September 2024 Column Cool Cubes…a New Way to Chill By Capt. John N.Raguso
One of the most interesting trends in rotomolded and injection-molded cooler design is the introduction of personal cube coolers that are meant to be handy, portable, (somewhat) lightweight, all while offering bear-proof construction and fashion-statement look and feel. Although there are many brands to choose from, we are going to cover those cooler cubes from Yeti, RTIC and Canyon. So sit back and chill out as I explain the category and why you might need one of these for your next family boat trip. COMMON THREADS All three of the cube coolers for our review are rotomolded, which is a rotational plastic molding process that injects resin into a rotational mold that is then heated and“baked”into shape. Benefits of this manufacturing process are a heavy-duty (also heavier weight), sturdy construction that is then injected with polyurethane foam insulation for to enhance its interior-chilling characteris- tics. Common threads that all our coolers had in common were sturdy latches, freezer grade membrane seals, drain plugs, rubber membrane non-skid feet and some sort of carry handle to move the cooler cube to and from its destination.
Cube Cooler Exterior Dimensions Brand Width
Depth
Height
Weight (empty)
Yeti 24 RTIC 20
16.6” 19.25” 16.5” 18.9”
14”
17.4” 14.5”
13-lbs
13.25”
15.7-lbs 15.6-lbs
Canyon 22
12”
16”
Coho 24
15.4”
17.2”
13-lbs
YETI
Yeti has positioned itself as the king of the cooler world (and also one of the most expensive). In some categories, this is a well-deserved reputation where its ice-retention capabilities have won many a challenge. The question you need to ask yourself,“is a Yeti worth twice the price of a competitive brand that offers 80-to-90% of the Yeti’s capability?”With that potential pur- chasing stumbling block aside, Yeti’s Roadie 24 cube cooler can be seen just about everywhere the land meets the water, fresh or salt. The Roadie 24 Hard Cooler packs more while taking up less space. It’s built tall to accommo- date critical bottle of wine and slim enough to squeeze behind the driver’s or passenger’s seat of a car. It will fit 33 cans, 26-lbs of ice and is wine bottle compatible. The Heftyhauler handle is designed for easy hauling and comfortable carrying. Lipgrip handles are out of the way and make carrying your Roadie easy. Bearfoot non-slip feet prevent sliding on the boat or in the back of your pickup truck. Anchorpoint tie-down slots make it easy to attach to your boat, trailer or truck bed. The Quicklatch system makes for simple one-handed cooler access. Perma- Frost polyurethane insulation is pressure-injected into rotomolded cooler body and keeps in the
big chill. The Interlock lid system creates a form-fitting barrier against extreme temps. The Coldlock gasket is a freezer-quality seal that blocks out the heat and locks in the cold. The Yeti Roadie cooler offers rock solid strength for virtually indestructible protec- tion for your food and beverages. The Neverfail hinge system offers an interlocking two-pin design that prevents breaking.
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