[Marty Owens]

I have read some other post on other sites about the Yeti coolers. Lots of haters these days. I’m not sure why. The Yeti and other coolers like it are all basically the same. Some guys don’t seem to like the rubber latches on the Yeti, preferring the mechanical plastic or metal latches on some of the others. I like the rubber. Last forever and easy to replace if needed. Metal mechanical is just something to fail. I have 2 Yetis. A 45 Tundra with the sea deck. I use it on my boat as a platform. I also have a Roadie 20. Both keep ice very well. But the ice is not the big thing for me. I like the durability of these coolers. I can beat them up. From what I can tell the money is not a big difference, the Yeti is more, and they are all roto molded. So basically the same. Yeti was first to get major attention and I guess that sets you up for haters. I like my Yeti. I feel they are the better design. What do you guys think?
More to come on another post I had on my MotorGuide Xi5.

 

[h2ohhh]

I think I wish I could justify the cost for any of those coolers....

 

[misterslowride]

Yea for that money you could get a toy that goes boom or a kayak, used jon boat etc. I've never spent over $50 dollars on a cooler and have zero problems.

 

[Jackson]

I love mine.

 

[h2ohhh]

Oh I'd love to have one. Ice for 3-5 days? That would be quite nice out on Bear Island. No more transporting 30 bottles of frozen water in a cooler.

Bet those who own them keep them locked down in their trucks and boats though. I imagine that'd be a nice target for a thief.

 

[speckhunter80]

Marty, having started the same thread on multiple websites about rotomolded coolers, I feel confident that those who belittle them do so because they just do not feel that the average user needs to spend $300-$500 on a cooler to keep ice for 5 days. Most have owned $40-50 coolers for years and only need ice to last for 12-18 hours. On occasion when primitive camping you might need it to last longer. I believe most feel that those folks that buy rotomolded coolers do so as more of a status symbol. Yes, they do have their usefulness but for the average outdoorsman it in my opinion is overkill. Kind of like using a 10 gauge shotgun to kill a squirrell when a .22 will do the job just as well.

 

[papadave]

If I had a choice between a $400 casting platform and a $400 cooler that I could also use for a casting platform I'd choose the cooler hands down. I don't have that choice, but if I did...............

FWIW Coleman's Ultimate Extreme coolers keep ice as well or better than a Yeti or any of the other top of the line coolers, you just can't park a Hummer on top of 'em .

 

[crabman00]

I have a 45 and love it. Price was right as it was a gift from my kids a couple years ago. One thing I really like is the rubber feet that enable it to stay put in the boat, even up in the bow area in rough water. One other thing is I swear the beer tastes better when it's chilled in a Yeti.

 

[Marty Owens]

It is a lot of money. But I see it as an investment. I used to buy at least one cooler a year. I got my Tundra 45 for the same cost as a casting platform. (As was mentioned by papadave). It is taller, has more area to stand and keeps ice. They are not something that everyone can afford. But I believe it is a good investment if you use a cooler a lot. I do. Keeping ice a long time is not why I have them. I have them because I plan to keep them for a very long time. That is why you make the investment. But I have some of the old extreme coolers and they keep ice a long time.

 

[nc35hunter]

I had the good fortune to win one at a DU raffle. When my ticket got pulled it was between a 45 yeti and a Remington pump shotgun. I went with the cooler and have been happy with that decision.

Its downsides are being heavy relative to its capacity, and taking a lot of ice to cool down if the cooler itself gets warm in the summer. But once it's cold, it stays that way.

I agree it is overkill for most of what I use it for, but I find it handy. Say you go out on the boat Saturday morning and ice down some beer for the day, it will still be cold Sunday afternoon, and Monday afternoon if you're there for a 3-day weekend. I am guessing all of the competitors have just about caught up with them these days, so I'd be looking into a knockoff if it ever needs replacing (or needs a big brother).

 

[Scott Hobbs]

YETI promotes its product better than any other cooler. On Saturday morning when you flip on your favorite fishing/sportsman channel, one of the first things you see is a Yeti. On the front deck of a boat, flying thru the swamps, casting platform, or other uses. When you advertise like that you reel in the outdoorsman with a great product.

 

[Brenardo]

I agree on the status symbol comment.

They are definitely nice tho.

PapaDave mentioned a casting platform and that is the only reason I am in the market for one of these high dollar coolers. Kinda hard to justify the cost of your everyday casting platform if it can't do anything else. When the cooler can do both.

 

[speckhunter80]

Yeti's remind me of Boston Whaler's history

 

[Drum Runner]

The cool thing about Yeti was that it's concept, design, and manufacture was done on the small scale by an individual with a need for a better cooler. Some years ago boating stores had Yetis on big mark downs to get rid of inventory. The reason was they went broke. Pretty soon after, the company was sold and they started showing back up in stores and catalogs.

 

[trigger22]

I have a casting platform I would be willing to let go. Of course, I would be selling it so that I can put a yeti in it's place

 

[Brenardo]

Whatcha got trigger?

 

[trigger22]

It's a Birdsall Marine casting platform. I haven't given it a lot of thought but would be willing to sell. I'll get some pictures and think of a price.

 

[Brenardo]

Alright man. It would have to be a good deal because I am already almost committed to a cooler.

 

[trigger22]

It's this exact platform http://www.marineproducts.net/products/Casting-Platform.html

 

[Marty Owens]

The advertising is a good point. Yeti has spent tons advertising these coolers. Every outdoorsman knows what a Yeti is. There for they all know what a rotto molded cooler is. If Brute had spent all that money advertising it would have been the same result. But they didn’t. So they can sell cheaper because of a lower advertising budget. So now all these other copy cats come in and ride the coat tails in for the big pay day. Brute just remodeled there whole line up. Now they even look like the Yeti. They are all selling a similar product, on the advertising dollars of Yeti. I’ll keep my Yeti’s.