YETI COOLERS: are they really that cool...or is it all a bunch of hype??

Sounds promising Mark. I can't wait to try out the Sub Zero 48 I ordered from B Pro. 1.5" insulation but cutting board/divider is standard. The new Orion with the 2" insulation is a plus for sure. ( Not too sure what "Smart Real-World Sizing" is relative to. Relative to what exactly??. Will little people agree?? (Joking of course). Drain plug is pretty much standard on any cooler other than a 7-11 foam cooler. Standing pads are cool unless you weigh less than 100 lbs. Most if not all hi end coolers are lockable making them bear resistant. I like the camming latches. As soon as I pick up the Sub Z, I will put it in my chest freezer with it half filled with blue ice gel packs. I actually freeze my cooler as part of the prep. In the morning I'll go to my local Safeway and get 4 fresh rib eyes and a sixer of super cheap beer. If the Sub Z is good to go, the rib eyes will actually freeze along with the cheap ass beer after a couple of hours. (This prep technique is what I did with my Yeti last July). If like my Yeti, the rib eyes should stay pretty much frozen for 3 days easily. Don't care if cheap beer gets frozen. Just want to prove a point that a Yeti or any of the hi end coolers mentioned here properly prepped... WILL KEEP BEER COOLER than your everyday, average Coleman, etc (like mine that I use to keep beer "chilled".) So it "IS TRUE" a Yeti or any similar cooler properly prepped will keep beer/soda cooler (potentially frozen) than your everyday "cheaper" weekender cooler. Orion coolers look like the real deal too. I may even try one out with a decent group buy. Can't ever have too many coolers. Like firearms. Mark...I'm looking to add a larger fishing kayak to complement my Bass Pro Ascend 10 footer. You killed several birds with one stone with Orion's web site. Thanks for that. This thread is actually going quite well considering "it's just a cooler". I bet most of our wives/girl friends, (etc) would think we are completely nuts getting all worked up about what is the best cooler. At least we are 100% sure about the best truck...........
(Any decent hi end cooler mentioned here on this thread, properly prepped like I mentioned above, should preserve food for several days. If you don't want to freeze what you put in your "hi-end" cooler... leave out the "putting it in my chest freezer " step).


Yeti's are worth the hype. That's why I mentioned in a previous post that everyone is copying them (not withstanding Icey-Tek..apparently slow on the marketing thing) and yes Yeti could lower their price but they won't. Why?? Yeti is having zero problem with their pricing. Don't fix it if it's not broken. Just sayin.......

 

Matt,
I learned so much from your post. I'm going to emulate your prepping process and test whichever I choose. I'm having a hard time coming to terms with spending even the out you just did for a freaking cooler for God's sake. As for the kayak....if your looking for high end Jackson makes some of the best whitewater boats out there...I've never been in a Jackson flatwayet boat so I can't speak to those. The best 'touring' kayak I've been in have been Wilderness Systems 10, 12, 14, and 16 foot boats and they handle like a dream. There are so many out there your personally required features should tell the tale.

As for the Orion coolers I'm very drawn to the attachable "rails" that are dtandard, the camming latches, and the multiple tie down points. If I'm spending that kind of money I want some features that will serve a purpose. I currently have a Costco 100 and an Igloo 60 Cubr design, among many other cheap coolers. All of which suck at keeping things cold. I found I spend more in ice that the original purchase price on any given camping trip.

It's time to upgrade and the cost of these higher end coolers is what prompted me to create this thread.

Again, I learned a lot from your post and value your words and the education you just handed me.

Lastly, we live way too close not to get together!!

 

Mark... Orion has something good going on that a lot of cooler mfrs aren't providing. Of course it depends on what your use is. I've been feeling pretty good the last few days. My recovery is coming along well. I could go back to work now but doc wants me to wait until June 1st. Shit ..Yesterday I picked up a freebie picnic table I found on Craig's List. (I didn't load it into my truck, I watched.) Today I totally took it apart and refurbed it, painted it. I work in a freaking calibration lab. I take readings and record them. If something is too heavy I could have a tech lift it for me. I'm bored as hell too. Clearly obvious for my lengthy cooler post. We will meet. For sure at upcoming ToyTec Customer Appreciation Day. I even volunteered to help with clean up. Pretty sure we will be seeing a few CO guys there and hopefully some of "you" guys from out of state.

 

I certainly look forward to that date...for many reasons, but the people were what attracted me to the CO Meet and Greet there last month. There are some great guys here in CO that are on this site and i'm in the process of recruiting more. I have a few friends and acquaintances that i'll have in tow on June 24.

The best news i've heard recently is that you are back up and running. Maybe not tip top shape quite yet, but that's coming!! If you are up in the hills and wanna throw a line in the water and teach me how to fish i'm in need of a guide that knows what they are doing and has patience. I've only really caught bass in the murky waters of GA and would love to learn the trout and salmon that are lurking in the South Platte that runs by my place If you're looking for a couple good days with a good hearted (a little obnoxious) fella then plan the dates and fill me in. You know where i am!!

 

I like obnoxious and sarcasm by the way. Wouldn't have any way different. I'm not a fishing expert by any means. All you need is a good fly rod/reel set up. Most of the streams here in CO are "no live bait" although most reservoirs are open to pretty much anything. Even the old school worm and white/red bobber. If there is a will there is a way. Going to put my 2 yr old grand son asleep now. He's hanging with me watching re-runs of the Walking Dead . He actually likes watching it.....

 

Price looks great for a 50qt.Might be worthwhile.

 

I talked to "Brian" at Nash Sports about a hour ago. The resident roto-molding guru at Nash in Texas. Nash has been using roto-molding tech for several years with their products. I explained the loss of my Yeti and saw their Sub Z cooler at Bass Pro and that I have a 48qt one the way. I also explained how much I loved my Yeti and how I prepped it to preserve/freeze food (and beer by accident) and I'm going to do the same with the Sub Z and review it on T.com. Nash just recently dived into the hi end roto-molded cooler game. Only about 5/ 6 months ago.If you are in the market for a hi end cooler/dry box... then hold your horses until I review the Sub Z 48qt. I hope to pick it up tomorrow. For sure before Friday.

 

I've owned four different Roto Molded coolers. With a few exceptions, they are all pretty much the same. Yeti's are decent, but a little over priced. They're just the most hyped name, and there are lots of other options. Personally, I really like my Bison cooler. It's one of the better made models. But the pelican one is pretty decent if you can swing the price.

 

I'm sold on Bison but I don't think I made it To the price
I really like the latches and the carry "wagon" deallymajig

 

Own yeti, pelican, sub z, cool smart, igloo, Coleman, Engel. Fit and finish go to yeti and pelican. Ice holding goes to pelican. It's all in the ice and prep. Not all ice is created equal.

 

Sub Z's are pretty new on the market. Especially the larger models. Not all prep is equalHard to find any comprehensible reviews on them at all. I keep checking my ship to store status on the Sub Z 48 I ordered. There will be a review. Good or bad. Not all prep is equal either.

 

Thanks for the post. I like the write up on the Bison. Damn decisions, decisions.

 

So...
I'm probably going to be able to make a group buy happen on ORION coolers, and from the way it sounds, it'll be a pretty solid discount. For more info see post #200 or go to:
http://orioncoolers.com/

I've heard a few guys say they'd be interested so please let me know so I can negotiate numbers. The depth of the discount will depend on numbers, and the larger the number I go into negotiations with the more leverage I have.

Pretty sure these guys said they either "are" or "might" be interested but I can't remember who else.
@tigerfan00 @joonbug @Law323

@ramonortiz55 Have you been able to get a cooler GB going for the other forums? And would they be interested in this?

 

Definitely interested. It feels good when someone offers a group buy right before you're about to buy it. Not right after like Ramon keeps doing to me.

 

If I can gain enough traction by tomorrow afternoon I'll pull the trigger. I think the beauty of these coolers are the latching system, the density, and the array of color schemes. The other guys are fairly limited in colors.

 

I love the tie downs for off roading and the attachable rails for mounting options

 

IF I get this rolling It'll be starting soon. Stay tuned. He's also offerred to print some of our logos if anyone's interested in attractive give-aways during events that might draw a crowd....just thinking aloud...but serious about his offer to do so.

 

Hmmmm......hoping I'll have the funds by then! I'd be down like they are in mowtown!

 

The prep is key. If you read the directions, they all say to start chilling the cooler before you need it. I've done that and it's worked well.

I have the smaller Ozark and it's kept frozen things frozen and cold things cold. I use that for the critical things (meats/food) and I use my other ones for drinks. I've only used it a few times camping (with camper) w/o hookups and it's served my purposes well.

Start drinking bourbon neat and you won't need ice

 

Picked up the 48 Sub Zero. I'm very impressed with build quality. Going to try out the casters. Very beefy actually. What's cool is with the casters mounted, the sitting height is perfect for my legs. The True Timber HTC Fall pad is quite surprisingly comfortable. The rope handles are better than my Yeti. One pic shows my extra Yeti basket with supplied basket ant cutting board/divider. Fits perfectly. My two extra Yeti drain plugs fit perfectly too. Doing my prep now. Sub Z is in the chest cooler. I have a sacrificial fresh 16 ounce rib eye to get frozen (if like my Yeti). Don't worry, I'll still eat it. After all it should get frozen at first. Should still be nearly frozen late Monday if like my Yeti. Not going to bother freezing a beer. A waste. Lockable. Used my trailer lock as an example. If you live in brown bear country, you can always use 3/8" bolt with wing nuts to totally "bear" proof. Last time I checked...Bears don't have fingers. Proof is in the pudding. I'm going to recommend to Nash that they get this cooler IGBC cerfitfied.. No brainer and a great selling point. (Remember...try before you buy..........).

 

Keep us posted on quality but foe some edification on bear fingers......check this out. I heard about it on the radio this morning
http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2017/05/24/bear-rips-off-car-bumper-get-doughnuts/341844001/

 

Keep us posted on quality but as for the bear fingers statement check this out. I heard about it on the radio this morning
http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2017/05/24/bear-rips-off-car-bumper-get-doughnuts/341844001/

 

I saw that. Ripped off a freaking bumper....But the bear had something to grab and tear apart. Hard to tear up a locked cube. A full grown grizzly can break your neck with one swipe by the way.

 

Have you ever seen the grizzly guy that built the pendulum with the spike on it to emulate the force of a grizzly swipe with his "taluns?"

 

Food preservation capability sells me. Don't give a rats ass what color it is. (unless in MGM....heh..heh. )

 

Any bear will do damage. I worked as a part of a bear patrol posse in Sequoia Nat'l park one summer and we would chase bears out of campgrounds. I've seen them do damage to vehicles, but once they finally got to the cooler they couldn't figure it out so t h e would toss them around until they opened. Your lock mod is genious! That'll never get opened, maybe damage externally, but you'll still have your beer...just a little shaken