If you’re looking for the best large cooler with wheels, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed with choice. How can you know if they really work? Will they be durable enough for what you need? And will the capacity be right for you?
We’ve answered all those questions by looking at 5 of the best large coolers with wheels out there.
The bottom line up front: We like the . It’s a great all-rounder with good cooling power and a large capacity.
We also like:
- YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler – durable and ideal for all kinds of conditions
- RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels – perfect for keeping your cooler organized
We’ll be looking at:
- What to look for in a large cooler with wheels
- 5 of the best out there, including their key features, pros and cons
- Some frequently asked questions about coolers with wheels
- Which ones we like the best, and why
If you’re interested, keep reading!
Table of Contents
- Best Large Coolers with Wheels Compared
- What to Look for in a Large Cooler with Wheels
- Top 5 Best Large Coolers with Wheels
- Frequently Asked Questions
- To Sum Up … Which Large Cooler with Wheels is the Best?
Best Large Coolers with Wheels Compared
What to Look for in a Large Cooler with Wheels
Here are some of the main features to look out for in a large cooler with wheels:
Cooling Power/Insulation
Rotomolded coolers are ideal for keeping your food nice and cold. Made from one thick continuous piece of material, rotomolded coolers can be injected with an insulating material, like polyurethane, which helps to keep air trapped inside. This works really well for two reasons. Firstly, thicker walls (usually around 2-3 inches, or 5-7 centimeters) increase durability and help to keep cold air trapped inside. Secondly, the rotomolding means that you won’t have to worry about losing any of that cool air through cracks in the joins.
There are other features to help keep your food nice and cool, too. Extra-strong latches are ideal as they help to keep the seal tightly closed, and you can look for freezer-grade gaskets which will increase durability and work with the latches to lock warm air out.
Ice Retention
Some manufacturers advertise an ice retention time of their coolers, which refers to the amount of time the cooler can keep ice before it melts. Not all manufacturers state an explicit ice retention time.
It’s worth taking ice retention time with a pinch of salt. These tests tend to be done under ideal conditions. Ice within a cooler is going to melt quicker in a hot car than, for example, a cooler left in a room away from the sun. Still, the longer the ice retention time, the longer you can expect it to keep your food cool.
And speaking of salt, you can actually use it to make ice last longer in a cooler. You can read about this in Curbly’s article This Simple Trick will Make the Ice in Your Cooler Last Longer.
Durability
Durability is another factor to look out for. Larger coolers can be pricey, so it’s worth looking for one that’s going to last you for a long time to come.
As we mentioned earlier, thicker walls increase durability, so look for a cooler with a decent wall thickness. Also, you can look for other features like tough, durable handles and strong hinges, so you won’t have to worry about them breaking during use.
It’s worth looking at the wheels themselves, too. Large coolers can get heavy, so you’ll want to find tough wheels that can handle that weight without breaking.
Finally, some coolers have IGBC certification, which means they’ve been tested and are certified as being bear-resistant. This means they’re tough enough to keep bears at bay, which is a good sign in general (especially if you’re camping in bear territory!).
Capacity
We’ll be looking at large coolers today, which we’ll class as anything from 50 Quarts (47 Litres) upwards. Coolers can go all the way up to 350 Quarts (331 Litres). The larger they get, the heavier they’ll be once full, which is why wheeled coolers are a good option.
Extra Features
A seemingly small thing to look out for is the ease of cleaning your chosen cooler. Coolers can get dirty quickly, so it’s worth looking for one that is pretty minimal in design without a lot of nooks or crannies for dirt to get stuck in. Also aim for a cooler with a large drain, as this makes it easier to dump melted ice.
Some coolers have more features. Fishing enthusiasts, for example, may enjoy having a cooler with a built-in fish ruler on the lid. Other coolers have built-in bottle openers, which is a useful thing to have. Plus, some coolers have ways to organize your food and drinks, with either dividers or storage baskets to separate dry food from chilled food.
You can also find coolers with built-in cup holders for your flasks or water bottles.
Top 5 Best Large Coolers with Wheels
Now we’ll take a look at 5 of the best large coolers with wheels out there.
YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler – Most Durable
Key Features
- Capacity: 55 Quarts (52 Litres)
- Materials
Outer: UV-resistant polyethylene
Insulation: Insulating foam - Wall thickness: 3 Inches (7.62 centimeters)
- Ice retention: Not stated
- Color: Blue, tan and white
- Weight: 32 Pounds (81 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 28.25 x 18.63 x 19.5 Inches (72 x 47 x 50 Centimeters)
The YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler is the only wheeled cooler that YETI offers, and it’s on the smaller end of the scale for a large cooler, at 55QT (52L).
In terms of cooling power, it has a lot to offer. While YETI doesn’t state ice retention time for its coolers, it does have pressure-injected commercial-grade polyurethane foam, a high-quality gasket, and an interlocking lid system that helps to seal the lid very tightly. The wheels are also good, with a solid, single-piece construction that is puncture resistant.
It’s a durable cooler with super-tough hinges, robust non-slip feet, and durable handles. It lacks some of the extra features that other coolers have, like a built-in bottle opener or storage baskets, and YETI‘s own storage baskets aren’t compatible with this particular model.
Pros
- Super tough and durable
- Great cooling power
- Sturdy wheels
Cons
- Lacks some extra features
Coleman 100 Quart XTREME Wheeled Cooler – Good All-Rounder
Key Features
- Capacity: 100 Quarts (95 Litres)
- Materials
Outer: Polyethylene
Insulation: Polyurethane foam - Wall thickness: Not stated
- Ice retention: 5 days
- Color: Blue and white
- Weight: 16.75 Pounds (7.6 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 36 x 17 x 17 Inches (92 x 42 x 44 Centimeters)
The is a great sized cooler for larger groups, hunting trips, or fishing trips. It’s not too heavy given the size, either.
It states that it has a 5-day ice retention time, but this is under ideal conditions, and actual results may be less than that. You can expect around 2 days of ice retention, which isn’t bad. It has polyurethane insulation, and specially-shaped feet which are designed to elevate the cooler from the floor (as this can help to avoid heat transference from the ground – ideal for very hot, sunny days).
It has a fold-down handle which can deal with a lot of use, and a tough drain plug which is ideal for dumping melted ice. The wheels are durable and can deal with all sorts of terrain. It has four cup holders molded into the lid, which is a useful feature, ideal for keeping your tumblers or water bottles in place. It doesn’t have any storage baskets or a way of organizing the contents.
Pros
- Durable handle
- Good cooling power
- Sturdy wheels
Cons
- Doesn’t have a storage basket or way of organizing the contents
Igloo 110-Quart Glide Pro Portable Cooler with Wheels – Best Wheels
Key Features
- Capacity: 110 Quarts (104 Litres)
- Materials
Outer: Polyethylene
Insulation: Polypropylene - Wall thickness: Not stated
- Ice retention: 5 days
- Color: White
- Weight: 25.4 Pounds (11.52 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 36.76 x 18.5 x 19.69 inches (101 x 45 x 50 Centimeters)
The Igloo 110-Quart Glide Pro Portable Cooler with Wheels is a large cooler, at 110 Quarts (104 Litres). It’s heavy, but it’s very easy to maneuver (which we’ll talk about more in a moment).
It advertises a 5-day ice retention time, so you can expect the ice to last a good couple of days. It has great insulation in the body and lid.
What works really well with this cooler is how easy it is to transport. It has a telescoping handle that is durable and easy to pull, and it has a cushion-grip handle for extra comfort. Plus, the wheels are smooth and easy to pull across different types of terrain.
It has a large drain on the side of the cooler, so you can dump a lot of melted ice quickly. It does lack some extra features though, and it doesn’t allow you any way of organizing the contents either.
Pros
- Very easy to steer
- Large capacity
- Good ice retention time
Cons
- Doesn’t have any extra features
RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels – Best for Organization
Key Features
- Capacity: 50 Quarts (57 Liters)
- Materials
Outer: Plastic
Insulation: Insulating foam - Wall thickness: Not stated
- Ice retention: 7-10 days
- Color: Grey
- Weight: 45 Pounds (20.41 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 27 x 22 x 21 Inches (69 x 56 x 53 Centimeters)
The RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels is a versatile cooler. It’s ideal if you want to be able to keep the contents of your cooler organized. It has a smaller capacity for a large cooler, at 50 Quarts (57 Liters).
The cooler has a stated ice retention time of up to 10 days, which of course, you can take with a pinch of salt, but it should keep your food and drinks cold for a long time. It has a rotomolded body, insulated walls, and an airtight gasket that keeps cold air locked inside.
It’s durable, with puncture-resistant tires, and a tough handle that can cope with a lot of use. It has anchor points so you can attach it to a bike, and you have the option of buying their dual cup holder and prepping board which makes it a good choice for camping.
Pros
- Durable
- Good capacity with storage basket
- Anchor points to attach it to a bike
Cons
- Smaller capacity than the others on this list
Sundry Audrey 60 Quart Cooler – Best for Parties
Key Features
- Capacity: 60 Quarts (57 Litres)
- Material: Steel
- Wall thickness: Not stated
- Ice retention: Not stated
- Color: Black
- Weight: 33 Pounds (14.96 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 25.98 x 13.78 x 22.38 Inches (66 x 35 x 57 Centimeters)
The Sundry Audrey 60 Quart Cooler is not huge at 60 Quarts (57 Litres), but it’s a perfect cooler for pool parties, barbecues, or big games. It’s not the kind of cooler you can take on hunting trips, for example, as it’s not really designed for that, but it’s the perfect poolside cooler.
It doesn’t advertise ice retention time, but you should expect ice to last all day in this cooler, even in hot conditions.
It’s durable, but as it’s made from steel, it won’t take well to being carted around in tough conditions like the other coolers on this list.
The wheels are sturdy and easy to pull, and they lock into place, so you won’t have to worry about it rolling away. It has a drain for easy removal of melted ice, and a built-in bottle opener, which makes it the perfect cooler for drinks.
Pros
- Ideal for drinks
- Looks great
- Good cooling power
Cons
- Not as durable or tough as some of the other coolers on this list
Frequently Asked Questions
Now, we’ll try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about large coolers with wheels.
How do you clean a cooler?
You can clean a cooler using hot, soapy water. Dump the old melted ice, and make sure you get into the little areas where grime can build up, like around the hinges. You can remove odors using baking soda if you go carefully – you can read more about this in The Kitchn’s guide on How to Clean a Dirty Cooler.
What’s the safest way to pack a cooler?
You can safely pack a cooler by packing it as full as you can to help keep the contents cooler, making sure that you pack items from your refrigerator or freezer as quickly as you can, and safely sealing raw, uncooked meat or fish in leak-proof containers. You can find out more on the USDA’s guide on How to Pack a Cooler to Prevent Food Poisoning.
If you pack seafood, how long will it last in a cooler?
It depends on the kind of cooler you’re using, how much ice you have, and the conditions the cooler will be kept in. Fisherman has a guide on How to Keep Fish Fresh in a Cooler which may help. (You can also check out our guide to the Best Fishing Watches if you’re looking for a great watch for your next trip.)
How can I pre-chill my cooler?
You can pre-chill your cooler the night before you need to use it by filling it with ice. That way, it will be nice and cold when you come to use it the next day.
To Sum Up … Which Large Cooler with Wheels is the Best?
If we had to pick a favorite, we’d go with the Igloo 110-Quart Glide Pro Portable Cooler with Wheels. While it’s large, it’s still really easy to move around, which is perfect if you need to fill it to the brim with food and drinks.
If you’re looking for something that is super-tough, try the YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler. YETI is a good brand with a great reputation, and their coolers can cope with all kinds of terrain and situations.
If you’re after something a little smaller that will allow you to separate your dry goods and chilled food, we’d recommend the RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels.
If you’ve tried any of these coolers, or you have another one to recommend, please let us know in the comments. And if this article has helped you out, please feel free to share it with your family and friends!
