This was a much-needed addition. Oftentimes the hardware used goes unnoticed but it is a key piece to a long-lasting cooler. Rotomolded coolers are a subset of hard-sided coolers. Give it a modest yank and the whole lid comes right off -- and the cheap plastic wheels didn't leave me impressed, either. But another aspect of Igloo BMX Coolers that makes them unique compared to other coolers that we have tested is the Cooler Riser Technology. Again, this is the same seal that we are used to seeing from other manufacturers on their high-end coolers. Plenty of space then for a few days away. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. It's also treated with UV inhibitors to prevent materials from degrading from long-term sun exposure. The last time I tested coolers for this list, I had Cabela's 60-quart version of this cooler listed as the best large cooler. Even the cheapest cooler will hold ice and keep your drinks cold for a day or so. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. In regards to features, both brands are pretty similar. We typically recommend that these larger coolers be carried by 2 people (particularly if they are filled up with items). The combination of grey, blue, and the metallic finish of the diamond plate insert results in a very attractive cooler that stands out from the crowd. Igloo MaxCold Cooler, 50 quarts -- $45 For a fantastic value pick, consider the Igloo MaxCold Cooler, which I scored on sale for just $45. We are fans of the more rugged-looking coolers (although we appreciate that these might not appeal to all) and the BMX 52 from Igloo is no exception. It gave the lowest temperatures in the midsize cooler category, and low enough to play ball with the largest of coolers we tested. Product Details. The Igloo BMX comes in 25-quart and 52-quart sizes. The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee keeps a running list of certified options, which includes a number of coolers from this rundown. Following are the colors various available in Igloo BMX 52 qt cooler: White/Moonscape Grey. MyOutdoorGearGuide.com is run by a team of passionate outdoor enthusiasts. We attribute some of its better performance to it being the smallest cooler in our test, but we were still impressed. None are included with their coolers. Extremely durable yet lightweight with proven 4-5 day ice retention at 90F UV inhibitors protect the cooler against sun damage for extended life. Stain and odor resistant. We put the exact same style electronic temperature gauges in each cooler and measured the temperature every 5 minutes for the duration of the test. I just wish it cost a little less, since you'll get better performance from the slightly less expensive Yeti and Orca coolers. Add to cart. It isn't as spacious or durable as the Yeti or RTIC, but it's a great drink cooler that kept our beer ice cold during our weekend camping trips. I do like that. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. First off, it is a backpack. Accessories provide optimum utilization of the . But in the big picture, if you want stuff to stay cold, you literally cannot beat Cabela's Polar Cap option. To find out, we put these ice chests through our ice retention tests. I've broken them down into four main categories: Is a bigger ice chest always better? While there are examples of coolers with thicker walls out there, Igloo strikes a balance between ice retention and mobility. Nothing broke, and we could simply press it back into place, but each time we did this it got noticeably looser. One thing to decide when youre going for a larger-capacity cooler, though, is portability. While we have tested coolers with thicker walls than that, thicker walls do sacrifice storage volume and add weight. Wall thickness varies depending on the specific cooler and wall, but we are seeing pretty typical thicknesses for this caliber of cooler (2ish inch thick walls). For the money, you're getting performance that's just as good as the impressive Igloo MaxCold, plus a much nicer design that includes dual-locking lid latches, a roomier-than-advertised interior, fancy-schmancy roped handles and even a built-in bottle opener for good measure. If that's what you're hoping for, your best bet might be to turn to Kickstarter and Indiegogo, where expensive, gadgety mega-coolers like theCoolest Coolerand the Infinite Cooler live in infamy. The Bison Gen 2 Cooler is another heavy-duty, rotomolded option with lots of room for your beer. Perhaps these features will be rolled out in the future. Our goal? Just keep in mind that Yeti's coolers aren't as big as the names suggest -- the Tundra 45 here holds just 33 quarts, which isn't great considering how much you'll have to pay for it. If that sounds a little daunting, never fear. If your main use is for keeping things cold, then the question is whether or not that extra 0.9 degrees is worth paying another hundred bucks for. There are no latches since this is a soft-sided cooler, just a zipper. There aren't many crazy features on this unit, but it does have bottle openers built into the rubber latches, a pressure relief valve to help open the cooler when the interior pressure rises, and rubber padded feet to elevate the cooler and help reduce direct heat transfer. At $120, the Magellan Outdoors unit is less than half the cost of the Yeti. You could tell before the tests were run that this cooler was going to be the better performer. Watch the video for. These coolers share many of the same features that you expect to see in a premium cooler and offer great build quality. Igloo offers up comparable performance at a fraction of the price. The easy-to-use, double-latched design means you can open the cooler from either side and, if you'd prefer, you can disengage the latches on both sides to remove the lid altogether. That's why we decided to take a quick break from the gadgets and gizmos of the CNET Smart Home to test out 18 hard-bodied coolers that range from $4 to $400 in price. With a price tag thats still well into the triple digits, the RTIC 45 didnt quite make the cut for our Best Value award. For longer getaways, anything shy of 50 liters is likely to feel cramped, especially when you factor in that at least half of that space should be reserved for ice. Chief among them are a rising number of heavy-duty, roto-molded coolers that deliver thick, dense insulation superior to traditional coolers (and which perform better by leaps and bounds than a soft cooler or cooler bag). Oil Green. It isnt as spacious or durable as the Yeti or RTIC, but its a great drink cooler that kept our beer ice cold during our weekend camping trips. That title is now held by a Magellan Outdoors model. Not only is it rotomolded, but it also comes with a rugged set of 9-inch inflatable rubber wheels, plus an aluminum axle and handlebar. 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. Plus, it's just as big as Orca says it is, coming in at a very sizable 58.1 quarts. Some brands make dividers that double as cutting boards when not in use. Extra thick insulation allows for 5 days of ice retention at 90-degrees. A really interesting comparison can be made when looking at Yetis Tundra series coolers and the Igloo BMX Coolers. For example, there are coolers are have been proven to keep food at a safe temperature for up to five days. Aside from performance, this Magellan cooler offers plenty of other extras, including quite possibly my favorite lid design: dual-side latches that can double as hinges, allowing you to open the cooler from either side. At the time of this writing, Igloo has 3 different models of their BMX Ice Chest to choose from: The BMX 25QT, BMX 52QT, and BMX 72QT. Midsize coolers, where most of your top options seem to land, ranging from 40 to 59 quarts (10 to 14.75 gallons or 37.85 to 55.83 liters). Igloo traditionally is known as a cooler brand with many different styles to choose from. 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. But the Igloo BMX Cooler ramps up the styling. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Igloo Flip and Tow 90qt Roller Cooler - White. 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. The big differentiator that you'll hear a lot about as you shop for a cooler is ice retention -- specifically, how long a cooler can keep a full load of ice frozen (melted ice, a.k.a. Igloo BMX Cooler More than 6,000 people recommend the Igloo BMX cooler on Amazon and give it rave reviews. As you can see from the many Igloo Coolers that we have reviewed in the past, their lineup is enormous. Are the more expensive coolers actually worth their asking prices? All right, here's all of them. Igloo BMX 52 Internal volume: 52 quarts Can capacity: 40 cans Exterior dimensions: 26.57 x 16.93 x 16.93 inches Weight: 16.33 pounds Three-year warranty Igloo Construction The Igloo BMX has a blow-molded construction with a reinforced base. Again, that pink line at the bottom that's making all of the other lines jealous is Yeti -- nothing we tested really came close to matching it. The insulation is impressive, too. 314 reviews. They have the benefits of portability and lightness. Large "party" ice chest coolers that boast volumes over 60 quarts (over 15 gallons or 56.78 liters). It turns out the answer is simple: because its the best. As far as we can tell, this is very similar (if not the same) as roto-molding. We liked that the Yeti came with a dry goods basket. Igloo sportsman coolers are almost 2X cheaper than Yeti. Available in a variety of sizes and configurations. While the Igloo BMX Cooler is no slouch, the excellent build quality and strong warranty of a Yeti are hard to match. Brand expert. Steer clear of this one. Price is another big consideration when shopping for a new ice chest. The Xtreme will do the trick for backyard cookouts, or for someone who doesnt store much perishable food at camp. Still, the handles were comfortable to hold and relatively easy for one person to carry. I look at the data. We do not doubt that this assists with ice retention. In our insulation test, the Steel Belted Cooler held onto ice for nearly as long as the pricier and burlier RTIC 45. We looked at the top Coolers and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Soft-sided coolers are perfect for carrying drinks or lunch. I was going back and forth between the two as well. Hey, here's another $300 rotomolded cooler. Stick with an old-fashioned cooler like the ones I recommend above. Coolers range in size from 6-pack sized to a whopping 350-liter beast ready to hold a quartered elk. As a matter of fact, at $220, this cooler is currently the cheapest of any cooler in either our midsize or large cooler category, with the exception of the Igloo BMX 52qt Cooler, which happened to be the poorest performer of the aforementioned categories. 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