Igloo Polar Cooler Review

Storage Size: 120-quart size

Construction: Plastic composition

Cost: Budget-priced

Features: Ultratherm insulation, reinforced swing-up handles, threaded drain plug, snap-fit latches

Pros: Great price, the potential for nice cooling life

Cons: A lot of variance in seal quality, weak hinges and handles, very boring appearance 

Check Current Prices on Amazon

Last Updated by Brandon F. on August 8, 2022

The Igloo Polar Cooler is intended for those who are looking for a sizable cooler that has good cooling abilities at a reasonable price.  It contains Ultratherm insulation on both the body and lid which helps in its extended cooling.  Also, it has a UV inhibitor on the lid to help against sun damage, contains a stain and odor-resistant liner, has a threaded drain plug, and has side handles to help in carrying.  It comes in white, is made of plastic, and is available in a 120-quart offering.

Insulation Ability –

This cooler is designed to have long cooling life, and overall it does a pretty good job of it.  The Ultratherm layer and UV inhibitors help and you can expect a properly sealed unit to keep ice frozen for 5 days or so.  The reason we mention “properly sealed” is that some of the examples have questionable lids that don’t form a good seal.  This is unfortunate and makes its performance really on a case-by-case basis.

And the main driver to this cooler having good ice life is due to its size.  Many of the ice-retaining features that you find in other higher-end coolers are missing.  This includes the gasket system, powerful latches, elevated feet, etc.

Mobility and Durability –

This is a large cooler with no wheels so it won’t be the easiest cooler to move around, especially when it is full.  Other large coolers also suffer from this challenge but, unfortunately, the hinges and handles on this ice chest are just too weak.  They are made of plastic and easily break after a few uses.  The container itself isn’t overly weak but not upgrading the hardware to something more resilient was a major flaw.  This cooler sacrifices quite a bit in the way of durability in exchange for a ton of storage space and a good price.

Visual Appeal – 

There aren’t very man aesthetic features on this cooler.  Other than the external drain plugs and side handles there aren’t a lot of visual appeals.  It seems to focus strictly on simple performance and a low asking price. This may not be a big factor to some but if you are wanting a cooler that stands out from the crowd, this isn’t it.  But thankfully looks don’t play much of a part in the functionality of an ice chest.

Cost – 

Online this product is in the budget tier in terms of price.  This is very competitive and will be one of the more affordable options out there for those after a large cooler.  But as we mentioned above, this comes at the cost of features and build quality.

Overall Rating – 

The Igloo Polar Cooler Review gets 3 out of 5 coolers.  This is a large chest that can have a decent cooling ability if you get a well-assembled one.  The major weak point is in the hardware.  The weak hinges and handles can be a huge headache and we wish that Igloo would have upgraded these items even if it resulted in a small premium on the final product’s price.  However, the price is great which makes it still a neutral to soft buy in our book.