Yeti Roadie coolers are great. They are tough, durable, look great and can hold ice for 2-3 days. But Yeti Roadie coolers can be quite expensive, clocking in at around $200 or so, and so I wanted to share some of the best alternatives to the Yeti Roadie that can save you some money.
I've researched all the different brands that are available to create a list of the best coolers like Yeti but cheaper.
I've ranked these coolers in order from the most affordable to the most expensive and below I've highlighted the 3 coolers from this list that I think are the best ones to get:
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Best Value
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High Performance
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Most Like Yeti
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5.0
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4.5
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What Makes Yeti Roadie Coolers So Good?
Yeti Roadie:
Yeti Roadie is Yeti's smallest roto-molded cooler and at 20.8-Quart it's a great size for a personal cooler or a compact cooler for couples.
It's still roto-molded and heavily insulated like Yeti's other coolers and this means it's completely bear proof and can hold ice for 2-3+ days.
It's not too big and heavy and has a convenient pull up carry handle for easy single hand carrying or you can rotate the handle down and carrying it using hand molds in the side.
This is a great cooler and it's one of Yeti's most popular sizes of coolers so it's understandable that a lot of people would want a cooler this size but not want to pay the full price of the Yeti.
Get the Yeti Roadie Cooler at Amazon
So below I've created a list of coolers that are similar in features and size to Yeti but that sell for a more affordable price.
Ranked By Price
Choosing a “best cooler” that is similar to the Roadie is difficult because everyone has a different budget, likes different designs and values different things.
So instead I've ranked them from cheapest to most expensive, using the latest price from the Amazon API shown for each product.
More expensive doesn't always equal better so I've tried to talk about the main features of each cooler that you should consider as well as some of the pros and cons of each cooler too.
BUDGET OPTION: Igloo BMX 25-Quart
Igloo BMX 25-Quart:
If you're looking for a budget option that is still strong and will still keep ice for a couple of days then then Igloo BMX is the cheapest option you're going to find.
Anything cheaper than this is just a regular cooler and you're not going to get very good ice retention (see my Flip Lid ice test as an example).
It's not roto-molded like Yeti and it isn't as durable but it's still pretty strong. They claim 4-days of ice retention but I would expect more like 2 days
Get the Igloo BMX 25-Quart at Amazon
PROS:
- Super affordable
- 2 days ice retention
- Most features the Yeti has
CONS:
- Not roto-molded so durability isn't as good
- Hinges and handle not as durable
- Ice retention isn't as good as Yeti
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY: Lifetime 28-Quart
Lifetime 28-Quart: ~$78.00
Lifetime hands down offers the best value-for-money of any coolers on this list.
It is made in the USA, has all the main features that a Yeti Roadie has with pull down latches, padded metal handle, thick insulation, rubber gasket, non-slip feet etc plus it's even bear proof
PLUS it comes with a built in bottle opener which is a nice feature.
It's blow-molded (not roto-molded) so it's not AS durable as the Yeti Roadie, but it's pretty damn close and ice retention is extremely similar and maybe even better than Yeti.
Get the Lifetime 28-Quart Cooler on sale at Walmart.com
PROS:
- Great value for money
- Made in the USA
- Similar ice retention to Yeti
- Has similiar features to the Yeti
CONS:
- It's bigger than the Yeti which isn't ideal for some people
- Not quite as durable as the Yeti
- Only comes in 1 color
Ozark Trail 26-Quart
Ozark Trail 26-Quart: ~$86.00
The Ozark Trail is Walmart's brand of cooler and it's the cheapest roto-molded cooler on the market.
It doesn't perform as well as Yeti in ice retention tests which is one of the downsides of this cooler and the overall built quality isn't quite as high. See my full article on Ozark Trail vs Yeti for full details.
This is a decent cooler for half the price of the Yeti, but at this price range I personally prefer the Lifetime.
The only major advantage this has over the Lifetime is that it's roto-molded and thus slightly more durable.
Get the Ozark Trail 26 for cheap at Walmart
PROS:
- Less than half the price of a Yeti
- Roto-molded and durable with similar features to Yeti
- Built in ruler in the lid
CONS:
- Ice retention isn't as good as Yeti
- Overall built quality isn't as good
- Only comes in 1 color
- Comes with no warranty
Pelican Elite 20-Quart
Pelican Elite 20-Quart:
Pelican are known for their premium build quality and durability and this cooler is no exception to that rule. It is built like a beast.
What makes this cooler standard out from the rest is it's tall shape, it's built in cup holders and it's unique push and pull latches.
Because this cooler is taller and thinner than other similar sized coolers it takes up less room in your car, van or the back of your truck. However, this tall profile can make accessing the stuff inside your cooler a bit harder.
It has 4 cups holders molded into the lid which I really like as well as a built in bottle opener and strong pull up plastic handle.
The latches are also unqiue and easy and fun to use but don't hold the lid down quite as tight. Ice retention is similar to the Yeti Roadie and this cooler is made in the USA.
Get the Pelican Elite 20-Quart cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Tall and thin means it takes up less room
- Made in the USA
- Extremely high-quality and built to last
- Similar features and ice retention to the Yeti
- Cup holders built into the lid
CONS:
- Tall profile can make it harder to access the inside of your cooler
- Latches don't pull down the lid tight making it more likely to leak
Canyon Scout 22-Quart
Canyon Scout 22-Quart:
The Canyon Scout 22-Quart cooler has thicker insulation in the lid compared to other coolers and it can hold ice for up to 3 days.
It has unique bars around the lid and body of the cooler which allows you to attach more items, specifically a bungee net which is great for storing things.
Canyon have the best lifetime warranty of any cooler company out there offering a lifetime warranty on all their coolers, even if you lose your receipt.
It doesn't have a metal handle like the Yeti and instead has a shoulder strap which some will prefer while others won't.
This is one of my favorite cooler companies and I love their stuff.
Get the Canyon Scout 22-Quart Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Unqiue metal latch system for a bungee netting.
- Best lifetime warranty of any cooler
- Great ice retention and durability
CONS:
- Not made in the USA
- Limited color options available
- No padded metal carry handle – uses a shoulder strap instead.
Kenai 25-Quart
Kenai 25-Quart:
Kenai coolers are actually made by the same brand that make Grizzly coolers, only these sell for a discounted price.
They aren't exactly the same as Grizzly but they are still high-quality and still made in the USA.
The Kenai 25-Quart differs from the Yeti Roadie in that the rubber latches are a bit different and instead of the metal handle for single hand carrying you have side rope handles, meaning you have to carry this with 2 hands.
It comes in a variety of bright and bold colors and this is an all around solidly built cooler with good ice retention.
Get the Kenai 25-Quart Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Made in the USA
- Similar price and features to Yeti Roadie
- Has a drainage plug
CONS:
- Not padded metal handle, so you must carry with 2 hands
- Rubber latches aren't as nice to use as Yeti ones
Engel 25-Quart
Engel 25-Quart:
The Engel 25-Quart cooler, like the Kenai, doesn't have the pull up metal handle but instead has 2 nylon ropes handles (one on each side).
It uses a cam-latch system instead of the pull down rubber handles and comes in basic colors like white, grey, tan, blue and seafoam.
While this is a good solid cooler with similar features and ice retention to the Yeti Roadie there just isn't anything about this cooler that wows me and makes it stand out.
Get the Engel 25-Quart Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Well known and reliable brand
- Similar ice retention to Yeti
- Cam latches are easy to use
- Built in bottle opener
CONS:
- Side handles mean you have to carry it with 2 hands
- Colors are all pretty standard and boring
- Nothing about this cooler stands out or wows me
MOST SIMILAR: RTIC 20-Quart
RTIC 20-Quart:
The RTIC cooler is the most similar to the Yeti Roadie in both look, design and performance. This cooler is basically like-for-like a Yeti knockoff.
In the past RTIC was successfully sued by Yeti for imitating a bunch of their products and forced to redesign a bunch of stuff, but even with the redesign there is no mistaking how similar this looks to the Yeti Roadie.
There are minor differences like how RTIC's lid has a lip on it so you can grab and open it easier and some minor design differences but basically this looks like the same cooler, only cheaper.
Performance and durability is right up there too with both holding ice for a comparable 2-3 days and both RTIC and Yeti are made overseas.
If you want the cooler that is almost a completely rip off of the Yeti then get the RTIC and save yourself some money.
Get the RTIC 20-Quart Cooler at RTICOutdoors.com
PROS:
- Looks almost exactly like Yeti
- Performs almost exactly like a Yeti
CONS:
- Isn't a Yeti
- Made overseas, just like a Yeti
K2 Summit 20-Quart
K2 Summit 20-Quart:
The K2 Summit is another good small roto-molded cooler that can hold ice for 2-3 days.
It's got thick insulation for good ice retention and can hold ice for 2-3 days (similar to the Yeti Roadie).
The big difference with this cooler is that instead of the metal handle it has the adjustable shoulder strap.
The rubber latches also work differently and pull up from the body of the cooler rather than pulling down from the lid like Yeti.
Comes with a 7-Year warranty which is 2 years longer than Yeti's 5-Year warranty but it doesn't have the corner locks on it so it's not bear proof. But it can save you a bit of money compared to a Yeti.
Get the K2 Summit 20-Quart at Amazon
PROS:
- Shoulder strap instead of metal handle
- 7 -Year Warranty
- Cheaper than Yeti
CONS:
- Not bear-proof
- Some people might not like the shoulder strap
- There are other similar coolers for cheaper
HIGH PERFORMANCE: ORCA 20-Quart
ORCA 20-Quart:
If you want the ultimate in ice retention performance and build quality then you can't go wrong with the ORCA.
ORCA stands for Outdoor Recreation Company of America and they make all their coolers locally in the USA.
You'll get slightly better ice retention in this cooler than you'll get in the Yeti cooler and the cooler is backed by a lifetime guarantee.
It also has more color options than any other cooler brand on the market with regular colors like white and tan but fun and out there colors like pink, green and even black.
In my opinion this is THE BEST cooler like the Yeti Roadie but cheaper.
The Lifetime may be the best value for money but if you're happy to spend more and don't want a Yeti I would personally recommend going with the ORCA.
Orca coolers are made in the USA and backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
They feature some of the best ice retention of any cooler on the market and are made to last with a great design and multiple color options.
PROS:
- Made in the USA
- Premium ice retention
- The most color options of any cooler other than Yeti
- Lifetime warranty
CONS:
- What cons? Haha
- Not as cheap as other models
Grizzly 20-Quart
Grizzly 20-Quart:
Grizzly is another really well made cooler that is manufactured locally in the USA and backed by a lifetime guarantee.
In the below video testing a few different models of small coolers against each other you can see that the Grizzly outperformed the other coolers when it comes to ice retention:
If you're looking for a USA-made cooler and you're not happy with the likes of Lifetime, Pelican or ORCA then Grizzly is another great option.
It's got similar features to the Yeti Roadie but has better ice retention.
Get the Grizzly 20-Quart Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Better ice retention than Yeti
- Made in the USA
- Lifetime warranty
CONS:
- Approximately the same price as Yeti
Siberian Alpha 22-Quart
Siberian Alpha 22-Quart:
The Siberian Alpha 22-Quart cooler is another roto-molded cooler that performs better than Yeti in ice retention tests. In fact it's one of the best coolers at keeping ice and ranks #4 behind Otterbox, Kong and TechniIce.
It outranks brands like ORCA, Yeti, Lifetime and RTIC in ice retention across all it's different sizes and it's also certified bear proof.
It has aluminium and rubber cam latches which give it a really cooler look and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
When you buy this model on Amazon it also comes with a free wire basket, cup holder as well as a lock bracket attachment. So that's some great extra value for free.
Get the Siberian Alpha 22-Quart Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Better ice retention than Yeti and many other brands
- Comes with a free wire basket, cup holder and lock bracket
- Lifetime warranty
CONS:
- Less well known brand
- Similar price to Yeti
- Design isn't quite as sleek
Kula 20-Quart Round Cooler
Kula 20-Quart:
The Kula Cooler is the only round cooler of it's kind. It's like a combination between a 5-gallon bucket and a Yeti Roadie.
It's built really well and it has a trak on the lid which gives you grip when standing on it and provide comfort when sitting on it.
It only has one rubber latch so you can open it with a single hand and it has a rubber hinge so the lid can open all the way.
It's not as wide as the Yeti Roadie so it can be slightly easier to carry but overall the roundness doesn't add a huge deal of value in my opinion.
But if you love how unique this round cooler in then check it out:
See the Kula 5-Gallon Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Round design is fun and different
- Fits perfectly on a stand up paddleboard
- Grippy/padded top for standing/sitting.
- Built in bottle opener
CONS:
- Round design doesn't actually make it more functional
- Less insulation than other coolers
- Very similar price to Yeti Roadie
Coolers Better Than Yeti Roadie But More Expensive
I also wanted to quickly include some of the coolers that are like Yeti Roadie but actually more expensive.
The below coolers are premium brands with some of the best ice retention or the best features in the industry.
In my opinion, these coolers (along with the ORCA) are actually BETTER than Yeti coolers and come highly recommended.
Otterbox Venture 25
Otterbox Venture 25-Quart:
The Otterbox is the #1 ranked cooler for ice retention and beats every other cooler brand on the market.
Otterbox are actually known for making high-end phone cases, but they have taken their high-end manufacturing and applied it to coolers with great success.
These coolers look great, work really well, are super durable and are made locally in the USA. Read my full review of Otterbox vs Yeti.
The 2-tone color design is really cooler and they have a unique attachment system for attaching accessories to the cooler.
The latches pull the lid down tight but are also extremely easy to use.
Get the Otterbox Venture 25-Quart Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Best brand for ice retention
- Made locally in the USA
- Extremely high-quality
- Cool system for mounting accessories
- Two-tone color design
- Lifetime warranty
CONS:
- More expensive than Yeti
- Side handles protrude out taking up more space
- Limited color options
Kong 25
Kong 25-Quart:
Kong coolers are another newer brand to enter the cooler market with their USA made coolers that perform extremely well in ice retention tests. Kong actually ranks #2 on my list of the best cooler for ice retention, just behind Otterbox.
It's got similar features to the Yeti but has beefy plastic cam latches that work really well to pull the lid down tight.
Instead of rope handles it has tough thick plastic handles than when combined with the “Kong Kicker” can turn your handles into a side table for your cooler giving your move food prep area. Perfect for camping or for van-life.
Get a Kong 25-Quart Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Amazing ice retention – better than Yeti
- Made in the USA
- Has cooler accessories like the Kong-Kicker
CONS:
- More expensive than Yeti and other brands
- Design isn't the most glamorous
- Newer brand and relatively untested in the market
Orion 25-Quart
Orion 25-Quart:
OMG this cooler is EXPENSIVE! It's nearly TWICE the price of the Yeti Roadie.
The cooler is absolutely beefed out and upgraded to the max.
It's got a padded track lid for grip and comfort, rubber and metal cam latches, built in stainless steel bottle openers, motorbike side handles as well as a gear track for accessories and unique camo/mixed colors.
These coolers are made in the USA in Sparta TN and can keep ice for days.
Their ice retention is similar to Yeti (or maybe even a little worse) but the features and the way this thing looks is higher-end than even Yeti coolers.
See the price of the Orion 25-Quart Cooler at Amazon
PROS:
- Built in bottle openers, lid grip, accessory tracks etc
- Made in the USA
- Comes in awesome colors
- No 2 Orion coolers look exactly the same.
CONS:
- The most expensive cooler that is similar the the Yeti Roadie.
What Cooler Like Yeti Roadie Will You Buy?
Ultimately choosing the best cooler like the Yeti Roadie will depend on what your budget is and what sort of look and features you like.
Are you budget conscious and want to go with the Igloo BMX 25 or the Lifetime 28-Quart cooler and save over $100?
Or do you want ultimate ice retention performance plus a lifetime warranty from a brand you can trust? In that case maybe you'll go with ORCA or Otterbox.
Or maybe you want to buy the Yeti Roadie cooler purely because it's a good cooler and it's a premium brand. That's totally fine too and honestly I still love the way my Yeti 45 makes me feel when I use it.
Whichever cooler you decide on I wish you the absolute best in your adventures.
See other larger coolers like Yeti but cheaper
See the best soft cooler like Yeti but cheaper
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