As you probably would expect, the tests using more ice did better. For instance, the Igloo Trailmate Liddup also comes with built-in LED lights on the inside. This is very helpful for those times that you are using your cooler at night and it is difficult to see. And to provide additional support, there are a couple of aluminum stands (with equally aggressive grip) on the front of the cooler.
For example, the Yeti 75 is nearly $200 more expensive and does not have wheels nor the added features as outlined above. It goes without saying that the Trailmate is the perfect beach, tailgating or surf fishing cooler capable of handling rugged terrain at a reasonable price. The Igloo Trailmate, due to its many additional features, large size, and decent ice life, does fetch a higher asking price than most other Igloo products. But for someone who is after a truly unique, mobile, and well-performing ice chest, the asking price is more than fair.
The telescoping trolley handle is easy to slide in and out when you need it. It also doubles as a front handle for those few occasions you may actually need to pick your cooler up. Don’t need the steak and eggs, but bringing all the beer?
The Igloo managed to hold refreshing brew temperatures at or below 50º for an additional several hours, for a total of 3.4 days of cold beers. Though we aren’t totally shocked at this lackluster performance when considering the Trailmate is a relatively thin cooler, standing up to some rather thick, rotomolded competition. In which case this level of insulation will surely get you through a single warm summer’s day. The Trailmate Journey features an included dry food basket, storage compartment, fishing rod slots, and a massive interior space.
Love learning about all the new products that we get to test? Overall, it tackled the trail, even fully loaded with ice and beer, in remarkable fashion. I took it on a trail with the intent to getting to the top and enjoying a beer at the top. The trail had plenty of igloo water cooler rocks and elevation that it went over pretty easily. Some of the rocks had it wanting to twist over, but the worse that happened was some water drained out. This brings me to a point that if it did turn over all the contents would come out, as the lid is not locking.
In addition, any type of terrain is easily accessible thanks to the huge 10-inch wheels. Lashing points on the cooler make it easy to carry chairs, bags and other items on the cooler. Party anywhere you want with the ultimate all-terrain cooler, featuring the kind of built-tough mobility that can traverse in all kinds of conditions. From grassy fields to beach dunes, from dirt roads to wooded trails, you’re in good company with the Trailmate Journey.
A common complaint that people have when it comes to these large coolers is their lack of mobility. Igloo has found a way to solve that issue in addition to offering up a lot of really cooler other features. The ice life and build quality are at acceptable levels and the styling is really sweet. We think you should add this product to your potential cooler list if you want something more mobile. The big things missing from making this cooler excel in ice retention are not being rotomolded and not utilizing a large rubber gasket.
There isn’t anything that Yeti offers that can match Igloo in these areas. Also, despite all of these additional features, you will still find that the Trailmate is typically more affordable than a similarly-sized Yeti. Yeti has been the go-to premium cooler brand for many years. Its combination of impressive ice performance, great build quality, and helpful features make it a go-to for many outdoor enthusiasts. The color selections, while limited, all look quite nice. If you go with the Trailmate Liddup or Trailmate Marine models you will only have a single color to choose from.
Truck Freight is used to ship items that exceed standard shipping limitations on weight and/or size. Delivery is only applicable within the contiguous United States. This is a cool-looking product that will stand out next to most other brands and models. The combination of the huge wheels, eye-popping aluminum framing, and progressive paint job makes this a really attractive ice chest. You have a few colors to choose from and we think that all of them look great. But where the Trailmate shines is in its mobility and features.
The wheels, which are essential to the operation of these coolers, are made of tough plastic so you don’t have to worry about them popping. The core metal parts of these coolers are made of marine-grade strength aluminum. This material provides very good strength and is rust-resistant while still managing to stay relatively lightweight.