HARD COOLERS

Whether you need a big cooler or a small ice chest, the best person to decide is you. We may not know how you will use your cooler. However, we can give you advice on which one is best for you and your adventures.

With help from our ambassadors and product users, we have gathered answers to your questions about YETI hard coolers.

Many factors affect how long ice lasts in a cooler. These include the quality and amount of ice, as well as the outside temperature. This makes it a hard question to answer. In short, this means there’s a lot you can do to affect the longevity of your ice—either positively or negatively.

There are many factors that affect ice retention. There is no standard way to measure it in the industry. Claims about how long ice lasts, like 5, 10, or 14 days, often depend on the testing conditions. They may not reflect real-life situations.

Tundra® and Roadie® Hard Coolers are made with up to three inches of polyurethane foam insulation. They also have a freezer-style sealing gasket. This design helps keep ice for a long time.

Beyond that, here are a few best practices for keeping ice longer in your cooler. Also, take a look at this resource if you want to learn how to use dry ice in YETI Hard Sided Coolers.

Yes, YETI designs hard-sided coolers for great temperature retention. They keep your hot items hot and your cold items ice-cold.

The rotational molding process, or rotomold, is a method for making plastic parts. It uses high heat and low pressure. The process involves rotating the mold on two axes. This creates hollow, one-piece parts.

We load the YETI Cooler mold with polyethylene in powder form. We place the mold in a large oven.

It rotates on two axes at different speeds. This helps stop powder from building up in one spot. The polyethylene melts and adheres evenly to the wall of the mold.

Once the polyethylene melts, we pull the molds out of the oven to cool. Once cool, we remove the ice chest from the mold. It’s kind of like a huge, spinning Easy-Bake Oven that cranks out coolers instead of cakes.

Tundra coolers are our high-capacity, multi-day workhorses with rotomolded construction, FatWall™ Design, PermaFrost™ Insulation, a ColdLock™ Gasket, InterLock™ Lid System, T‑Rex™ Lid Latches, and a Vortex™ Drain System. Roadie coolers are more compact with QuickLatch™ access and, on the 24, no drain. Wheeled Roadie 48/60 and Tundra Haul add NeverFlat™ Wheels and StrongArm™ or Periscope™ handles.

Yes, Tundra and Roadie hard coolers — including wheeled models — are dry‑ice compatible; do not use dry ice in the Silo 6G Water Cooler. Wrap blocks, leave headspace for gas, and vent before opening. PermaFrost™ foam and the ColdLock™ Gasket handle the cold, but gloves and eye protection are on you.

Rinse, drain, then wash with warm water and mild dish soap; scrub the gasket channel, latches, and drain. For stubborn odors, use a diluted bleach solution or a baking‑soda paste, rinse thoroughly, and air‑dry with the lid open. Avoid pressure washers, solvents, and abrasive pads that can scar the interior.

The Roadie® 24 does not have a drain plug — tip it forward to empty melt. Tundra coolers, Roadie 48/60, and Tundra Haul use the Vortex™ Drain System for fast draining. Open the drain and crack the lid to let air in, then close up to keep the ColdLock™ Gasket clean.