These things are not cheap to be sure, but I wanted something that would hold up for several days at a time without replenishing the ice. This cooler from Pelican definitely handles that request. The skinny:
1) held ice and keep things frosty in 90F+ temps for 4+ days. Temperature in the cooler never rose above 36. We opened it about 4x a day on average but never for very long. We topped off with 1 more 1/2 bag of ice late on day 4 but it could have gone even longer.
2) holds a lot with still room for your ice; we had: 8 small tetra-pak smoothies, 2lbs of carrots, 12 bottles of Mexican coke, 14 cans of beer, some medication, 6 cups of yogurt (individual), qt. sized zip-lock of sliced turkey, 8 pudding cups, & 3 cycling water bottles and two pints of hummus.
3) the wheels are a big help as this cooler is heavy (+/- 40 lbs) even before you load it up. Plan on two people to lift in and out of the vehicle when full.
4) sturdy as can be. Stand on it, sit on it, cut on it, drop it, etc. It will handle it all with only minor nicks
5) the latch system works well and is easy on everyone's fingers
The "bad", tho not really bad:
1) weight, see above. The wheels make this manageable though and they roll over grass, gravel and even sand with ease, but plan on two people to lift it once you fill it up.
2) the drain valve on ours leaked at first (not sweating but an actual leak.) However, with some rubber-handled channel locks you can use the handle of your pliers to slot into the notches on the drain plug and give it some extra torque without damaging the plastic cap. This worked fine and never had a leak after that.
3) the pull handle is, to my taste, a little short for long-legged strider, like me; it occasionally clips your leg when pulling it. However, the wheels roll well enough and the handle is sturdy enough, that you can push it instead which I found easier.
4) bulky--this is not small cooler, plan on it taking up a lot of space in your car or back of your SUV--think medium sized pet kennel
I recommend this cooler whole heartedly if you take the above factors into account!
| Brand | Pelican |
|---|---|
| Color | Charcoal |
| Material | Plastic |
| Package Information | Bottle,Can |
| Capacity | 45 Quarts |
| Product Dimensions | 30"D x 20.5"W x 19.5"H |
| Item Weight | 19.48 Kilograms |
| Special Feature | Weather Resistant, Swing-Up Handle, Wheeled, Insulated |
| Included Components | Cooler |
| Model Name | 45 Quart Wheeled Cooler |
| Team Name | Pelican |
| Insulation Material | polyurethane,stainless steel |
| Chamber Depth | 12 Inches |
| Chamber Height | 19 Inches |
| Chamber Width | 12 Inches |
| UPC | 825494070755 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00825494070755 |
| Size | 45 |
| Manufacturer | Pelican |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 30.1 x 20.9 x 19.5 inches |
| Package Weight | 19.94 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 19 x 12 x 12 inches |
| Brand Name | Pelican |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Warranty Description | Lifetime |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Part Number | 45QW-6-DKGRY |
| Style | 45 Quart |
