Gear Review: YETI Tundra 45 Cooler

Here’s how you put the YETI Tundra 45-quart cooler to the test:

1.) Fill it up with a variety of drinks and ice. For this test I used chocolate milk, Hiball energy drinks, Alta Palla lemonades, and some local microbrews. The Tundra 45 claims a 26-can capacity, we fit 30 cans plus three bags of ice.

2.) Load in car and drive 150 miles across the state on a 75-degree sunny day. YETI’s Coldlock gasket seals keep cold air from escaping while locking out warm air, no matter the temperature outside.

3.) Arrive at destination and place cooler outside in the grass. The dual polyester handles are burly and molded into the body of the cooler, making it easy to lift this bad boy even when packed full.

4. Open the cooler six hours later. If your ice hasn’t melted and your chocolate milk is still glacier cold after exposing your YETI to hours of muggy outdoor temperatures (plus two hours of drive time in the back of a warm car), your cooler passed the test with flying colors. YETI implements 3 inches of pressure-injected polyurethane foam in the walls and lid, which prevented the ice from melting and kept our drinks freezing cold.

Conclusion: Believe what you’ve heard and go get your own. YETI coolers are the best on the market for any activity whether it’s a day of yard work, a camping trip or a day on the water. – Ersin Ozer

$349.99 yeticoolers.com