This article is interesting. Its a Buyer's Guide for coolers for the Kayak world and includes some chat about the Yeti but the Yeti didn't make the cut.
http://www.kayakauthority.com/top-5-premium-coolers-kayak-sup/
*copying the full guide here because I had issues reading it with some of the share buttons on their page.
Top 5 Premium Coolers for Your Kayak or SUP
June 15, 2016
Last year in 2015, our team wrote a review article on the
best smaller sized coolers that you could use on your kayak or stand up paddle board (SUP). At the time we wrote that article, there were really only about ten quality cooler brands that sold good all-around coolers (sometimes called ice chests). Since then, there are some new players to the game offering premium coolers and because of that, we decided to update our previous article for our readers.
Not only did we reexamine our previous list of the top rated coolers in 2015, we also reviewed and tested out 5 new coolers on the market in 2016 that we’re really excited about. We went ahead and created an easy to use buying guide and comparison chart summary of the Top 5 Premium Coolers in 2016 to help our readers find the best cooler for their yak or board.
Features and factors we considered and looked at included: Price, Quart Storage Capacity, Size, Design, Ease of Transportation, Components and Accessories, and Customer Service. We also factored in other expert and owner reviews and field trial experience!
You’ll probably notice that the YETI Roadie did not make our final list. We agree YETI makes superb products, however the price and quart capacity of the YETI Roadie did not compete with the other choices of coolers.
All of the finalist coolers on our list come highly recommended by us. They are ideal for daylong use for either camping, picnics, a day at the beach, fishing,
kayaking, or
standup paddleboarding. You can’t go wrong with your buying decision on any of these personal coolers. If you are in the market for the best cooler for your
boat or paddleboard, hopefully this article will help to choose the best product for you.
Top 5 Premium Coolers for Your Kayak or SUP
PRODUCT RATING INTERIOR (QTS) PRICE
Grizzly 20
4.9 ~ 23.0
Check Amazon
RTIC 20
5.0
~ 22.6
Check RTIC Website
Bison 25
4.9 ~ 26.7
Check Bison Website
Pelican ProGear 20 Elite
4.8 ~ 22.4
Check Amazon
ORCA 20
4.9 ~ 23.3
Check Amazon
Premium Cooler Review Guide
Grizzly 20
This cooler was our Editor’s Choice winner last year. The Grizzly team offers great coolers and at fair price points. We were also very impressed with their customer service and how they truly valued their patrons. The cooler holds about 23.3 quarts (liquid) and is the perfect on the go cooler in the back of your truck. It fits twenty four 12 ounce cans and you can add a compartment divider as an accessory that doubles as a folding cutting board. This accessory is perfect for the fisherman or game processing as well. The cooler comes with a stainless steel handle as well as Grizzly’s Bear Claw latches and 2 inch drain as well.
Read More at Amazon.
RTIC 20
EDITOR’S CHOICE: RTIC is a fairly new player in the premium cooler game. They market their coolers by saying they are half the price of a YETI and they hold more ice. We were skeptical at first but wanted to give them a chance and we’re glad we did. RTIC did not disappoint. By far the RTIC 20 is the best value you can get on a quality cooler. It offers all the same features as the other brands at a much better price. It features a good freezer grade inner seal, large deep cavity, and drain spout with a rubber washer to keep everything inside. It also is equipped with large footprint pads to help hold it in place and a stainless steel carrying handle.
Read More at the RTIC Website.
Bison 25
This cooler is designed to take a beating and hold up well. It is made extremely durable. This is the only cooler on our list that has rope handles and integrated handles on the side that have a nice grip to them to prevent slipping. Each integrated handle has a notch to use a tie down on your truck or fishing kayak. This cooler has the greatest quart capacity on our list at about 26.7 quarts (liquid) and it’s surprisingly lightweight for its size. We like the four durable rubber feet on the bottom that are bolted on so you don’t have to deal with losing any of them. The cooler also features quality lid latches that latch easily and securely.
Read More at the Bison Website.
Pelican ProGear 20 Elite
Pelican is the biggest company on our list and they offer a wide variety of products for sale. We like this cooler because of its basic design and price. It can store about 22.4 quarts (liquid) and features two sets of handles and rugged press and pull latches for a water tight seal. It utilizes stainless steel hardware, integrated cup holders, and a built-in bottle opener for function and convenience. It does not have a drain plug which can be a hassle when all the ice melts. Since there is no drain pressure, when you close the lid hot air will get trapped inside. When the temperature drops, pressure drops so when you have that hot air inside and it starts cooling down it causes a vacuum. This can make it difficult to open the cooler. This cooler is dry ice capable and has a thick, molded polyurethane insulation that offers impressive ice retention.
Read More at Amazon.
ORCA 20
This cooler is very well made and offers various features and options for accessories. We know you’ll like this cooler. It’s fits on a kayak or board extremely well. It will store about 23.3 quarts (liquid) and is the perfect size cooler when out on the water. The premium insulation and lockable shell will insure you are not buying ice everyday on your next trip. These coolers have maximum ice/cold retention keeping your items fresh for up to 10 days following the manufacture’s recommendations. Each cooler has padded, extendable flex grip carrying handles for easier carrying options, an easy-flow drain spout, and integrated padlock ports. A lid gasket forms the perfect seal and a cargo net attachment adds extra storage for additional items. Ideal for fitting behind 3rd row seats in SUV’s as it is shallow in depth and tall. This cooler will fit a 750ml Camelbak bottle in vertically which some smaller high-end coolers won’t. The ORCA whale tail latches are very cool and perfectly functional.
Read More at Amazon.
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