Yeti coolers are awesome – we have said it many times, and we will say it many more times in the future.
Each time you think Yeti has come up with their best idea yet, their next cooler comes along and flips everything upside down and makes you change your mind about what you look for in a new cooler.
The Yeti Tundra Haul is one of these game-changing coolers that makes us wonder how we got by without it, as this cooler is on wheels!
In this article, we look at this wheeled cooler in detail, as well as the reasons why having wheels on your large cooler can make a big difference to your outdoor adventures.
The Yeti Tundra Haul Review – The First Yeti Cooler With Wheels
The Yeti Tundra Haul Cooler is built to be as strong and tough as the original non-wheeled version (which is pretty much indestructible)!
Extra-thick walls and the rotomolded construction means it has up to two inches of insulation in its walls for incredible ice retention and that it has no weak points that can cause leaks or allow warm air to get inside.
Not only is this one tough cooler, but it is also roomy. When using a 2:1 ice to can ratio, you can fit a very impressive 45 cans of beer inside the Yeti Tundra Haul Cooler. If you are carrying just ice alone then you can get 55 pounds inside comfortably.
If you like to carry lots of beer with you on your adventures, the Yeti Tundra Haul will make your time in the wild easier and more comfortable.
- The wheels are made using single-piece construction making them very strong and durable so they are impact and puncture-resistant
- Heavy-duty rubber latches that can handle the rigors of outdoor life - no broken latches on this cooler
- A freezer-grade gasket makes sure no cold air escapes the cooler as well as preventing any warm air from entering when the lid is closed
- It can hold ice for several days thanks to its incredible ice retaining powers and ice packs can stay frozen for more than a week inside the Tundra Haul
- Bear-proof so makes for a perfect cooler to take on a camping trip knowing you and your supplies will be safe
- The wheels are very good on multiple terrain types so the cooler is easy to maneuver
- As with all Yeti products, the Tundra Haul is expensive when compared to other similar coolers out there
- It is a fairly heavy cooler weighing in at 37 pounds when empty so it can be a bit cumbersome to move around
- The Tundra Haul Cooler is not compatible with the Yeti dry goods basket or divider
Yeti Tundra Haul Cooler in Detail
Why Wheeled Coolers?
Putting wheels on a cooler is more than just a gimmick – it actually changes the way you can use your cooler in a big way.
Large coolers, like the Tundra, can hold a lot of ice and beer. Holding a lot of ice and beer does tend to make them heavy, though. This can cause issues with moving the cooler around, particularly if you need to transport it from your car to your chosen camping or fishing spot.
Having a wheeled cooler means you can easily and comfortably move your large, heavy cooler around with very little effort.
It also eliminates the need to carry your cooler for long periods of time, which can be hugely detrimental to your posture and overall back health.
Your wheeled cooler will also be able to carry more than a non-wheeled cooler as being down on the ground with wheels as extra support; less stress is placed on the cooler as a whole, so more stuff can be put inside and safely moved around.
Design & Construction
As mentioned earlier, the walls of the Yeti Tundra Haul Cooler are thick! They are constructed with up to two inches of insulation which gives this cooler impressive ice retention levels.
Yeti calls their insulation in the Tundra Haul permafrost insulation. This is a commercial-grade polyurethane foam that has been pressure-injected into the walls and lid, making sure the inside of the cooler stays cold for a very long time.
The rotomolded construction makes the Tundra Haul extremely strong and durable so it can comfortably handle the weight of 45 cans of beer, a whole load of ice, as well as the stresses outdoor adventures can place upon it.
Hinge System
Hinges can be a weak point on some coolers.
Seeing how the Yeti Tundra Haul Cooler is large, strong, and has a heavy carrying capacity – it can’t afford to have any weak points.
Yeti uses their NeverFail Hinge System on the Tundra Haul, which makes any failures in the hinge system highly unlikely.
This hinge system features two hinge pins per hinge and an interlocking design, making for almost-indestructible hinges to go along with your almost-indestructible cooler.
Handles
There are two types of handles on the Yeti Tundra Haul. The first is the Lipgrip handles which are molded into the sides of the cooler.
Although the Tundra Haul is on wheels, there will obviously still be times when you need to lift it, like when you are moving it in and out of your car or out the back of your truck. This is where these handles make moving and carrying the large cooler much easier and more comfortable.
The second handle type on this cooler is the one used to pull it along on its wheels. This handle is made from welded aluminum, so it fits in perfectly with the almost indestructible design of the cooler.
Not only is this handle comfortable to use, but it also has just the right amount of grip.
The handle’s curved design tracks left and right, which helps you pull your cooler along at any angle you feel comfortable doing so.
Towing the Yeti Tundra Haul is surprisingly easy even when packed full, so it makes for a great addition to your outdoor adventures.
Latches
It is very rare to hear of anyone having issues with broken latches on their Yeti cooler.
The latches on the Yeti Tundra Haul are the same latches used on the non-wheeled tundra known as T-Rex Lid Latches.
These latches are made of rubber and are super strong, tough, and durable.
The Wheels
The wheels on the Yeti Tundra Haul are a decent size and can handle multiple terrain types, even when the cooler is fully packed.
These wheels are made using a single-piece construction, making them extremely durable to the point where they are actually impact and puncture-resistant.
Color Options
Yeti coolers come in a range of colors to help everyone find the one that best suits them.
The Yeti Tundra Haul is no exception and has multiple color options for you to choose from, including white, desert tan, ice blue, charcoal, navy blue, sea foam, river green, and coral.
All of these color options aren’t always available directly from Yeti, but with a bit of hunting around through their stockists, you should be able to find your chosen color.
Ice Retention
Even without doing all you can to increase the ice retention levels of your Tundra Haul, it will still hold ice for several days.
If you want to get the most out of your cooler, though, such as using ice blocks as well as regular ice, pre-chilling your drinks, and keeping your cooler out of the sun – it is very possible to get unmatched ice retention levels of up to a week or more!
Yeti Haul Wheeled Competitors
Yeti aren’t the only ones who have put wheels on their coolers. Some other top brands have their own cooler with wheels, so it’s always interesting to see how they compare to Yetis take.
Some possible alternatives to the Yeti Tundra Haul include:
The look of this cooler is very similar to the look of the Yeti Tundra Haul.
Polyurethane insulation is used in the ProGear Elite Wheeled Cooler (the same as the Tundra Haul) so ice retention of up to 10 days is certainly possible in this cooler.
It is a similar price to Yeti's wheeled cooler so it could be a tough choice choosing between the two - it may even come down to the small matter that the T-Rex latches on the Yeti are stronger than the latches on this cooler, otherwise they are a pretty good match.
Fatboy is a newer brand of coolers - they design and make coolers that have many of the features of more expensive coolers but offer them at a lower price point.
The Fatboy Wheeled Cooler actually has some features that the Yeti doesn't have such as a vacuum press on the side to help open the lid.
It has the T-Rex Latches just like the Yeti and it has a very effective drain plug so it holds up well when comparing the two.
The Coleman Xtreme Wheeled Cooler is probably the most budget-friendly of all the wheeled coolers out there.
That being said, the lower price does come at a slight detriment to the design of the cooler. While it is a good cooler, it isn’t rotomolded so isn't as tough as the Tundra Haul - it can hold ice for up to 5 days but it is generally a cheaper looking (and feeling) wheeled cooler.
Final Thoughts on the Yeti Tundra Haul
The Yeti Tundra Haul is one very tough and mobile Yeti cooler.
You can carry a big supply of beer and ice without having to deal with the heaviness and discomfort a non-wheeled cooler can cause.
It’s a bear-proof, heavy-duty, rotomolded cooler with wheels that lives up to all of the high expectations Yeti coolers bring.
It really is a great cooler, and although it’s a pretty big investment, Yeti go the extra mile with the five-year warranty giving you peace of mind that you are covered in the unlikely event something goes wrong with this powerful ice chest.
We love the Yeti Tundra, and we think you will too!
