trip and it gets your car interior wet.

Pricing:

• 52 Qt: 

6th Place: Coleman Xtreme Cooler Review

If price is your driving factor, then the Coleman Xtreme Cooler would be the right choice. While durable, it doesn’t do nearly as good of a job as the other best coolers we tested in terms of keeping contents cold. Ice melts within a few hours, and the lid can easily open if you hit a bump in the road. It’s a good cooler, but it doesn’t compare to the higher end versions like Yeti vs RTIC.

Pricing:

• 70 Qt: