re: I don't understand the obsession with the Yeti ice chest.

I've been using a Coleman roller marine grade whatever the hell it is for the last four years because it's a perfect fit as the step down into my cabin on the sailboat. I use it twice a week. It's still doing it's thing.

Anybody who seriously thinks they would get more value from a yeti than I've gotten from that thing are completely deluded. I've stayed out for five nights at a time.

If you want to believe that extra four hundred or however many dollars is worth it, you don't need me to convince you. You were sold before you spent it and you'll likely never find any reason to doubt it. Ice isn't 'rocket appliances'. Wanna keep ice long term, precool, add dry ice, don't open it often. Practice that and the differences in coolers are negligible. The rest is sales hype.