If you’re on the hunt for an inexpensive option to get you through the weekend, you will be just fine using the Coleman Xtreme. Though it’s no tank and may not be something you pass on to your children someday, the money you save can be used to fill it with the best picnic and most delicious beverages. However, we would recommend another option if you’re searching for the best insulation.
The interior is rather roomy – Coleman claims 70 quarts, and we measured it at 68, which is pretty darn close. As the cooler with some of the thinnest walls we tested, the Coleman doesn’t blow us away with an amazing insulation value. During our insulation tests, the Coleman was able to keep below 40º, for 3.7 days — which wasn’t the best. However, considering we tested all of these coolers in the harshest and warmest conditions without chilling them first, we found that this cooler is still a decent option for a weekend trip or a picnic. Note that RTIC coolers are not IGBC (International Grizzly Bear Committee) certified. If that’s necessary for you, here’s IGBC’s list of certified bear-resistant products (PDF).
This is an extremely attractive cooler and will certainly stand out from the crowd. Recent improvements make it adequate in ice life and the toughness is bumped up a notch thanks to steel construction and hardware. But it is limited in features, size options, and it will be a bit more expensive than most other coleman coolers.
The semi-recent update to the design resulted in more attractive styling and subtle ice life improvements. It can be an adequate personal cooler for an afternoon outing but may struggle beyond that. No matter if you are looking for a marine cooler, a beach cooler, a pool cooler, a hunting cooler, or any other application you could think of, Coleman has coleman canopy a product for you. Each of these products is designed around its particular application, so you know Coleman is looking out for your best interest. All sizes are optimally shaped, meaning that you should be able to use a vast majority of the storage volume. While this metric is where the Coleman Xtreme performed best, it’s not without its downfalls.
Coleman hard coolers come as low as $14, with plenty of solid models running between $25-$75. Higher-end coolers cost in the range of $80-$150, while the marine model is much more expensive. Many Coleman hard coolers are recognizable with their bright blue bodies and white lids, though there are other colors available. Coleman soft coolers come in various shades, from drab green to red, black and silver.
In our testing, the Coleman Xtreme kept ice frozen for a full week (170 hours), 30 hours longer than the Igloo MaxCold (140 hours). It measures 28.4 by 15.8 by 17.5 inches, its design incorporates bevels and angles all over the place, and it has a ruler and cup holders molded into its lid. Insulation obsessives may want to fill those cup holders with Styrofoam, but considering how well this cooler performed in our tests, doing so doesn’t seem to be all that critical. Unlike most of the other models, the Coleman Xtreme has a channeled drain, which made draining much easier and required very little tilting on our part. Most cooler manufacturers provide a “claimed ice retention” spec in their product listings (Yeti is one major brand who does not). That said, we always take manufacturer-provided specs with a grain of salt, and there isn’t an established, standardized test here.
Roam is primarily a rooftop tent manufacturer and well regarded among serious outdoor-goers like overlanders and those who like to get off the grid. But their foray into coolers hasn’t gone unnoticed, combining the ruggedness and utility that Roam is known for with a myriad of functional features. And importantly, all these features are integrated nicely and have the same solid and confidence-inspiring feel as the rest of the aptly named Rugged. Coleman has been around for more than 120 years and has earned its reputation of making quality products for outdoor activities.