If you’re going on a trip in summer you want to make sure you bring a good cooler. There’s nothing worse than bringing food and drinks – only to find that they’ve all spoiled because of the heat. Now, this is a site about healthy eating and drinking, so whenever you’re out in nature (camping, fishing, hiking, road trip), you need to ensure you’ve got all the supplies with you in good state. There are many fine coolers out there, and today we’re going to discuss the Cabelas cooler vs Yeti cooler.
What are the crucial differences between each cooler? Are there some circumstances in which one is better? Or is it more of a tie? You’ll find all the answers in this comparison review.
We’ve done our best to make sure you’ve got all the information about each cooler. So you can make a good informed decision. As always think about what you’re going to use the product for before you make the decision. What are the needs that are essential? If you’re going on a 12-day road trip and want to keep some products cold all the time, you’re going to need a different cooler than if you’re going fishing and want to use the cooler to keep the fish cool on the way back to shore.
Cabelas cooler vs Yeti
Both Cabelas and Yeti have many different model coolers. However, the main technologies they use in their models are the same. So basically for each brand you’re balancing durability (how long does it keep the goods cool), mobility (how big/heavy is it?) and price.
To keep things easy to compare, we’ve decided to pick the best sellers of both brands. And challenge them.
The 2 coolers are:
- Yeti roadie 20
- Cabelas Polar Cap Equalizer 25
First, we’ll discuss some of the similarities between both coolers. So you can get a general idea if both coolers will work in your situation. Then we’ll dive deeper into what makes each cooler unique and what it’s best suited for.
Both coolers are coolers that are made to withstand high temperatures. So you can keep your catch/food/drinks cold for a long period of time. It needs to be said that both are multiple day coolers. So unlike some other coolers that you can get for less than $50 (who only keep things cold for less than a day), the professional coolers from Cabelas and Yeti are pricier. But the quality you get in return is several tiers higher.
AS you might’ve noticed, the Yeti cooler is 20 quarts. And the Cabelas cooler 25. Both models can be bought in larger models, it’s just that for this comparison it’s easier to pick 2 models that are more similar – so we can point out the differences better.
Here are the dimensions of each cooler:
- Yeti roadie 20: 19 x 14 x 15 inches (18 pounds)
- Cabelas cooler 25: 26 x 17 x 17.5 (18 pounds)
What I like about the Cabelas cooler: straight instructions
One of the things that is great when listed on the cooler page is how long it’s going to realistically stay cold. And you’ll find that on the Cabelas page. There it’s written that the 25-quart model will stay cold for about 5 days. The only thing is that there’ no real mention of the circumstances in which this happens. But as for the reviews that other people have left, it seems like the cooler holds up to this in most circumstances.
The Cabelas cooler is a good cooler if you’re looking for a solid cooler for your food/drinks. It has a strong lock, so even if you’re out in the woods – you won’t have to worry about a bear opening it. It’s leak proof and has a valve that lets you drain out all the ice after use. It’s these small extra’s that make the Cabelas cooler a good option if you’re looking for an all-round cooler.
What I like about the Yeti cooler: great isolation
The main thing that sets the Yeti cooler apart is that its thickness. Now, as you might’ve noticed in the previous paragraphs: the Cabelas vs yeti cooler have about the same weight. That is because the Yeti Roadie cooler has a a thick isolation. This ensure that you don’t need to put incredibly much ice into it to keep the recommended cooling time. Yeti recommends around 2:1 ice to content ratio. And this is great if you want to everything cold for several days. For shorter trips, you can put less ice, as the isolation will keep it cold.
Another nice thing about the Yeti cooler is the handle bars and the ‘rotomolded’ construction as they call it. The handlebars are made in a specific T-rex construction (short lever, just like the arms of a T-rex), that make them very sturdy. It’s almost impossible to break the latches. The ‘rotomolded’ construction ensures that the Yeti cooler is armored and that it’s very difficult to break it open. Good if you want to make sure that nothing happens to your cooler in no circumstance.
Here’s what to base your Cabelas cooler vs Yeti decision on:
Maybe you’ve already made a decision which cooler better suits your needs. In case you haven’t, here’s a short overview which cooler is better for which purpose:
- Are you looking for a cooler that keeps everything cool for a long period of time in extreme heat? Then Yeti is a better choice because of their extra isolation.
- Are you on a budget? Then the Cabelas cooler is the better choice
- Do you want the cooler to be extremely sturdy? Go with the Yeti Roadie cooler.
Final words Cabelas cooler vs Yeti
We’ve made it to the end of this Cabelas cooler vs Yeti comparison review. By now you’ve got all the information to make an informed decision which cooler you can take with you on your trip.
In general: The Yeti cooler is better. It has better isolation and that is the exact thing that you want from a quality multiple-day cooler. It has a sturdy design that will ensure that it won’t break – even if you’re planning to go fishing/hunting.
Check the price of the Yeti Roadie cooler here on Amazon!
P.S. Is 20 quarts not enough for you? Then I recommend you check out the Yeti Tundra 45 cooler. It’s more than twice bigger and will keep your food/drinks colder for even longer than the Yeti Roadie! Click here for more information about the Yeti Tundra 45 cooler!