How Does the Kenai Cooler Stack Up Against Other Brands Like Grizzly, YETI, and RTIC?

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We are pleased to present our own personal review of the Kenai Cooler. We're excited to write this review of Kenai Coolers because they're the most reasonably priced American-made cooler we've ever seen.

We've always preferred American-made products, and that includes our coolers. In the same way that keeping factories open is a strong sign of patriotism and commitment to the health of the American economy and job market, so too is the purchase of products made in the United States. There is widespread consensus on this point among those in the market for a new cooler.

The issue arises, as it always does, when we begin discussing pricing. In comparison to their Chinese counterparts, American-made coolers are prohibitively expensive.

This is why many companies are outsourcing their production to China. The products range in quality from high to, well, less than high. On the other hand, they are on average 40-50% less expensive than American-made coolers.

Why doesn't someone in the United States design and produce an affordable cooler to meet the demand?

Someone actually did this, it seems.

You're probably hoping I'll name-drop Kenai here. But Kenai isn't a business, Grizzly Coolers is a brand that our audience recognizes as a standalone product from a larger manufacturer.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen; Grizzly coolers, already well-known for constructing high-quality coolers that thwart bears' attempts to pry them open, have constructed the reasonably priced (albeit not bear-proof) cooler made in the United States.

We'll be discussing the Kenai brand of coolers.

Sequence of Kenai Ice Chests

In steps Kenai Coolers.

Preservation of Cold and Insulation

The cooler's interior is insulated to a thickness of up to 2 inches, making it relatively thick and effective.

The Kenai cooler has respectable performance in terms of ice retention.

To conduct the ice retention test, we chose a Kenai 45. Even though it was 90 degrees outside, we filled it with ice cubes and a medium-sized block of ice and left it there, opening it every night to check and record the temperature.

Five days later, there was still some ice in it, and if it hadn't been so warm, it probably would have stayed cold for another day or two. Considering the price, that's a fair amount to last almost a week on a camping trip.

Choice of Sizes and Colors

You can pick from one of three sizes:

• the Kenai 25 (25 quarts, 27 12-ounce cans, 5 pounds of ice).
• drink known as the Kenai 45 (45 quarts, 60 12-ounce cans, and 10 pounds of ice).
• and the Kenai 65 (65 quarts, 60 12-ounce cans, and 20 pounds of ice).

Considering that the Kenai is a new product being tested by Grizzly, it is not surprising that there is not much variety to discuss.

It needs more development time since it is still a baby. Conversely, you can pick from ten different color options, so there's plenty of variety there. Definitely a plus.

Warranty

Grizzly is so confident in the quality of these coolers that they offer a lifetime guarantee, as was mentioned earlier. This is not only the smoking gun that destroys Kenai's rivals, but it is also the smoking gun that starts a war.

Kenai Cooler vs. Grizzly

When comparing Kenai and Grizzly coolers, there are a number of interesting details to consider.

For one thing, Grizzly Coolers come in a wider range of sizes. Ordinary Grizzly coolers come in 8 different sizes.

While Kenai provides only three options for sizes, To be clear, Kenai's three available sizes are unlike those of any other Grizzly product.

One cannot find a Grizzly 25, 45, or 65. There are three different sizes of Grizzly coolers available: a 20-quart, 40-quart, and 60-quart model.

Products not found. If you compare the Kenai versions to the Grizzly versions, you'll find that the Kenai versions are 5 quarts larger. A small Grizzly cooler, the Kenai 25 is slightly larger than a 20-quart model.

The latches on a Kenai cooler are unique among Grizzlies. The locking mechanism is similar but the appearance is different.

The Kenai's latches are designed to fit under a ridge in the molding directly under the lid, as opposed to the rubber T-latches used by other Grizzly coolers. The Kenai's latches lock fine and are more than capable of holding their own, so this is mainly a cosmetic difference.

For the most part, we assumed that the Kenai's unique latch design was an intentional aesthetic choice. The Kenai is Grizzly's sleekest looking cooler to date. It has softer, rounder edges. In particular, the latches highlight this design decision.

The absence of lock plates on the lid contributes to the sleek appearance while at the same time reducing the lid's lockability.

If you're looking for a cooler that appears tougher and more "serious," look no further than a Grizzly. The Kenai's aesthetic is a mix of softness and fun.

I was unable to locate any products. In spite of this, there are a few similarities between the Kenai and Grizzly coolers.

Rope handles on both coolers feel very similar, and both come with many of the same great extras that Grizzly fans have come to expect. As an illustration, consider the ice pack divide. Still, we count it among the best innovations ever. Extremely astute

To provide American consumers with a reliable and reasonably priced cooling option is Kenai's primary goal. Business-wise, it's a smart move as well.

There are some nice additions to the cooler, but it isn't very high tech. This opens the door for Grizzly to reach a new demographic of consumers while still keeping the option open to later upsell them to a more expensive Grizzly cooler.

>> Shop for Grizzly Coolers and Kenai Coolers on Amazon >>.

The Kenai vs. the Yeti: The Ultimate Cooling Showdown

No review of a cooler is complete without the inevitable comparison to the gold standard, YETI.

Be kind to the Kenai cooler as we compare it to the YETI; it's just a tamed Grizzly.

The Kenai cooler's value is the first of its many great features. It is made in the United States and is so cheap that a comparable Yeti seems like a luxury item by comparison. Even though Yeti is known for many things, affordability isn't one of them.

0 items found However, there are many distinguishing features of Yeti. In comparison to Kenai coolers, they are much sturdier and resilient.

Because of their delicate grace, Kenai coolers are more suited for a peaceful picnic or camping trip than for rough seas or hunting.

The polythene exterior is scratchable and they are not bear-resistant, but they are still pretty sturdy thanks to the rotomolding process. The Yetis' thicker insulation and overall tougher construction make them particularly resistant to the elements (and bears). As a result, the YETI has a greater capacity to retain ice than a Kenai of comparable size.  

And there's a wider range of Yeti sizes and capacities to choose from. The Yeti brand is also well-known. The Kenai name isn't yet widely recognized.

Even with the help of the Grizzly name, it will be some time before Kenai's popularity rises to comparable levels to that of Yeti. To put it another way: Yeti is Yeti.

One could say that the audiences that Kenai and Yeti are going after are slightly different. Kenai is not really That Which Threatens Yeti; Grizzly is.

Kenai vs RTIC

Because RTIC Coolers is also a market leader, we thought it would be interesting to compare it to Kenai. Indeed, we consider it to be the Kenai's primary rival and a much more apt comparison than the Yeti.

Both coolers are rotomolded and sold directly to customers, for one thing. RTIC's factory-direct business model also contributes to the low prices of their coolers.

The catch is that Kenai coolers are entirely made in the USA, while RTIC coolers are manufactured in China.

We were unable to locate any matching items. However, RTIC offers five different sizes and a much more comprehensive product line than Kenai, which only offers three. Soft coolers and tumblers are just two examples of the supplementary products that can be made in the same vein as RTIC.

The RTIC's design isn't as eye-catching as that of the Grizzly or Yeti, and it reminds us of the coolers we're used to using. When compared to its inspiration, the Kenai looks much more novel and sophisticated.

The two coolers are roughly equivalent in quality, so their cooling capacities are also comparable. In addition, their costs are comparable.

All things considered, RTIC and Kenai coolers are pretty interchangeable. While RTIC offers more selection, the unique style and quality construction of a Kenai cooler cannot be denied. Other than this, they're essentially identical.

Read our review and buy an RTIC from Amazon by clicking here.

Find local retailers carrying Kenai Coolers.

Kenai coolers are a DTC brand, meaning they are sold directly to customers through Amazon. If you order this cooler, it will be shipped to you straight from the Grizzly manufacturing facility. There is also the company's online shop to consider.  

Before deciding where to buy, we recommend checking Amazon. There, you can check out the most recent reviews for each cooler size, take advantage of lightning-fast shipping, and rest easy knowing you're covered by excellent customer service should anything go wrong.  

Overall Score and Concluding Remarks on the Kenai Cooler

Affiliate links / Amazon Product Advertising API images / Last updated: March 14, 2023