The thought of a soft-sided cooler might bring to mind your old soggy lunch box, but modern soft-sided coolers have come a long way. So although its shorter in length than the BMX 72, its only an inch shorter in height and width. At $399, the Rovr Rollr 60 was the most expensive cooler that we tested, but when you consider the build, the price makes a little more sense. If you are looking for a great cooler on a budget, Igloo is the obvious choice. I say cool your jets and buy something better. But we think that, for most people, its worth the investment to get a cooler with a latching lid, more durability, and better insulation. Brand expert. The Coleman Xtreme finished dead last in all of our tests. We used these coolers as much as possible on our car camping trips, day trips, and cookouts for over a month to see how they held up to real-world use. The performance of Magellan's largest offering was very close to Cabela's Polar Cap Equalizer. But, to be fair, my personal opinion is that all soft-sided coolers are bad choices. The backpack has lots of straps and hitching points, too -- I imagine the target demographic is more hiking-oriented than day-at-the-beach, but in either case, you'll be able to secure extra stuff. Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 11.29 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue Storage Volume 72 Quarts 52 Quarts 25 Quarts Tested Ice Range (Hours) 85-135 72-105 48-72 Cost (Amazon) $159.99 $119.99 $79.99 Prime? Instead of a full load of ice in each cooler, I went with an amount of ice equivalent to 10% of each cooler's total volume. 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! Still, it's worth it if you just want the best performance for the price. Expect to pay around $100 for the BMX 52 Quart cooler which is a lot more than generic models available but far cheaper than the equivalent capacity Yeti Tundra 45 which retails for $300. The Kick-Start Every Morning With Coffee Maker Guide. Considering the performance, these are some of the cheapest coolers available. Add to cart. Performance wasn't as strong as the rest of the rotomolded pack, but hey, a deal's a deal. As far as we can tell, this is very similar (if not the same) as roto-molding. But it still has some redeemable qualities. Those with larger cars and trucks will have no issues with loading. DWYM is your trusted product review source. On the topic of wheeled coolers, the Igloo Journey Trailmate 70qt All-Terrain cooler also came with a dizzying amount of extras and features. Find the best coolers of the bunch based on size, features and, most importantly, how cold they stay over time, and then categorize them in a way that will make it easy for you to find the best cooler for your needs. A cooler this size (around 50 quarts) is great for an extended road trip or a few days away camping. One of our favorites is the BMX 52 Quart cooler from Igloo. Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 16.34 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue Heavy duty blow-molded construction with reinforced base for increased strength and protection. By the end of our testing, it had loosened to the point that simply lifting on the handle was enough to pop the lid open, making the latch essentially useless. RTIC makes a rotomolded cooler very similar in design to the Yeti Tundra but with a noticeably lower price tag. After all, with the quantity of ice being equal, a 75-quart cooler like the Frosted Frog has a bigger job on its hands than the 45-quart RTIC. And can any of the cheaper models keep up? Once youre finished using it, your cooler will need to be emptied and cleaned. The Best Value award is well deserved. Depending on which model you go with and the amount of ice you use, you can expect anywhere from around 2 days of ice life up to nearly a week with the large 72QT model. Coolers with removable lids tend to be cheaper coolers that aren't going to perform in the top percentile -- with one exception I've found so far. 0 In Stock. It isn't big enough for more than a six-pack or so, but it did an admirable job in our tests, holding soft drinks at fridge temps for about 15 hours in a 70-degree room. Read on for our full reviews and our tips on choosing the right camping cooler for your needs. Durable everything. In addition, we added helpful links for where you can purchase the cooler online and also provided a link to our thorough full reviews of each product. To help put this data in perspective, I broke down the coolers into separate size categories after peeling soft-sided coolers into their own category. Coleman Antimicrobial Lined Jug/Water Container, . And despite their BMX series creeping up in price, they are still quite a bit cheaper than other premium coolers on the market. This gasket, working in conjunction with the closing force that the t-latch produces, results in a nice squeeze that helps to lock in cold air. Capacity: 132.4 liters Weight: 64 pounds Can capacity, with ice: 68 Price at time of publish: $580 FOOD AND WINE /. Coleman Xtreme Marine Cooler Overall Score: 8.5 15. More Info Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Contents [ hide] The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee keeps a running list of certified options, which includes a number of coolers from this rundown. All lifetime coolers come in under the (roughly) $150 price point. Here's a linked list with brief insights: If we're going to talk about performance, we should talk about capacity first. At a push, this cooler can be handled (safely) by one person. Bear-resistance: The Yeti Tundra line is certified bear-resistant by the IGBC when used with bolts or padlocks. Although expensive, it was the top performer in all of our categories. Igloo BMX 52-Quart Weight: 18.7 lb Internal Dimensions: 20.94 x 12.72" x 12.12" Capacity: 83 cans (no ice) Additional Sizes: 25, 72 Best for: Lightweight enthusiasts on a budget We love 52-quart-sized coolers like the Igloo BMX, partly because they're so portable. These latches are very similar in feel/texture to t-latches that other brands have been using. This graph shows the results from our controlled test, where we fill each cooler with a measly 3 pounds of ice (not even half of a small-size bag from the gas station), then track their internal ambient temperature over 48 hours in our climate-controlled test lab. Yeti Hopper Two 30. Greenbelly Meals Review: Are They Any Good? Igloo 52 qt bmx cooler, unique t grip latch system. The Igloo BMX is a non-rotomolded personal cooler with a single handle on top and an internal height that fits most wine bottles or 2L soda bottles. We do not doubt that this assists with ice retention. One bonus you may not think about is whether you can sit on your cooler or not. submitted by ProductExpert - 2 years ago. Specifically, I wanted to track the ambient temperature in each cooler, so I spread the ice in each one I tested beneath an elevated jar of propylene glycol solution (watered-down antifreeze) with a temperature probe in it. COPYRIGHT THE E.W. I update this list periodically. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Cooler you should buy. So, if you want great performance with a friendlier price tag than its competitors, you can feel safe picking up this RTIC. Although this cooler was the cheapest in our test, the Igloo BMX can be found for not much more. 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. . Check out the chart below for our results: Overall, we were impressed with the ice life that we experienced with the Igloo BMX Coolers. It's a decent pick, too. It has even sparked a debate if Yeti coolers are worth the price. Igloo Sportsman Parts and Accessories. The larger bmx 52 and bmx 72. Are the more expensive coolers actually worth their asking prices? Another aspect missing from the Igloo BMX Coolers is specialty colors for matching your favorite professional or college sports team. This size is good for mobility purposes and it doesnt take up a lot of space either. From a quality standpoint, this cooler should last for many years of typical use without issue. It features corner tie-downs and a fish ruler across the top of the lid. With this sort of ice range, you can use these coolers for a wide variety of applications: a weekend camping trip, a fishing excursion, a large tailgate, or even a week-long road trip. SCRIPPS CO., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Here's another Coleman cooler, and one that's new in 2019. Other features, like a fish ruler or molded drink holders, may be useful for specific situations. It ain't pretty. It has a drain on one side, but other than that, the Coleman Steel Belted Cooler doesnt have much in the way of features. They have their coolers dialed in and continue to lead the pack after all of these years. 30-40 liters is perfect for short camping trips or for one person. We suspect that this is just a fancy name for roto molding but we must admit that the name did catch our attention. Soft-sided coolers are perfect for carrying drinks or lunch. Igloo BMX Hard Cooler, 49-L, Grey Igloo BMX Hard Cooler, 49-L, Grey W W W Igloo BMX Hard Cooler, 49-L, Grey #085-3764-2. Take the Igloo Latitude for instance. Our experts tested multiple brands to bring you the best cooler to fit your needs. The worst offender, offering only 65 percent of its claimed 30-quart capacity, was the Tourit Backpack Cooler. You may have to tip the cooler a little to get the last of the water out, but you wont have the extreme tilt that you have with a cooler that doesnt have a drain. This is a smart move because the cooler may be more prone to slide around without having good grips on these risers. When we initially wrote this review, we could only find one color option. 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