Best Rotomolded Cooler
Rotomolded coolers are one of the days to day accessories that have made camping much more bearable to many of us. This is so because of the manufacturing process, which ensures that the entire product is continuously covered with thick heavy-duty plastic.
As a result, the Rotomolded coolers can retain ice for a much longer time, and the robust manufacturing process makes it stronger enough to withstand any kind of abuse from a wild animal like grizzly bears.
Are you a fun of outdoor activities? If yes, then you need one of these ice chests. Especially if you reside and visit places with a lot of wild animal like a bear, you need a rotomolded cooler to be sure that your drinks and foodstuff will be safe.
If you want to purchase a rotomolded cooler and you don’t know where to begin, then you are in the right place. This review has been written to give you an insight into some of the best ice chests on the market.
Now that the market is filled will all sorts of ice chest selecting the most appropriate one could be a bit challenging? But after reading this write-up, you will be in a much better position of buying the right product.
Top Rotomolded Cooler
① Monoprice -TOP PICK | |
② Pelican | |
③ RTIC | |
④ ENGEL | |
⑤ Outdoors Orca Extra Heavy Duty |
① Monoprice
The top product on our list is the Pure Outdoor Emperor by Monoprice. At the same time, other ordinary coolers attract bear which often makes a mess of the stuff you have carried inside the ordinary ice chest that is not the case with Outdoor Emperor.
The corners are steel-reinforced for maximum strength even the grizzly bear can’t match the strength of this item. Also, the item has padlock slots that are lockable to increase the security of your drinks and foodstuff.
The thick rubber seals together with the commercial-grade polyurethane foam ensure that the ice chest can keep cold drinks cold for 130 hours and hot drinks hot for 150 hours regardless of the temperatures and conditions.
The military-grade latches made of rubber will allow you to easily carry the cooler without tearing apart. Another noticeable feature about the emperor is that it comes with an inbuilt bottle opener. Next time you are going out for a camping trip, make sure you have one of these.
Pros
- It is highly durable-the corners reinforced with steel.
- It has secure straps that you tie down when in a boat or a vehicle.
- It comes at a pocket-friendly price.
Cons
- The product has a small room for storage.
- It is quite heavy, making it difficult to carry.
② Pelican
The ProGear Elite by Pelican is another excellent product that you need to consider buying one. If you were wondering why the pelican has managed to competitively stay in the market, take a look into their latest ProGear Elite cooler.
It has ice retention of ten-day, which is much higher compared to other similar products on the market. Carrying the ice chest around is no problem at all because it comes with a moulded-in double handle system.
The press and pull latchet makes it easier for you to operate the cooler even while wearing the gloves. The manufactures have done something special with this elite gear; they have introduced a molded-in tie-down feature for safe securing of the cooler.
With a lifetime warranty, the manufacturer has got your back to incase product spoils as a result of their doing. Shouldn’t give it a try.
Pros
- The product has a tie-down feature that is in-moulded for easy securing it down
- It is bear-resistant
- It has a moulded-in cup holder
Cons
- The product is not highly portable due to its weight.
- Operating the latches has proven to be quite tricky to many folks.
③ RTIC
The third most reliable product on our review list is the RTIC. The manufacturers of this product are at the time considered to be YETI’s rival as their product not only matches the YETI’s performance but also outdoes them on several aspects.
This product has, by far proven to be better at retaining ice than even YETI! If you are planning to go camping for a week or more, then you ought to have this product as your cooler of choice. You are assured that your items will be kept cold for more than ten days.
One of the reasons why I love this product is because of its incredible storage capacity. Forget false advertisements about coolers with exaggerated storage capacity. With this product, you are guaranteed that the advertised storage will match its actual capacity.
Another great thing about this product is its price. It is not the cheapest product in the market, but it is definitely worth the money. Compared to other products offering the same feature, this product’s price is relatively lower.
Therefore if you are a serious camper with a flexible budget, you definitely should consider having this product in your camping equipment.
Pros
- The product is relatively cheaper compared to others of the same group.
- This product has a higher storage capacity as compared to other products.
- It can retain ice for a relatively longer duration.
Cons
- Has less durable handle straps
- There have been some complaints about the product’s zipper falling off.
④ ENGEL
The EG65 high-performance cooler by Engel is another product that is worth your money. Although the product is new in the market, it is rapidly gaining popularity among campers. This is a promising product which might be dominant in a few years.
One of the great features of this product is its large storage capacity. The product can hold up to 70 cans. This is made possible by the product’s design which has double thin walls, therefore, allowing more space for storage.
Thanks to its two inches of high-density cell polyurethane insulation, this product can hold your ice for many days. The product is one of the lightest products of its kind, and it comes with a ten-year warranty.
Pros
- The product is highly portable due to its lightweight
- The product is relatively cheaper compared to others of the same kind.
- The product has ample storage capacity
Cons
- The product lacks in additional accessories
- The product is relatively less durable compared to other products.
⑤ Outdoors Orca Extra Heavy Duty
The Orca heavy duty by the outdoors has managed to maintain its high status in the market over the years due to its many desirable features. If you are an outdoor adventurer who likes trendy designs, then this is your product.
The product has proven to be able to withstand hard falls and extreme conditions without malfunctioning. The product’s indestructible nature is attributed to its ingenious single-piece design. The product is so strong that you can comfortably use it as a seat out in the woods!
Another distinguishing feature of this product is its ability to hold ice and keep items cold for up to 10 days. This is made possible by the advanced insulating technology used in manufacturing this product.
Unlike most of the other products, the Orca Extra Heavy Duty cooler comes in multiple sizes which are sold at different prices, giving you a chance to get more value for your money.
Pros
- This product comes in different sizes
- It has a longer ice retention duration of 10 days
- It is more durable compared to other products
Cons
- Has a limited accessories
- It offers relatively smaller storage space.
Factors to Consider While Purchasing Rotomolded Coolers
Knowing what to look for in a product is perhaps the most important aspect of shopping for any product. Having a clear cut guideline on what features to base your choice on always makes the task a little bit bearable. I trust that this article will make your shopping experience easier.
A few years ago, shopping for a cooler was an easy thing to do as there were only a few products in the market at the time. However, over the years, a lot of manufacturers have developed an interest in the product. As a result of that, we currently have hundreds of designs and models in the market.
We have already gone through a list of some of the most reliable coolers in the market, but that is just half the task. Now we have to look at some of the crucial factors that you need to consider when shopping for a product.
I have compiled a list of several features and aspects that should guide you in selecting a product that will address your needs and server you to your expectation.
Regardless of what you intend to do with the cooler; this article will give you a deeper insight into what you should look for in a product.
Durability
This, in my opinion, the durability of a product should at least be the first thing that runs in your mind whenever you want to buy any product. A lot of people tend to be swayed by-product prices; therefore end up buying the cheapest products at their disposal.
At times you might get away with that, but most of the times you will end up spending much more in the long run in repairs and replacements each time your product breaks down. If you want to get a durable, long-lasting product, you must be willing to part with relatively more money upfront.
So what makes a roto-moulded cooler more durable compared to other products? Well, the solution to that problem is rather simple. First and foremost, the material used in making the cooler always plays a big part on how durable the product will be.
Products made of heavy-duty materials like reinforced steel are more durable than those made from light-duty materials. Thick walls also make a product stronger hence able to withstand stress.
Some of these products are so strong that they can be used as seats without denting them! Due to their tough nature, products made of heavy-duty materials can also be used to carry camping gear.
If you don’t camp frequently, the durability aspect shouldn’t be such a big issue since any standard product can serve you well. The manufacturing process of these products ensures that they come out strong and can withstand any standard outdoor activities.
However, if you spend much of your time outdoors camping, hiking or climbing, you need a heavy-duty product that will not break or dent from falls. You should, therefore, go for heavy-duty products as they will retain their form and functionality even under extreme conditions and stress.
Ice retention duration
A cooler is no cooler if it cannot keep your food or drinks nice and cold! Different product models from different manufacturers have different abilities to keep your items cold. Some products can keep their contents cold for about six days while others can hold deliver for up to 10 days
To maximize the time that a cooler can keep its contents cold, some products are manufactured with extra-thick walls filled with polyurethane foam. Such products efficiently prevent heat from the surrounding from heating their contents hence cooling them longer.
Anyone who has ever gone hiking or climbing can agree with me that nothing beats the refreshing effect of a cold drink on a hot day. For professional climbers having a nice cold drink can affect your ability to perform on an adventure or even a climbing competition.
If you are a week-long camping type of a person, then you should probably go for a product that offers you maximum time as that will save you the trouble of having to worry about refilling your ice now and then. This might be troublesome when you are camping far from human settlement.
On the other hand, if you just need the product to store some cold beers on weekend afternoons while hanging out with friends, then a product with even few hours of ice retention duration can serve you pretty well without having to spend too much.
Capacity
Another important factor to consider when buying a roto-moulded cooler is its capacity. In this context, capacity refers to the number of items the product can hold at a time. The number of items you will need to be cooling at a time should guide you to choose the right product.
The design of a product tends to dictate its capacity. Coolers with extra-thick walls tend to have a smaller capacity as compared to those with thinner walls. This is because thick walls take up relatively more space, and by thinning them, more space is allocated to the storage section.
Other designs have allocations for external storage that can be used to store items that do not require to be kept under controlled temperature. This additional feature is quite handy as it relieves you the burden of carrying an extra package.
Apart from an external storage section, other products come with a cup holder feature. It is a rare feature, but some manufacturers include it in their products. Additionally, other products have a dry storage section where you can store items without getting into contact with water or ice.
Products intended to be used for family outdoor activities definitely ought to have a larger capacity to cater for the needs of all the present members. You don’t want to be that guy who always takes friends camping but never haves enough cold drinks for everyone!
For a small group of users, a small or standard size product can offer satisfactory results. A cooler with a 23 can capacity can adequately store drinks for more than four people. Therefore there is no need to spend all your money on an extra-large product if you will use it alone.
Cost
The fourth consideration on our list is the cost of the product. Contrary to popular belief, price does not always reflect the quality of a product. Some manufacturers take advantage of their brand superiority to overprice their products, yet they don’t offer any additional features.
Take your time and make a comparison of the prices of several products which offer the same features before making your decision. A logical justification for an overpriced product should be durability and additional features.
You should also consider additional costs associated with a product like shipping costs. Products that are being imported from overseas might cost you more on shipping fees if you buy them online. Try and find out if the same product is sold locally if so you are better off buying it from a local retailer.
Portability
Given that roto-moulded coolers are outdoor accessories, you need to be able to comfortably move them around with you. Too heavy products will give you a difficult time as you will always strain to carry them.
Coolers made of lightweight materials tend to be lighter hence more portable as compared to those made of heavy-duty materials. You should choose a product that you can comfortably move with as it will help you save more energy for climbing or adventuring.
You should also pay attention to additional features that make a product more portable. Such features include additional handlebars on the sides of the product together with the main handle on the top of the cooler, making it easier for you to carry it alone or with the help of a partner.
Other products have wheels which can be used to drag the cooler when carrying them is difficult. It is important to ensure that wheels are made of heavy-duty materials as weak ones will easily break down under too much weight. They might not even stand a ride on a rocky campsite.
Some products also have tie-down points that help secure the cooler on a boat or at the back of a truck. The feature is useful when you are driving through rocky terrain. You won’t have to worry about your cooler falling out of the truck each time you hit a bumpy surface.
Safety
You should also ensure that the product you choose can offer maximum safety to your items. To take care of the issue, some products have buttons that can be pushed to lock latches. This eliminates the risk of losing your items when a cooler falls or opens unexpectedly.
Other products have lockable steel reinforced corners and padlock slots that can be locked to protect the items in the cooler. This feature allows you to protect your items from curious stray wild animals such as bears in the campsite or strangers who might snoop into your stuff.
Warranty
Then lastly you need to consider the warranty of the product before buying it. Warranties are really important as they not only act as a guarantee of quality, but they also relieve you the burden of having to spend each time your product breaks down.
Manufacturers offer different warranties on their products. Some products have short duration warranties while others have a lifetime warranty. You should prioritize to select a product that will give you as much warranty duration as possible.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an excellent rotomolded cooler with the right price, then we highly recommend that you buy the Pure Outdoor Emperor. It is one of the strongest ice chests on the market.
With the thick insulated walls and rubber seals, you are assured that whatever you will be carrying inside will remain fresh for as long as possible. The ice chest is also bear-resistant; the corner is reinforced using steel.
There is no need for carrying a bottle open if you have Outdoor Emperor because it has an inbuilt bottle opener just for you. The lockable slots allow you to use a padlock to lock it for further security.
And if you are travelling there is no need to worry as it comes with a tie-down strap feature to enable you to hold it down on the boat or your vehicle.
Would you like to experience the benefits that come with a high performing ice chest? Yes, I know you do, therefore don’t hesitate, order the recommended cooler right now.