The Igloo managed to hold refreshing brew temperatures at or below 50º for an additional several hours, for a total of 3.4 days of cold beers. Though we aren’t totally shocked at this lackluster performance when considering the Trailmate is a relatively thin cooler, standing up to some rather thick, rotomolded competition. And realistically, a wheeled cooler like this is less likely to be your choice to strap into your canoe for that 10-day whitewater trip, and more likely to be your choice for a picnic in the park. In which case this level of insulation will surely get you through a single warm summer’s day.
igloo trailmateOur least favorite aspect in terms of usability is the drain found in this cooler. Though it has a wide channel to help empty it of meltwater, the inside of the drain also is turned into a protruding tunnel into the interior by a white plastic tube. Why this is a thing, we’re not sure, as it made the Trailmate the least conducive to emptying via drain plug of any model we tested. It is worth mentioning, however, that some users noted concerns about the Trailmate’s durability. If you plan on subjecting it to extreme conditions such as rolling it down a mountainside, you may find it lacking in sturdiness.
igloo trailmateThe Igloo Trailmate, due to its many additional features, large size, and decent ice life, does fetch a higher asking price than most other Igloo products. For those on a tight budget or for someone who doesn’t care about the extra mobility features, there are cheaper options out there that will perform just as well (if not better) in terms of ice life. But for someone who is after a truly unique, mobile, and well-performing ice chest, the asking price is more than fair. The Igloo Trailmate 70 is the best rolling cooler for the money we have tested to date.
As we mentioned in the opening, we feel the Trailmate is the best bang for the buck when it comes to wheeled coolers. This cooler others impressive ice retention, more features than most competitors, yet doesn’t break the bank. Prices are constantly fluctuating, but normally the Trailmate can be picked up for under $250. Some may find this price point to be steep, but a comparison of a similar sized roto molded cooler will reveal the value.
A common complaint that people have when it comes to these large coolers is their lack of mobility. Igloo has found a way to solve that issue in addition to offering up a lot of really cooler other features. The ice life and build quality are at acceptable levels and the styling is really sweet.
As always the ambient temperature and how often you open the cooler will dictate how long the ice will stay. On that note, the Yeti Tundra Haul definitely doesn’t have that number of features but it does offer an ice retention performance that could last longer than the Trailmate’s. The Trailmate, in its 3 versions; the Journey, the Marine and the Liddup, is one hell of a versatile cooler that can perform as good in all different outdoor environment and situations. The built quality, though it’s not Bear Proof like Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler…, is quite robust which suggests that it’s capable of taking some beating.
Yeti’s wheeled cooler the Tundra Haul is many people’s favorite cooler with wheels given what it has to offer; it’s roto-molded, bear proof, durable and it is 100% functional. We believe in offering the very best value, quality, and selection. Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in store
where some exclusions may apply.
igloo trailmateFor retail purchases returned with a receipt, please return the unused and unopened item, with the
original sales receipt, for a full refund or exchange. All returns with a gift receipt will receive a store
credit for the amount of the item at the time of purchase. For web orders returned in store, please take the item in original packaging, along with invoice to any
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Second, there is a removable dry storage box on the front of the cooler so you can and keep the phone/keys in there without fear of water or sand damaging then. You can pull your load 50% easier courtesy of the comfort and leverage of Igloo’s horizontal dual-trigger steel Glide™ handle that has both locking and telescoping functions. It boasts THERMECOOL™ foam — which is a cleaner, eco-friendly insulation — in the body and lid which delivers superior ice retention performance.
A few factors are holding these coolers back from significantly longer ice life. They include a lack of rotomolded insulation, a lack of thick rubber gasket, and lack of a more advanced latch system that creates a tighter seal. As always, ice life is one of the most important metrics of a good cooler. And we have seen instances where a cooler loaded with features ends up having subpar ice performance as a result of all of these additional features. In terms of build quality, all of Yeti’s hard coolers are roto-molded and bear proof including the wheeled ones.