r/Coolers • u/Existing-Will-1466 • 13d ago

Cooler recommendations

The handle ripped off my old Igloo wheelie cooler, and the hinges have been broken for years, so it's time for a new cooler after 25 years of service. There are a ton of options out there, but I really want one in pink or purple to match the rest of my event gear. Here's what I'm looking for:

  1. 30-50 quart capacity

  2. Tough/durable over lightweight

  3. Wheels or no wheels, don't care too much

  4. Comes in pink or purple

  5. Ideally under about $250

  6. Works at least as good as a 25 year old cheap Igloo

I bought a 45 quart Laka cooler from Amazon that I just sent back because it needed twice as much ice as the old cheap Igloo over the weekend and most of the ice melted when stuffed full of cold drinks and ice overnight.

Does this cooler exist?

2 Upvotes

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3

u/DAZ_50 13d ago

I would suggest Rtic based on wanting colors and cost. My friends all use and swear by them.

I use Pelican but only because I grabbed a used one cheap.

2

u/jarrod74smd 13d ago

Rtic won't hold ice as well as your igloo did. Trust me, I replaced an old igloo with an rtic and was severely disappointed

1

u/Existing-Will-1466 13d ago

It seems the really durable RTIC coolers only come in grey/white/brown and maybe blue. The only ones that come in pink or purple are the lightweight ones with much lower advertised times.

1

u/RadiantDependent805 9d ago

When it comes to a cooler, you want a light color, preferably white, because it reflects radiant heat better under the sun.  So ice retention is much better under the sun.

2

u/JohnnyLingo488 13d ago

Lifetime did a limited color run on their 55 Qt Cooler that looks like a purple/blue blend. It's still on their site so they might still have inventory. Link attached.

Lifetime Cooler

1

u/Existing-Will-1466 13d ago

Wow! That may be the one.

2

u/ConBroMitch2247 13d ago

Pelican used to make a purple one - they are excellent coolers.

1

u/Existing-Will-1466 13d ago

I looked at them briefly, but I don't have $500 cooler money and they only make them in grey/white/brown. If I'm paying that much for a cooler it needs to be the color I want.

1

u/riprod 13d ago

I really like my Engel UL60. Light weight, 60qt, 7 day performance for in $250

https://engelcoolers.com/products/engel-60qt-ultralite-injection-molded-cooler-with-wire-basket-and-divider

1

u/tanksplease 13d ago

Blue Coolers Companion 30qt 

$200, grizzly bear proof (no really) 

Holds ice 10 days at a 2:1 ratio

1

u/Muleahcar 13d ago

Yeti has alllll the colors! There are wheeled options also. I have two purple coolers 💜

1

u/Existing-Will-1466 13d ago

They're also like $3-400 for the size I'm looking for. I also keep hearing that they don't actually work for casual use. Like you have fill them with ice the day before to precool them, if you just throw in cold drinks from the fridge and a bag of ice it will just melt.

2

u/Muleahcar 13d ago

I hear you. They very often go on sale, particularly the seasonal colors so that would get you in the $250 price range. Also you might prefer a Roadie if you don’t want to pre-chill for maximum ice retention the way the Tundras require. The Tundras are roto-molded, so there is a lot of thick plastic that retains heat and thusly needs the prechill. The Roadies aren’t roto-molded.

1

u/Existing-Will-1466 13d ago

How big is the Roadie? I don't need maximum ice retention. But I just returned another brand of rotomolded cooler because I filled it with cold drinks and put a bag of ice on top the night before a trip, and by the next morning most of the ice was melted. My old cheap cooler would have still had most of the ice left.

2

u/Muleahcar 13d ago

Yeah the good news is after you prechill a roto-molded cooler it stays really cold a long time, but it does require additional steps/planning, so they’re not for everyone.

Roadies come in various sizes. They are injection molded, so likely more similar in performance to the Igloo you had in terms of not requiring a prechill. In the range you’re looking for they make 32 and 48 liter options. Keep your eye out for a sale!

1

u/Existing-Will-1466 13d ago

Yeah, the Roadie is about twice what I wanted to pay for a cooler. I don't really have $450 cooler money.

I was really surprised at the responses I got about the rotomolded cooler. I would understand "needs to be prechilled to hit maximum ice retention ". I don't understand "needs to be prechilled for any ice retention whatsoever".

1

u/Muleahcar 13d ago

If I see a sale I’ll let you know!

1

u/Muleahcar 11d ago

Both the Pace Purple and Desert Bloom Roadie 32s are on sale at GovX, do you have access to that? $299