Do you spend a lot of time outdoors fishing, hunting, camping, or hiking, and when you get back to your cooler your drinks start getting warm?
I know the feeling but luckily the best rotomolded cooler will solve all your problems.
Rotomolded coolers are high-end ice-keeping machines, some of them keep ice for more than 10 days, and they’ll keep your drinks and food cold for much longer.
They take the headache out of enjoying great food and drinks outdoors and it’s well worth owning one.
Our Top Rotomolded Coolers
Best Marine Cooler
YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
A durable and easy to clean cooler that can keep your items cold for up to more than 10 days.
YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
Yeti is one of the most well-known rotomolded cooler brands in the cooler industry thanks to their amazing marketing.
Yeti teams up with fishermen, hunters, hikes, charities, and more to make awesome Youtube and Instagram content and ensure everyone knows who Yeti is.
One of the first coolers they came out with was the Yeti Tundra coolers.
These Yeti coolers come in a range of sizes from the Yeti Tundra 35 to the Yeti Tundra 350 which is as big as a coffin.
Quality
All the Yeti Tundra coolers are as good a roto molded cooler as the next one, and the one we are going to focus on is the Yeti Tundra 65 as it’s a great size for everything from day trips, to BBQ’s and multiple day trips.
Yeti makes some of the best rotomolded coolers around and here’s a how and why.
Durability
The Yeti Tundra 65 is pretty much indescribable and everything that goes into it is heavy-duty.
This Yeti cooler is so durable that it’s certified bear safe, so if you leave your cooler unattended in the woods of Alaska, you can be sure that any bear that comes along isn’t going to eat your goodies.
Features
This extremely durable roto molded cooler comes with the Yeti unbreakable hinge system, heavy-duty rubber latches, and anti-skid feet on the bottom.
When you fill it up and close it, the latches ensure it’s leakproof, and if you place it in your boat or the back of your truck the anti-skid feet stop it from moving around.
Insulation
In terms of keeping things cold, this Yeti is one of the most high-end coolers around.
If you fill it with ice it’ll keep it for 10 days or more thanks to the 3 inches of permafrost insulation, extra-thick walls, and a rubber gasket, making them the best coolers for staying frosty.
This makes Yeti coolers ideal for long voyages or camping trips into the wilderness, as you can guarantee your food still stays fresh and your drinks cold.
Maintenance
These quality coolers from Yeti are also a piece of cake to clean.
There is a large drainage plug to remove any water, plus the inside and outside of the hard cooler is odor-resistant, stain-resistant, rustproof and UV treated.
A simple wipe down and rinse each time you use it will keep it looking like new.
Portability
The handles on the side of this Yeti make it easy to carry but these Yeti coolers are heavy even when empty, with a weight of 29 lbs.
This is pretty much the only flaw to these Yeti roto molded coolers bar the fact they are also quite expensive, but you are getting a cooler that will last a lifetime when you buy a Yeti.
Specs
- Weight: 29 lbs
- Capacity: 57.2 Quart
- Ice Retention: 10 days or more
Pros
- Exceptionally durable design
- Stays cold for 10 days or more
- Unbreakable hinge system
- 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation
- Bear proof for use camping
- Heavy-duty latches
- Easy to carry
- Leakproof
- Easy drainage system
- Anti-skid feet on base keeps cooler from sliding
- Odor-resistant, rustproof, stain-resistant, UV treated
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Heavy when empty
- Quite expensive
Best Small Rotomolded Cooler
RTIC Hard Cooler Ice Chest
A high-end cooler with many features but comes with an affordable price tag.
RTIC Hard Cooler Ice Chest
Rtic pretty much saw the Yeti Tundra and came out with their Ice Chest roto molded cooler to match and made them with a more affordable price tag.
Build
If you read into it some people are saying that RTIC high-end coolers are as good as a Yeti but cheaper, and others say that the quality doesn’t match up to Yeti.
When you look at the specs, the Rtic coolers matches up closely to the Yeti Tundra.
These Rtic coolers stays cold for 10 days or more thanks to the 3 inches of insulation and extra-thick walls, just like the Yeti.
Features
It is also pretty much indestructible and bear safe thanks to the heavy-duty rubber latches and the roto molded design, like the Yeti.
The hinges used for these RTIC coolers are no-fail hinges and will last a lifetime and the exterior is designed not to sweat, so if you sit down you won’t be met with a damp surface, like the Yeti.
Carrying it around is also easy thanks to the rope handles, but it is heavy when empty at 25 lbs.
Maintenance
Cleaning it is a piece of cake too thanks to the oversized drainage plug, like the Yeti. The thing this Rtic cooler is missing is the additional features Yeti puts in like being odor-resistant, stain-resistant, and UV treated.
Also, keep in mind that the Rtic cooler comes with a shorter guarantee of 1 year, compared to 5-years from Yeti.
Affordable
Overall this Rtic rotomolded cooler is a good cooler for the money, as you’ll save quite a bit of money opting for it instead of the Yeti.
I would stick with Yeti as I know they work, whereas going with Rtic is a bit of a risk.
Specs
- Size: na
- Weight: 25 lbs
- Capacity: 45 Quart
- Ice Retention: Up to 10 days
Pros
- Designed to be bear-proof
- Super durable
- Good drainage system
- Good ice retention
- 3-inch insulation
- No fail hinges and no sweat exterior
- Anti-skid rubber feet on the base keeps cooler from sliding
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Heavy when empty
- No anti-odor, stain-resistance, or UV treatment
Igloo Sportsman 55 Cooler
The Igloo Sportsman 55 is Igloos one of the best rotomolded cooler on the market.
Being a roto-molded cooler it’s pretty much indestructible and they even added a lockable lid for maximum security.
Build
Like some other roto-molded coolers, it’s certified bear safe, and thanks to the extra-thick walls, 2″ insulating foam in the lid and 15-20″ foam in the body has pretty good ice retention of up to 3-4 days, but it could be a lot better.
Other more affordable coolers go up to 10 days, so these high-end coolers are way behind some of the other coolers on the market.
Features
It does have some handy little features other rotomolded coolers have missed.
The Igloo Sportsman 55 comes with an integrated fish ruler, so you can quickly measure your catch on the lid.
This roto molded cooler also comes with an oversized drain plug but its drain plug is tethered to the cooler so that you never forget and lose it.
Once closed, it seals the cold in and is leak-resistant, but not leakproof.
Maintenance
Cleaning it is easy too thanks to it being stain resistant, UV treated, rustproof, odor-resistant. Just wipe it, rinse and dry, and it’ll stay fresh forever.
Another great thing about this roto molded cooler is that it comes with a lifetime warranty, so it truly is a cooler for life.
Price
The downsides are that they are expensive, even more than a Yeti and that the plastic side handles aren’t as durable as rope handles.
Specs
- Size: 30.63 x 17.88 x 16.25
- Weight: 26.8 lbs
- Capacity: 55 Quarts
- Ice Retention: 3-4 days
Pros
- Virtually indestructible roto-molded construction
- Lockable lid for maximum security
- Integrated fish ruler
- 2" insulating foam in lid and 15-20" foam in the body
- Anti-skid rubber feet on base keeps cooler from sliding
- Oversized, tethered drain plug allows quick draining
- Certified bear-resistant for camping
- Stain-resistant, leak-resistant, UV treated, rustproof, odor-resistant
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Not as good at staying cold as others
Best Cooler With Wheels
Lifetime High-Performance Cooler
A bit smaller than the others but it’s the perfect size for sunset drinks, or a day’s packed lunch plus it’s lighter too.
Lifetime High-Performance Cooler
This Lifetime Cooler is another roto molded cooler that’s worth considering.
It’s a bit smaller than the others with a 28-quart capacity but it’s the perfect size for sunset drinks, or a day’s packed lunch plus it’s lighter too.
Build
Being a rotomolded cooler, it’s exceptionally durable and while these high-end coolers aren’t bear safe, they can handle a bear attack for one hour, which is still pretty solid.
This wheeled cooler keeps ice up to 5 days thanks to the thick insulation and the extra-thick walls, which is a good effort, but you do have to pre-cool it first to get these kinds of numbers.
Features
The lid comes with a durable tough up closing latch design, and once closed the cooler the freezer-grade gasket sucks everything down to keep the cold air in.
This high-quality suction can make it tough to open, and you may need to force it sometimes.
Another handy thing about this wheeled cooler is that it comes with a bottle opener which doubles up as a locking mechanism so you can padlock it up for extra security if you want to.
Portability
In terms of portability, this rotomolded takes the biscuit, it’s available with wheels so you can tow it around instead of carrying it.
There is just one downside to this rotomolded cooler. It doesn’t feature any odor or stain-resistant treatment and there is no drainage plug, all of which will make it harder to clean than others.
Specs
- Size: 21.5 x 13 x 16 inches
- Weight: 17.35 lb
- Capacity: 28 Quart
- Ice Retention: Up To 5 Days
Pros
- Durable and certified to handle a 1-hour bear attack for camping
- Includes a stainless steel bottle opener that doubles up as a locking system
- Wheeled coolers for easy transport
- Affordable and leakproof
- Pretty good at keeping ice
Cons
- Hard to open when the suction starts
- Needs pre-cooling to be effective
- Doesn’t keep ice as long as others
- No drainage plug
Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money
Coleman Xtreme Cooler
A durable heavy-duty cooler with a large capacity making it ideal for long trips.
Coleman Xtreme Cooler
The Coleman Xtreme rotomolded cooler is one of the best value rotomolded coolers in the review and it’s the biggest with a capacity of 70 quarts.
You get a lot of bang for your buck with this heavy-duty rotomolded cooler.
Build
The large capacity of this rotomolded cooler makes it ideal for use over longer periods of time.
You can easily take 5 days worth of food and drinks in it for your next camping trip.
These high-end coolers have extra-thick walls made from plastic with ThermOZONE insulation that contains no CFCs, HFCs, or HCFCs, that harm the environment.
Features
They provide excellent insulation and will preserve ice for up to 5 days.
While this is only half of what the Tundra can do, for the money it’s pretty spectacular.
These coolers also come with handy features like cup-holders in the lid.
There are 4 cup holders in total which makes pouring a round of drinks by the campfire a lot easier.
The lid of this large cooler is also designed to hold up to 250 lbs and can be used as a seat as well as a cutting board too.
Portability
The Coleman Xtreme comes with a plastic handle on each side that makes carrying it more comfortable, and it’s also much lighter and easier to carry than most other rotomolded coolers, considering its size.
While you do get quite a lot for a small amount of money with this cooler, you’re also missing out on a bit too when compared to the other high-end cooler brands.
Durability
This rotomolded cooler is not bear-safe, not leakproof, has no latches to hold the lid down, comes without anti-slip feet and there is no drainage plug to help with emptying and cleaning.
Specs
- Size: 28.4 x 15.8 x 17.5 inches
- Weight: 12.3 lbs
- Capacity: 70 Quart
- Ice Retention: Up to 5 days
Pros
- Well-insulated portable cooler
- Large capacity for long trips
- Cup holders molded into the lid
- Have-A-Seat Lid supports up to 250 lbs
- ThermOZONE Insulation contains no CFCs, HFCs or HCFCs
- Durable and well made
- Very affordable
- Good at staying cold
- Light for portability
Cons
- Not leakproof
- Doesn’t keep ice as long as others
- No drainage plug
- Not bear-resistant
- No anti-slip feet
- No latches
KONG 50 Cooler
Made of plastic with super thick walls, top-grade thick insulation and comes with a freezer-grade gasket.
KONG 50 Cooler
Kong is another brand that took a look at the Tundra and said, we can make one of those products too, and then did a great job of it.
Their 50-quart rotomolded cooler is just like the Tundra and costs the same amount of money too.
Build
This cooler looks heavy-duty, and like all rotomolded coolers, it is pretty much indestructible. It’s made of plastic with super thick walls, top-grade thick insulation and comes with a freezer-grade gasket to keep the cold air in.
It will keep things cold for up to 10 days or more, doing as good a job as the other best rotomolded coolers above.
You can rest assured your drinks are going to stay cold for days in this high-end cooler.
Storage
One great thing about these hard coolers is that they come with a plastic divider that allows you to create a dry storage space for food and a wet storage space for drinks.
You can also use the divider as a shelf to create more storage space options or as a chopping board and even a side table.
Durability
The only thing missing from this cooler is that it’s not bear-safe and it’s missing some little extras like built in bottle openers or cup holders.
Overall it’s an awesome cooler for the money that does its main job of keeping things cold very well.
Specs
- Size: 30.5 x 17.38 x 16.8 inches
- Weight: 33 lbs
- Capacity: 50 Quart
- Ice Retention: 10 plus days
Pros
- Includes a plastic divider for dry storage space, keeping food and beverages separately
- Divider doubles as a shelf, cutting board, and as a side table
- Preserves ice for ages
- Non-slip feet
- Super durable
Cons
- Heavy when empty
- Not bear-safe
- Quite expensive
OZARK TRAIL High-Performance Cooler
A cooler that performs well while having extra handy features to help you with your trip.
OZARK TRAIL High-Performance Cooler
The Ozark Trail rotomolded coolers do a great job of keeping things cold but the best thing about them is that they add some handy features like a fish ruler and drinks holders to make life in the outdoors a little bit easier.
Insulation
This high-end rotomolded cooler isn’t the best at keeping ice compared to the others but up to 5-days isn’t a bad try.
The only time I can think of needing something to be cold for longer than that is on an adventure like an Atlantic crossing.
Durability
These roto-molded hard coolers have some of the best durability around and are so secure they are bear-resistant.
No matter where you’re camping, if you close the Ozark Trail rotomolded cooler you can be sure your food and drinks are safe as can be.
Features
You get quite a lot of capacity for your money with this cooler compared to the others, plus it’s a little lighter for carrying around.
There are some things about these coolers that I can imagine getting on my nerves though.
The stainless steel handle, while being durable, can only be carried by one person.
Weight
Rotomolded coolers are heavy in general and if you added 20 cans of beer to this cooler you’d struggle to carry it alone.
Another thing that is missing is a drainage plug so you can let all the melted ice out of the cooler while without having to remove the empties or after you’ve cleaned it.
Specs
- Size: 21.50 x 13.00 x 15.50 inches
- Weight: 18.5 lbs
- Capacity: 26 Quart
- Ice Retention: Up to 5 days
Pros
- Certified bear-resistant
- Super durable and long-lasting
- Quite good at keeping ice
- Affordable
- Heavy-duty stainless steel handle with comfort grip for easy carrying
- Comes with a fish ruler
- The lid includes 2 drink holders
Cons
- It doesn’t preserve ice as long as others
- No drainage plug
- Comes with a one-person carry handle
Best Camping Cooler
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler
An indestructible and bear-safe cooler to keep your goodies cool and secure at all times.
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler
The Arctic Zone Titan rotomolded cooler is another high-end cooler that’s up there with some of the best.
Like most of the rotomolded coolers featured, this is also indestructible and bear-safe to keep your goodies secure at all times.
It also comes with two locking mechanisms so you can double lock it for extra security.
Insulation
This rotomolded cooler keeps things cold for up to 8 days, not the best but it’s close.
The cooler comes with excellent insulation and one of the best gaskets to lock in the cold and block any heat from coming out.
Microban
The interior of this cooler comes with a Microban coating that actively prevents any build of stain and bacterial odors.
The cooler also comes with a large drain to make emptying any melted water and cleaning easy.
Anti Skid
The cooler also features anti-skid feet to ensure the cooler stays in place no matter where it is, and it’ll stay stable when you’re using the fish rule to measure your catch out on the water
Weight
Like all rotomolded coolers, it’s quite a heavy cooler but no more so than the others.
One of the best things about it is that it comes with a lifetime guarantee, so while it costs a bit of money, you get a cooler for life.
Specs
- Size: 29.93 x 17.33 x 16.74 inches
- Weight: 35.27 lbs
- Capacity: 55 Quart
- Ice Retention: 8 days
Pros
- Helps prevent the build-up of bacterial odors and stains
- Seamless, one-piece, roto-molded cooler construction is built to last
- Includes anti-skid feet, an oversized drain, and an integrated fish ruler
- Bear-Resistant cooler
- Good ice retention
- Very durable cooler
- Lockable system
- Lifetime warranty
- More affordable than others
Cons
- Quite heavy
What Are Rotomolded Coolers?
Rotomolded coolers are similar to normal coolers except that they are made using a special rotational molding manufacturing process.
Process
This molding process is more efficient and environmentally friendly than any other molding process and allows the coolers to be made with zero weak points and to the exact specifications designed in order to have the best insulation.
Quality
In the end, this creates coolers that are far more durable, longer-lasting, and better at staying cold than any coolers that aren’t made using the rotational molding process.
Are Rotomolded Coolers Better Than Normal Coolers?
Yes, coolers made using rotational molding are far better than coolers that aren’t for many reasons, the main ones being that they are far more durable and are the best at keeping things cold for a much longer time.
Have you ever loaded up normal coolers with drinks and ice to find it has melted by the end of the day?
Insulation
If you did that with rotomolded coolers instead, you would still have ice sitting in there three to ten days later.
Now think about a long camping trip and how easy it would be to keep your food fresh or your drinks cold
Durability
Rotomolded coolers are also so durable that most of them are certified bear-safe.
This means that they are so tough that even with a bear attacking these coolers they won’t break or even open.
It’s way tougher than soft coolers, can you imagine a standard Coleman cooler surviving that?
NOTE
The only downside to rotomolded coolers is that they are heavier than normal coolers but that’s not a bad disadvantage to live with.
Check out the YETI Tundra 65 in the Below
Who Should Buy A Rotomolded Cooler?
Anyone who likes to throw garden parties, BBQs, or who loves camping, fishing, and spending time in nature should own a roto molded cooler.
They take the strain off worrying if things are getting warm, if your food is safe back at camp, or if my catch is going to stay fresh for dinner.
Efficiency
With roto molder coolers, you always know that everything inside is safe, cold, and staying fresh for whoever opens them.
Aside from better ice retention, these coolers also do not break, they are pretty much indestructible. The only downside is they are less portable compared to soft sided coolers or soft coolers.
Toughness
They can survive a bear attack or falling out of a moving car.
How many normal coolers have you been through in your life? I’m guessing a few if you like to go off into nature.
With rotomolded coolers, you just need to buy 1 and it’ll be with you for life, they are the best.
Which Brand Of Rotomolded Coolers Keeps Ice The Longest?
All rotomolded coolers stay cold longer than normal coolers but which ones stay cold the longest?
Every brand boasts about its ice retention being better than the rest but which brand is the best?
Best of The Best
The best coolers at staying cold the longest are Yeti, Rtic, and Kong coolers.
These coolers have superior ice retention and can maintain their internal temperature for a long time. They all stay cold and preserve ice for ten days or more whereas others that aren’t still good. They can have up to 3,5 or 8 days of ice retention – If you put dry ice in there, it might last a month.
Why Are Rotomolded Coolers So Expensive?
The reason these coolers are so expensive is because of the cost of the materials that go into them. Their superior ice retention and durability is their main selling point.
A lot of these coolers have 2-inch walls along with 3 inches of expensive insulation in order to stay cold and never break.
Materials
If you look at the lid, it’s also about 2 inches thick and comes with a gasket that creates a suction seal to not only stay cold but to ensure that the coolers are leakproof and don’t drip water all over your car or campsite.
Durability
Further to this, these coolers are pretty much indestructible and while you might not be used to thinking of coolers as investments, it might be time to start.
Having 1-2 rotomolded coolers over a lifetime is a lot less expensive than owning 5-10 normal coolers. If you need to replace your backpack cooler or soft cooler, you might want to consider investing on a rotomolded cooler.
So while these coolers might seem expensive upfront, they pay for themselves over time.
Things To Consider When Buying A Rotomolded Cooler
Size
Roto molded coolers come in a lot of sizes ranging from 20 quarts to over 300 and picking the best size for you is key.
My advice is to think about what you’re using them for.
Is it camping for 5 days or just 2 days? Going fishing and catching a lot to bring home? Or throwing a party for 60 people and you need something to put the drinks in?
TIP
The best all-around size in my eyes is a 55-quart. It’ll store enough supplies for a long trip into nature, and has more than enough space for holding 50-60 cans of beer or other drinks.
Which Size Rotomolded Cooler Is Best For Fishing?
When I talk about the best for fishing, what do I mean?
Here we are talking about the best size coolers for storing caught fish so they stay fresh until you make it back home.
Ideal Fishing Size
The best size coolers will be large enough to hold your catch along with a bit of ice to keep them cold.
So, what size fish are you after, and how many do you intend to catch?
Most of the time, coolers of 55 quarts or larger are the best.
They are long enough to fit a few cleaned wahoo in and have more than enough room for holding 30 plus crappies and keeping them fresh.
RECOMMENDATION
If you’re going commercial, you can look at Yeti’s 300-quart coffin-like coolers that will hold up to 1000 lbs of fish quite easily. I’ve used these and they are perfect for having at the back of the boat to keep all the fish you’re hauling in super fresh.
Insulation
The insulation of the roto molded cooler you choose is going to determine how long it stays cold for and as I mentioned above, some coolers are better at staying cold than others.
Think about how long you might want things to stay cold, is it 4 days, 8 days, or over ten days?
Or do you simply want the cooler that stays cold the longest and keeps ice frozen as it’ll be the cooler that’s guaranteed to keep everything cool and fresh until you need it?
Preference
In the end, it comes down to personal preference.
I would always choose the cooler than stays cold the longest as they don’t put any limitations on you.
I never want to think ‘shall we go camping for 12 days? No, the cooler won’t keep the food for that long’.
Durability
All roto-molded coolers are exceptionally durable thanks to how they are made.
The body is pretty much indestructible but a few are better than others.
How To Check
The best way to tell how durable the coolers you’re looking at are is by checking if they are bear-safe as this not only accounts for the durability of the body but also includes the lid and latches as well.
If a bear can’t break them or open them, there isn’t much that can.
Portability
Any cooler you buy isn’t going to sit at home, it’s coming on the road for a picnic, camping trip, or a fishing trip, so it’s going to need to be portable.
All roto molded coolers are heavy and can weigh up to 29 lbs when they are empty. If this sounds too heavy for your intended usage, you might want to stick with a soft cooler.
Now imagine a week’s worth of supplies in there, and you have got a heavy load to move around.
Handles
The first thing you want to check out on roto molded coolers in terms of portability is the handles:
Do they look strong? Are they going to be comfy to use?
Where are they on the cooler? How many are there?
Number of Handles
The best roto molded coolers come with 2 handles: 1 at each end so they can be carried by two people when they are heavy or with two hands when they are a bit lighter.
The best handles are made of rope with a soft plastic grip.
They allow for a bit of freedom of movement and are never going to snap on you.
Handle Types
You might find a few coolers with straight plastic handles, these are also pretty good but aren’t as good as rope ones.
Smaller coolers might come with a single handle that lifts over the lid, these are ok but check the overall weight of the cooler and imagine carrying it with one hand only before you think about buying it.
Cooling Out
I hope this article has given you an insight into the rotomolded cooler world.
They certainly are awesome products but picking the best rotomolded cooler for you can be a little confusing as they are all quite similar.
Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money
Budget
The best way to go about it is to decide on your budget, how long you want things to stay cold, and most of all the extra features that might help you out, like built in bottle openers or drink holders.
If you still haven’t decided, here are my top 2 best rotomolded coolers to help you pick the one for you.
Best Marine Cooler
The Tundra from Yeti is my best rotomolded cooler, but I am biased. I have used these roto molded coolers every day for the last 5 years in the Bahamas and Seychelles, both of which are super hot places.
I had these Yeti coolers full of fish, or drinks and food while they have literally been tossed around by huge waves or dropped in the sea and not once did they open, spill, or lose any of their insulation features after 5-years.
Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money
If you’re looking for the best rotomolded cooler but what to spend a little less, the Coleman Xtreme coolers are a good shout.
These are almost the same as the Yeti rotomolded coolers by about 30% less. They stay cold for ten days or more, are bear-safe, super durable and you’ll save stretching your wallet too far.
Stay Cool!
Thanks for reading my article and I hope you found it useful.
Roto molded coolers really are worth owning and I hope I helped you pick the right one for you.
Please feel free to share it around with any of your buddies and check out my other articles around fish finders, rods, reels, and more, right here.
