It’s the battle of the coolers: Rtic vs. Yeti. In a single nook, we’ve got fan favourite Yeti, and within the different there’s Rtic, wanting simply as beefy and spectacular however at a fraction of the worth. Yeti supporters will let you know there isn’t any query: this cooler has the insulation and the sturdiness to make it well worth the value. Rtic boosters will let you know that you’re being gouged for a model identify when the Rtic coolers are just about equivalent. Prepared to put your guess?

Design and Look

Look-wise, these coolers are awfully related wanting. (And that is even after Yeti sued Rtic for copying their designs.) Aside from the brand, most of the merchandise from every model are practically indistinguishable. Related wanting rotomolding building, thick partitions, anchor-shaped latches. The Rtic has an additional drainage port, so there’s something not less than. These similarities are partly why some individuals declare that you’re simply buying a emblem while you spend further on the Yeti. 

Value

That is arguably the largest distinction between these two merchandise. Yeti coolers, throughout each measurement and mannequin are considerably costlier than the comparable Rtic mannequin. Right here’s a breakdown of some sizes and fashions. 

In the event you’re questioning if a few of this value distinction is as a result of location the place the products are manufactured, the reply is … perhaps. Rtic coolers are made in China. Yeti coolers, alternatively, are made in quite a lot of places, from the Philippines to Mexico to the USA. To verify whether or not a selected mannequin is made within the USA requires a name to Yeti. 

Efficiency

In my take a look at of the insulation of the greatest tenting coolers, it was pretty clear that Yeti does make a slightly higher cooler than Rtic, though not the perfect cooler (that may be the ROVR RollR). To check these coolers, I emptied a bag of ice into every cooler after which checked to see how lengthy it took for every to soften, with the perfect of the lot lasting practically 4 days. The ice within the Yeti (the Roadie 48) lasted 35 hours whereas the ice within the Rtic (Unique 65) lasted just a little below 27 hours. 

Whereas the Yeti beat the Rtic, for most folk it’s in all probability not sufficient efficiency to account for the additional value. Particularly significantly you might simply purchase a number of further of the perfect ice packs for coolers and nonetheless have saved round 100 {dollars}. 

Sturdiness

However it’s not simply value and ice retention that Yeti and Rtic are competing on, it’s additionally sturdiness. Let’s check out how they examine. 

Throwing Coolers off of Buildings!

Yeti first acquired our consideration by throwing their coolers off of issues: constructing, cliffs, and so forth. Have been these clearly advertising and marketing stunts? Sure. Have been they nonetheless freakin’ superior? Additionally sure. 

As a result of right here’s the factor: the Out of doors Life workers (and particularly the members of the gear workforce) will not be good to our gear. I drop and break issues on a regular basis, generally by chance, which occurred with one other cooler, the Oyster Tempo, throughout my testing of the greatest tenting coolers. However I additionally drop take a look at merchandise on objective, in order that OL readers know that are robust sufficient for the outside, resembling I did with the greatest energy banks for backpacking. 

Nevertheless most of us in all probability aren’t going to drop a cooler off a two-story constructing. That’s not likely what you do with coolers. I attempted my hardest to seek out some documentation on what occurs to an Rtic cooler while you throw it off a constructing and I couldn’t discover it, in all probability as a result of it doesn’t occur. So Yeti’s efficiency, whereas flashy, might be not sensible.

BEARS!

After I did a deep dive on the testing behind the greatest bear canisters, I discovered that the easiest way to check if a product is bear-resistant is to use precise bears. The workers on the Wolf and Grizzly Discovery Middle in West Yellowstone, Montana, are the masterminds behind this type of testing, and so they don’t simply take a look at bear canisters. They’re additionally accountable for testing trash cans and coolers to be used in bear nation. They stuff the merchandise with peanut butter, honey, and fish, after which hand them over to the bears to see what occurs. Typically the bears are in a position to smash the cooler aside in a matter of seconds; generally they battle for over an hour earlier than giving up. 

You possibly can view their full listing of authorized merchandise right here, however that is what you might want to know: Yeti has 18 coolers that survived this testing protocol on the listing, together with their total Tundra line. Rtic has one. Within the battle of the coolers, that’s a degree for Yeti. 

In fact, you don’t have to depart your cooler outdoors for bears to get at—you may at all times put it in your automobile. In the event you do plan to let bears play together with your cooler, be certain to buy locks, which Yeti sells on its web site.

Weeks Adrift at Sea!

Look, Yeti knew what it was doing when it stuffed certainly one of its coolers with peanut butter and kippers and caught it in a grizzly bear enclosure. They clearly meant to drop it two tales (they wouldn’t have posted the video on their social media if the cooler had burst aside on the hinges). However they didn’t imply to have an entire delivery container’s price of Yetis get dumped into the Pacific Ocean throughout a freak storm.

Which is strictly what occurred in 2021 when 1600 Yetis went into drink off the coast of Alaska. For a lesser cooler, battered by waves and inundated by water, that may have been the tip of the story, as they sunk to the depths of the ocean flooring. However not the Yetis. As a substitute, these coolers began washing up on shore in all places from Alaska to Seattle to Hawaii. 

The coolers had been in such fine condition that folks even went searching for them, hoping to snag a free best-in-class cooler that was just about new so long as you didn’t thoughts a number of scratches. I’m not saying that Rtic ought to contrive to have one thing related occur to their coolers (the Pacific rubbish patches are loads huge already), however I’m saying that is the form of sturdiness take a look at that’s just about unimaginable to match.  

Guarantee

In fact, we in all probability might have simply skipped the above and jumped straight to the guarantee: How lengthy a producer is prepared to ensure their product is an efficient indicator of high quality you may anticipate from the manufacturing course of. Listed here are the stats: 

• Yeti: 5 12 months restricted lifetime guarantee
• Rtic: 1 12 months restricted lifetime guarantee

That’s recreation Yeti. 

Ultimate Ideas

Yeti has greater than earned its repute for toughness and sturdiness. In the event you’ve been saving up for a brand new cooler, it is a nice funding that can final you for a few years. However in the event you’re considering your cooler gained’t must survive a grizzly bear or a fall from a cliff or being thrown overboard into the Pacific, then you definately’ll possible even be pleased with an Rtic. When you may select between two nice coolers, one constructed to outlive each possible torture take a look at and one constructed for worth, the actual winner is the buyer.