The strong exterior is waterproof 1,000-denier tarpaulin, a tenacious material used for crash pads. Other coolers we’ve tested have been made with layers of high-density superfoam plus a lightweight heat-reflective material around the exterior. But that material isn’t as strong. As for build quality, we don’t see any weak points. These coolers are Certified Bear Resistant and utilize quality materials and craftsmanship. But the most notable aspect of their quality is Arctic Zone’s limited lifetime warranty. There are very few cooler brands on the market that have lifetime warranties. And for it to be offered from a brand that traditionally focused on soft-sided coolers is a welcome surprise. Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler Ice Retention With a sturdy base and durable all-around construction, this cooler is easy to drag in and out of the car and through the dirt and sand, and it’s easy to clean. We also loved the bright orange interior which made it easy to see what’s hidden at the bottom. Build quality is equally similar. And with Arctic Zone’s lifetime warranty, we may have to get a slight edge over them over Yeti. This type of scenario is more aligned with our real-life testing. We will fill the ice chest approximately halfway up with ice, leave it in a semi-warm environment, and occasionally open the lid. This better emulates real-life use.

One of our favorite details about YETI is the tenacity and smoothness of the exterior material including with the Hopper M12. This stuff is so easy to wipe down after getting smudges, too. And we love the grab handle, which is super comfortable and wide to grip. Those shoulder straps are supportive and clean-cut, too. The easiest way for a cooler to be unique is in its color choices. Multi-color coolers with the team colors of your favorite professional football team, for instance, would be a huge hit at the next watch party. As expected, Yeti has a clear edge when it comes to size options, color choices, and features. There is no comparison. Yeti offers dozens of different cooler sizes and a near-infinite range of colors because of their ability to do custom designs. They also have a large range of features and accessories that Arctic Zone just can’t match. The only somewhat unique feature is the embedded fish ruler on the top of the lid. This feature is on quite a few other cooler brands’ products, but for some reason doesn’t seem to be as prevalent on new models as of late. It is refreshing to see it included with Arctic Zone’s products.

While both colors look great, we do wish there were more to choose from. In addition, there are no other specialty color options or customization options that we can find. Cost – With this level of ice retention, these coolers make excellent candidates for anything from a weekend lake trip up to a week at the beach house. Visual Appeal –

I often take my Icemule with me when my Yeti soft-sided cooler is too bulky," says Senior Commerce Writer Jennifer Zyman. "This is a great bag I can sling over my shoulder with a bunch of bottled water for my kid's softball team. It's easy to carry in addition to the gear I inevitably help lug to the field. I can trust that the material insulates well enough to keep the drinks cold enough to actually cool and refresh. I don't use this with food since its soft sides make it harder to keep things like sandwiches intact. However, it is the best for cases of spiked canned seltzers and cold beers on the beach or the field without the awkwardness of lugging a hard-sided cooler." For carrying, the smaller 20-quart size utilizes a pretty standard overhead carrying handle. This handle has a comfortable rubber grip that will make it easier to carry in wet or humid conditions. And on the larger size cooler ( 55-quart), there is the pretty typical side gripped handles. Since a full 55-quart cooler can be quite heavy, we always recommend finding a friend to help carry this cooler. HARDBODY LINER WITH SMARTSHELF: Includes a removable HardBody liner with SmartShelf that allows you to separate hard items from soft so sandwiches and other soft foods don't get crushed; SmartShelf easily removes for extra space So while all of the features you expect to be on this tier of ice chest are present, there isn’t much more other than the fish ruler and potentially the wire basket. Specifically, Arctic Zone states that you should see anywhere from 2 to 4 days of ice life on their 20 Quart model and anywhere from 4 to 8 days on their 55-quart model. And the lower end of this range is obviously when the ice chest is only partially full of ice.The Food Standards Agency recommends you keep your fridge set at 5°C, so that cold food stays at around 8°C. You'll want to keep your bag below 5°C, especially if you have perishables, for as long as you want to keep eating and drinking stuff from the bag. This design is lightweight, simple, and sustainable. Made of recycled materials, it’s durable and easy to clean. The bottom is textured and rigid enough to stand up on the beach or uneven ground. The inside is shiny, like a whitewater raft, and rinses out clean. We appreciate the minimal seams in this cylindrical design and secure strap attachments.