Maybe you’ll get lucky and receive one without these problems. You get to enjoy one of the best cooler bargains in the industry right now. To achieve the extremely attractive price point that they did, Ozark Trail likely had to sacrifice a few things in the quality department. The result is a cooler that doesn’t have quite the level of fit and finish as, say, a Yeti or an Engel. No matter which model you go with, you will get to enjoy multiple storage options.
I half expected these Ozark Trail soft coolers to struggle to keep ice over a day. While they don’t perform as well as leading brands of soft sided coolers they still performed relatively well and kept ice good enough to suit most people’s needs. You will find both low-cost models as well as a “premium” lineup. The low-cost model won’t wow you with features, build quality, or long ice life but instead tries to find a happy medium while still being extremely cost-effective. The premium lineup will cost more but will also utilize features that help it to hang with other premium soft-sided coolers.
Indeed, while mainstream soft-sided ozark trail chairs tend to be robust but loose, high-end Ozarks focus more on posture, impermeability and final design. Also, another practical aspect of these coolers is how easy it is to replace external pieces if damaged whereas other brands would give you no other option but to live with it. Third place is literally filled by the gigantic Ozark Trail 73 quart which is a cooler for everything. Indeed, this cooler is designed for serious anglers, hunters and overall outdoor lovers with a large capacity that can handle your cargo for almost a week. Hence, this cooler approximately measures 33 x 20 x 19 inches, costing you a significant 40 pounds load while empty. The smaller Yeti Hopper Flip coolers are each equipped with a strong carry handle on the lid of the cooler for easy carrying and also for something to grab onto when opening the zipper.
Unfortunately, I realized a little too late that I purchased the wrong size and the larger size won’t be available until after we leave for vacation. It’s made of heavy-duty polyethylene that is virtually unbreakable. The construction rivals that of the Yeti cooler and yet it’s a fraction of the price. We’ve put ours through the ringer the last several months and it’s stood up to daily use from van life. At the end of this review you should have a much better idea as to the quality of these coolers and whether or not you want to buy one, or if you would rather opt for a different brand. This is a tricky question to answer as there are a whole lot of coolers out there from different brands.
Whether or not these fit and finish issues haunt you almost seems like luck of the draw. To achieve these asking prices, some shortcuts in manufacturing and quality were necessary. An example of the color choices for the popular 24-can soft cooler is shown in the image below. And to maximize how much squeeze the gasket produces, having strong latches that provide a lot of clamping force is necessary. You will find the popular “T-latch” design on Ozark Trail coolers.
Having a soft sided cooler that holds ice for almost two full days is better than most budget hard sided coolers. So for the price I think the performance isn’t too bad, not as good as premium soft sided coolers but not too bad. Ozark ozark trail cooler Trail soft sided coolers come in multiple different sizes and the price point is extremely cheap compared to other similar premium coolers. However, the ice retention performance the build quality and durability is not as good.
Personally, I think the Yeti cooler is the best product of this type on the market, better than the Ozar Trail Cooler, although some may not like its hefty price tag. All Ozark Trail hard-sided coolers feature anti-skid feet on the bottom. Soft-sided cooler folds flat when not in use and is easy to store. For a day-trip or shorter adventure, the Ozark Trail 12-can cooler is ideal to keep drinks cool all day long and is perfect for budget-conscious shoppers at $29.97. This high-performance, water-repellent cooler has a removable hard liner and shelf featuring antimicrobial protection for the ultimate freshness. The adjustable padded shoulder strap makes for easy transport, and the mesh pockets provide extra storage space.