7 Best Wheeled Cooler: Reviews & Ratings

Cooler with Wheels

If you are someone who likes going outdoors a lot and likes spending time outside with friends and family, you probably already know how important it is to have a good cooler with you. Wheeled coolers are a brilliant asset if you regularly have outdoor barbecues and parties, or if you love going to the beach or on camping trips.

The number of things that a cooler can be good for are enormous which is what makes this such a brilliant purchase. A cooler can be used either to store drinks or food and can make it much easier to carry them from place to place. In this article, we are going to cover some of the best wheeled cooler options that you can go in for, and also the things that you need to know before you make your purchase.

Our List of Top Rated Cooler With Wheel

#ImageWheeled CoolersPrice
#1YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled CoolerYETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler$$$
#2Pelican Elite Coolers with WheelsPelican Elite Coolers with Wheels$$$
#3Igloo Trailmate Journey CoolerIgloo Trailmate Journey Cooler$$
#4MILEE - Heavy duty Wheeled CoolerMILEE – Heavy duty Wheeled Cooler$$
#5Igloo Max Cold QuantumIgloo Max Cold Quantum$
#6Igloo Glide PRO CoolerIgloo Glide PRO Cooler$
#7Rubbermaid DuraChill Wheeled 5-Day CoolerRubbermaid DuraChill Wheeled 5-Day Cooler$

YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler

The Yeti Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler currently stands as one of the most popular choices for those who are on the lookout for a strong and well functioning cooler.

The product is designed to be particularly tough and is known for its strong and durable core. This means that no amount of pressure or damage is going to severely affect the product or the food and drinks that you keep inside it.

The portability offered by this cooler is one of the big reasons why it is such a popular choice on the market. The Yeti Tundra Haul is one of the first options by the brand to come with wheels and has an excellent design to make carrying the product around significantly more manageable.

The efficient design also ensures that the product doesn’t take up too much space, making it easier to store in places like your trunk. The wheels offered by the product are always something that you should consider, and the Yeti Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler is a product whose wheels are hard to match.

The product is designed in a manner that makes the wheels entirely puncture resistant. No matter what kind of impact it has, the wheels will always stay in good shape.

The insulation is an essential factor to take into consideration when trying to buy a good portable wheeled cooler, and the Yeti Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler stands tall in that regard.

The product is known for having an incredibly efficient insulation system that is designed to keep your food and drinks colder for longer.

Pros
  • Indestructible
  • Superior Insulation
  • Puncture Resistant Wheels
Cons
  • Heavier Than Most Coolers
  • Higher Budget Range

Pelican Elite Coolers with Wheels

The Pelican Elite Cooler is a product that stands out for its incredible functionality as well as the portability hat it offers. The product comes in two volume variations, one being the 25 Quart and the other being the 80 Quart model.

The overall insulation of this product is also considered to be highly efficient and is one of the reasons why so many people choose this product. The Pelican Elite Cooler has a 360-degree freezer grade gasket that is designed to keep your food and drinks colder for a significantly longer period.

The cooler is also known for its extreme amount of ice retention and is known for having one of the highest retention amounts within its range. You can store ice within the cooler for a maximum of ten days before it starts to melt.

Portability is always a significant factor when going in for an excellent wheeled cooler and the Pelican Elite Cooler is designed to be incredibly portable and also meant to be easy to carry around.

The Pelican Elite Cooler has molded handles and efficient locking systems to ensure that your food and drinks stay in place. The product has a reinforced lockable hasp as well as a bottle opener to ensure that you can enjoy your drinks without worry. The product also comes with tie-down slots making it even easier to carry around.

Also, the product also has a few minor features that make the cooler all around more efficient. The product has a leak-proof drain plug to ensure that your cooler stays functional throughout its use. The product also comes with non-skid rubber feet that are designed to be incredibly smooth.

Pros
  • Superior Ice Retention
  • Molded Handles
  • Measuring Board On Lid
Cons
  • Can Get Damaged Easily

Igloo Trailmate Journey Cooler

If you are someone who likes to go camping regularly, you probably already know how important it is to have a good cooler. However, not every wheeled cooler on the market is designed to be efficient on different kinds of terrain.

Some coolers can even get damaged if they are simply taken over a piece of rocky land, which is why going in for a cooler that is specially designed to be used on outdoor terrain is a good option.

The Igloo Trailmate Journey Cooler is one option that has gained an incredible amount of recognition for the brilliant range of features that it offers. The product is designed to be durable and has wheels that are designed to move well over rocky terrain.

The product comes in a seventy-quart capacity, which means that it can give you ample space to carry everything that you need for your trip.

The insulation of the product is good enough to keep everything cool for a long period. The product has a four-day ice retention duration, which is far less compared to some of the other options but remains to be efficient.

The product also has a water-resistant storage compartment that is meant to keep all of your essentials dry while being cold at the same time.

The cooler also comes with additional features that make using the products kept within the cooler easier. For one, the product has a butler tray that is designed to help you serve snacks and drinks that you are carrying along with you.

It also has smaller additional features like a bottle opener and easy to use hinges that make the Igloo Trailmate Journey Cooler all around more efficient.

Pros
  • Ideal For The Outdoors
  • Moves Smoothly Over Uneven Terrain
Cons
  • Bulky
  • Shorter Ice Retention

MILEE – Heavy duty Wheeled Cooler

The Milee Heavy Duty Wheeled Cooler is the perfect product for those who want a cooler that gives them a high amount of value. It is designed to be incredibly efficient while giving the customer everything that they would need from a good portable cooler.

The product has recently been redesigned to keep it up to date with some of the newest technology and is meant to offer a high level of functionality along with an ample amount of storage space. The product consists of a strong core that is designed to keep your food and drinks incredibly safe.

The product is also designed with rotomolded thermoplastic construction and superior levels of insulation to ensure that everything is well chilled inside the freezer. The commercial grade insulation also elevates this functionality of the freezer.

The toughness of the cooler is augmented by the military grade nylon rope handles that are used in this product. The wheels are meant to be incredibly sturdy, even when traversing through harsher terrain.

This wheeled cooler has 7-inch Diameter Wheels that are designed never to puncture and never wear out. The product also has a molded tie down the slot to ensure that you can easily lift up and carry around the cooler without much effort.

One of the more significant reasons why people tend to go in for the Milee Heavy Duty Wheeled Cooler is because of the vast number of accessories that it comes along with.

More often than not, people who use coolers need to spend money on additional accessories to make their product more functional. The Milee Heavy Duty Wheeled Cooler comes with additional accessories such as a hanging wine basket, a cooler divider and a cup holder.

Pros
  • Incredibly Durable
  • Highest Grade Insulation
Cons
  • Bulky And Heavy Body

Igloo Max Cold Quantum

The substance and insulating properties that a cooler uses to keep the food and drinks in it cool are incredibly essential, especially because not all products use the same kind of coolant and insulation.

The Igloo Max Cold Quantum 52 is one of those unique products that use utratherm to keep the insides well regulated and cool. The insulation of this product is only located on the lid but is enough to keep the entire body of the cooler at the optimal temperature.

The product is known for being one of the nicer looking products on the market because of its simple and efficient design. The square box-like structure coupled with the matt finish makes this a good product to look at, and even better to use.

The handling of this particular product of this product is incredibly easy. For one, the product comes with an easy to use back handle that lets you easily drag around the cooler without actually having to lift it off the ground.

The side handles of the product are also designed to allow you to carry the product easily and without much trouble.

With the portability offered, the Igloo Max Cold Quantum 52 Quart Roller Cooler is considered to be one of the best choices for those who want to take the cooler out with them on the go.

The interiors of the product are also well designed for proper segregation of your food and drinks. The product has a shelf ledge inside the cooler which allows you to partition it as you please.

The smaller partitions are also great for storing smaller food items like condiments and spices. The tray of the product is also useful when setting up food or drinks on the go.

Pros
  • Unique Design
  • More Portability
Cons
  • Smaller In Size

Igloo Glide PRO Cooler

The Igloo Glide PRO Cooler is a product for those who want something that is sleek and which offers a high amount of insulation at the same time.

The product has a unique rectangular shape and a slide and lock design that lets you use the product with absolute ease. The product can be used to store incredibly large quantities of food and drink, simply with the amount of storage space that it offers.

It also comes with an Ultratherm insulated body that is designed to offer a good amount of temperature control to keep the food and drinks inside the product cool.

The cooler from Igloo is also known for having a longer temperature control life and can keep ice for a period of five days before it starts to melt.

The body of the product is designed to be incredibly sturdy and durable and is made of zinc plated metal hinges that are designed to be incredibly strong.

The product is known for having a strong body, so you never have to worry about any kind of damage taking place on the body of the product. The mix of metal and polyethylene makes this an overall efficient product to use.

The wheels of the product are also designed to be incredibly efficient and study. The wheels can be used on different kinds of terrain and are designed never to puncture. The oversized wheels also make carrying the cooler around significantly easier.

If you are on the lookout for a product that can keep your food and drink cool while still being easier to pull and carry around, this is a product that you can opt in for.

Pros
  • Indestructible
  • Slide And Lock Handling
Cons
  • No Partitions Or Additional Accessories

Rubbermaid DuraChill Wheeled 5-Day Cooler

The Rubbermaid DuraChill Wheeled Cooler is an option for those who want something simple and efficient at the same time. The product has been a trusted option for those who want a good cooler and is a great choice for those who don’t have too many specifics that they need.

The product is designed to keep ice frozen for a total of five days before it starts to melt and is a product that has an ample amount of storage.

The large size of the cooler is one of the biggest things that it has going for it, especially because it has enough space to hold 130 cans plus the ice at a given time. This makes it significantly easier to carry around drinks and food that you need on the go.

The product is also designed to be incredibly durable and prides itself on being a big choice for those who like taking their cooler outdoors. If you are someone who tends to go out on camping trips often, this is a good choice to go in for. The body of the product is designed to be sturdy while the wheels are strong enough to withstand even the strongest of terrain changes. This combination makes it significantly easier to depend on the cooler and means that you don’t have to worry about any kind of terrain changes.

The handling of the product is also incredibly easy with the strong metal and extended plastic handles that the product has. The Rubbermaid DuraChill also comes with an additional drain to make it easier to drain out any liquids or melted ice that accumulates inside the product. The side swing handle also makes it easier to drag the product without having to put too much pressure.

Pros
  • Simple And Efficient
  • Durable
Cons
  • Not Many Additional Features

Considerations Before Buying

No matter which kind of cooler you choose to go in for, you must be well aware of the different kind of features that are offered. Knowing these can help you figure out exactly what you need, and how much you need of it. Here are some of the things that you should consider before buying a wheeled cooler.

Ice Retention

It goes without saying that one of the biggest reasons for a cooler is the ability to keep food and drink cool for an extended period of time. Because of this, the duration that the cooler can stay in the ideal form is essential to take into consideration. This can mainly be determined by the ice retention ability inside the cooler. Coolers can vary in terms of the duration they can store the ice for. However, just because a cooler has a longer duration for its ice retention doesn’t mean that it is a good option to go in for. It is essential to ask yourself what you will be using the cooler for and determine how long you may need to keep the ice in the cooler for.

Material Design and Construction

The material that your cooler is made of is something that you should always consider when trying to go in for a new product. Coolers can vary in terms of the material that they are made of. Most coolers tend to be made of a mixture of some kind of plastic and metal. There are of course a few rarer options that are entirely metal based. The design is also something to account for, especially if you plan to carry your cooler in your car. Some coolers are designed to be more compact and therefore have a smaller design, while some coolers tend to be bigger to give you an ample amount of space to work with. It is important to note the place that you plan to put the cooler in when you are carrying it around, and also when you are transporting it in your vehicle.

Storage Capacity and Cooler Sizes

The amount of space that your cooler has is important and determines how much you will be able to carry along with you. Most people tend to go in for the biggest size possible to have the most space, but also overlook the drawbacks of having something that big. It is important to get the right kind of size that fits well in your vehicle, or which can easily fit in a part of your home without any trouble. Always measure the space that you have so that you can properly determine the kind of cooler to go in for. Remember to also take into consideration the volume that the product can hold since that can change depending on the thickness of the material that is used.

Handle Height

One of the biggest reasons to go in for a portable wheeled cooler is because of the fact that you can carry it around with ease. However, this kind of product can be even easier to carry around with a good handle attached to it. It is important to find out what the handle height is so that you can determine if the cooler will be easy to drag around. This is something that is mainly dependent on your own height and what is comfortable for you. If you are someone who is relatively taller, you don’t want to go in for a cooler that has a short handle which makes you crouch over. The best way to know what is comfortable for you is to test it out for yourself. If you do get the chance, drag around the coolers that you are considering and see if the handle height is good for you or not.

Wheel Size

If you are on the market for a portable wheeled cooler, you probably should be considering the wheels of the product that you are planning to go in for. The wheels of the product should be something that you account for because they determine how easily you can use the product as well as how smoothly it can go over different kinds of terrain. To determine what kind of wheel size you should go in for, it is important to account for the terrain you plan to take this on. If you plan to take your cooler on camping trips and on rougher terrain, bigger wheels are what you should consider going in for. If you simply plan to take your cooler out in your yard or plan to only keep it in your car, going for something with smaller wheels can generally suffice.

Transport Size

Most people tend to carry their cooler in the trunk of their car, and having a cooler with the right dimensions in this instance is incredibly important. The transport size is always one of the factors that you must consider before you actually make your purchase and measuring the space that you have in your trunk is the way to go. Make sure that the product that you are going in for is slightly smaller than the size that you have available to make it easier to place and remove. If you are planning to take your cooler along with you through any other kind of transportation make sure that you are aware of the size that you can carry with you. Planes, in particular, are one form of transportation that can be hard to work with, and finding out the restrictions of the airline that you are traveling with is important.

Types of Cooler Insulation

When going in for a cooler, it is essential to be familiar with the insulation options that you have. Insulation is incredibly important because it determines how long the ice can stay in its proper form and also determines how efficiently your cooler can keep your food and drinks at lower temperatures. There are two main types of insulation that portable coolers tend to have, and understanding the differences between the two forms is important.

Polystyrene

Polystyrene is one of the more common types of insulation that is used in these kinds of coolers and is considered to be one of the best kind of insulation for portable coolers that are currently being sold on the market. Most of the options that we mentioned above use this kind of insulation. This kind of insulation is composed of a form of plastic, making it lightweight, durable and efficient.

Foam

Foam is the second kind of insulation that is one of the rarer kinds of insulating materials used in portable wheeled coolers. This material is usually used in softer coolers and tends to be a lot less expensive as compared to normal types of coolers. However, this is not the ideal material for those looking out for a cooler that retains ice for several days. Foam coolers only retain ice for a few hours and are therefore better for times when you need to store food and drinks for a short period of time.

Tips of Using Cooler with Wheels

While buying a good quality cooler is important, it is also essential to know how to properly use a cooler for maximum efficiency. Here are a few tips for using your cooler more efficiently:

Always Keep Your Cooler Clean

It is always a good practice to keep your cooler clean and wash your cooler in between uses. Make sure that you clean it thoroughly and take out all the ice and refill it before you use it again.

Don’t Fill Up Your Cooler Too Much

One of the biggest mistakes that people tend to make is filling up the cooler more than its capacity. Always keep in mind the maximum capacity that your cooler can handle because going over the limit can affect the overall cooling that it offers.

Go For Smaller Pieces of Ice

A good tip that can help you keep your cooler in a better working condition is to use smaller pieces of ice instead of larger pieces. Smaller pieces of ice melt slower as compared to one big block of ice thereby making the cooling overall more efficient. You can even put the ice into smaller bags to make the cooling even better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Being familiar with every facet of this product is essential if you want something that works well for you and your needs. In this section, we will be going into some of the more common questions that people tend to have with regards to this.

How Long Do Coolers Last For?

The longevity of a cooler can depend on a number of factors, and each of these should be accounted for when trying to predict how long your product will last for. One of the main factors affecting longevity is the type of insulation that the cooler uses. Polyurethane tends to be one of the better choices in this regard because the insulation makes the cooler last longer as compared to foam coolers. On average, a portable cooler lasts for two to three years.

Can You Keep A Cooler In The Sun?

The external conditions that you keep your cooler in are incredibly important, especially if you live in a particularly warm area. The ability to keep your cooler in the sun mainly depends on the kind of cooler that you are using. If you were planning on using a soft-sided cooler, keeping it in a cool shaded area is important. However, if you are going in for heavy-duty coolers that are made of military-grade plastic can withstand even the hottest of days.

Can A Portable Cooler Use Dry Ice?

Dry Ice is known for its ability to melt at a slow pace and keep things at a much lower temperature. The ability to use dry ice mainly depends on the kind of cooler that you use. Unless your product says that you can use it, don’t ever add dry ice to your cooler. Using dry ice when you are not supposed to can damage your cooler and render it useless.

How Should You Store Your Portable Cooler?

Storing your portable cooler when not in use is essential if you want to maintain it well. It is always advised to store a cooler by hanging it so that all the water can dry out from it when not in use. Make sure that it is thoroughly clean before you store it away.