And many of them utilize essentially the same construction techniques, features, and ice life. We like the sharp edges and progressive appearance of the Ozark Trail Coolers. Also, the stainless steel hardware and orange accents on the latches and handles look very sharp. We hope that in the future, Ozark Trail decides to expand on the color choices and perhaps have some customization options as well. Its ice life is among the best in the industry and its products are designed to last a lifetime. Depending on if you go with an Ozark Trail hard-sided cooler or an Ozark Trail soft-sided cooler, you can expect different features.
And the construction utilizes proven rotomolding technology and stainless steel hardware. Ozark Trail is one of the most common brands we have been asked about as a potential “Yeti replacement”. ozark trail canopy We must admit that the huge price cut and supposed similar ice retention and features are tempting. Also included in the 52 and 73-quart models is an internal wire basket.
The majority of coolers on the market claim to hold ice for an extended period of time. Temperature, how many times the cooler is opened, whether or not the cooler was pre-cooled, the type of ice being ozark trail canopy used, the type of insulation in the cooler, ect. If you’re on the fence about spending the money, consider how long you will be gone and what it would cost to add ice to your cooler everyday.
But all models could make do with a few additional color choices. Also, there is nothing in the way of custom colors, decals, etc. This is a much larger and diverse selection of products than the Ozark Trail hard-sided coolers. Also, you will find a larger variety of layouts and cooler types. For instance, you will have the small, simple coolers that are designed to hold people’s lunch for the day as well as higher-end premium coolers for those who are after longer ice life.
Pelican is a newer entry in to the world of rotomolded coolers and have taken their own spin on design and function. Overall the Pelican coolers have sharper edges and a bit more of an industrial feel than the competition. One of the first things to note about it’s design is that it has a larger drainage hole and a tethered drain cap, which is a nice feature. I have lost a couple of drain caps in my day which makes the cooler unusable until a replacement arrives. I’ll be totally honest, I was not expecting this cooler to be as nice as it was. It’s easy to get caught up in brand perception and often times very difficult to break away from what you think you know about a brand.
The coolers remained in the same location for the duration of the 6 day test, only being opened to snap daily progress pictures. The coolers in competition were the Ozark Trail 45QT Rolling Thermocooler, The Pelican 45QW Elite Wheeled Cooler, and the Yeti Tundra Haul. I chose these coolers because they were the closest among the brands when it came to internal storage. After traveling and working with an old Igloo cooler for the last year and a half my parents surprised us with a brand new cooler and we are loving it!