Then I measured out the exact number of quarts each cooler could hold -- important information to have when you're dealing with large quantities of melted ice. Let's pause to consider the performance of all the coolers we've seen so far. You can findholiday deals going on now. We will go into this more in the next section. Less ice meant more of a challenge for the coolers, which would hopefully give us a more granular look at how well they perform relative to one another. Igloo appears to be going through a bit of a facelift among its cooler lineups. Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 16.34 Pounds - Sandstone and Red Heavy duty blow-molded construction with reinforced base for increased strength and protection. When you're done, just dump the water out, let it air dry, then use it again. Extremely durable yet lightweight with proven 4-5 day ice retention at 90F UV inhibitors protect the cooler against sun damage for extended life. In terms of ice retention, Yeti also enjoys a slight advantage. We were pleasantly surprised by how well the Igloo insulated. 314 reviews. Let us . Quart Capacity: 45, 60, 80. Igloo BMX 52 quart cooler review Dirtwalker Outdoors 601 subscribers Subscribe 368 50K views 2 years ago Yep, bought an Igloo BMX 52 cooler and reviewed it for a week. Answer it. It's all more than enough for me to recommend the healthiest possible dose of skepticism if you ever find yourself tempted to back a campaign like that with your cold hard cash. Although the MaxCold is a rolling cooler it comes with handles as you would expect on a non-wheeled cooler. We liked that the BMX wasnt as heavy and bulky as the Yeti and RTIC. Opening the cooler up from time to time better emulates real-life usage of the cooler. For many, the price that you pay to own a Yeti just isnt worth the slight performance advantage you may see. IE: 50qt of ice alone will last longer in a 52qt cooler versus a 70qt, due to the volume of remaining air. It can store a weeks worth of food and drinks or all the items that a large outdoor party would need. Igloo Natural Ice Sheet - 1lb. It's about as basic as coolers come, with no latch for the lid and no drainage spout, either, and the performance was pitiful. Extra thick insulation allows for 5 days of ice retention at 90-degrees. Generally only high-end coolers are rotomolded. It isn't as spacious or durable as the Yeti or RTIC, but it's a great drink cooler that kept our beer ice cold during our weekend camping trips. These are pretty typical features found on most premium coolers. We liked that the Yeti came with a dry goods basket. Learn more. If youre on a budget and insulation is your top priority, this cooler is not a bad choice. Lower volumes of drained water indicated more ice retention and better insulation. Yeti has never knocked it out of the park when it came to built-in features on their coolers. The result is plastic that's a lot more durable, a lot better at holding the cold -- and, a lot more expensive. Apart from determining how many cans of beer or soda each one will hold, size and shape will obviously have an impact on performance, too. Although this cooler was the cheapest in our test, the Igloo BMX can be found for not much more. There are no latches since this is a soft-sided cooler, just a zipper. That's what I wanted to know, so I grabbed the usual suspects -- Magellan Outdoors, Coleman, Orca, Igloo, Frosted Frog, Yeti, Pelican, RTIC, Cabela's and more -- and lugged their most popular models into the CNET test lab. Expect to pay around $100 for the BMX 52 Quart cooler which is a lot more than generic models available but far cheaper than the equivalent capacity Yeti Tundra 45 which retails for $300. Some models are built to withstand the weight of someone seated on them. Compared to other high-end cooler brands on the market, these ice numbers fall about in line with those brands. The comparable wheeled Yeti model is just as expensive, and a Bison with a wheeled cart accessory will cost a total of $460, so don't rule Rovr out if you lead an active outdoor lifestyle. I say keep the cash and use it to stock your cooler -- especially since these hard-sided Magellan Outdoors coolers boast one of my favorite cooler features of all time: the double-sided hinge latches. The Tundra Haul is no different. The hinges are also designed to work hard, but if you do manage to break them then a range of spare parts are available from the Igloo website. I ended up buying the Igloo from GovX as well. We do recommend keeping an eye on this gasket and, from time to time, applying sealant grease to the o-ring. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you hop over the other Igloo Coolers that we have tested, you will quickly see that! Through this analysis, we've determined the best Cooler you should buy. Both of these enjoyed relative success and we had many positive things to say about them in our reviews. As a matter of fact, at $220, this cooler is currently the cheapest of any cooler in either our midsize or large cooler category, with the exception of the Igloo BMX 52qt Cooler, which. The competitors sport very thin walls, and that's just not going to do much for your insulative capabilities. It doesn't lock shut and the plastic nub hinges are a total joke. What we did like about this cooler was the large volume. The Magellan Outdoors model features four hinge latches, two on either side, so you can open the cooler from either side, or remove the lid completely. The materials look and feel high-quality. It lacks an air/watertight seal, which loses it some points on insulation, and the rubber latches can catch against your leg if you carry it the wrong way around, but it's miles ahead of your old ice bucket or gas station styrofoam. Since the lid and body are well insulated, you'll also enjoy five days of ice retention, which makes this cooler a great choice for camping trips. GIVE FEEDBACK That said, finding the best cooler for your needs is complicated by a crowded field. RTIC coolers are by no means cheap. The result is an incredibly durable and high-performing cooler. Most of the coolers that I tested were, but some took things even further. Its great that they have carried over a lot of the styling from the larger BMX 72 along with its useful features. The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee keeps a running list of certified options, which includes a number of coolers from this rundown. Cooler divider: Dividers help keep your food and drinks organized in your cooler. Yeti has and continues to be one of the most expensive cooler brands in the industry. You may have to tip the cooler a little to get the last of the water out, but you wont have the extreme tilt that you have with a cooler that doesnt have a drain. We tested the Tundra 35 which weighs 20 pounds when empty. Convenient size for optimal performance. submitted by ProductExpert - 2 years ago. Igloo 52 Quart Latitude Cooler $34.99 Shipping Available ADD TO CART 5 + YETI DayTrip Lunch Bag $80.00 Shipping Available ADD TO CART 14 + Igloo Proformance 1 Quart Jug $14.99 Shipping Available ADD TO CART Hydro Flask 20 L Day Escape Soft Cooler Pack See Price In Cart $199.95 * Shipping Available ADD TO CART Igloo 60 Quart Latitude Roller Cooler Rubberized T-latches secure lid closure and lock in the cold. Impressively, this is one of the. As you can see, the Igloo MaxCold and Lifetime High Performance coolers lead the pack, with Rubbermaid and the Igloo Island Breeze bringing up the rear. We dumped 20 pounds of ice into it and after 48 hours only 3.5 liters of water drained out. water, isn't as good at keeping drinks cold). Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 16.34 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue Heavy duty blow-molded construction with reinforced base for increased strength and protection. We typically recommend that these larger coolers be carried by 2 people (particularly if they are filled up with items). Stick with an old-fashioned cooler like the ones I recommend above. The T-latch rubber catches add to the tough appearance (and make it look like a cheaper Yeti), there are tie-down loops to keep it secure in your trunk and plenty of patterned stainless steel to provide both style and more importantly, protection. Igloo also knows what they are doing when it comes to making coolers and they have impressed us with their BMX Coolers. Many premium models are fully leak-proof and can hold their own against the insulation of hard-sided coolers. A common complaint that people have (particularly when using a larger cooler) is how to empty the cooler of melted ice. Yep, Bought An Igloo Bmx 52 Cooler And Reviewed It For A Week. I get that a rubber bungee-style latching mechanism is probably very efficient from a cost and maintenance perspective for the manufacturers. Another area that Yeti wins is in the size and color choices. This cooler from Cabela's was another rotomolded option that tested well, essentially finishing in a dead heat with the Orca. Extremely durable yet lightweight with proven 4-5 day ice retention Check on Amazon Sale Bestseller No. The last time I tested coolers for this list, I had Cabela's 60-quart version of this cooler listed as the best large cooler. When we initially wrote this review, we could only find one color option. RovR RollR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler. The lowest temperature recorded between the two was less than a degree apart (44.6 vs. 45.5 degrees Fahrenheit). This size is large enough to handle bigger outings such as a picnic or tailgate. 30-40 liters is perfect for short camping trips or for one person. Lifetime Warranty; Overview. So glad you asked. Soft-sided coolers are perfect for carrying drinks or lunch. This is compared to just 3 sizes and 5 colors available for Igloo BMX Coolers. The best cooler overall. Plus if you do happen to run into any quality issues, you are dealing with one of the largest cooler companies around in Igloo. Its consistently thick wall may play a role here. BMX Series coolers from IGLOO are heavy-duty blow-molded for added durability. The Igloo BMX Coolers come with pretty standard features. Magellan Outdoors has a double-latching, double-hinged removable lid and happens to have won our picks for best small and large cooler. It is also light, and the triple-grip handle ensures that you will have an easy time moving it around. With two people, its a breeze. Although expensive, it was the top performer in all of our categories. Rotomolded is short for rotationally molded, a process in which heated plastic is slowly rotated inside of a mold, allowing it to form into a shape of perfectly uniform thickness. While there are examples of coolers with thicker walls out there, Igloo strikes a balance between ice retention and mobility. It's also one of the sturdiest and most well-built coolers that we tested. We do not doubt that this assists with ice retention. We liked that the BMX wasnt as heavy and bulky as the Yeti and RTIC. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Igloo BMX 72 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 18.70 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue, Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 16.34 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue, Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 11.29 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue. Watch the video for. And despite their BMX series creeping up in price, they are still quite a bit cheaper than other premium coolers on the market. It turns out the answer is simple: because its the best. Plastic handles like those found on many cheap coolers were flimsy and made transport difficult. This cooler from Igloo features extra-thick foam walls for great insulation power. Once youre finished using it, your cooler will need to be emptied and cleaned. Large "party" ice chest coolers that boast volumes over 60 quarts (over 15 gallons or 56.78 liters). As convenient as the space is, coolers will get much heavier when theyre loaded down. The different model sizes and available colors on Yeti Coolers are seemingly endless. Its lowest internal temperature during testing was the coldest, but the real treat was the fact that it held that low level temp for around 20% longer than the next best contender. The Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler is warranted to be free from defects in material or workmanship under normal use and service for 3 years from the date of original purchase. That title is now held by a Magellan Outdoors model. Another aspect that is somewhat limiting maximum ice life is the cooler sizes. I was able to fill the Lifetime High Performance Cooler with 62.4 quarts of water without causing it to overflow when I shut the lid. The build quality is not as robust as the BMX but then again this is one of the cheapest coolers in our list. Not only is it rotomolded, but it also comes with a rugged set of 9-inch inflatable rubber wheels, plus an aluminum axle and handlebar. If you are looking for a great cooler on a budget, Igloo is the obvious choice. The only other thing I'll say here is that I'm still surprised not to see more of the high-end options try to separate themselves from the pack with clever bonus features like a built-in battery for charging your devices while you camp outdoors (or better yet, a solar panel). Extra-thick foam walls and insulated lids are best-in-category for cooling performance. How to Clean a Hydration Bladder: 4 Easy Ways Using Household Items. Why elevated? Not great if you're looking for a camping cooler. The performance data between this ice chest newcomer and the previous titleholder, the Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler, was nearly identical. I just wish it cost a little less, since you'll get better performance from the slightly less expensive Yeti and Orca coolers. But they also expect them to cost more than their competitors. Also, don't forget to check out our handy dandy video buying guide for coolers with Andrew Gebhart. *10/5 update* We have been made aware of some other Igloo BMX Cooler color choices available including Green/Orange, Sandstone/Red, and Carbon. Product Specs Size Tested: BMX 25 Available Sizes: 25, 52 Empty Weight (BMX 25): 11.29 lbs Features: Fish ruler Reviews of the 2 Other Camping Coolers We Tested Coleman Steel Belted Cooler We loved the sleek, retro look of the Coleman Steel Belted Cooler. Our bestselling BMX coolers have a durable, feature-loaded design and advanced insulation for extended ice retention, making them the perfect go-to rugged cooler for any outdoor adventure, whether you're camping, road tripping, fishing or just chilling out back. And for people who enjoy camping and the outdoors, it will be able to handle ice more multiple days (more on that later). Notice that we listed size and capacity separately. To find out, we put these ice chests through our ice retention tests. The 25-quart Igloo BMX is currently $99.99, . A cooler this size (around 50 quarts) is great for an extended road trip or a few days away camping. Like we said before, this makes the BMX coolers a better option for shorter camping trips and smaller game. The Igloo BMX 25 isn't the most rugged option out there, but it's a solid personal cooler that's bigger than we expected on the inside and is easy to carry, even when loaded with beverages or the day's catch. Rotomolded coolers are a subset of hard-sided coolers. 1. Many a time have we wandered through our local REI and, upon seeing the price tag on a Yeti, wondered, Why would someone spend that much on a cooler?. I also liked that the interior comes with a divider that makes it easy to keep items you don't want getting wet separate from the ice and that you can customize it with different interior liner designs. We dont know exactly how much this feature assists in prolonging ice life but it certainly doesnt hurt. If you are looking for a larger sized cooler that is more portable, then Igloo offers the Trailmate Marineand Trailmate Journey 70 quart coolersthat feature large wheels and telescopic handles. The BMX 52 is pretty similar to the larger Igloo BMX 72, both in terms of looks and specification. Sure, some coolers would probably keep the ice frozen for a lot longer than others, but using the melting point as your metric seems to disregard everything that comes before. This is pretty normal for coolers of this size. RTICs Hard Cooler finished as a close runner-up, lagging only slightly behind the Yeti in most of our tests. In fact, some coolers can even chill items for several days. On all models, you get big and burly wheels that truly work over a variety of terrain, a long pull handle, and you can even attach this cooler to the back of a bike (BikR Kit attachment sold separately for $70). It can be hard to keep up with all of the products and the oftentimes subtle tweaks that they made to them each year. From superior ice retention to little features that go a long way, Igloo built the adventure-ready Overland 50-Quart Chest Cooler to see you through a quick overnight car camping getaway as well as when you're headed to the great outdoors for the long haul all while keeping your provisions fresh. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of high performance camping coolers, including Xspec, Columbia . I've worked in many areas, including computer hardware, software, technology, networking, graphic design, instruction, construction, music and even ballroom dancing! 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igloo bmx 52 vs lifetime cooler