Top brands like Yeti.. Your chilliest guide 2023

A typical vanlifer or camper knows that YETI coolers are sought after by many people. It’s basically the golden hen. Nevertheless, they’re also super expensive so people look for brands like Yeti instead. People can’t often afford to spend $400 on an ice box.

But luckily, there are coolers out there like YETI that are a little easier on your wallet. The majority of them won’t make your wallet scream like a banshee.

Top brands like Yeti

The YETI variety is more than just “an ice box,” that much is true. With a rotomoulded design that keeps food cool for longer and stops leaks, these coolers are stronger than Hulk after transforming.

They are also bear-proof, which is helpful if you are boondocking in the backcountry. Yeti coolers are great pieces of gear.. But the high price tag can make you wonder if it’s worth it. If you don’t frequently camp in bearland with brand-conscious friends, there are several other brands like Yeti that sell excellently functional coolers at a far lower price.

RTIC

Our chosen “coolers better than yeti” are RTIC. When people look for cheaper alternatives to the Yeti, RTIC is a name that keeps coming up. Considering everything the RTIC Ultra-Light has to provide, that makes a lot of sense.

With the Ultra Light Cooler, RTIC has basically done the impossible: it has made an alternative to rotomolded ice chests that costs much less and is much lighter than other comparable coolers on the market.

So, how did they manage? By method of injection molding. Injection molding is pretty much what it sounds like: placing liquid plastic into a mold to make a smooth, strong product.

Since the mold doesn’t spin as the plastic dries, the plastic isn’t spread out as evenly or as strongly as it is with rotomolding. But you still get numerous of the same benefits from rotomolding, even though it costs less and weighs less. As an example, the RTIC Ultra-light is 30% lighter than its rotomolded equivalents.

That’s a huge plus because hard coolers get heavy when they’re full of ice, food, and drinks. This is particularly true for rotomolded coolers like Yeti. When you compare RTIC to Yeti, the RTIC cooler pretty much has the same benefits as the Yeti. It can also keep ice for 10 days.

The RTIC Ultralight, brands like Yeti Tundra, has a detachable wire basket to aid hold its contents in order. It also has feet that don’t slip, a locking system to keep bears and other peckish animals away, and thick walls that keep heat in.

The RTIC is also available in many fun colours. There are seven different colour combinations for this 52-quart model, like green-yellow-purple and olive-orange-brown, which are both very bright. Additionally, RTIC has soft coolers like yeti ‘s, so they’ve got you covered.

ORCA

One brand, Orca Coolers, doesn’t necessarily market itself as being more cost effective than YETI’s. But a number of individuals have said that they are actually better than Yeti in terms of quality and performance.

Yeti coolers are extremely comparable to the items that are manufactured by the Orca Cooler brand. The 40-quart one is made with rotomolding and has thick walls that can keep ice for up to ten days.

When it comes to how they look, Orca coolers and Yeti coolers are very similar. Orca coolers have a draining spout, a lid that locks into place, and rubber pull-down latches. However, Orca creates their latches as little whale tails for a delightful visual touch.

Orca coolers have a cargo net that you can attach to the exterior to store extra equipment. This is what makes them stand out. Coolers, especially those with added insulation, take up a lot of space in a car, so a storage net like this one comes in handy.

This way, your cooler can be used to carry important things like sun cream and torches with you on your trip. Orca coolers are the same price as Yeti coolers, but they come in slightly different sizes. The Yeti Tundra comes in two sizes: 35 quarts and 45 quarts. This Orca cooler, at 40 quarts, is right in the middle.

Orca coolers are also licensed as being resistant to bears. They are made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty. They also give discounts to the army, first rescue personnel, and nurses, and they support the Wounded Warrior project.

Cheap brands like Yeti

Lifetime

In terms of how well they work, Lifetime hard coolers like Yeti, cost a lot less. It might not look identical to it as the other brands like Yeti, but it has many of the same functionalities and some additional ones that you might appreciate.

In terms of value for money, this company offers a lot, and it’s well worth checking out in more detail. Lifetime offers a great level of durability and is extremely reasonably priced. It also keeps ice better than most and is easy to carry.

Coleman

It may not look like a Yeti, but the Coleman Xtreme is a viable option for those looking for a lightweight, ice-retention option that won’t cost an arm and a leg every time they go camping or hiking.

These good coolers like Yeti can keep ice for up to three days and costs a third of what a Yeti does. If you’re merely going camping with your family, you don’t need the slickness of the Yeti’s design to make a statement.

You may need a more sturdy cooler that can still do the job. This one does, and it keeps ice for a remarkable amount of time, making it a great buy for the price.

Arctic Zone Titan

This camping cooler has been bought and rated by many individuals, making it one of the best-selling online. It’s one of the brands similar to Yeti and more easy-on-the-wallet.

Arctic Zone Titan coolers are similar to YETI Hopper shoulder-carry coolers. At $39.99, it’s a fraction of the price of a YETI and offers impressive stats. Titan’s 3-day ice retention is outstanding for a shoulder-carry cooler.

YETI doesn’t publish a Hopper ice retention figure, making comparisons difficult. When I have no information, I choose a product that assures me of its accuracy. The Titan has a smart shell that holds soft things like fruit and sandwiches away from hard things like cans and bottles.

It features pockets for cutlery and other stuff and may be used as a large ice container to keep bulky objects cool or your severed thumb if you’re careless while cooking. For years to come, your goods will seem as fresh as your food thanks to the material on the outside.

Kong

There is no cooler that can match the performance of a Kong Cooler in terms of ice retention. Even though they don’t look like Yetis, they do a greater job of keeping things cool for longer than the well-known brand.

Kong coolers like Yeti but cheaper and are similar in more ways than just what they look like. They are very similar in a lot of ways and very different in a few important ways. They are both in a high price range, so there probably won’t be much of a price difference when deciding between the two brands.

Yeti and Kong coolers have the same quality and guarantee. Like Yeti, they are almost impossible to break, so if you want a durable cooler that is also made in your own country, Kong is a good option. Many customers like that the handles are firmer than those of Yeti, but the brand isn’t as flashy.

High Quality brands like Yeti

Engel

Meet a brand that has made a name for itself in the camping world by making coolers like YETI’s, but for a lot less money. Engel is one of the best coolers like Yeti. You could say that Engel is the “old guard” of camping coolers. 

They’ve been around much longer than YETI. In fact, they’ve been around since the 1990s. Actually, they have a lot of fans in the adventure culture, especially among people who enjoy spending a lot of time out at sea.

Why do campers all around the world vouch for items like the ENG50? Engel says that their coolers can’t be damaged in any way.

They’re also around 25% lower in price and come with a 10-year warranty, but we assume people care most about the first point…

The Engel can keep ice for 10 days, ships for free, and has been tested and proven to be bear-proof. The brand has been around for more than 50 years and says it was the first to make high-performance coolers. It has loyal fans who don’t mind telling YETI to go take a powder.

The cooler will have 2 inches of insulating material and a seal that keeps air out. And it might be important to know that people who work in EMS and fire rescue use Engel.

Pelican

This is one of the cooler brands like YETI and makes a great alternative. Pelican is loved for its durability, size, and ability to keep ice almost as long as a YETI cooler, if not longer. It costs just a little less than a similar cooler from a competitor. Reviewers say that the Pelican kept ice from melting for 9 days. Also, most people who own this cooler agree that it’s very heavy, but that weight means it’s much more durable than the YETI. Plus, Pelican coolers have a warranty that lasts a lifetime.

Cordova

Cordova coolers are a cheaper alternative to Yeti coolers, that can keep ice for up to 10 days. Pretty amazing, right? They are also attractive coolers that bears can’t break into.

The base of the unit has “goat’s feet” that keep it from moving around. You may find this feature useful. This makes sure that the Cordova stays put no matter where you put it down. Cordova hasn’t taken any short-cuts when making its line of high-quality coolers.

Furthermore, Cordova is a great cooler that has everything you’d expect and more. Even better, they are about the only company that makes their products with foam that is good for the environment. This makes them more environmentally friendly than Yeti.