Yeti Tundra Hard Coolers Review – Going Hard on Yeti

Build and Durability

Don’t be fooled by the name; the exterior on the Tundra is as rugged as it gets and this cooler will stand the toughest abuse for many years. The only point we considered a weak point was the lid seal because we got water to slosh out of the lid as we were testing the cooler. However, it is still better than some models out there, including the high-end Pelican Elite.

The cooler is rotomolded, like most high-end coolers out there of course, which already makes it virtually indestructible. It also happens to be certified bear-proof by IGBC. Yeti also backs up their design with a 5-year warranty that covers any manufacturer defects.

Features

There are lots of things on the Tundra that make it super easy to use. The latches are T-Rex rubber latches that can be pulled open, making the opening and closing of the lid super easy. The drain plug is also quite capable when draining the cooler.

We noticed, however, that because the handle is pretty long, we had to hold it away from the drain when draining the cooler. There was also a bit of spraying at first when we tried to drain the cooler.

As the water drains out toward the end, it tends to trickle down to the bottom of the cooler and make whatever the cooler is sitting on wet, so you may have to tilt the cooler a bit to avoid that. But that’s an issue we see in most cooler drains.

The Tundra also includes a separating tray that keeps the food items away from the wet stuff. It’s essentially a dry basket and comes in handy for those who want their dry contents staying dry. There are also slots for a divider on the inside, which is something you should expect from any high-end cooler.

We also loved the 2:1 can to ice capacity, and the strong gasket on the lid, ensuring the lid is tightly shut when you close it. It’s a strong cooler overall and inspires quite some confidence. It’s no surprise that we use it as the industry standard.

How Portable is this Cooler?

Well, it’s a pretty large cooler so this will obviously be an issue worth talking about. The handles of the Tundra are basically ropes with grooved plastic handles where the hands should go. That’s an okay handle for a lighter cooler.

However, on a cooler of this size, you can expect some red and painful fingers after you have carried the cooler for a while. To be entirely honest, there are way better handles out there, such as those on the Pelican Elite and the Orca.

The above note about handles, however, doesn't relate to Yeti Roadie and the new Yeti Tundra Haul. The former is the smallest ice chest in the Tundra series and it has a big, comfy, steel handle. The latter is the first Tundra on wheels, which Yeti has introduced just a few months ago. We posted a complete Yeti Haul Review right here.

Insulation and Ice Retention

This is what the Yeti Tundra 65 is most well known for. It happens to be one of the best performers on the market when it comes to ice retention. In fact, for the longest time ever, it was the best in ice retention in the market and only got overtaken a few years ago.

The Tundra will keep your food at 40 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 5 days and will even go up to 6. The best performing cooler is the Orca 58 quart cooler, which will keep your contents cool for up to 7 days. That means the Yeti isn’t far off.

The insulation on the Tundra more than matches the very high pedigree of this cooler, and we are very proud of it. Whether you’re going out for a very long weekend, or you want something you can rely on for a picnic, the Tundra is there for you.

Who is the Yeti Tundra for?

The Yeti Tundra is for pretty much anyone who appreciates a premium cooler from an iconic, lifestyle brand. Whether you want something you can go fishing with, or hunting, or camping, this cooler will serve you well and will take a beating without flinching.

Why are Yeti Coolers so Expensive?

This is a question a lot of people ask. Well, Yeti coolers are expensive because the brand has been built over time and has come to be respected by the industry. Can you get coolers that perform at the same level for a cheaper price? Of course!

However, they do not have that shiny Yeti badge, and their names do not command as much respect.  Don't get us wrong, there are other premium brands out there but let's be honest: no brand has been able to achieve such a massive success as the Yeti – now a public company with a market cap of $1.9 billion at the time of writing this.

To conclude this part: what sets Yeti apart is that every time you buy yourself a Yeti, you are buying a product from a top-tier brand, and a stamp of approval that you have a quality product that will last for many years. It also helps that you get a 5-year warranty.

The Yeti Tank is pretty much an ice bucket. It comes in the 45 quart and 85-quart capacities and is there for the simple purpose of keeping your beer cold. Whether you’re out on your boat or at a simple party, the last thing you want is to have a cold beer.

That’s why the Tank is there. You pour in the ice and throw in your cans of beer. They stay cold throughout the night, up to 24 hours, and you always have a cold one. It is rotomolded, just like the Tundra coolers, and also has commercial-grade polyurethane insulation for ice retention. It’s a specialty cooler that does its job very well.

Buy Yeti Tank at Amazon

So what happens when you want a watercooler that keeps your water cool and also lets the water out of the spigot at a steady rate? Why, you get a Yeti Silo, of course! The Yeti Silo does it’s water cooling job pretty well, thanks to the wonderful 2-inch insulation it gets.

It also has a great spigot running out of one day that makes sure a queue doesn’t build up behind one person because they’re taking too damn long to get their cup filled.

Buy Yeti Silo at Amazon

Orca Hard Coolers

The Yeti Tundra line of hard coolers obviously beats the Orca line in terms of size variety. The design of the Orca hard coolers on the outside also feels vaguely ripped off from the design of the Yeti.

Other than that, the features and performance are pretty much the same for the two with the Orca being cheaper. We would say buy the Orca if you want a slightly cheaper Yeti rival. However, if you want the real deal, get yourself a Yeti, hell yea.

Buy Orca Hard Coolers at Amazon.

Pelican Coolers

Pelican is a trusted old brand with a strong lineup of coolers. They have plenty of variety in the size department; nearly as much as Yeti, actually, and also plenty of variety when it comes to color as well.

They are also only slightly cheaper than Yeti coolers since both are premium brands. Here we think it’s a tie and the cooler you buy depends on your brand preference. Personally, we love Pelican's refreshed design for the Elite series and we think those coolers are just great.

Buy Pelican Coolers at Amazon

Grizzly Coolers

The Grizzly is the newer kid on the block but works very hard to give a strong offering, with a small, mid-sized, and large cooler on offer. In fact, the largest Grizzly hard cooler at 400 quarts is larger than the largest Yeti cooler at 350 quarts, which makes it a perfect cooler for a big game hunting. 

They also have plenty of color offerings and good performance and features for a lower price than Yeti. We think you should try the Grizzly if you want to try out a cool new brand that has a lot of respect amongst their loyal fan base. Otherwise, if you want to stick to old quality, then go for Yeti.

Buy Grizzly Coolers at Amazon