LAST EDITED ON Oct-09-16 AT 10:39AM (MST)[p]First, I have a Yeti, and I love it, and for those of us who want the best, and it doesn't break the bank, buy a Yeti (or clone) and you will be VERY satisfied.
Second, just got an RTIC 65 because my 50 is great for a weekend trip, but just need a bigger one for some trips. Paid $199 (Yeti, is $399) and so far it looks like it will stand up to the Yeti, but time will tell. The BIG downside on them: had to pay for it is July, and didn't get it until September, but it was pretty close to their projected delivery date.
Third, the "tests" they run are bogus on how a Yeti works. When you have a really good piece of insulation and let it get to 90 degrees, it will take a while to get it cold, but when it gets there, it will hold the cold longer. With coleman coolers the insulation gets cold faster. SO, when you put ice in a coleman and a yeti that are both 90 degrees, the Yeti will "burn" more ice getting the insulation cold, BUT will then hold ice longer.
Here is the better test. Take 2 coolers and get them cold, then fill them with ice and see which one holds ice longer. I don't know of a test out there that does that. If you do, give us the link. The day before I leave on a trip, I place the cooler in my house (72 degrees) and place 1-2 gallon ziplocks with ice from my icemaker in it. Then, when I leave, the insulation is "primed" for cold, and will keep ice better than cheaper coolers.
Here is another example of what I mean. I built a house that has solid extruded foam insulation in the walls. My electric bill for a 3000 sq ft house runs $150/month, about half to 2/3 of what comparable houses with standard insulation run. However, when we leave on vacation we turn the thermostat up to 80. When we get home it takes 2-3 days for the AC to catch up and really get the house cool again. Why? because the walls insulation were 80 degrees by then and it takes several days to get them back "primed" to keep us cool again, but from that point on..........
So if you need a cooler for a weekend, the coleman will do the job well, but you will be replacing latches, hinges, etc every few years. However, if you need one for a week long hunt, I will take the Yeti every day of the week, and twice on Sundays!
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)