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I never buy anything online before doing my homework. Otherwise my garage would be full of dusty crap and useless junk. This should even apply to the avid tailgater, who, like me, is always on the lookout for new items and accessories to enhance that tailgating experience. Before I even think of spending my hard earned cash, I always want to ensure I know exactly what I’m getting into. Chances are you float the same boat and that’s why you’re reading several Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler reviews to determine whether it is the right piece of equipment to hold down your future tailgating events.
Well, wonder no more. Here, at Simply Tailgating, we’ve laid out the good, the bad and the ugly in this detailed Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler review. Let’s check it out, shall we?
About Yeti Products:
Company Highlights
- Company Name: Yeti Holdings, Inc.
- Product Name: Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler
- Corporate Website: Yeti.com
- Headquarters: Austin, Texas, United States
- Founder: Ryan and Roy Seiders
Yeti Tundra Products Corp. is an American manufacturer of outdoor lifestyle products and equipment, including ice chests, insulated drink ware, coolers and their accessories. The American manufacturer was founded in 2006 by Roy and his older brother Ryan Seiders. They’re currently headquartered in Austin, TX, USA.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Construction and Design:
Specs
- Exterior Dimensions (width, length, height): 26 x 17 x 16.1 inches
- Storage Capacity: 28 beer cans or 34 pounds of ice
- Weight: 27.7 pounds
- Construction/Materials: Roto-mold construction, Permafrost insulation
- Insulation Thickness: 2 inches
- Ice Retention: 10 days at 90°F
- Shelf Life of Food: 5-6 days at 90°F
- Keeps Beverages Cold: Over 10 days at 90°F
Landing on a reliable, eye-catching cooler that ensures ice retention can be a challenge, as coolers come in different builds, capabilities and performance. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what makes up the Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler:
Fatwall Design – The cooler’s thick walls hold up to two inches of insulation for great ice retention. It can hold ice and keep your beverages cold for over 10 days.
Permafrost Insulation – The cooler also features a pressure-injected commercial-grade polyurethane foam as insulation, explaining the over 10 days ice retention capability.
Rotomolded Construction – You won’t have to look beyond roto-molded coolers if you’re gunning for strength and durability. Yeti boldly claims this cooler’s walls are “armored to the core and virtually indestructible.”
Additional Features
- Rubber latches
- Molded tie-down slots
- Freezer-quality gasket
- Military-grade polyester strap
- Leak-proof draining system
- Non-slip feet
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Insulation Ability:
What’s a cooler if it can’t retain ice? The Yeti Tundra 45 retains ice for over 10 days! They recommend you maintain a 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio. So for every 2 pounds of content you’ll only need a pound of ice to keep whatever is inside cool for around 10 days. The ice can remain solid for even longer with reduced opening and closing of the lid.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Portability:
Unfortunately the Yeti Tundra 45 is quite heavy, weighing around 27.7 lbs, when empty. But that’s what you should expect from rotomolded coolers of this size. If this seems too heavy, you can always go with the wheeled models from Yeti, such as the Tundra Haul. The Tundra also includes tie-down slots and non-slip feet for better stability. You also have roped handles left and right, and a hinged lid that locks shut with a pair of thick, rubber latches. But a little less than 30 lbs is on the heavier side compared to most coolers of the same width, like this Igloo BMX 25 Quart that weighs around 12 lbs.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Durability:
The Yeti Tundra 45 is one of the most durable coolers around. A roto-mold construction (short for rotational molding) and a patented latch design should keep this chest in tiptop condition for years. Rotomolded plastic results in a sturdier, more uniform in density and great insulators. They also used a freezer-grade gasket, so it won’t wear out easily with time.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Ease of Use:
The Yeti Tundra 45 is a simple, versatile cooler, with an edgy but well-thought out design. There is no requirement to assemble it or work through complicated mechanisms and the train system works like clockwork. The rubber latches interlock in place with just a simple press, while the non-slip feet and molded tie-down slots ensure the chest remains stationary.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Visual Appeal:
The Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler looks strong and sturdy, with neat edges and a simple overall design. You have nine different colors to choose from, including charcoal, coral, desert tan, high country, ice blue, reef blue, river green, sea foam and white.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Warranty:
If you’re not convinced about your purchase, you can return the Yeti Tundra 45 and claim a refund within 30 days of purchase. Just make sure you haven’t customized it, and it is still in mint condition. This model also carries a 5-year warranty period against manufacturer defects. You can read all about that here.
But perhaps you already know how difficult it can be to solve warranty issues. All the same, the best way to get ahead of that is to shop at trusted sites like Amazon.com that’s known for reliable customer service and hassle-free returns.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Accessories:
If you’re considering pumping more life or utility to your cooler, here are a couple of options that compliment your Yeti Tundra 45:
You can get them on Amazon.com for the best prices, and take advantage of offers like the Free 1-3 Day Delivery if you’re a Prime member.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Replacement Parts:
There’s no doubt the Yeti Tundra 45 will be passed down to your next generation thanks to its sturdy construction. However, accidents happen, and in case you lose either of the following parts, you can buy their replacements from Amazon.com where you’re guaranteed deals such as FREE 1-3 Day delivery for Prime members:
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Cost:
The Yeti Tundra 45 costs around $300, which is expected for roto-molded coolers. To score the best deal on it, definitely check out Amazon.com. You can even save on shipping if you’re a Prime member with the Free Guaranteed 1-3 Day Delivery.
What Do We Like?
Compact and Durable – The Yeti Tundra 45 was definitely built to last, with roto-molded construction, rubber hinges, two hinge pins and an interlocking design that reduce the chances of the hinges breaking. Customers also love the cooler’s strength as most buyers say their units still look good as new, several years into its utility.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler Complaints:
Perhaps you want to know the bad and ugly about Yeti Tundra 45. So check out the complaints and decide for yourself whether it’s a worthy buy:
Ice melts easily – Some users say their coolers failed to retain ice past 5 days. Considering the manufacturer earmarks it for a 10 day ice retention period, this is a sharp contrast. Perhaps there’s more to the story, but a good number of negative reviews point to this problem.
It’s really heavy – Carrying around a 27 lb cooler is nothing short of bulky. So considering you’ll still be stacking up beer cans and ice, you’re looking at around 60 lbs of weight to enjoy the cooler’s purpose.
Other Coolers to Consider:
If you feel the Yeti Tundra 45 is just not your pick at this time, here are other alternative coolers you can consider as well:
Should You Buy The Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler?
The Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler is a great cooler, well worth the hundreds of dollars price tag. Roto-molded construction is all you need if you’re looking for a durable cooler. Again, it’s laden with all sorts of patented technology including the hinges, anti-skid legs, lid system, handles, drain system and handles. Perhaps it’s heavier than desirable, but if you can overlook that one factor, this is a cooler that will outlive most of your other tailgating equipment.
If you’re sold, check out Amazon.com for the best prices and deals, such as the Free Guaranteed 1-3 Day shipping if you’re a Prime member.
Best Features:
- Compact and durable
Worst Features:
- Ice melts easily
- It’s really heavy
Well, it’s a wrap, folks! Thanks for reading my Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler review. Which cooler do you own? Do you find this better or worse? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cheers!
Chris