Yeti's new Tundra 45 is the gold standard of hard-sided coolers, but its high price isn't for everyone

• Yeti's manufactured some of the industry's best hard coolers for years, perfect for camping, fishing, rafting, and just about any outdoor activity.
• The brand announced a new line of Tundra hard coolers that are capable of keeping ice for multiple days, despite how hot it gets outside, are rated as being bear-resistant, and come in a variety of sizes.
• I tested the Yeti Tundra 45 to see how it stacks up to the brand's other hard coolers and liked its durability, heavy-duty construction, and large capacity.

Whether you regularly get away for long camping excursions or you're out for a multi-stop grocery store trip, a good cooler keeps your perishables at a safe temperature for extended periods. Or, at the very least, it can ensure your beverages are at the most refreshing temperature possible during a day at the beach or while tailgating.

The difference between high-quality coolers and cheap alternatives is dramatic. Yeti, one of the top names in high-end coolers, makes coolers designed to keep your food and beverages colder for longer. And, the company's products stand up to the abuse of tailgaters, fishing trips, hunting excursions, camping, and other outdoor adventures. I recently had the chance to test the Tundra 45 — and walked away a huge fan.

Quality Yeti design

The Tundra 45 is one of Yeti's most popular hard coolers and this latest release is yet another example of its quality. The number in Yeti cooler names refers to the number of quarts of content it can hold, meaning the Tundra 45 holds 45 quarts of items.

Here are a few of its specs:

• Exterior dimensions: 25.5 inches long by 16 inches wide by 15.5 inches high
• Interior dimensions: 19.5 inches long by 10.5 inches wide by 10.5 inches high
• Empty weight: 23 pounds
• Insulation: 3 inches of "PermaFrost" insulation
• Can capacity (assuming recommended 2:1 ice-to-content ratio): 28 cans
• Color options: Charcoal, coral, desert tan, high country, ice blue, reef blue, seafoam, white, and river green
• Warranty: 5 years

For other specs, visit the Yeti product page. And, for the dimensions of the other 11 sizes in the Tundra series, check out the Yeti site.

Unboxing

When unboxing the cooler, I was immediately impressed by its quality. Everything appeared to be durably built and able to stand up to the normal type of beating outdoor gear often gets. I felt confident that I could take this anywhere, too, be it camping, fishing, rafting, or to the beach.

Aside from removing some packaging, there isn't really a set-up process. The cooler was ready for use in under five minutes. I appreciated that the Tundra came with a user manual featuring helpful tips for getting the best performance out of the cooler and how to properly use it.

What makes the Tundra 45 stand out

Yeti clearly put a lot of thought and spared no expense in making the Tundra 45. It has heavy-duty rotomolded construction and is certified bear-resistant. The lid has a Coldlock gasket similar to what you might find on your freezer, and the lid interlocks with the body of the cooler to create a form-fitting barrier. T-Rex lid latches made of sturdy rubber keep the seal tight, too, and the latches are easy enough for my kindergartener to unlatch — though, he did have difficulty relatching it.

There are a couple of ways to carry the cooler. When one person carries it, I found it helpful to grab the handles molded just below the lip. These handles work well when the cooler is full of groceries, too. When it houses heavier items and I need help, the polyester rope handles on each side are great for two-person jobs.

The Neverfail Hinge System of the lid is designed for durability, and I appreciate that it keeps the lid open when I was either loading or unloading contents. Its non-slip feet are a nice touch in most situations, as well. However, they make it difficult to slide the cooler along the floor or ground with your foot

A small drain in the bottom of the cooler does a terrific job of quickly removing accumulated water even with the contents in place. This is useful because you can just add more ice on top, and you never need to remove what's inside.

Insulation test

To put the Tundra 45's insulation to the test, I decided to pit it against a normal 16-quart portable cooler and a normal, reusable grocery bag. I loaded each with a frozen 4-inch by 9-inch by 1.5-inch ice gel pack and kept track of how long the ice stayed before completely melting. The ambient temperature was roughly 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the test. Here's how long the ice packs lasted in each:

• Reusable grocery bag: 24 hours
• 16-quart cooler: 48 hours
• Tundra 45: 66 hours

It's hard to compare vastly different coolers in a manner like this. The Tundra 45 is much larger than the 16-quart cooler. In general, when there's more air space in a cooler, ice melts faster. So, the fact the larger cooler won out is a real testament to its insulation abilities.

Yeti also provides several tips and tricks for getting the best performance out of your cooler, including storing your cooler in a cool place when it isn't in use.

Cons to consider

The Tundra 45 looks like it holds a lot more than it actually does but due to the three-inch-thick insulated walls, the capacity is smaller than similarly sized coolers. Granted, this allows your food items to stay colder for longer but it also affects the cooler's portability. With light frozen foods in the cooler, you might be able to carry it on its own but if it's packed full of ice and beverages, carrying the Tundra 45 is a two-person job.

The bottom line

Despite the negatives, this is the best hard cooler I've ever used. The Tundra 45 keeps the cold on lockdown, is built to take abuse, and has two sets of useful handles. This cooler is great but I'm not sure it's worth the particularly steep $300 price tag (despite how much I enjoyed using it).

What model should you get?

Yeti provides some helpful guidelines for determining which Tundra model is right for your needs. For instance, the Tundra 45 is recommended for overnight camping trips, the 35 is best for throwing in your backseat or a large kayak, and the 160 is recommended for fishers going after large offshore species.

• Should you buy it? As a writer living on a tight budget, I would never spend $300 on a cooler. But, I'm also not a big outdoors person. If you're an avid camper, fisher, or hunter, the Tundra 45 may be worth the investment. The durability and five-year warranty ensure that this cooler serves you for many years to come and the thick insulated walls will keep your items cold during your longer trips.
• What are your alternatives? Nothing I have used has even come close to the quality of the Yeti coolers. So, I encourage you to visit our guides to the best coolers and best soft coolers if you are looking for other alternatives.

Pros: Durable, well-insulated, long warranty, attractive appearance, easy to carry

Cons: The Tundra 45 is bulky for how much it holds