Battle of the Titans: Yeti Cooler vs. Coleman Xtreme Cooler

Over the past decade, a battle has been brewing in the world of coolers.

Coleman is a well-established brand that has stood the test of time, producing quality products at reasonable prices.

Yeti, on the other hand, is a newcomer that has taken the market by storm with its high-end coolers and aggressive marketing.

Consumers now view their coolers as lifetime investments, expecting them to keep food and ice cold for a week or more. Other high-end coolers from Engel, RTIC, Grizzly, Igloo Yukon, and Ozark Trail are also gaining popularity.

However, the focus of today's comparison is the budget-friendly Coleman Xtreme. While Yeti and other high-end coolers can cost anywhere from $200 to $500, the Coleman Xtreme offers comparable cooling power at a much lower price.

Our aim is to test whether the Yeti is really worth the extra $250 compared to the Coleman Xtreme.

The Contenders

Let's take a closer look at the coolers in question:

Our Test

It's important to note that our test is not a perfect, scientific one.

We want to see how these coolers stack up against each other in terms of keeping food and ice cold, while also considering the difference in price.

In today's world, where coolers are viewed as investments, we believe that the average person shouldn't have to spend hundreds of dollars on a cooler.

With that in mind, let's see if the Coleman Xtreme can hold its own against the big boys.

I must admit that the coolers I experimented with were of slightly different sizes, but this test was aimed to provide a practical understanding of how people use similar coolers.

My objective was to assess how two coolers I owned compared to each other, the Yeti 50 Cooler and the Coleman Xtreme.

I subjected each cooler to half a day of direct sunlight and half a day of shade, simulating camping conditions.

I filled each cooler with 20 lbs. of ice and one beverage while also documenting the ice level before opening each cooler once a day.

It's worth understating that pre-chilling your cooler does aid in improving its cooling capabilities, but for the purposes of this experiment, I opted not to pre-chill since our aim was to mimic a typical camping trip without pre-chilling the cooler.

Visit our Complete Guide To Camp Cooking Here for additional insights.

Right after 24 hours, both coolers maintained a considerable amount of ice, with puddles of water in their bottoms, such as adjusting to the surrounding temperature.

The following day, we observed a similar pattern. Although there was a bit more meltdown, the high temperature was similar to the previous day.

On the third day, the Coleman Xtreme notably started to trail the Yeti, with water and ice levels decreasing significantly. However, the Yeti still had a reasonable amount of ice.

On the fourth day, the Coleman Xtreme had 90% water and 10% ice, while the Yeti still maintained a fair amount of ice — around 30%, with nearly 70% of water. The high temperature that day was lower than all previous days.

By tracking the ice and water levels in the two coolers daily, we can see that the Yeti 50 Cooler performs better in maintaining the ice for a longer duration compared to the Coleman Xtreme.

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, and tags, I present an exclusive report on “Cooler Performance after 4 to 6 Days.”

Cooler Status After 5 Days

After five days of usage, the Coleman Xtreme cooled could no longer maintain ice in it. Although the water was still chilled, it is suggested that it was time to refill the cooler with ice or end the trip.

On the contrary, the Yeti cooler which had ten percent of ice remaining, was not far behind the Coleman Xtreme.

The temperature recorded on the fifth day was 70 degrees.

Cooler Status After 6 Days

On the sixth day, the Yeti joined the Coleman Xtreme and ran out of ice too. Although the Yeti lasted for 6 days, it did not fulfill its claim of offering up to 7 days of cooling, which is practically only possible with pre-cooled coolers filled to the brim.

Keep your Cooler Cold for Long Hours

While the above comparison was not scientifically accurate, there are several tips to retain ice in your coolers for a more extended period, including pre-chilling, keeping it in shade, limiting the open time, and never draining the melted water. Reflective material on the cooler's exterior can also be used to keep the inside cooler and retain the ice for longer hours. A comprehensive guide to beat the summer heat while camping is available here.

A future comparison will have the coolers in the trunk of a car for the experiment, and the findings will be reported shortly.

My Verdict!

In conclusion, if the price is not a consideration, the Yeti Tundra 45 is an excellent option. This efficient cooler will keep the food chilly for an extended duration and promises durability. On the other hand, the Coleman Extreme 52 is also an excellent purchase for budget buyers as it offers outstanding features and quality.

If you're on the hunt for a cooler that won't break the bank but still does the job, the Coleman Xtreme might just be the one for you. It may not be the kind of investment that lasts a lifetime, but rest assured, it's anything but poorly made.

As a matter of fact, you could purchase up to five Coleman Xtremes for the price of a single Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler. But ultimately, it comes down to personal preference when deciding which cooler suits your needs best.

Looking for the best camping cooler out there? Check out our comprehensive list of top picks, including the Coleman Xtreme and Yeti Tundra, by clicking the link below:

• Best Coolers for Camping

Explore Our Top Picks Here

Ready to snag your own Coleman Xtreme or Yeti Tundra? Click the links below to purchase:

Coleman Xtreme 50 Quart Cooler

Yeti Tundra 45 Quart Cooler