A YETI Cooler is a very high quality ice chest made of either one-piece roto-molded polyethylene (similar process and material used in rugged plastic kayaks) or Fiberglass. These materials make up the outer shell and are filled with over 2″ of polyurethane foam. Combining the thick insulation with a quality sealing gasket gives YETI superior ice retention. The end product is a durable, well-insulated cooler, which is then fitted with heavy-duty hardware (latches, hinges, handles, rubber feet, etc.).
YETI Coolers are designed mainly for outdoor (hunting, sport-fishing, camping, boating, rafting, tailgating, paddling, barbequing), commercial (oil-field, construction, medical, catering) and other markets…like beer drinking.
This is a very difficult question to answer because there are so many variables that will affect the efficiency of ice retention. These variables include, but are not limited to the following: the ice quality, ice quantity, type of ice (crushed, block, cube, dry), outside environment, size of the cooler, etc.
We receive many different reports. Some customers have reported having ice after their two week trip on the river while others have said that their “crappy Igloo or Coleman cooler will hold ice better”. Because of the large number of variables as well as the lack of an industry standard for measuring ice retention, claims that place a definite time (5, 10, 14 days) are questionable and should be viewed skeptically.
In the end, YETI offers over 2″ of polyurethane foam in the walls and lids of our coolers combined with a freezer-style sealing gasket. Beyond that, everything else is out of our control; this would explain the large variation in ice retention time reported by our customers. For tips on maximizing ice retention, please visit max ice retention. If you can minimize the negative variables that affect ice retention, YETI Coolers can’t be beat.
