Review of the Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler, featuring efficient cooling and a visually appealing design.

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$250

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The Tundra 250 cooler, which can hold 100 kg of ice or a quartered moose, is the largest capacity cooler made by Yeti. The Yeti Roadie 24 cooler is one of their smaller capacity coolers. The Yeti Roadie 24 cooler, which has an RRP of GBP £199, was introduced in early 2020 as a much more practical option for daily use. 99 / USD $199 99 Is this colorful monster up to par with today's best camping coolers, and how does it stack up against the best Yeti coolers in particular? You'll need to be ready to spend a little bit more money for one of these because decent cheap Yeti deals aren't very common. Does it merit it? Read on for a complete review of the Yeti Roadie 24 cooler.  

The Yeti Roadie 24 cooler stands out for a number of reasons at first glance. It is a practical size for the majority of non-industrial cool box applications, measuring roughly 40cm square from the front and a little over 30cm deep. The construction feels incredibly sturdy, and the color of our test unit, Lifeboat orange (dubbed "King Crab" by Yeti), is also incredibly sturdy.  

When you delve a little deeper, everything is still strong and very orange. Since the entire thing is seamlessly rotomolded to resemble a bucket, it is hassle-free to clean and essentially waterproof. According to Yeti, the Roadie 24 cooler is 10% lighter, 20% larger, and 30% more thermally efficient than the Roadie 20. The company also states that the slight increase in height makes it possible to carry a standard bottle of wine upright, which we can attest to being true and, generally speaking, a Good Thing.  

(Mark Mayne provided the photo.)

The Yeti Roadie 24 cooler has no drain plug because the company believes that if you simply tip out any melted ice, it will allow them to add more insulation. When placing the cooler on a hard surface, the built-in rubber feet on the base give it a more upscale appearance and improve the comfort of the seat. Yeti is so committed to the cooler-as-seat concept that they also market a cushion that fits the top, which is a nice touch.  

Review of the Yeti Roadie 24 cooler's functionality and performance

The latches and handle, which have both been redesigned from the previous model, are the first tactile components of the Yeti Roadie 24 cooler. The latches are a particular plus because they open and close smoothly and conveniently with one hand, making them perfect for both picnics and more active uses.  

However, the fabric "hefty hauler" strap is a different story. Initial impressions are favorable due to the sliding (and detachable) plastic handgrip and comfort of the object, but we found the length to be an uncomfortable compromise. This is a difficult item to carry for any distance because it is just barely too short to sling over your shoulder but long enough to prevent the cooler from tangling with your ankles. The best techniques, according to what we discovered, were to either enlist the assistance of another porter to grab the handle and let it swing between you or to ignore the handle and hold onto the two moulded handles. Additionally, the handle naturally settles on top of the cooler, making it necessary to move it in order to open the lid. For a park picnic, this is a difficult carry that would be much better suited to being fastened to or placed inside of a vehicle.

(Mark Mayne provided the photo.)

With the help of larger, Yeti Grande 4lb ice blocks that fit neatly in the cooler's base and gel cooling blocks, we tested the Yeti Roadie 24 cooler's cooling capacity. The results were quite impressive, keeping beverages at refrigerator temperatures for 48 hours and the entire cooler at temperatures well below ambient for five days. Two weeks later, the Yeti block was still cool to the touch, demonstrating how effective the insulation is in this place. In theory, this would give you 8 liters of food/drink space and 16 liters of ice, but that seems a little excessive for UK conditions. Yeti recommends a ratio of two-thirds ice to one-third food and drink.   

The Yeti Roadie 24 cooler has a robust-looking seal around the lid and appears to be watertight, but if it isn't upright, it won't be completely watertight. This is probably because the seal was once taped, allowing leakage, which is more of a problem with freezer blocks than ice. This is something to be aware of when packing into smaller car boots, for example, as the cooler is slim enough to stand upright in most spaces (Yeti's own suggestion is behind car seats, which works well).  

Review of Yeti Roadie 24 cooler: conclusion

The Yeti Roadie 24 cooler has a lot of positive features. It fits into cars easily, maintains cold, and appears to be well-made. It's a nice design feature that the new latches make it easy to open with one hand, and the seat is also very comfortable. The handle is problematic for carrying the cooler any distance; it works well for lifting the cooler. But the Yeti Roadie 24 cooler's performance and build quality make it a standout as a cooler for camping, boating, or road trips.

Yeti Roadie 24: Cost Analysis

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$250

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$250

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$369.97

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