All Medium Size Coolers
Last Updated by Brandon F. on February 8, 2022
This is a listing of all medium-sized coolers we have reviewed. We define “medium” as any cooler that has a storage capacity of between 36 and 59 quarts. This size category is wedged right in the middle of what is offered, and we feel it offers a happy balance between having good storage capacity while also still being relatively mobile.
At this size, we begin to transition into almost completely hard-sided coolers, which means most will be made of plastic, metal, or some other type of non-collapsible material. Also, these sizes introduce even more features since there is typically ample room. Things such as carrying handles, multi-tiered pockets, drainage plugs, segregated storage areas, and many others begin to pop up.
These cooler sizes are directed for people needing a weekend cooler or something to hold drinks for a mid-sized gathering. This size will typically be much too large and burdensome for an individual’s needs or even a couple of people unless it is meant to store their items for multiple days.
However, if you are looking for something to cater to a huge party, or for a week-long family vacation, you might want to consider moving up to a bigger size. That being said, we feel that this size range will hit home for what many need, and we encourage you to check out the reviews and find something that works for you!
Below we list out some of our best-performing medium size coolers. If you are looking for the full list of our reviews, simply scroll down to find convenient links!
Best Medium Size Coolers
Kong
Our Rating:
One of the best “bang for your buck” coolers on the market. The Kong Coolers combine impressive ice life, tons of great features, and robust build quality. Plus, they look great! This is one of the best coolers you can buy.
Pros: Great ice retention, Lifetime warranty, Attractive styling, Very durable
Cons: Limited size options
Pelican Elite Wheeled
Our Rating:
We love the combination of the proven performance of the Pelican Elite with the mobility of including wheels. You will pay a bit extra for the wheeled feature but it is worth it as it makes moving this behemoth cooler much easier. Plus, we dig the recent re-design.
Pros: Incredible ice life, more mobile-friendly, extremely durable
Cons: Expensive, still quite bulky
Igloo Ice Cube
Our Rating:
This is a great, simple cooler that does what it needs to do while remaining very affordable. For its size and price, the ice life is quite good. It is also very easy to use and transport. Also, there are many different attractive color options. This is a solid choice for those who don’t want to spend the high dollars on a premium cooler.
Pros: Easy to transport, very durable, wheeled options available, many different color choices, great price
Cons: Not quite as long of a cooling time as advertised, the handle is somewhat prone to break
Grizzly
Our Rating:
This cooler has an incredibly long ice life, even when compared to other worthy premium coolers available. This is thanks to extra-thick walls, optimal construction, and a simple and proven approach. Plus it looks the part as well. Just be expected to pay well into the upper price range to enjoy one.
Pros: Some of the best ice life on the market, incredibly durable, aggressive look, easy to carry considering the size
Cons: Very expensive, heavy
nICE
Our Rating:
A great lineup of small to large coolers that have good ice life and toughness. What brings these over the top is their clever features combined with a relatively competitive asking price.
Pros: Acceptable asking price, good ice life, loaded with features
Cons: Limited size options
K2 Summit
Our Rating:
This is a fantastic line of coolers and has no real weak points. With an ice life of potentially a week or more, great construction, and a resilient look, anybody that is looking for a long-term cooler investment will be pleased. However, with this high-end offering, you will expect to pay in the top price bracket for it but, in this case, we think it is worth it, especially considering that many of the comparable coolers on the market are more expensive.
Pros: Incredible ice life, wheeled option for mobility, very sturdy construction, great tough look
Cons: Quite expensive, very bulky
Orion
Our Rating:
When it comes to styling and features, it doesn’t get much better than Orion. Plus, the warranty is among the best in the industry. But it does come at a very high asking price and most of the colors may have a bit too much “pop” for someone who would prefer to blend in.
Pros: Very clever features, Impressive ice performance, Awesome Styling, Long warranty
Cons: Extremely expensive, Not a lot of “safe” color choices
Palm
Our Rating:
Palm’s recently revised V2 Coolers improve on what was already solid design. You will enjoy fantastic ice life and one of the longest warranties in the business. The additional features are welcome as well. Our only minor issue is the lack of color options.
Pros: Great ice retention, Extremely tough, Good value, Wheels on new models
Cons: Only two sizes of new models are available right now, Limited color choices
Cordova
Our Rating:
This Idaho-based company impressed us with its boat-inspired lineup of hard-sided coolers. The ice life is there but the most notable aspects are their clever features and beautiful aesthetics. And having a lifetime warranty sure doesn’t hurt, either!
Pros: Good ice life, Lifetime warranty, Many clever features, Awesome styling
Cons: Not a ton of sizes, Limited colors, High price tag
Pelican Elite
Our Rating:
This cooler will give you an extremely long ice life and it is backed by proven construction and high-quality components. Plus, the aggressive look helps to make it stand out. But it does come at a very high asking price (even with the premium cooler sector).
Pros: Incredible cooling life, Very durable, Rugged look
Cons: Very heavy and difficult to move, Expensive
Techni Ice Signature Series
Our Rating:
This cooler comes with industry-leading ice life and the proven performance that we come to expect from top coolers. There are enough features to make most happy and the asking price is more than fair considering what you get.
Pros: Incredible ice retention, Good Build Quality, Reasonable Price
Cons: Very limited in color choices
Bird Dog
Our Rating:
While limited in size choices, Bird Dog makes up for it with good ice life and plenty of features. Plus, there are quite a few colors to pick from. An overall good performer at a reasonable price within the premium price range.
Pros: Many good features, Attractive styling/colors, Good overall performance
Cons: Not many sizes, Questions about warranty
Vibe
Our Rating:
Another worthy candidate in the premium cooler market. While it lacks in sizes and colors, it more than makes up for it in features, toughness, ice life, and a fantastic asking price.
Pros: Very affordable for a premium cooler, loaded with features, good ice life
Cons: Limited size options, few color choices
Igloo Sportsman
Our Rating:
This is a great cooler that is designed to compete with the best coolers in the industry. It comes with premium build quality, tough components, and it is proudly made in the USA. It also is more affordable than a lot of its competition on the market. The only minor issue we have is a lack of color choices.
Pros: Great ice retention, Extremely durable, Cheaper than many other premium coolers
Cons: Somewhat limited features, Lack of color choices
Polar Bear
Our Rating:
We are impressed with the large and diverse selection of Polar Bear Soft Coolers. These models are extremely durable and have very good ice life (particularly in the Eclipse and H2O series). The features are acceptable and the asking price, while not the cheapest, is more than fair considering what you get for it.
Pros: Huge model selection, Great ice retention, Very tough construction, Customization options
Cons: Styling may not appeal to some, Can be a little pricey
CustomCoolerStore
Our Rating:
The main selling point of this small lineup of coolers is the impressive ability to upload designs to be printed on the cooler. Also, the ice life and asking price aren’t terrible, either.
Pros: Great ability to upload designs, Good ice life
Cons: Limited size selection, Only two base colors, Pretty expensive
Igloo Yukon Cold Locker
Our Rating:
The most impressive ice performer of the Igloo lineup, the Cold Locker can compete with some of the big dogs while being a little more affordable. It also comes with many of the features and quality materials that we like to see at this price point and have the stored Igloo name backing it.
Pros: Amazing cooling ability, extremely tough and long-lasting, aggressive styling
Cons: Very heavy and bulky, expensive
RovR
Our Rating:
RovR offers up some attractive and extremely well-constructed wheeled coolers in their WHEELR Series. There are also some other clever features to enjoy with these ice chests. However, be prepared to pay a handsome premium to enjoy one.
Pros: Great styling, Really neat features, Well constructed
Cons: Extremely expensive, Limited color choices
Lit Cooler
Our Rating:
A very refreshing premium cooler that stands out from the crowd thanks to its solid build quality and attractive and handy LED lighting. Acceptable performance and tons of color choices make this a solid buy despite the high price tag.
Pros: Handy lighted interior, Tons of color choices, Acceptable toughness
Cons: Expensive, Somewhat limited ice life, Not a lot of sizes
Kysek Hard Cooler
Our Rating:
This cooler meets all of the needs we like to see including long ice life, plenty of features, and extra tough construction. They are quite expensive but the awesome performance helps to make the sticker shock a little easier to swallow.
Pros: Great ice retention, clever accessories, quality materials and construction
Cons: Expensive, limited color choices
Siberian
Our Rating:
This cooler lineup impressed us with its diverse selection of helpful features. The ice life is also quite good but for the high asking price, this is to be expected. A solid choice for someone who wants a premium cooler that is easy to use and gets the job done.
Pros: Loaded with unique features, very attractive styling, an adequate combination of ice life and toughness
Cons: Not the cheapest, lacking in color choices
Orca
A very straightforward cooler that doesn’t wow you with tons of features but instead with good ice life and toughness. There is also a huge selection of color and pattern choices but they do come at a high cost.
Pros: Plenty tough, Good ice life, Many color options
Cons: Little in the way of features, Rather expensive
Canyon Outfitter Series
Our Rating:
The “little brother” of the Adventure Series, it sacrifices little for a noticeable price drop. Very good insulation and almost as tough while lightweight and adhering to the great lifetime warranty.
Pros: Good ice life, “cheap” for being premium, plenty durable
Cons: Not many color choices
Arctic Zone Titan 48
Our Rating:
Arctic Zone’s largest remodeled soft-sided cooler, the Titan 48 increases storage capacity while sticking to the great looks and the huge list of features that we love about this brand. It is reasonably priced and has good enough ice life to meet most people’s casual needs.
Pros: Very convenient zipperless lid, Smartshelf Technology makes removing items a breeze, Extremely attractive
Cons: Somewhat weak zippers, Lower ice life than advertised in most applications
Igloo BMX
Our Rating:
The Igloo BMX is Igloo’s latest attempt to compete in the premium cooler market. The overall performance and ice retention numbers are good. And despite being more expensive than most Igloo Coolers, it is still more affordable than a lot of its competition from other brands.
Pros: Good ice life, Nice build life, Competitively priced
Cons: Limited color and size options
Coleman Marine
Our Rating:
We like the recent upgrades that Coleman has done on their Marine Coolers. This is particularly true in the Offshore Pro Series which cranks up the ice life and toughness. Also, many of the weak hinge issues they suffered from in the past have been corrected. Outside of the somewhat weak handles, these are solid-performing ocean-friendly ice chests that can be had at a reasonable price.
Pros: Has all the features you need to handle water environments, Good ice life in certain models, Relatively lightweight
Cons: Handles can be weak, Lower-end models have so-so ice life, Bland styling
Igloo Marine Ultra
Our Rating:
This is one of Igloo’s most proven coolers and it is specially designed for boat outings. The selection size is massive so everybody, no matter their storage needs, can likely find a model that works for them. The insulation is adequate (even in the sun) and there are wheeled options for added mobility. That being said, they can be on the bulky side and prices tend to fluctuate quite a bit depending on where you shop.
Pros: Overall good to very good insulation, many wheeled options, stainless steel hardware, looks very professional
Cons: Bland styling, need to shop around to find a good deal
Mammoth Ranger
Our Rating:
The Mammoth Ranger Cooler is the larger sibling of the newly-updated Mammoth lineup. It offers up extremely thick rotomolded walls and quality hardware. This results in a tough package that can offer a very nice ice life. But it is a bit lacking in features and color choices.
Pros: Impressive ice life, Extremely tough, Lifetime warranty
Cons: Not a lot of features, Lacking in color options, Pretty pricey
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Bison
A solid competitor with a few intuitive features, Bison coolers stand behind a great warranty and are made in the USA. However, for the price, there are better performers out there.
Pros: Great warranty, Awesome latch design, Made in the USA
Cons: Very expensive, Average ice life
Thermik Cooler
Our Rating:
Another solid competitor in the premium cooler market. It takes a proven approach of offering solid ice life and toughness as well as some helpful accessories such as a pressure release valve. We just wish that there were more colors to choose from.
Pros: Good ice performance, Tons of great features
Cons: More expensive than some similar brands, lack of color options
MILEE
Our Rating:
MILEE has a small but proven lineup of hard-sided coolers. They take a very standard approach that we have seen emulated in other cooler brands but it works. Our main issues are with the lack of color choices and a small warranty.
Pros: Good performance for the price, A lot of features
Cons: Limited Size/Color choices, Missing great warranty
Yeti Tundra Series
Our Rating:
One of the originators of the premium hard-sided cooler market, the Tundra has certainly made a name for itself. You will enjoy fantastic ice performance, great American construction, and a proven reputation. But the features are a bit lacking and the asking price can be extremely high. But that is the price you pay to enjoy an iconic Yeti cooler.
Pros: Great ice life, Awesome warranty, Tons of accessories, Team logo options
Cons: Very expensive, Boring styling, Limited features
Taiga
Our Rating:
Taiga impressed us with their huge selection of customization options and their awesome lifetime warranty. But the cooler is pretty bare when it comes to features and ice performance is average for the premium price tier. But this is still a solid competitor all around.
Pros: Endless customization options, Lifetime warranty, Great build quality
Cons: Limited sizes, Not a ton of features, Quite expensive
Engel High Performance
Our Rating:
This cooler’s ice life is up to the demands of most people after a premium cooler. However, in the ever-increasing premium cooler market, finding ways to stand out is important and Engel’s simple approach may not wow many people. The tradeoff for this straightforward approach is a more affordable asking price. And you will still enjoy quality construction at this cheaper price point.
Pros: Great insulation ability, very tough, cheaper than many comparable coolers
Cons: Lid doesn’t seal as well as expected, bland styling, still quite expensive
Icemule
Our Rating:
A unique design, Icemule Coolers lead the way in terms of mobility and portability. Their ice life is acceptable and the build quality is plenty resilient. But this simple approach does come at come costs: lack of features and not a lot of options for storing items outside of the insulated main area. But these coolers have their place among our readers.
Pros: Very simple to use, Extremely tough, Acceptable ice life
Cons: Limited additional pockets, Very short warranty, Can be pricey
Dometic Patrol
Our Rating:
While Dometic may be known more for their powered coolers, their recent Patrol hard-sided coolers are no slouches, either. They have the great build quality and their ice life will compete with the very best. However, they are a bit Spartan when it comes to features. And we wouldn’t mind a few more color choices.
Pros: Good ice retention, Built sturdy
Cons: Not a lot of features, Only one color choice
Yeti Hopper
Our Rating:
A very impressive soft-sided cooler across the board, the Hopper was one of the original premium soft-sided coolers to hit the market. You will find the ice life and toughness among the best there is and there are a few different colors to choose from as well. But it does come with a high asking price and somewhat limited storage locations
Pros: Some of the best cooling on the market for a soft-sided cooler, Great size for its intentions, Very tough
Cons: Lack of additional pockets, Few color options, Very expensive for the storage size
Ozark Trail
Our Rating:
You will get to enjoy a quality premium cooler that has around 80% of the performance of other top coolers but for a fraction of their asking price. All of the features and components we like to see are here. The only minor complaints are some lingering quality issues and a lack of color choices. But for those on a tight budget, this cooler is worth looking into.
Pros: Great Value, Plenty of Features, Good Ice Retention
Cons: Some Quality Issues, Few Color Choices
Dewalt
Our Rating:
Dewalt is known for its power tools. But their new lineup of hard-sided coolers isn’t shabby, either. They offer good quality and performance at an acceptable price. However, you will be stuck with their bright yellow color.
Pros: Reputable brand name, Great construction, Good ice retention
Cons: Few features than other brands, Only one color option (bright yellow), Unsure of warranty
Giantex
Our Rating:
Giantex has managed to capture many of the special qualities of a premium level cooler but at a more intermediate price range. However, it is still a step down from the big boys and also suffers from boring styling and lack of color choices.
Pros: Great price considering performance, Not super heavy
Cons: Lacking in size and color options, Questions about warranty
Lifetime
Our Rating:
This cooler offers up good ice retention and decent build quality for a lot less money than most other premium coolers on the market. However, there are some notable quality issues and the color selection is severely lacking. Still, if you are on a tight budget and looking for a decent ice chest, this isn’t a bad choice.
Pros: Good value, Decent performance, Futuristic styling
Cons: Some design flaws, Very limited color options
Frosty
Our Rating:
One of the most affordable premium-level coolers you can buy, Frosty has a great approach that will sit well with those on a tight budget. However, it has to make some notable sacrifices in features and styling to achieve this.
Pros: Good ice life, Plenty Tough, One of the more affordable premium cooler choices
Cons: Few features, Boring design, Lack of color choices, Disappointing warranty
Coleman Chest
Our Rating:
A simple, effective approach that gets the job done. It has long enough ice life for a day’s outing and comes with solid and proven construction. Our only issue is that the lid doesn’t like to stay open but for the attractive price, it is easy to deal with.
Pros: Built tough, strong handles, great price
Cons: Underwhelming ice life, lid won’t stay open, plain design
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze
Our Rating:
While lacking in size and color options, Arctic Zone’s first-ever hard-sided coolers are very well made. In addition, the ice life is what we come to expect from a premium cooler. But we do wish they would expand on colors, sizes, and features in the future. But the price point is reasonable and the lifetime warranty is a nice plus.
Pros: Well-made, Lifetime warranty, Reasonable price
Cons: Few sizes, Few colors, Few features
Kysek Dry Bag
Our Rating:
These dry bags are assembled with great construction methods and have a similarly tough outer shell that we have become used to from Kysek. However, you are giving up a significant ability to keep items chilled for very long and are still having to pay a premium for this high-performance bag.
Pros: Quality construction, Super resilient outside fabric, Attractive looks
Cons: Aren’t designed to store cold items, Expensive considering they aren’t coolers, Not as many features
Rubbermaid DuraChill Wheeled
Our Rating:
This cooler gains some much-appreciated mobility with its wheeled setup and, combined with acceptable insulation, results in a solid product. It is also available at a very affordable price and looks much nicer than it costs. But there are some pretty notable leak paths for water and it can also suffer from weak hinges.
Pros: Nice insulation, solid construction, impressive looks, good price
Cons: Too many leak paths, hinges are a bit too weak
Igloo Super Tough STX
Our Rating:
This is a tough-looking cooler that combines good ice life with durable construction. And it can do this while maintaining an acceptable asking price. The major weak point lies with the fasteners and latches which don’t always close correctly. But overall, it is still a solid choice.
Pros: Very well-insulated, tough outer shell, looks awesome, acceptable price
Cons: Fasteners don’t always close tightly, very heavy
Igloo Contour
Our Rating:
The Contour is a small but potent cooler that can handle ice for a weekend excursion. It is an adequate size to fit most items a small group would need and is designed to take up minimum storage space. This also makes it much easier to carry. Finally, the asking price is very reasonable.
Pros: Very mobile, comfortable to carry, nice grip on handles, affordable
Cons: Cooling ability could be a little better, no cup holders
Coleman Soft
Our Rating:
These simple soft-sided coolers are surprisingly resilient and should last for a few years without major issues. There is also plenty of storage area for the size. Prices may vary so be sure to shop around. The major issues include water easily leaking out and a challenge in storing as many cans as Coleman states that it can.
Pros: Look great, a lot of places to store items, plenty of sizes to choose from
Cons: Air easily escapes, exaggeration on how much you can store
Rubbermaid
Our Rating:
One of the most popular Rubbermaid coolers out there, this product takes a very simple and cost-effective approach. For the size, you will enjoy nice ice retention and the lid (a common weak point on budget coolers) is quite robust. But the design is very bland and there simply aren’t enough features to get us excited. Plus, the common weak handle problem that plagues some other Rubbermaid models exists here as well. But for the asking price, we can’t be too picky.
Pros: Good ice life for the size, strong lid, decent price
Cons: Weak handles, pretty plain design
Coleman Xtreme Marine
Our Rating:
The Xtreme Series has recently undergone some updates and the new look is much more attractive. Also, the thicker insulation and higher quality materials result in quite good ice life for the size and price. That being said, the lid can be a bit stubborn to open and close and screws used on the hinges can also strip prematurely.
Pros: Very good ice life, wheeled options for mobility, relatively tough, higher-quality materials
Cons: Lid can be too tight, quite heavy, screws can strip, pretty expensive
Igloo MaxCold
Our Rating:
As its name suggests, the Max Cold is quite good at keeping ice for its price point. While it won’t hang with the “big boys”, it will hold its own against most other coolers at its price point. There are also plenty of sizes to choose from including wheeled options. However, it does come with some concerns. They include having rather weak handles and hinges as well as needing a bit of a styling update.
Pros: Very good ice life, easy access to items, a huge selection of sizes, many wheeled choices
Cons: Weak handles, pretty modest styling
Picnic Plus Tremont Picnic Backpack
Our Rating:
A nice “all-in-one” package, the Tremont Picnic Backpack has everything that you would need for a picnic. Plus, it comes together to look very nice. And it doesn’t hurt that the cooling performance is not half bad. But all of those extra items do result in a reduced amount of storage space. Also, people may not be interested in paying the increased asking price for all of the items when they don’t need them.
Pros: Great package of assorted picnic items, looks great, the cooling area is serviceable enough
Cons: Very heavy for the size, might struggle to store all of your chilled items, the container may fall apart over time
Coleman Xtreme
Our Rating:
You will enjoy a bump up on ice life and toughness with this cooler but it also comes with a bump up in the asking price. Plus, for the size, it is quite mobile thanks to the side handle and attached wheels. The only weak point comes with the handles and hinges potentially coming loose over time. Also, it isn’t going to win any beautify contests.
Pros: Good price for what you are getting, decent insulation, has wheels for easy transport
Cons: Weak handles, hinges can come loose, fairly plain-looking
Rubbermaid Wheeled
Our Rating:
We always appreciate coolers that focus on mobility and there is no exception here. With the inclusion of wheels and an extended handle, this cooler is easily moved from place to place. Plus, the recent facelift makes it stand out some from the crowd. But there are some issues with the lid not properly sealing and the plastic components tend to fall apart prematurely through rusting and simply snapping in two.
Pros: Wheels assist in mobility greatly, attractive look
Cons: Issues with lid sealing, handle rusts easily
Coleman Stainless Steel
Our Rating:
This is an extremely attractive cooler and will certainly stand out from the crowd. Recent improvements make it adequate in ice life and the toughness is bumped up a notch thanks to steel construction and hardware. But it is limited on features, size options, and it will be a bit more expensive than most other Coleman Coolers.
Pros: Very attractive look, Metal components
Cons: Limited features, Only one size, Somewhat expensive
Calcutta
Our Rating:
Calcutta Coolers can hang with the best when it comes to ice retention and build quality but outside of their LED drain plug, features are a bit lacking. They are also quite expensive and don’t have many colors to pick some. But when it comes to simply being a cooler, they perform fine.
Pros: Good ice life, Really cool LED drain plug, Nice build quality
Cons: Very expensive, Limited features, Not many color options
Igloo Island Breeze
Our Rating:
This cooler recently went through an update which resulted in a more modern appearance and slight improvements to build quality. We also like the mobility thanks to the wheels and extending carrying handle. However, it is a bit limited in how well it cools and the lid can be a little finicky.
Pros: Quite durable, wheeled options for mobility, modern look, decent price
Cons: Low cooling ability, the lid can be stubborn
Igloo Stainless Steel
Our Rating:
One of Igloo’s most attractive coolers, the stainless steel stands out from the plastic we are used to seeing. It also helps (or at least doesn’t hurt too badly) the ice life. But this aesthetically pleasing cooler does come at a much higher asking price and also suffers from some very weak latches. Also, the attractive steel outer finish is easily scratched.
Pros: Very attractive look, decent insulation performance
Cons: Expensive, latches break very easily, easily scratched
Read Our Review of Igloo Stainless Steel Cooler
Cascade Mountain Tech
Our Rating:
Cascade Mountain Tech has a small selection of coolers. While these coolers don’t do anything poorly, they also don’t do anything to stand out from the many other premium coolers on the market. Good build quality, nice ice retention, but no soul.
Pros: Good ice life, Tough build quality
Cons: Few features, very little in the way of colors, expensive
Igloo Marine Breeze
Our Rating:
This is a good all-around ice chest that doesn’t have any major flaws. The ice life is acceptable and the construction is, for the most part, up to par. All of this is available for a reasonable asking price as well. Our main issues are with the lid being a bit too tight and a lack of color choices or features that would help to make it stand out.
Pros: Good ice life, well-constructed, good price
Cons: Lid can be pretty tight, not a lot of additional features or color choices
Ao Vinyl
Our Rating:
A tough product that has a good ice life for being a soft-sided cooler, while adhering to some of the benefits that those types of coolers bring. It does fall a bit short on the looks category, though. However, for someone looking for a rugged but still somewhat mobile cooling solution, this should do the trick.
Pros: Great cooling ability, two carrying choices, strong material
Cons: Still prone to scratches, not many external features, looks are questionable
Driftsun
Our Rating:
All of the premium components and features we look for in high-end coolers but a bit rough around the edges. It comes in at a cheaper price but you will be sacrificing some in regards to ice life and toughness.
Pros: Premium features for a more affordable price, decent size range
Cons: Quality issues, Lid doesn’t hold a great seal, inconsistent insulation walls
Ao Carbon
Our Rating:
This is a very classy-looking cooler that does an alright job of ice retention and the build quality and materials are good enough, albeit it is a bit on the large side for a given size. Also, the price is somewhat high so we wouldn’t mind if its performance was bumped up a notch or two. It’s still not a terrible choice, however.
Pros: Waterproof, multiple carrying options, strong fabric, very attractive
Cons: A bit large for what it carries, not many external features, a bit expensive
Ao Canvas
Our Rating:
A very “average” cooler in just about every sense of the word. It will keep items cool for a long enough period to be useful and the build quality isn’t terrible, but there are several minor complaints that we wish weren’t there for its intermediate price.
Pros: Acceptable cooling ability, multiple carrying options, many color choices
Cons: Fabric is prone to tearing, weak should strap, occasionally has odd folds in the material
Ao Canvas
Our Rating:
A very “average” cooler in just about every sense of the word. It will keep items cool for a long enough period to be useful and the build quality isn’t terrible, but there are several minor complaints that we wish weren’t there for its intermediate price.
Pros: Acceptable cooling ability, multiple carrying options, many color choices
Cons: Fabric is prone to tearing, weak should strap, occasionally has odd folds in the material
Mammoth Discovery
Our Rating:
The now-retired Discovery Series cooler offered up solid ice life but it didn’t quite hold up to its competition at a similar price point. Also, many of the features and the simple look of the cooler were a bit underwhelming as well. However, the build quality and components used were good and a Mammoth Discovery Cooler is designed to last for many years.
Pros: Decent cooling performance, very well-built cooler with premium metal hardware
Cons: Very heavy, not very exciting visually, super expensive
