re: What is your go to ice chest?

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I'm not usually one to be a loyalist to the biggest/most expensive/most mainstream brand, but I like all my Yeti products so I buy more

I've never won a single Yeti cooler in a raffle or Ducks Unlimited door prize

I paid for all of them like a schmuck

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Ya see I don't think there's anything wrong with paying more for something that is actually the best on the market if you can afford it. It's called supply and demand. Rtic is good, in fact, better than every other except Yeti.

I have a who knows what brand..coleman maybe... soft LSU one with Toonces on it my MIL got me about a decade ago... haven’t hit the lake without it since

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Ya see I don't think there's anything wrong with paying more for something that is actually the best on the market if you can afford it. It's called supply and demand. Rtic is good, in fact, better than every other except Yeti.

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I won't argue with people who think RTIC or similar are nearly as good as Yeti for half the price. Especially the roto stuff.

For soft sided, I think Yeti holds up considerably better and looks better, but again, probably not necessarily enough for the price difference.

But, Yeti also changed the game in this market and I respect that and they're still leading on design and new products IMO. It's not a situation like BGE and KJ where the leader is getting out-innovated by one of the entities that followed. Not arguing other people should opt in to pay Yeti just for that, but I personally don't mind paying more for the entity setting the standard.

I got a Swap Box for a project at work and it’s pretty awesome. Very heavy duty. My only complaint is that it’s heavy AF.

I have a 65 qt Lifetime with wheels. I love it. Made in USA, I paid around $200 for it at Tractor Supply. It holds ice as well as my 45 qt RTIC.

I have a few, but the oldest and still one of the bests in terms of its weight and ability to keep things cold, is a 43-year-old Gott cooler.

I stole this from Chicken after playing Pickleball with him the other day.

I'll also add that I have a wheeled Igloo that gets used quite a bit too. When I don't really need the rotomolded, keeping ice for several days type of cooler. Bought it either in college or right afterwards, so over 20 years ago. If we're going to the beach for the day, or just an overnight camping trip, or tailgating, this is the one I use. The cupholders on top are a bonus. You can't sit on the lid like you can the rotomolded ones, but it doubles as a table instead of an extra seat. Paid about $25 for it a long time ago. Similar models are around $60 on Amazon now.

Engel 45 Qt