Coolers
Keep it cold in the back or the front country
Of all the gear categories and recommedations found on GTC, coolers are perhaps the most sitiuation and context-specific of them all. We broke down several use cases and then consulted our Guides & Outfitters community to help us shape the following recommendations.
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Longhaul Cold
For extended outings where weight isn’t the worry, these set the standard for cold retention. Think car camping, or other outings where you’re able to take on weight and bulk.
YETI’s Tundra Series coolers consistently come up in our outreach when we ask about quality and construction. The Tundra 45 is considered a modestly sized model, yet it still weighs about 25 lbs. and offers a capacity of roughly 33L. Guides & Outfitters we spoke with acknowledged the trade-offs in weight and portability, but described these coolers as “buy once, cry once” purchases—a long-term investment in what many consider the best temperature regulation on the market.
RTIC is another brand frequently mentioned in our outreach with Guides & Outfitters. The 45 Qt. Ultra-Tough cooler offers about 42L of capacity and weighs roughly 29 lbs., making it a heavy option with some limits on portability. Still, many see it as premium quality at a more accessible price point, with Guides telling us they’re satisfied with both performance and value.
Backcountry Chill
The following are adventure-ready coolers designed for mobility, durability, and dependable chill.
YETI makes these soft side, backpack-style carry coolers for bringing the cold with you. Much like other products with the YETI name, they’re considered the gold standard here in terms of both ice/cold retention and durability. Many lighter weight, more portable options out there, but they maintain cold a fraction of the time generally.
RTIC’s take on the portable backpack cooler is a lighter design but like the Ultra-tough above they give YETI a run for their money. While the Yeti backpack is sort of a big flexible chamber and is (relatively) smaller or larger in size depending on how you pack it, the RTIC backpack cooler is a fixed chamber, so its the same size regardless of your cargo. It offers a rugged front pocket and like the YETI it has side handles for hoisting up a heavy pack. For those preferring the RTIC, its all about price. We’ve never been told they keep cold longer (though many assert its basically the same), rather preference usually comes down to price.