Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Yeti coolers?

Would appreciate any reviews on these coolers from anybody that uses one. I need to be able to keep deer meat on ice for 3 to 5 days at a time in temperate N. Florida/S. Georgia weather and was wondering how well these things keep ice.
Lord knows they ain't cheap. Thanks.

There's lots of ice chests that can do that for way less money FWIW. Ice insulates itself....

MasterBlaster,

I hear ya on expensive! I've never been able to stomach the cost of Yetis, but everyone I know that's used em, loved em. I've been quite pleased with Igloo Max coolers and been running them for years. They keep ice for the time you speak of, but they're not Yeti by any means.

In case you haven't heard of them, check out Ice Kool as well. Yeti type coolers at much more affordable prices:

http://icekool.net/

loder

Dry ice/newspaper and a good cooler, much cheaper than the Yetti, get's 'er done.I like Coleman Extreme.

3-5 days is a peace of cake with a good cooler and dry ice,even Ice blocks in an Extreme type cooler.

Jayco

They're the best cooler going, period. My uncle has a few and I've borrowed them occasionally. I plan to buy one soon. It will do exactly what you want.

The hinges and fasteners also last a lot longer than most coolers'. I'll use mine for antelope hunting in warm weather.

In the old days our coolers(out in the hills) were all topped with burlap sacks with cold water dripping on them keeping them wet..Kinda like how a swamp cooler works..Never ever lost meat in one of the old style coolers.

3-5 days isn't much if done right.

These are cheap coolers(kept cool) that served there purpose in warm weather.



Jayco

I have five of them. They work as advertised. Yeah, they are expensive, but bomb proof and keep things frozen/cold longer than any other cooler. I have a shop full of the others. If you need it and can justify the cost and added life, it is the way to go.

I've noticed if the lid isn't opened often it will keep ice for a week or more at moderate temperatures. If you are digging in the thing constantly, don't waste your money.

I am not trying to talk you out of Yetti coolers,just giving other options I have used and seen for what you want.

The large Yetti Coolers(120-155 quart) run from like $450 to almost $600 bucks.

Another option if you have the room hunting..A small freezer like a 5 cubic foot or maybe 7,for less than $200 at Walmart and year around use to boot.Coupled with an inexpensive generator that that will run it for under $200 with year around use also, and a temp gauge..

And your set but with year around use instead of just hunting season.

Just a thought and something I do in 90 degree temps hunting.

Jayco

The trick is to get the cooler cold first before adding your meat, works great.

My friend has one-has to open it with a screwdriver (gets vacum locked) so I guess that's the grizzly proof part-never seen a bear carrying a screwgie.. does not keep ice longer than an Igloo max.

Yetti buyers make believe they're satisfied. Otherwise they'd feel ripped off.

Bummer! All this time I've been feeling satisfied, only to find out I've been ripped-off. The horror!

Glad to help.

I won a 65 quart Yeti cooler at a DU banquet. I had been wanting to purchase one for awhile, but never could justify the cost. Now I understand why so many folks rave about them. They really are built well. I plan on buying one of their smaller "roadie" coolers in the next month or two.

I'm not make believing anything. I've had 8 whitetails in mine in the last 6 weeks and it held ice better than my fathers Igloo max. It's also a lot more sturdy and less likely to have the drain plug accidentally open. I'm not sure if its worth 5x the money, but some folks aren't as concerned with others belongings as the internet experts.

Don't get your panties in a knot. It was a joke.

I don't care if you wrap your deer in grandmas blanket.

I'll be getting a smaller yeti one of these years for hunting applications.


I use a large yeti on my charter boat, all summer. Good stuff.

I have not been able to make myself purchase a Yeti. A partner has one, and for float trips finds it a bit heavy. Fine for truck camping though. My largest Igloo's can keep ice for up to 12 days in 80 to 90 degree weather and still have about 20% left.
1. Keep them shaded if possible
2. Perhaps a damp towel over each for evaporative cooling
3. Shoot the first person that uses ones cooler as a seat - sprung lids and seals let warm air in
4. Blocks will keep much longer than cubed or crushed, and
5. Put ones ice in a chest freezer at home and take it down to 35 or 40 below before packing

I have a yeti that I use for work and it does great. They are heavy and expensive but keep ice longer than any other.

There are ways to help keep ice longer in conventional coolers. Freeze/cool before using. Use block ice rather than crushed. Add dry ice with lots of newspaper on top. Keep the cooler in the shade at all times and keep the lid closed.

Three to five days should be no problem with any cooler. I use the Yeti on eight day trips in 80-100 degree temps.

All of you suggestions are good. I haven't used the damp towel but I have put plenty of blankets on my to keep it insulated also.