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Yeti is the major player in the cooler market, but there are few brands who are making coolers that are equally good as Yeti coolers and most of them are Made in the USA. Some of these Yeti like coolers are as expensive as Yeti and some are much cheaper, making them a good and affordable Yeti alternative coolers.
Our Top Picks
Highlights
- Proudly Made in the USA
- Rotomolded Coolers -Most durable coolers
- NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA team license
- Order a custom cooler with your Favorite Team's colors
- Guaranteed Best Quality Products
- Majorly into Hard Coolers
- Prices are comparable to Yeti - Better Value for Money
- Ice retention is more than 7 days.
Highlights
- Texas based company- Coolers are manufactured in China
- Rotomolded Hard coolers
- Same quality as Yeti -Yeti's rival
- Yeti had filed a Lawsuit against RTIC.
- Good Quality and Highly durable coolers.
- "Overbuilt, Not Overpriced" is their tagline.
- Ice retention is more than 7 days.
Other Brands
Yeti products are manufactured in Philippines and Australia.
USA Made Brands that are comparable to Yeti
Orca – Outdoor Recreation Company of America, is the strongest competitor to Yeti. 
- Made in USA
- Rotomolded design
- NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA team license
- Guaranteed Best Quality Products
- Wide range of selection
- Majorly into Hard Coolers
- Ice retention is more than 7 days.
January, 2020; MacNeill Pride Group, a diversified worldwide designer and maker of sporting goods and related merchandise, has bought Outdoor Recreation Company of America (ORCA), a top provider of top coolers, drinkware and other exterior accessories is all set to compete with Yeti and become the best Yeti alternative cooler.
ORCA continues to run their operations from Nashville headquarters which was founded in 2012. Its merchandise lineup incorporates Hard coolers, soft-sided cooler bags, custom made coolers, plus a complete line of stainless steel drinkware products.
Why ORCA is so Special and best Yeti cooler alternative?
What distinguishes ORCA from the pack is its capability to make custom merchandise. If you check their product catalog, their coolers are colorful, officially licensed, beautifully designed coolers. These products allow its consumers to express loyalty towards their favorite team. Company has tied up with 32 NFL teams, 80 NCAA teams, 30 MLB teams and 30 NHL teams and holds an official license for producing their merchandise.
ORCA coolers has really made a name for itself by creating USA made roto-molded coolers which last a lifetime. These coolers are manufactured in Detroit, MI factory. These are not just the coolers like yeti, but in most of the cases ORCA coolers are better than Yeti counterparts.
If you do not want to follow a herd, and are looking for the best YETI alternative coolers, ORCA tops the list. Orca is not just a better Yeti alternative cooler, it is going to be its biggest competitor in cooler market after acquisition by MPG group.
- Made in USA
- Well known manufacturer in high quality Cases
- Trendy designs
- Brand is known for durable and Quality Products
- Wide range of selection
- Offers Soft coolers, Hard coolers and Backpack coolers.
- Ice retention is more than 7 days.
Pelican Products, Inc was founded in 1976 as a flashlights and rugged cases manufacturer, and it was 2012 when Pelican started making coolers in Hard and Soft coolers category. Pelican is a well known brand rather a world leader in equipment protective cases and trying to expand itself in the cooler industry with their rugged and strong coolers that costs very close to the prices of Yeti coolers.
It is a great yeti alternative cooler brand and as per claims by Pelican, Ice retention of their hard coolers is about 10 day or greater.
In addition to the great performance I also like their designs, I would definitely rank them first for its good looks and smart design. They are the best looking coolers in the market, especially the soft coolers.
Unlike Yeti, RTIC and Orca, Pelican hard coolers are not manufactured using rotomolding technology, we reached out to Pelican to know if they manufacture any rotomolding coolers, and the answer was No, their hard coolers are injection molded. We were surprised, especially when Pelican has a rotomolding factory in the USA where they manufacture protective cases. But still, Pelican coolers are durable and one of the best Yeti alternative coolers available in the market.
Rest assured, Pelican coolers are engineered to withstand any condition and any abuse. They are the rugged and sturdy coolers that are one of the best brands in the list of “Cooler brands similar to yeti”.
- Made in USA
- Known for Mobile cases
- Beautiful and Smart designs
- New in Cooler market
- Loaded with Accessories
- Offers Soft coolers, Hard coolers and Dry pack bags.
- Ice retention is more than 7 days.
Another Yeti cooler alternative from the USA, Otterbox, who is a world leader in mobile case manufacturing is trying to make a space for itself in the cooler market. In comparison to Yeti, it is still a beginner in coolers and utilizing their experience in Mobile case manufacturing facilities to produce these coolers.
Otterbox coolers are loaded with accessories like mounting system, dry storage, bottle opener, and side tray. Otterbox claims ice retention of around 14 days, and these claims might be true in certain ideal conditions. Practically, Otterbox will keep your food frozen for 10-12 days which is impressive if you compare it with Yeti, and this is why Otterbox is also one of the best yeti alternative cooler you can consider.
Highlight of these coolers is their smart design, for example, rubber feets, Latches and side tray makes your life easy on any kind of an outdoor trip.
Compared to Yeti, Otterbox is a new company in the cooler business but their Ice retention is better than Yeti, and their products are durable for the much lesser price than Yeti products.
Drawback – We do not have enough data about Otterbox’s customer service, but they appear to be short handed. On the date when this articles was written, (June 2020) after 3 months of Covid 19 restrictions, Brands like Yeti, RTIC, Orca are still processing their Return orders and helping their customers during the covid 19 pandemic, and Otterbox is not able to process any of the warranty replacements for coolers.
On top of it, Otterbox will not refund Shipping, Handling and Taxes. This doesn’t make sense to me, Taxes must be returned if we are returning the goods.
- Made in USA
- Donated $203,794 to Covid-19 Relief
- One of the oldest Cooler maker from Katy, Tx.
- Budget coolers
- Playmate is their best seller cooler
- Offers all types coolers.
- Ice retention is more than 4 days.
Igloo coolers will be the Senior most yeti alternative cooler in the cooler market.
Igloo coolers company claims that approximately three fourths of all U.S. households possess an Igloo cooler. We’re not positive whether that claim is true however,what we guarantee is Igloo has played a pivotal role in American people’s experience of outdoor activities.
If you are an outdoor person, your family has used Igloo coolers, it was the best choice back in the days, and even today, it is continuing its tradition to produce appealing products that have made Igloo coolers company to earn $200 Million Plus revenue in recent times.
Igloo manufactures insulated coolers for private and industrial usage and asserts nearly three in every four US households possesses an Igloo cooler. Founded as a manufacturer of alloy water heaters in 1947, the organization’s very first ice weapon premiered in 1962.
Igloo coolers have been in this business for 73 plus years and there are few coolers that are better Yeti alternative cooler than other brands. Igloo cooler’s Trailmate is their premium cooler which has been battling for Igloo for a few recent years.
We strongly recommend checking Igloo’s Trailmate hard cooler which is a masterpiece in its own regards, it has all the accessories that we can utilize on our outdoor parties and outings. It’s supersized wheels make it easier to roll this beast on rocky, muddy or sandy terrain.
What makes igloo a special yeti alternative cooler?
Igloo is also active in social work and has been donating regularly for the American community. Covid 19 pandemic was not an exception, Igloo coolers have donated $203,794 to the CDC foundation and Restaurant employee relief fund.
We highly encourage you to visit the News and Blog page to read the latest news from Igloo coolers.
If you are looking for a hard cooler, and do not have extreme requirements of having maximum Ice retention that is available in the market, Igloo trailmate is a cooler you must consider buying.
Igloo Coolers is hiring 500 employees in their Katy, Texas manufacturing unit, and we wonder if it is a demand of Igloo trailmate which is driving this recruitment amidst a recession time
- Made in USA
- Big name in the outdoor products
- One of the oldest Cooler maker
- Cheapest and Value for money coolers
- Premium coolers are sold with ESKY series.
- Offers all types coolers.
- Ice retention is more than 3 days.
Target, Walmart, REI, Cabela, Ace hardware, Kohl’s, Academy sports, Cabela’s – Coleman products are everywhere, all of these outlets have their racks filled with Coleman outdoor products. Coleman is known for its outdoor products, especially lanterns, tents and stoves.
Coleman is also known to produce good quality coolers at much cheaper prices than Yeti.
If you are looking for a Yeti alternative cooler in a budget price range with maximum possible quality for the money you are spending, Coleman coolers product catalog will have all kinds of cooler as per your needs.
Coleman, Backpack cooler, 60 quart hard cooler are amongst the best sellers on the Amazon. On Amazon itself, Coleman has sold thousands of cooler units.
Coleman cooler products are also having a premium cooler series named ESKY. These coolers are more expensive than the other Coleman coolers and are said to have a longer Ice retention with high durability.
Though we are recommending Coleman coolers as Yeti alternative cooler, please bear in mind that Coleman coolers are not Grizzly bear proof as Yeti coolers are. Obviously it is not a premium cooler brand as Yeti is but certainly offers a good quality cooler with more than 5 days of ice retention with great value for the money.
- Made in USA
- Rotomolded, highly durable coolers
- Traditional design
- Makes Custom coolers
- Lifetime Warranty
- Offers all types coolers.
- Ice retention is more than 6 days.
All Grizzly hard Coolers are made using rotationally molded plastic, such coolers are also known as a Rotomolded cooler. This enables Grizzly coolers to be strong and offer optimum performance in any condition and also last years against the toughest abuse. The rotomolding process makes sure that each area includes a consistent wall thickness and it is free of pits which helps to have a consistent insulation around all of the cooler walls.
Grizzly coolers also fit all of the criteria to become a good Yeti alternative cooler, it just does not spend much on marketing as Yeti does.
It is a good yeti alternative cooler if you expect the same level of toughness in a cooler. All of Grizzly coolers are bear proof and have proved to be the durable coolers in the market.
Each Grizzly Cooler is tested and certified by the IGBC, and provides optimum safety, durability, functionality and performance, even under the most extreme problems.
If you are in need of a cooler which may keep things cold for those adventure trips in the sun and also journeys to the camping spot, Grizzly Coolers would be a great companion which will keep your food frozen for days.
If you ask me, what is the most important feature that every Cooler must have? It is its ability to keep stuff cold for quite a while and if it had to be a good Yeti alternative cooler, we would say it will need an Ice retention of at least 5 days; and Gizzly cooler does it easily.
Foam insulation and the cooler’s roto-molded structure work together to manage internal temperature well. A Grizzly cooler will keep ice frozen up to 6 days.
BUDGET COOLERS FROM A PREMIUM AND BIG BRAND.
- Made in USA
- Best in the budget coolers
- Simple design
- Also manufactures Garden Playsets, Chairs and Kayaks.
- Well known Company.
- Sells only Hard coolers
- Ice retention is more than 6 days.
Lifetime is an expert in manufacturing highly durable plastic made products like Kayak, Chairs, Barricades etc. This company has grown from 15 employees working in a garage to 1500 employees in the several production units in the USA.
I am writing this post while sitting on a Lifetime chair that I bought from Costco last year.
Lifetime coolers are certified by IGBC, and once closed, can withstand for upto an hour against a grizzly bear. The bottle openers and locking points are a great addition to the accessories that are required for any camping cooler. A padlock will help you to protect your food from uninvited wild guests.
The 65-Quart High Performance Cooler is a better Yeti alternative cooler which is competing with Yeti’s tundra model, and as per Lifetime, it provides you as much as 8 days of ice retention. To get results matching this claim, you will need to follow the measures to expand ice retention and pack your cooler with Ice packs at the bottom – food in between and Solid ice all around the food. If you follow the instructions, Lifetime coolers are the cheapest but best Yeti alternative cooler that will be ready to give you numerous days of ice retention out of the cooler.
Quality
Now, let’s talk about Quality and durability of the Lifetime coolers, these are not as strong and sturdy as Yeti coolers, but the Lifetime cooler is made to last at least a decade.
If you require it to withstand a bear or maybe not, you are certain to get years of good use out of this cooler.
Body and the insulated lid are all strong and assembled to get a life that is rough and tumble. This cooler can also work as a bench for you.
Overall, it is a better Yeti alternative cooler if you do not go after the brand recognition and look for value for money products.
Designed in USA -Manufactured in Asia
- Texas based company- Coolers are manufactured in China
- Rotomolded Hard coolers
- Same quality as Yeti -Yeti's rival
- Yeti had filed a Lawsuit against RTIC.
- Good Quality and Highly durable coolers.
- "Overbuilt, Not Overpriced" is their tagline.
- Ice retention is more than 7 days.
RTIC is so similar to Yeti that Yeti filed a lawsuit against RTIC. Yes, RTIC is known to produce YETI like coolers, from hard coolers to soft coolers, RTIC has a cooler that can be compared against and also withstand strongly with Yeti.
Quality – RTIC is almost as good as Yeti, and does not cost much being very light on the pocket.
Does that mean, RTIC manufacturers low quality coolers to stay competitive on the price side?
For Hard coolers, RTIC uses the same technology that Yeti uses, that is Rotomolding. Rotomolding is a plastic mold technology where plastic granules are filled in a mold and that mold is rotated in an oven to form a uniform layer of Plastic. This ensures the great quality of the product and the same technology is used to manufacture Kayaks, Garden playset slides or any other plastic made product that needs high durability.
Having almost similar features as of Yeti, RTIC is one of the affordable Yeti alternative cooler with high quality as of Yeti.
RTIC is known to produce coolers like yeti that are cheaper than Yeti.
If RTIC and YETI both use the same technology, why is RTIC cheaper than Yeti?
Because of the 2 major parameters
- Design -Extra thick walls by Yeti vs normal size walls by RTIC.
- Marketing cost of Yeti – RTIC mostly depends on word of mouth and little social media influence.
Extra thick walls of insulation in yeti coolers costs much more than normal sized walls. Yeti’s focus is on the Maximum Ice retention, whereas RTIC’s focus is on the Mid range cooler that will suit for most of the needs.
Most of the cooler users do not really need more than 5 days of Ice retention, and the difference between RTIC and Yeti is of a mere 1 Day of ice retention. Then is Yeti worth the extra one day of ice retention?
If you are also one of them who doesn’t really need the maximum ice retention, RTIC is a smart choice for you. You get a strong and durable cooler with very decent ice retention.
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