Introduction
Are you tired of coolers that keep ice for just a few hours no matter how much shade you provide?
Unlike ordinary coolers, the rotomolded coolers perform optimally even under harsh conditions, keeping your ice frozen far longer than a traditional cooler.
Rotomolded coolers were initially used for commercial purposes, but today we have several domestic brands.
In this article, we will review the top six brands in the market and discuss more on rotomolding technology.
Continue reading to discover the best rotomolded cooler for the money.
A Note About Rotomolded Coolers
Before we look at these brands, it’s important to mention that YETI is the mother of all rotomolded coolers.
However, other brands have caught up with time, and some have outdone Yeti in many regards.
Here is our top rotomolded cooler brands review:
1. Our Top Choice: Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money – YETI Tundra 45 Cooler
The size 45 with a capacity of 26 cans is convenient to carry single-handedly or with additional help, whether fully loaded or not.
It keeps ice and other contents cool for up to 10 days. The cooler does not ‘sweat’ even when carried on a hot day, and it has non-slip bases that ensure it stays put where you last left it.
This is crucial, especially when you use them for fishing.
It has no leakages because of the tight cold-lock gaskets, and it is available in six different colors.
Finally, the YETI Tundra 45 Cooler retails with a free basket for keeping your dry contents above the ice.
YETI still makes the best rotomolded cooler for the money today.
Positives
- Extremely durable
- A conveniently portable size
- Does not sweat
- Keeps contents cool for longer
- Does not slip
- Does not leak
- Sold with an additional basket
Negatives
- Smaller than other rotomolded coolers
Click here to view YETI Tundra 45 Cooler on Amazon.com
2. Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money – Canyon Cooler Outfitter Series 35 QT
Its high-density rotomolded shell stays tightly sealed no matter how much you toss it around.
This cooler has the IGBC Grizzly Resistant Bear Certification (#3769 certification), the highest accreditation possible for big outdoor coolers.
It also has two handles to make it convenient to carry around. It is a high-quality rotomolded cooler that won’t let you down.
Positives
- Keeps contents cool for long
- No leaks
- Bear resistance certified
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Negatives
- A bit too small for some people
- Its wheeled base is cumbersome on a lousy terrain
Click here to view Canyon Cooler Outfitter Series 35 QT on Amazon.com
3. Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money – RTIC Cooler 45 qt
Their shock absorption abilities ensure they bounce back from extreme weather conditions or significant impacts.
The roto-molded construction design includes three inches thick insulated walls that keep contents cold for up to 14 days.
The RTIC Cooler 45 QT has drain spouts that keep them dry, and they don’t leak nor sweat even on a hot day. The side handles make it convenient for a single person to carry.
The hinges also ensure it is well anchored wherever you place it.
Positives
- Easy to lift
- No leaks, slips, or sweats
- Durable
Negatives
- Its rubber straps tend to fall into the cooler when closing the lid
Click here to view RTIC Cooler 45 QT on Amazon.com
4. Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money – Thermik High Performance Cooler 45 QT
Its uniform finish makes it stronger and durable than most plastic coolers.
It has a vacuum release button that is ideal for adjusting the pressure in the cooler especially when the ice begins to melt.
Thermik coolers have built-in drainage cap to provide a drainage outlet for any melted ice. It has non-slip feet and a dry basket for your dry foodstuff.
Positives
- Excellent features
- 5 Year warranty
- Portable
- Comes with a free dry basket
Click here to view Thermik High Performance Cooler 45 QT on Amazon.com
5. Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money – Driftsun 75 QT Heavy Duty Cooler
It has a rotomolded design that features thick insulated walls that keep ice cool for up to 14 days.
Its rubber seal latches ensure there are no leaks even when the cooler is turned upside down.
The base of the Driftsun 75 QT Heavy Duty Cooler is made from non-slip rubber, which when coupled with the molded slots, ensures the cooler stays anchored wherever you place it.
Its robust nylon handles also make it easy for a single person to carry it.
Positives
- Built to last
- Keeps ice cool for long
- It has no leaks, no slips, and no sweats.
- Portable
Negatives
- A limited one-year warranty
Click here to view Driftsun 75 QT Heavy Duty Cooler on Amazon.com
6. Best Rotomolded Cooler For The Money – Pelican Progear Elite Cooler 35 QT
The sloped base design makes it easier for the user to empty the contents without lifting the cooler.
In addition, it comes with a commercial-grade dry basket to keep dry foodstuff on top of the ice.
The cooler has a drain plug that you can attach to a hosepipe for easy draining of the melted ice. Its dual handles lock on impact.
To open the hinges of the Pelican Progear Elite Cooler, you need to press and pull. Its rubber feet ensure it does not slip.
These coolers are also bear-resistance certified.
Positives
- Built for the comfort of the user
- Does not slip, leak, or sweat
- Certified bear resistant
- Has a lifetime warranty
Negatives
- A bit bulky
Click here to view Pelican Progear Elite Cooler 35 QT on Amazon.com
The Verdict
While most YETI coolers come with a great reputation and a variety of sizes and colors (including pink) to choose from, Driftsun and Rtic take the crown for optimal ice retention.
They retain ice for up to two weeks. This is due to their thick insulated walls and rubber seals.
YETI Tundra coolers use Permafrost, a commercial-grade foam, which they inject into the lid and walls for insulation. Their drain system is also convenient and leak-proof.
Additionally, all Tundra coolers have patented T-rex lid latches and molded tie-down slots to make mounting on boats or trunks easier.
Overall, they are designed with the end user at heart.
On the downside, YETI coolers are relatively expensive compared to other manufacturers because YETI is a premium brand.
This is due to their large market share and rich history with regard to rotomolded coolers manufacture.
Additionally, oftentimes they are heavier when compared to other brands with comparable specs.
The Advantages of Rotomolded Coolers Over Ordinary Coolers
They are more long-lasting. The best-rotomolded cooler for the money will serve you longer than ordinary coolers under the same environmental conditions.
The molding process creates a stronger plastic chain (polymer), which is continuously weft throughout the cooler.
Rotomold coolers keep the ice for longer. Because of their thick walls, they insulate better, even under direct sunlight.
Most of these coolers keep your drinks chilled for days.
The best rotomolded coolers are manufactured from UV resistant plastic material. This means they don’t absorb sunlight and therefore the internal temperature remains pretty much the same.
It also means they don’t fade or become dull after being exposed to the sun for long hours.
Consequently, rotomolded coolers don’t become warped or brittle as they age.
These coolers are strong enough to withstand forces of large wild animals like bears.
They have heavy-duty latches for this purpose. That is one less thing to worry about while camping, right?
The best rotomolded cooler for the money will have neoprene seals that further enhance their leak-proof protection. This is advantageous in two ways.
- First, the seals ensure cold air is tightly locked inside.
- Secondly, in case the cooler is knocked down, the contents inside will not spill over and mess your camping tent or car boot.
Besides, most of them have anti-slid rubber feet to keep them stable.
Finally, rotomolded coolers are sweat-resistant.
Unlike ordinary coolers that sweat and wet the surfaces near them, these coolers will stay dry throughout.
How Are Rotomolded Coolers Manufactured?
Just like kayaks, the rotomolded coolers are manufactured using a rotational molding process.
It involves melting plastic resin under high temperature and rotating the molten content to cast a single block of plastic mold.
The shape of the original mold determines the shape of the cooler.
The result is a single thick-walled plastic block without gaps or imperfections.
This process is what makes rotomolded coolers so durable and long lasting.
They can withstand being left under the sun for hours, your friends sitting on it, and even being mishandled in the boat.
A quality rotomolded cooler is oftentimes a lifetime investment.
A Buyers Guide for the Best Rotomolded Cooler for the Money
Before you finally settle on the ideal rotomolded cooler for you, consider the following features:
Capacity
Depending on your major purpose, purchase a cooler that can fit at least 90% of your items. A smaller cooler means you have to carry two or more.
On the other hand, a bigger capacity cooler means it is more cumbersome to carry.
Ice Retention
Some rotomolded coolers retain ice for over a week while others can barely last a day.
Depending on how long you plan to use the coolers, buy one that doesn’t burden you with unnecessary ice refills.
Functionality Vs. Cost
Purchase a cooler that can match your expectations and still lie within your budget. But don’t be unrealistic.
If you need a multi-purpose cooler, like one that you can use camping, grocery shopping, road trips, and fishing, it will cost you more than a cooler for barbecue parties.
Portability
How do you plan to carry the cooler? Some have strong lifting handles while others have wheels.
Choose one that you can comfortably move around.
Ease of use
Modern rotomolded coolers have additional metal baskets to make the arrangement of different items easier.
Others have a direct chute to refill ice and a neat drainage system. How easy is it to operate your cooler?
Durability
How long will your cooler last under continuous exposure to the hot summer sun, being dropped, or submerged underwater during fishing trips, and most importantly being sat on?
Let’s face it. A cooler is ideal for outdoor adventure and parties.
You can’t be careful enough in these environments. Therefore, you need a storage solution designed for the outdoors.
Extra Features Provided
These features come in handy, but they have to fall in line with the functionality of your cooler.
Feature such as external latches, drain plug leash, cup holders, bottle openers, and rulers make the coolers friendlier to use.
F.A.Q.s About Rotomolded Coolers
Q. How Do I Get Optimal Performance From My Cooler?
Use blocks of ice as opposed to bagged ice. Secondly, avoid excessively opening your coolers.
The outside air gets in and adds more warmth, which melts the ice faster.
With rotomolded coolers, keeping them in shaded environments has no significant effect on their ice retention capabilities.
However, you can also freeze the cooler before adding ice to increase the ice retention period.
Q. How Do I Wash My Rotomolded Cooler?
Simply wipe the inside with a wet cloth soaked in mild soap solution.
Use baking soda to get rid of stubborn stains and odor.
Q. How Do Rotomolded Coolers Work?
They have thick insulated walls and lids that prevent the surrounding air and warmth from getting inside.
Consequently, once you load your ice cubes, they remain at the same temperature as they were in a freezer even in the absence of electricity.
They only melt once you open the door to remove your drinks, for example.
Q. What Makes Rotomolded Coolers Better Than Traditional Coolers?
The seals used. Rubber gaskets are the best type of seals for your cooler.
They are leak proof, which keeps your ice at the same temperature until you open the cooler manually.
Where Should I Purchase A Rotomolded Cooler?
Many of our readers have reached out inquiring where they should purchase a rotomolded cooler.
They have asked us about REI, Home Depot, and even Bass Pro Shop. We believe you should purchase your rotomolded cooler on Amazon.
Click here to view our top choice, the YETI Tundra 45 Cooler on Amazon.com.
In Conclusion
The best rotomolded cooler for the money will be an incredible storage partner when going camping, fishing, tailgating, hunting, and sporting to keep your drinks and perishable foods chilled for days at a time.
Their rugged design makes them withstand most environmental challenges that the ordinary coolers won’t.
In cases where you might be gone for long, you just need to find stopovers to refill the ice, and your cooler will give you incredible ice retention.
These coolers tend to be more expensive than traditional coolers, but their ability to keep items cool is unparalleled.
However, if you only need a cooler for a few hours each day (like a backyard BBQ), a standard cooler is your best bet.
Huge fan of hiking with my dog, camping in the great outdoors, biking, and writing about all of it. Staff Writer at ATO.