We could earn income from the merchandise accessible on this web page and take part in affiliate packages. Learn More ›
When you’ve ever needed to lug chilly drinks throughout a seashore or drag meals for a protracted weekend right into a walk-in campsite you understand how useful having coolers with wheels may be. However inside this class there are a wide selection of efficiency and worth factors to sift via. That can assist you determine whether or not it is best to go for a $400 rotomolded possibility or one thing easier, I put six choices from Yeti, RovR, Coleman, Magellan, RTIC, and Brumate to the take a look at to seek out the most effective cooler with wheels.
How I Examined the Finest Coolers with Wheels
I evaluated six coolers from Yeti, Coleman, RovR, Brumate, Rtic, and Magellan Open air on ice retention, portability, worth, guarantee, and options.
Ice Retention Take a look at
My first massive take a look at was of every cooler’s ice retention potential. To judge this, I bought six 7-pound luggage of ice and put one in every cooler. I then closed the lids and waited to see how lengthy it could take every to soften.
Whereas I aimed, as a lot as doable, to name in coolers that have been of the same dimension, you may typically anticipate a 52-liter cooler to battle extra with this take a look at than a 35-liter cooler. Whereas I did test throughout this take a look at to see whether or not the coolers have been waterproof, in the end none of them have been, and I eliminated that testing metric from consideration.
Learn Subsequent: Best Ice Packs for Coolers
Portability
Subsequent I checked out portability — this factor has wheels, in spite of everything. On this take a look at, I pulled every cooler round a small circuit with a couple of completely different surfaces: a parking zone, a muddy subject, a sandy seashore, and down a set of stairs. I checked out each how a lot effort I wanted to make use of to maneuver the cooler over the completely different surfaces, how simply they bought caught, and whether or not I used to be pressured into an uncomfortable posture. I rolled the coolers with 7 kilos of ice or water inside (relying on the place the cooler was at in my ice retention take a look at).
As a part of my portability testing, I additionally regarded on the consolation of the handles for each pulling the cooler alongside the bottom and lifting it up and taking it down from a automobile.
Lastly, I thought of worth and guarantee, and different options that may have an effect on consumer expertise.
Learn Subsequent: Best Backpack Coolers
Finest Coolers with Wheels: Evaluations & Suggestions
Finest Total: Yeti Roadie 48
Report Card
- Time to Soften 7 Kilos of Ice: 62 hours
- Wheel Efficiency: Nice
- Ease of Use: Nice
Key Options
- Weight: 28 kilos
- Capability: 76 cans
- Guarantee: 5 years
Execs
- Straightforward to maneuver over all method of terrain
- Latching and telescoping deal with work seamlessly
- Good warranty
Cons
- Costly
- Didn’t maintain ice so long as different coolers that I examined
The Yeti Roadie 48 was the cooler with wheels already in my gear closet, so I questioned: Would one other, higher cooler come alongside and change it?
Nope. Though it was shut, with different coolers beating the Yeti in any given class. However when it got here to sheer total efficiency — ice retention and capability and ease of use and maneuverability over all method of terrain — this one remains to be my favourite. The latches have been simple to make use of, the telescoping deal with got here up and down with out difficulty, it was moderately simple to drag throughout even the sandiest part of my testing space. Whereas I want it had executed slightly higher on the ice retention take a look at, its precise capability relative to its efficiency was spectacular. Extra insulation would have meant both a bulkier cooler or much less inside area.
The draw back to this Yeti is identical draw back with nearly all the pieces Yeti makes: It’s actually costly. If this one is simply too wealthy in your blood, transfer proper alongside to my finest worth decide and finest wheels, which have been additionally standout performers.
Learn Subsequent: Rtic vs Yeti: Is a More Expensive Cooler Actually Worth It?
Finest Worth: Magellan Outdoors Pro Explore Icebox 45-QT
Report Card
- Time to Soften 7 Kilos of Ice: 73 hours
- Wheel Efficiency: Poor
- Ease of Use: Nice
Key Options
- Weight: 30 kilos
- Capability: 45 quarts
- Guarantee: 1 yr
Execs
- Second longest ice retention in my take a look at
- Wonderful haul handles
- Straightforward to make use of latches that open on each side
- Affordably priced
Cons
- The least snug to tug throughout the testing terrain
If this had simply been a take a look at of the most effective coolers, then the Magellan Open air Professional Discover Icebox 45-QT would have simply gained the day. It held a single bag of ice for over three days. It had glorious haul handles — the one ones in my take a look at that made it snug to hold the cooler down stairs or haul it up into my SUV. The latching mechanisms have been simple to make use of and, unusually, have been on each side of the cooler so you possibly can open it from both path. And it was very affordably priced, at half the price of my finest total decide. That is actually an ideal cooler.
In the long run it was lugging this cooler round my testing loop that was the Magellan Open air Professional’s downfall. Even with restricted weight inside it, this cooler was a bear to tug throughout sand, and was much less regular knocking down a brief sequence of steps than the rest I checked out. The haul deal with was additionally shorter than I’d have preferred, to the purpose that I used to be pressured into an ungainly stance to drag it. If you realize that you simply’ll solely be pulling this cooler a brief distance throughout a parking zone or different paved floor, it’ll work simply superb. However should you’re searching for a cooler that may deal with being dragged throughout extra rugged terrain then look elsewhere.
Finest Wheels: RovR RollR 45
Report Card
- Time to Soften 7 Kilos of Ice: 69 hours
- Wheel Efficiency: Wonderful
- Ease of Use: Good
Key Options
- Weight: 37 kilos
- Capability: 45 quarts
- Guarantee: 1 yr
Execs
- Finest in school wheels that may deal with something
- Good ice retention
Cons
- Troublesome to make use of latching mechanism
- Shorter guarantee regardless of greater worth level
When you’re planning to wheel your cooler 1 / 4 mile throughout a rocky seashore there’s no query which one you want: the RovR RollR. These are severe wheels, extra akin to what you’d see in your fat-tire bike than the standard plastic items. And the telescoping deal with was the longest in my take a look at, which each improved my posture and my leverage. This cooler virtually bounced down the steps in my testing circuit and was equally clean pulling throughout each sand and dust.
Whereas this cooler did properly on the ice retention take a look at, it’s price noting that it had much less capability (relative to its total dimension) and weighed greater than different coolers I checked out. When you’re packing up the household automobile for a protracted weekend of tenting, this one could not have the area effectivity that you simply want. I used to be additionally slightly pissed off by its latching mechanism. Whereas very safe (this cooler was closest to being waterproof), the latch was annoyingly troublesome to get on. Younger kids won’t be able to open and shut this cooler on their very own.
Finest Ice Retention: Brumate Brutank 35-Quart Rolling Cooler
Report Card
- Time to Soften 7 Kilos of Ice: 77 hours
- Wheel Efficiency: Good
- Ease of Use: Honest
Key Options
- Weight: 31 kilos
- Capability: 35 quarts
- Guarantee: 5 years
Execs
- Finest ice retention in my take a look at
Cons
- Low inside quantity to weight ratio
- Telescoping deal with may be fairly sticky
One of the best coolers with wheels ought to have nice ice retention, and that’s the place the Brumate Brutank shines. It took 77 hours for a 7-pound bag of ice to totally soften, which was the most effective lead to my take a look at. One caveat to that is that, regardless of being one of many heavier coolers I checked out, it had much less inside quantity than the rest.
For the primary half of testing, I used to be satisfied that the Brumate Brutank had solely a half dimension telescoping deal with. As laborious as I attempted to drag on it, it simply wouldn’t pull out additional than a foot and a half or so. This made it surprisingly awkward to lug. However after I went to try to pressure the cooler up over a curb, the remainder of the telescoping deal with popped out. Now it’s simple to pack away and pull out once more, however it’s price noting that this mannequin has an exceptionally sticky deal with to start out.
Finest Light-weight: Rtic 52-QT Ultra-Light Cooler
Report Card
- Time to Soften 7 Kilos of Ice: 55 hours
- Wheel Efficiency: Good
- Ease of Use: Good
Key Options
- Weight: 21 kilos
- Capability: 52 quarts
- Guarantee: 3 years
Execs
- Affordably priced
- Very light-weight for its dimension and efficiency
Cons
- Not pretty much as good ice retention as different issues I checked out
Take a look at sufficient rotomolded coolers and one factor turns into clear: These suckers are heavy. No surprise they want wheels. So I used to be pleasantly stunned after I first lifted the Rtic. Regardless of having the most important capability of any wheeled cooler I checked out, it was additionally the second lightest.
Whereas the Rtic Ultralight Cooler was simpler to drag throughout my testing circuit than the Magellan Open air Professional Discover (which additionally has a haul deal with) it, sadly, didn’t do as properly within the ice retention take a look at. If it’s essential to preserve your gadgets cool for a protracted time period, this might imply that you simply want extra ice than with different coolers, negating a number of the capability and weight advantages of this cooler.
Finest Price range: Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme Hard Cooler with Wheels
Report Card
- Time to Soften 7 Kilos of Ice: 40 hours
- Wheel Efficiency: Good
- Ease of Use: Good
Key Options
- Weight: 13 kilos
- Capability: 50 quarts
- Guarantee: 1 yr
Execs
- Very reasonably priced
- Good capability for its dimension
- Light-weight
Cons
- Worst ice retention in my take a look at
- Wheels are much less strong than different choices
- Troublesome to open lid
Whereas the RTIC 52-Quart was impressively light-weight for a rotomolded cooler, nothing in my take a look at was as mild weight, or cheaper, than the Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme. I may simply decide up this cooler with one hand. As a result of it was so mild, it dealt with higher than I anticipated in my portability circuit. When you totally loaded this cooler up, nevertheless, you would possibly begin to see issues on account of the truth that it solely has half wheels.
This was the one cooler in my take a look at that didn’t have a latching mechanism however it was nonetheless one of the troublesome to open, even when there wasn’t a temperature distinction between the within and outdoors of the cooler. It was additionally notable for having the worst ice retention efficiency in my take a look at, lasting lower than two days. However, in case you are solely planning to make use of your wheeled cooler for the occasional picnic or seashore outing, what this cooler does supply at this worth level makes it completely price it.
Issues to Contemplate Earlier than Selecting a Cooler with Wheels
Ice Retention
How a lot ice retention potential you want relies upon largely on what you’re doing. When you’re simply seeking to preserve some drinks cool throughout a weekend picnic it’s a lot much less essential than in case you are planning to go off grid for the lengthy weekend. Typically, the coolers with the most effective ice retention might be costlier and heavier. See the testing outcomes on this story earlier than making a last buy
Portability
The entire level of a cooler with wheels is that it’s simple to maneuver round. However there’s extra to portability than simply the wheels: There’s additionally the deal with, dimension, and weight. Contemplate how a lot lifting you’re planning on doing along with your cooler (off your entrance steps, into your automobile, and many others.) and select a weight and dimension you can simply handle.
Learn Subsequent: Best Small Coolers
Ease of Use
There are a shocking vary of options that got here with the wheeled coolers, from telescoping handles to completely different latching types to aspect handles. Contemplate which options are most essential to you. When you journey with kids, it’s possible you’ll wish to concentrate on how troublesome or simple to make use of the latches are. If you’re hauling your cooler longer distances, concentrate on the wheels and the size of the deal with (which can influence your leverage). Hold the consolation of the haul handles in thoughts should you use your cooler for lots of quick journeys in your automobile.
FAQs
In my view, the most effective seashore cooler with wheels is the RovR RollR sequence, as its extra strong wheels and longer haul deal with make it simpler to journey on variable, uneven terrain.
The RovR RollR cooler sequence has the most effective wheels of something I’ve examined.
In my take a look at of the most effective coolers with wheels, the Brumate Brutank saved ice the longest, carefully adopted by the Magellan Open air Professional Discover Icebox 45-QT.
Whereas you will get away with a 45-quart cooler for 4 days, particularly should you freeze gadgets like soup upfront to offer the cooler a lift, most individuals will discover that 65-quarts is the proper dimension for 4 days out within the woods with the household.
Ultimate Ideas
After testing the most effective coolers with wheels, I’m assured that one of many fashions on this checklist will suit your wants. Whether or not you’re searching for best-in-class wheels or glorious ice retention or one thing reasonably priced and light-weight, there’s something for everybody.
