Igloo Stainless Steel Cooler Review

Storage Size: 54-quart size

Construction: Stainless steel and plastic composition

Cost: Premium-priced

Features: High-quality stainless steel material, Cool Riser technology, swinging side handles, leak-resistant drain plug, easy snap lid

Pros: Very attractive look, decent insulation performance

Cons: Expensive, latches break very easily, easily scratched

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Last Updated by Brandon F. on August 1, 2022

This is our Igloo Stainless Steel Cooler Review.  The Igloo Stainless Steel Cooler is for those looking for a more timeless design in the cooler while still offering up good performance through an established name such as Igloo.  It is made of stainless steel and also has Cool Riser Technology, which elevates the base of the cooler off of the ground and helps with ice retention.

For help with insulation, a layer of Ultratherm foam was also added.  Other unique features include a bottle opener, drain plug, and contoured lid with stacking slots.  It is available in a 54-quart size and is made of stainless steel with steel hardware as well.

Insulation Ability –

The insulation ability is pretty good for this product.  The combination of the steel plus the Ultratherm foam layer helps to keep ice frozen for 3 to 4 days in the summer.  Also, the elevated base means that you can leave it on hot ground or surface and it does not affect the inside items as much because of the elevation.  The biggest issue is that the lid can sometimes not form a good seal, making it prone to accidental openings which would quickly release all of the cold air and catalyze ice melting.

Also, while it does utilize quality foam, the walls could be a bit thicker.  Other coolers that we have tested have twice as thick of walls.  This would greatly increase ice life.  But as it stands, you should still get anywhere from 2 to 3 days from your ice if you fill it up halfway.  This is plenty for most people’s needs but a step below what the top-tier coolers in the industry can offer.

Mobility and Durability –

Despite the tough looks, there are some major design issues with the Igloo Stainless Steel icebox.  Even though a majority of the product is made of steel, the latches are made of plastic and are prone to breaking very easily.  The way the design is set up the latch appears to be made to hold the lid down, but it is extremely weak and can easily be pulled open.  We have seen several complaints about this happening within mere months of purchasing the cooler.  These are issues that we don’t typically see in Igloo products.

The outside is also easily scratched and dented which means you have to be careful in throwing this around like you would a conventional hard plastic cooler.  Thankfully the drain plug and bottle opener are somewhat resilient.  This is a tough-looking cooler but may appear to tear up and scratched after a short period, particularly if you like to take it into outdoor settings.

Visual Appeal – 

One of the biggest selling points of the Igloo stainless steel coolers is the looks and, sure enough, this doesn’t disappoint.  The metallic and glossy exterior gives off a very high-class feel and will stand out at your next get-together.  The bottle opener and handles blend in nicely and give it an overall classy look.  This is one of the most attractive ice chests you will find and it will look great in any setting.

Cost – 

Online anticipate paying a premium-tier price for this product.  This is due to the usage of the rather expensive steel which has a much higher production cost than typical plastic.  You end up paying a premium asking price for a cooler that will perform much lower than many of the premium coolers out there.  But we can’t deny that it looks great!

Overall Rating – 

The Igloo Stainless Steel Cooler Review receives 3 out of 5 coolers.  This is a very aesthetically-pleasing looking product that has multiple major design flaws.  In terms of strictly keeping items cold it does a good job, but for the high price, the latch issue simply can’t be overlooked.  Plus it is very easy to scratch the attractive outer surface.  There are worse options, however, and some people love the styling enough to overlook the weak points.