Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler

In 2025, Yeti is among the largest manufacturers not solely in coolers but additionally within the outside house. I went over to their web site and took a take a look at all of the various things they provide, and was blown away by the number of gear they now supply. All the pieces from Out of doors Firepits to a French press on your espresso. Whereas all of this stuff are cool, it’s nonetheless their first product that I feel most individuals would affiliate them with, the cooler, and that’s precisely what I’ll be taking a look at on this overview. I reached out to the parents at Yeti final Summer season, and so they have been variety sufficient to hook me up with a Tundra 45 Hard Cooler for this overview, which I’d add is lengthy overdue. 

Yeti Protection on AllOutdoor

The Tundra 45 Onerous Cooler was offered by Yeti for this overview. Though I’m allowed to maintain this cooler after the conclusion of this overview, it won’t affect my opinion on any of their present or future merchandise. Yeti has not been allowed to preview this text previous to its publication.  I’ve been utilizing the Tundra 45 Onerous Cooler for over a yr at this level, and it has been used for seaside journeys within the Florida Panhandle, in addition to accompanied me on a cross-country drive from Alabama to Maine. It’s been used to assist cater many drinks at events and, most significantly, maintain all Dealer Joe’s Orange Hen cool from two-hour commutes dwelling from the shop. 

Usually, that is the place I might offer you a quick historical past of the corporate, however I’ve already finished that in a separate article you will discover right here: A History of YETI and Its Impact on the Cooler Market

Specs – Yeti Tundra 45 Onerous Cooler 

• Exterior Dimensions: 25.6″ W × 15.9″ D × 15.5″ H
• Inside Dimensions: 18.3″ W × 9.4″ D × 10.7″ H 
• Empty Weight: 24.6 Lb
• Quantity: 32.9 Liters | 2,007 cubic inches 
• Physique: One-piece rotomolded polyethylene development
• Insulation: Stress-injected polyurethane as much as 3 inches thick
• Lid Gasket: Rubber
• Handles: Polyester ropes with rubber grips 
• Ft: Non-slip rubber 
• Drain: Leakproof, rugged Vortex™ system
• Bear-Resistant: Licensed by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) when secured with two extra-long shank Grasp Lock padlocks.
• Versatility: Suitable with dry ice 
• Ice Retention: As much as a number of days, relying on circumstances
• Guarantee: 5-year restricted guarantee towards defects.
• Nation of Origin: USA 
• Worth: $325

What’s the Yeti distinction? 

Most individuals are sticker shocked once they see the worth of any Yeti cooler, so let’s simply handle this now. These coolers are sometimes $300 to $1,300, relying on the mannequin, and that’s largely due to their labor-intensive rotomolding course of. This course of molds thick polyethylene right into a seamless, practically indestructible shell that’s way more sturdy than the injection-molded plastics utilized in your conventional coolers. Rotomolding requires specialised equipment and expert labor that drives up manufacturing prices. That is compounded by the premium PermaFrost insulation, a high-density polyurethane foam injected underneath strain to attain superior thickness and thermal effectivity. Yeti additionally has aggressive advertising and marketing that positions them as a luxurious standing image for outside fans, backed by a long time of R&D from founders who examined prototypes towards bears and excessive circumstances. 

My Expertise with the Tundra 45 Onerous Cooler

During the last yr, I’ve used this cooler for a lot of journeys and outside actions. I want I may say I shot an elk at 300 yards with my crossbow and had to make use of my Tundra 45 to maintain the meat chilly whereas I packed it out on my again, however I’m merely not that cool. Just like the overwhelming majority of people that purchase this cooler, I simply used it to maintain beer or sandwiches chilly. Is that this cooler superb? Sure! Is it overkill for many conditions? Completely. Is it nonetheless good to have? You guess ya. 

There are quite a few Yeti Ice check movies on-line that may do a greater job than I can at testing, so I’ll identical to one Here. All I can let you know is it holds ice for so long as I’ve ever wanted and retains my gadgets chilly. The included rack works nice for holding this stuff you wish to maintain chilly, however don’t wish to get moist from the melted ice on the backside of the cooler. I additionally love that the rock is detachable, movable, and stowable contained in the cooler. There are such a lot of issues that this cooler does proper, I may go on and on, so I feel at this level it could make sense to speak about a number of issues it does poorly. 

Issues I Don’t Like 

This cooler is heavy; there isn’t a getting round that, however all that insulation has to go someplace. Talking of the insulation, it is going to eat up portion of the inside of the cooler. Once more, the Insulation has to go someplace, however each time I pack this cooler out, I’m left somewhat disillusioned and pondering I had more room than I believed. I feel it could be actually cool if Yeti included a bottle opener on the within of this cooler. I’ve seen them on cheaper coolers, and its a pleasant function to have. Lastly, why is that this known as the 45 when it will probably actually solely maintain as much as 33 liters? This appears a bit deceptive to me. 

Likes

• Superior High quality and Building 
• Superb 5 12 months Guarantee 
• Holds Ice for a number of days 
• It’s going to final for a few years 
• Purposeful design parts with a basket and equipment

Dislikes

• Named “45” however can truly solely maintain 33 liters 
• Heavy 
• Costly (no getting round that one) 
• No bottle opener. 

Wrap Up – Yeti Tundra 45 Onerous Cooler

I really feel that this overview has felt largely destructive, however my opinions on the Tundra 45 are actually something however. I’ve actually loved the utility and performance this cooler brings to me once I’m on an extended highway journey or going to the seaside for the day. Is it heavy? Certain. But it surely must be to carry of that isolation to maintain your IPAs chilly. I do love a few of the ingenuity within the rack system and the rain system. Total, it’s a extremely strong product, and it’s simple to see why Yeti is the place they’re at within the outdoor or house. 

Patrik Orcutt

Patrik is a contract photographer who has been fortunate sufficient to see loads of the world and doc his travels together with his digicam. He has labored for the U.S. authorities as a Public Affairs Officer documenting Multi-Nationwide Particular Forces Coaching across the World. He’s presently engaged on turning into a Blackhawk Pilot for the Military whereas being an avid gear junky and outside fanatic.