But seeing how Ozark Trail is in the business of making cost-effective products, all models should be affordable (particularly when compared to their industry competition). Several models ozark trail chair come with an expandable top that can increase the storage height by up to 3”. This makes it large enough to easily fit a 16-liter bottle or even stack 12oz cans on top of each other.
There are very few head-to-head comparison tests between the Ozark Trail and other coolers like Yeti, so it’s hard to tell exactly where it stacks up in terms of ice retention. But from what I can see it’s one of the lower performing roto-molded coolers when it comes to ice retention. Its insulation can keep ice solid for up to 12 days, and can even keep drinks cold without it for up to 9 days in the best conditions. I’m in the south with high temperatures and it kept ice For 4 days. And the drainage spout makes it a breeze to drain and refill.
For that you would need to look at the RTIC 45-Quart Cooler. While this is a decent range it is a much smaller range than a cooler brand like Yeti which has multiple different sizes. This issue seems more prevalent in the larger sizes, but can happen on the smaller sized cooler also. It doesn’t have a drain plug so emptying it of water can be a hassle.
Whether or not these fit and finish issues haunt you almost seems like luck of the draw. Ozark Trail is one of the most common brands we have been asked about as a potential “Yeti replacement”. We must admit that the huge price cut and supposed similar ice retention and features are tempting. The asking prices for the various Ozark Trail Coolers will fluctuate quite a bit depending on which model you are going with.
RTIC Coolers can only be purchased from their website, which is why they say their price point is much lower than YETI. I made this purchase nine weeks prior to our vacation and the cooler is scheduled to arrive only days before we leave. That’s a little closer than I’d like but we need a better cooler.
I don’t want any cooler water intermittently leaking and leaving food smells. The other downside to the Ozark Trail cooler is that it weighs 31 pounds empty. It’s definitely heavier than its more expensive friends on the market.
The weather was in low 90s during the test, the coolers were in full sun for most of the morning, and we opened them several times throughout the day. The ice melted in the Coleman in 39 hours and the Ozark Trail in 73 hours. The water turned warm in both coolers fairly quickly after the ice melted. Depending on what you’re using the cooler for, the leaky drain spout might not be a big deal. For us, however, we keep our cooler in our car while traveling and we often camp in bear country.
The model is just as functional and practical as its costly rival and is very good at keeping the cold water cold and hot tea hot. Whichever you go for, you will enjoy the numerous storage options you get. There is a large insulated area in all of the soft coolers and also plenty of pockets, both on the front and the sides. The pockets on the front have a zipper while the side ones are mesh pockets. This heavy-duty cooler features a stainless steel locking plate with a built-in bottle opener and a super-seal gasket to ensure that the cold stays in and the heat stays out. It’s outfitted with Microban to prevent the build-up of bacterial odors and stains.
The more capable premium models should keep ice for up to a day and a half. Lastly, being able to safely and comfortably transport the cooler is extremely important. And when you fill it up with drinks, food, and ice, it can weigh 100 pounds or more! You will find an overhead stainless steel handle with a comfort grip on the 26-quart model and the 52/73-quart models will come with heavy-duty side handles with comfort grips. But can its performance match that of the much more expensive Rambler bottle?