But seeing how Ozark Trail is in the business of making cost-effective products, all models should be affordable (particularly when compared to their industry competition). No matter which model you go with, you will get to enjoy multiple storage options. This comes thanks to both the large, insulated area as well as storage pockets on the front and/or sides. The pockets on the front will be zippered while any on the sides will be open and mesh.
Not only will the rubber allow for a slightly smoother roll when you are pull this cooler along, but it will also be quieter. You won’t wake the neighbors up when you are pulling this down your dock. Rounding out the exterior is a lid that features 4 cup holders and inch notches for measuring your catch of the day. With a mass of test data in hand showing us just how well these things perform, I’ve gone ahead and separated the winners from the also-rans.
While Ozark Trail 12 oz mug does feature double-walled vacuum insulation, it is not capable of maintaining the temperature of the beverage for a very long time. Still, it will prevent your coffee from becoming ice-cold in a matter of minutes – just don’t expect too much from its performance. Just like the other Yeti products I have analyzed in this comparison, the Rambler Mug also sports a very clean, modern, and appealing design.
Depending on which model you go with, you will find the appearance of these ice chests to differ quite a bit. The most affordable models, the non-premium soft-sided coolers, come in a very safe, solid color. There may be some subtle grays or white pieces of fabric but, for the most part, the primary color will dominate. The hard-sided coolers are designed to try to compete with the top-tier of the premium cooler world.
To help put this data in perspective, I broke down the coolers into separate size categories after peeling soft-sided coolers into their own category. That left me with small coolers (less than 40 quarts), midsize coolers (40-59 quarts) and large coolers (60 quarts or more). You can find the graphed data for each of those categories below, as well as our performance data on soft coolers (again, you shouldn’t expect a whole lot from coolers like those). Ozark Trail hard-sided coolers are constructed of hard, sturdy plastic that locks in cold to protect your food and drinks. The brand’s hard-sided coolers are sized according to how many quarts they hold. Hard-sided coolers are the largest ozark trail chairs and the most durable, so you’ll pay more for a hard-sided model.
This allows the coolers to keep ice cold for long periods of time. Each Ozark Trail hard-sided cooler also has walls that are between two-and-a-half and three inches thick for excellent insulation. Best of all, Ozark Trail hard-sided coolers all feature a thick, freezer-grade rubber gasket that creates an effective seal for the lid. They utilize strong T-style latches to keep the lid securely closed, too. For a cooler of more manageable size and only $97.00, the Ozark Trail 35-quart hard sided cooler is a great choice. Its premium insulation makes for impressive ice retention, and the freezer-grade gasket is removable for quick cleanup.
Ozark Trail soft-sided coolers have soft fabric exteriors and are lightweight and easy to carry. Smaller than hard-sided coolers, soft-sided coolers are sized in terms of how many cans they can hold. Ozark Trail soft-sided models are less expensive but less insulated than hard-sided coolers.
During drop-testing, Yeti Rambler 26 oz ended up with only a couple of dents on the bottom of its body. In other words, this is a very sturdy and well-made hiking water bottle, and I’ve expected nothing less from Yeti. The final feature of this phenomenal bottle is its wide mouth – it makes cleaning easy and allows you to throw as much ice into it as you want. It’s a durable and versatile product that easily outperforms most of the competition. This tumbler is vacuum-sealed and made out of double-walled, high-grade stainless steel – in terms of construction quality, it is just as well-made as Yeti Rambler. For this, I did a bit of testing – I filled both this tumbler and the one made by Yeti with the same amount of cubed ice and left them on my kitchen counter for about 10 hours.