Both of these enjoyed relative success and we had many positive things to say about them in our reviews. My only qualm -- that T-shaped handlebar includes comfy rubber grips on the sides, but not in the middle, the spot you'll actually want to hold as you lug it around one-handed. Although the MaxCold is a rolling cooler it comes with handles as you would expect on a non-wheeled cooler. I recommend keeping an eye on other brands we've come to respect that have a more palatable price tag. The Kick-Start Every Morning With Coffee Maker Guide. $21.99. The hinges themselves are the latches, and they're featured on both sides of the cooler, so no more walking around to "the other side," reaching over the lid or asking someone to grab your drink. Igloo Bmx Vs Lifetime Cooler 52 Quart Reviews 72 Outdoor Gear Review from www.expocafeperu.com. It performed respectably in our ice retention test, though not quite as well as we had hoped. It isn't anything special to look at, but it. It has even sparked a debate if Yeti coolers are worth the price. Being stainless steel, it will be much more resilient to rust and wear compared to lower-end materials. After several weeks of hands-on testing and countless ambient temperature readings, I've separated the winners from the also-rans. This size is large enough to handle bigger outings such as a picnic or tailgate. Igloo BMX 52 Qt Cooler ($99.99) Photo courtesy of Academy Sports + Outdoors. We were pleasantly surprised by how well the Igloo insulated. To do that, I started with a modified version of the ice retention test. Simply put, the Yeti clobbered the competition in our tests. I wanted to get a good sense of performance not just days in, but hours in, before any of the ice had even melted at all. Electric coolers are expensive and only make sense if you have a generator running full-time during your camping trips. The four coolers tested in this test were a YETI Tundra 45 ($299), the Otter Box Venture 45 ($299), the Igloo Amadeo Bachar Limited Edition BMX 52 ($249), and the Igloo Leeward 50 ($199). This was a much-needed addition. This Igloo cooler has UV inhibitors that can take care of the extra heat the sun throws on your cooler. Its also more portable than the Yeti or RTIC. Can Capacity: 60 (plus 10 pounds of ice) to 80 cans (plus 20 pounds of ice) Ice . Traditionally, Igloo has competed in the budget and mid-range categories. It has a drain on one side, but other than that, the Coleman Steel Belted Cooler doesnt have much in the way of features. I was able to fill the Lifetime High Performance Cooler with 62.4 quarts of water without causing it to overflow when I shut the lid. It has relatively thick rotomolded walls, a larger rubber gasket for sealing, and a strong latch system for providing a lot of squeezes. ORCA coolers also come with a lifetime guarantee and cargo nets for extra storage space. This model also sports wheels, which is great when you're loaded down, as well as metal bottle opener inserts on either side of the cooler. Still, if that Yeti price tag is pushing your budget, this is a top cooler for camping thats nearly as good as our Top Pick for much less money. I mean, come on -- the literal last thing you want from your cooler is to get burned by it. Also, don't forget to check out our handy dandy video buying guide for coolers with Andrew Gebhart. So if you are on an ice chest budget but still want a high-quality cooler, then these products check the box. Plenty of space then for a few days away. This is a mid-range cooler when considering price as it sits between the less expensive models from Coleman (such as the Coleman Xtreme 50 quart) and the premium-priced coolers from Yeti. There are a lot of variables at play here so we stress that our numbers only be used as a rough guide for what you can expect in similar conditions. I say infamy because both of those cash-grabs have a history of production delays and decidedly unhappy customers. Rovr pegs the capacity of its $400 Rollr wheeled cooler at 60 quarts, but I could only fit 52.8 quarts of water inside when I measured for myself. The Igloo Sportsman Cooler (55 Quart) provides the . The performance data between this ice chest newcomer and the previous titleholder, the Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler, was nearly identical. One bonus you may not think about initially is the fact that some newer coolers allow you to use them as a seat. It didnt take much pressure to hear the rivets straining. In regards to features, both brands are pretty similar. Another clever feature that many Igloo Coolers use is what they call their Cooler Riser Technology. But it still has some redeemable qualities. At the end of the weekend, we still had a small amount of ice left. They shine where portability and convenience are priorities. But they do come in with the great asking price that you expect from Igloo. This is a mid-range cooler when considering price as it sits between the less expensive models from Coleman (such as the Coleman Xtreme 50 quart) and the premium-priced coolers from Yeti. While there are examples of coolers with thicker walls out there, Igloo strikes a balance between ice retention and mobility. The previous title holder for this category was one of the cheapest coolers we've tested to date, the Coleman Stacker. Bear-resistance: The Yeti Tundra line is certified bear-resistant by the IGBC when used with bolts or padlocks. And while there is no denying that what is available looks good, we do wish that there were more color selections to pick from. Igloo appears to be going through a bit of a facelift among its cooler lineups. Or simply a big party in your yard! 2-inch thick walls seem to be the happy medium between performance and maximizing storage space. Rotomolded coolers are a subset of hard-sided coolers. Although this cooler was the cheapest in our test, the Igloo BMX can be found for not much more. of ice in the Lifetime Cooler. Generally only high-end coolers are rotomolded. Weve found that for most weekend warriors, 60 liters is the sweet spot that allows plenty of room for food and drinks for two to three people. Smart home technology and wireless connectivity, 10 years product testing experience with the CNET Home team, production delays and decidedly unhappy customers, Best Kitchen Gifts for a Home Cook or Foodie, The 5 Best Tea Subscriptions to Gift This Year, Amazon Commercial Rotomolded Cooler, 20qt, Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 Insulated Backpack Cooler, Coleman 24-Can Party Stacker Portable Cooler, Xspec 60 Quart Roto Molded High Performance Cooler, Igloo Trailmate Journey 70qt All-Terrain Cooler, the comments on the Infinite Cooler's Indiegogo campaign, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. After 48 hours (72 hours for the largest coolers), I had a nifty graph showing me the temperature inside each cooler on a minute-by-minute basis -- and the difference from cooler to cooler was striking. The 25-quart Igloo BMX is currently $99.99, . They dont quite reach the levels of, say, Techni Ice, but the ice life will far exceed the budget and even mid-range cooler brands on the market. The Tundra Haul is no different. Igloo MaxCold Cooler, 50 quarts -- $45 For a fantastic value pick, consider the Igloo MaxCold Cooler, which I scored on sale for just $45. As with the larger BMX 72 model, the handles have steel reinforcement to save them giving way when lugging heavier loads. Hey, here's another $300 rotomolded cooler. The rope carry handles on the Yeti and RTIC were our preferred design for two-person carry. Finally, you have the largest size, the 72 quart. We liked this cooler and thought it insulated well for the price point. In terms of ice retention, Yeti also enjoys a slight advantage. You could tell before the tests were run that this cooler was going to be the better performer. Although youll pay more than you would for a traditional type of cooler, youll get the convenience that comes with tossing drinks, food and ice into your cooler in the morning and havingthose items remain cool late that afternoon. RTICs Hard Cooler finished as a close runner-up, lagging only slightly behind the Yeti in most of our tests. Igloo has always been known for its reasonably priced coolers. Some are good, some are bad and some are just nonexistent. Igloo quotes an ice retention time for the BMX 52 of 5 days, so if you take your items straight out of the freezer and into the cooler, then youll likely achieve this. It turns out the answer is simple: because its the best. Polyethylene construction, with Ultratherm insulation. In its closed state, full of water, I sloshed it around without spilling a drop, so it's safe to assume that leaks won't be an issue. The BMX 52 has neat swing-up handles with rubber groups that provide extra protection when carrying. If it's sunny and you're thirsty, then you're going to want one of these coolers on standby. Features blow-molded construction, a reinforced base, stainless steel hardware, and rubberized T-grip latches. Read: Pelican Coolers Vs Yeti. Your needs will probably lie somewhere between those extremes. RTIC bills its cooler as bear-resistant, but it isnt certified bear-resistant by the IGBC as of this writing. Still, the RTIC barely flinched at our durability tests. Now, how do these stack up to the cheaper models? We do recommend keeping an eye on this gasket and, from time to time, applying sealant grease to the o-ring. The lid was kept closed at all times. This can make it helpful for quickly cleaning out after a fishing trip or camping trip. 1. Magellan Outdoors, Frosted Frog, RTIC and even the Amazon Commercial coolers are worth a look pretty much across their product offerings based on what I've seen. We have no complaints about them. If you're looking for a rotomolded cooler at a value, the closest thing I've seen outside of the occasional blowout sale is this model, the RTIC 65. Helpful (3) Not helpful (1) Report. Our bestselling BMX coolers have a durable, feature-loaded design and advanced insulation for extended ice retention, making them the perfect go-to rugged cooler for any outdoor adventure, whether you're camping, road tripping, fishing or just chilling out back. Do you plan to pack up covered dishes for family picnics, or will you simply use it to cart around beverages and maybe some sandwiches when you head to the beach? I've broken them down into four main categories: Is a bigger ice chest always better? With a lot of steel in this roto-molded design, it is undoubtedly strong but quite lightweight. The Igloo BMX 25 filled with equally affordable refreshment. The ice retention is competitive as well. Steer clear of this one. Like its big brother above, the Igloo BMX 52-quart cooler is a heavy-duty piece of outdoor gear that keeps fish, food, and beverages ice-cold for up to five-days even if outside temperatures push the 90-degree mark! Also typical of these sizes, the smallest size will utilize a different carrying method than the 2 larger sizes. Whether it is a soft-sided cooler, a hard-sided cooler, one that has foam insulation or a removable liner, I've considered all these and more to come up with the list of best coolers for you. Performance is important, but design matters, too -- and sometimes, it's a deal-breaker. Yep, Bought An Igloo Bmx 52 Cooler And Reviewed It For A Week. Put it at the top of your list if you're just looking for great cooling power at a great price. Learn more. When we initially wrote this review, we could only find one color option. All right, here's all of them. Whether you are trekking gear to the beachfront or headed out for a hiking day, having free hands is always a bonus. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of high performance camping coolers, including Xspec, Columbia . Considering the performance, this is a steal compared to comparable coolers. 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