10 Best Giant Coolers [Buyer’s Guide]

When going to a party, camping, or any outdoor event, you can expect a wide range of snacks, drinks, and LOTS of ice.

Of course, you know these need to stay cool and contained so you can enjoy them later on.

Fortunately, many large coolers in the market can help you with that!

Today, I’ll tell you the best giant coolers that are worth your money.

10 Best Giant Coolers

A giant cooler is usually classified as an ice chest holding 100 quarts and above.

Getting these kinds of ice chests would usually cost a lot of money. However, I assure you that some are more affordable without sacrificing quality.

Besides giving you a place to sit, these coolers are best for long trips requiring large storage space for ice and refreshments.

Below is my thorough review to help you find the best large cooler for you:

1. YETI Tundra 125 Cooler – Best Overall

Source: Yeti

Main Features

• Dimensions: 19.5 L x 40 W x 20 H inches
• Material: Polyester
• Available Color/s: White
• Product Weight: 45 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 125 Quarts
• Price: $600.00

Yeti is one of the most popular cooler brands when it comes to coolers — so it’s no surprise that Yeti would be on the top when it comes to large coolers.

Its rotomolded construction makes it perfect for the outdoors. It’s extremely tough and practically indestructible, designed for all outdoor activities.

It also has 3 inches of PermaFrost and pressure-injected insulation to help with the cooler’s ice retention. It can easily retain ice for up to 8 days.

It also has T-Rex Lid latches made from heavy-duty rubber. It doesn’t only keep the latch from breaking, but it also keeps the cooler shut.

This Yeti cooler has room for the snappers and trouts you’ll catch while fishing or two-quartered deer from your hunt! That’s a lot to take in.

With everything it’s great at, it’s certainly living up to its hype.

Pros

• Great ice retention
• Great warranty
• Has accessories
• Customizable

Cons

• Limited features
• Expensive

2. Coleman Ice Chest 316 Series Wheeled Hard Coolers – Best Value

Source: Coleman

Main Features

• Dimensions: 36.9 L x 17.3 W x 18 H inches
• Material: Plastic
• Available Color/s: Space blue, rock gray
• Product Weight: 20.37 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 100 Quarts
• Price: $115.99

When it comes to getting what you paid for, Coleman is the best choice.

While it is cheaper than a premium cooler, it has the durability and functionality of one. It can easily keep ice and other items cool for a long time.

It has a stain-resistant liner, which makes cleaning any spills and residue off its walls easier.

One of its unique features is the two cup holders. They’re molded onto the lid to prevent spilling of your beverages and can hold up to a 30-ounce cup.

It means the lid can also double as a table for eating outdoors. It’s multifunctional for a great price!

Its heavy-duty 6-inch wheels make it easier to bring around. It’s tough enough to be hauled through almost any terrain with ease.

Pros

• Cup holders
• Camping chair for a bundle price
• Affordable
• Long ice retention
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Weak handles

3. Igloo Polar 120 Qt. Cooler – Best Budget Pick

Source: Igloo

Main Features

• Dimensions: 38.58 L x 16.93 W x 18.11 H inches
• Material: Plastic 
• Available Color/s: White
• Product Weight: 19.9 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 120 Quarts
• Price: $98.87

You don’t have to pay much money to keep your refreshments cool. Igloo is one of the most known cooler brands when it comes to affordability and functionality.

Its ultratherm-insulated body makes its walls retain insulation for up to 5 days. While Igloo isn’t as long as more expensive coolers, it does get the job done.

It also has dual-snap-fit latches to keep the lid secured. It’s enough to prevent the contents from warming for a long time.

However, the downside of this cooler is its lack of a rubber gasket — which can easily affect the temperature inside.

Who knew you could easily get a cooler with prices less than 100 bucks? You’re sure to save a lot when you get this one.

Pros

• Affordable
• Decent ice retention

Cons

• Seal quality
• Plain appearance
• Weak hinges

4. Grizzly Coolers Grizzly 165 Quart

Source: Grizzly

Main Features

• Dimensions: 47.75 x 19.63 x 22.75 inches
• Material: Plastic
• Available Color/s: Tan
• Product Weight: 62 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 165 Quarts
• Price: $519.99

Grizzly is another well-known brand, especially when it comes to American-made coolers. You can expect this Grizzly cooler to be a great addition to your outdoor gear.

Like every Grizzly cooler, this one is injected with two inches of Ecomate Polyurethane foam, keeping its ice retention top quality.

It also has a foam rubber gasket that helps keep cool air in and hot air out, providing extra insulation for your cooler. With this Grizzly cooler, you’d see your ice solid for up to seven days!

It’s made from rotomolded plastic, making it tough and completely secured from the outside. It’s also VOC-free, making it eco-friendly.

This Grizzly cooler has a 2-inch drain plug for complete draining, rubber latches to keep the lid shut, and two lock holes to keep the cooler secure.

One of its most unique features is how it’s bear-proof certified. It was approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, ensuring that it’s extremely tough for the outdoors.

Pros

• Excellent ice retention
• Durable
• Bear-proof
• Easy to carry
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Very expensive
• Heavy

5. Cordova Outdoors Basecamp Class Hard Cooler

Source: Cordova Outdoors

Main Features

• Dimensions: 46.5 L x 20.5 W x 20.5 H inches
• Material: Plastic
• Available Color/s: Gray, beach blue, living coral, sandstone, white, whitestone
• Product Weight: 49 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 128 Quarts
• Price: $479.99

Cordova is another trusted premium cooler that provides durable and reliable products.

This cooler has excellent ice retention, keeping the inside cold for days. Its advanced Delrin drain plugs let you easily eliminate any precipitation from your beer bottles and ice.

It’s rotomolded, making it extremely tough for any adventure. The cooler also has anti-slip goat feet, which keep your cooler in place, especially on wet surfaces.

You’re also guaranteed heavy-duty handles from Cordova with their anodized aluminum handles. It’s more long-lasting than handles from other coolers.

It has stainless steel hardware, like a built-in bottle opener — so that’s one less tool to bring during trips.

Its premium quality is a great way to keep your refreshments ice cold, even under the sun.

Pros

• Available in smaller sizes
• Great ice retention
• Lifetime warranty
• Styled for the outdoors
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Expensive
• Limited color options

6. Pelican Elite 250 Quart Cooler

Source: Pelican

Main Features

• Dimensions: 50.25 L x 17 W x 17.5 H inches
• Material: Polyethylene
• Available Color/s: Tan
• Product Weight: 92 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 240 Quarts
• Price: $964.95

Why stop at a 200-quart cooler when you can get a 240?

This Pelican Elite cooler is one of the biggest on the market from a premium quality brand. It’s great, even for colder climates, because it’s easy to use, even with gloves.

The best part is it can keep ice completely frozen for up to ten days! That’s more time than other coolers on the market, making it worth the money.

It has six tough fold-up handles. While it’s not expected that you’d always have a platoon of people to lift a cooler, Pelican has you covered if it gets extra loaded.

This cooler also has a threaded drain plug, making removing precipitation from the ice and other supplies easier.

While it might cost a lot of money, you’ll be covered with their legendary lifetime warranty without having to pay extra.

Pros

• Excellent ice retention
• Durable
• Great warranty
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavy

7. ENGEL 123 108-Quart Hard Cooler and Ice Box

Source: Engel

Main Features

• Dimensions: 41.7 L x 18.8 W x 18 H inches
• Material: Plastic
• Available Color/s: Tan, artic blue, coastal white, haze gray, iced mango, seafoam, white
• Product weight: 1 lb
• Maximum Capacity: 123 Quarts
• Price: $493.99

Compared to the other coolers on this list, Engel is one of the lightest. Yet, it’s a tough cookie that provides excellent storage space for frozen items.

Keep your ice completely frozen for eight to ten days, thanks to its excellent ice retention.

It’s built with an air-tight food-grade silicone freezer gasket. This insulation technology provides the best ice retention.

Their flush-mounted marine-grade draw latches, stainless steel back plates, and screws are of the best quality. The brand focuses on the small details, making it worth your money.

It has a non-skid lid that makes it extra tough and provides extra support if you put this cooler at the bottom of your trunk. It’s safe for sitting and standing.

Meanwhile, its non-skid and non-marking feet keep it from moving around, even on wet ground. It makes everything safer for your cooler when outdoors.

Pros

• Durable
• Great ice retention and insulation
• Optional non-skid pads are available

Cons

• Expensive
• Doesn’t seal well

8. Mammoth Ranger 125 Cooler

Source: Mammoth

Main Features

• Dimensions: 19.75 L x 37.5 W x 19.5 H inches
• Material: Plastic
• Available Color/s: Tan, white
• Product Weight: 41.5 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 125 Quarts
• Price: $550.00

This cooler is simple compared to the others on this list. However, when it comes to quality and durability, Mammoth lives up to its namesake.

This ice storage is one of the coldest, thanks to its thick foam insulation. It can keep ice and other foods frozen for 8 to 10 days without a problem.

It also has a double-walled rotomolded construction — and a freezer-grade lid doesn’t only help with ice retention. Instead, it also keeps the cooler tough for all kinds of activities.

Its flow drain system also removes any residue from all your ice and keeps the cooler in top shape.

It might take a lot of money to pay for it, but it gets the job done, especially since it’s one of the best coolers in the market.

Pros

• Great ice retention
• Lifetime warranty
• Durability

Cons

• Expensive
• Not many variations

9. Igloo Maxcold 100 Qt Commercially Insulated Coolers

Source: Igloo

Main Features

• Dimensions: 35.25 L x 17.38 W x 16.75 H inches
• Material: Plastic
• Available Color/s: Gray 
• Product Weight: 17.5 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 100 Quarts
• Price: $129.99

This cooler is one of the more high-end coolers from Igloo.

Its quality may not match the top brands, but it is worth the money — especially being the more affordable one in the market.

It also has decent ice retention, but not as long as the previous ones. It can usually hold ice for up to 5 days, like the Igloo Polar.

But it also holds less than the Igloo Polar.

However, what makes this product unique is its quick access. You can easily get what you need without opening the whole cover.

It allows your Igloo cooler to maintain the temperatures inside without restricting your access to ice.

Pros

• Decent ice retention
• Can have wheels
• Easy access
• Affordable

Cons

• Weak handles

10. Bison Coolers Rotomolded Hard Cooler Box

Source: Bison

Main Features

• Dimensions: 43.25 L x 21.6 W x 18.75 H inches
• Material: Rubber
• Available Color/s: Sand
• Product Weight: 57 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 125 Quarts
• Price: $599.00

All Bison coolers are made for excellent insulation, keeping your ice and refreshments cool for your trips.

Its form is rotomolded to maintain its robust shape and construction. It also keeps the cooler strong for any adventure in the outdoors.

It has a double-wall “shark fin” gasket to keep it shut when you’re not getting anything. It keeps your cool air in and the hot air out.

Its rubber latch system is also sturdier than most. It helps squeeze the gaskets and maintain the coolness inside for your ice to stay solid.

Thanks to all its features and construction, it can hold ice for five to eight days.

While this cooler may be great, it does cost a lot of money, which may be a major downside for many people.

Pros

• Durable
• Easy to bring
• Excellent ice retention

Cons

• Expensive

Frequently Asked Questions

You might have more questions on giant coolers after that long list.

I’ve gathered the commonly asked ones to help you narrow down your choices.

Which Cooler Holds Ice the Longest?

Out of all the coolers in the market, the most known for holding ice the longest is the Orca 40-quart cooler.

Many (including myself) have tried to compare its abilities in maintaining its insulation with other coolers. Orca’s smaller coolers seemed to be the best ones yet.

In some experiments by other consumers, this cooler was able to hold ice for up to TEN DAYS!

This cooler is a lot smaller compared to the others on this list. However, it’s worth the money. Orca also has bigger models, but they’re very expensive.

However, many ice boxes on this list can also maintain lower temperatures for a decent amount of time — enough for events and outdoor activities.

What Is the Best Brand of Cooler?

The best brand on the market usually depends on the kind of cooler you’re looking for.

When you shop for one, you might have to consider the cooler’s capacity, portability, and collapsibility.

However, when it comes to insulation properties in general, the best and most popular brands are Yeti and Pelican.

Some of the cheaper options are Grizzly, Igloo, and Coleman. While they are affordable, you can still trust these brands to provide premium quality products.

Is There a Cooler Better Than Yeti?

Yeti is the most-known brand when it comes to coolers. However, it’s also one of the most expensive coolers on the market.

Fortunately, many cheaper alternatives can provide the same insulation and features.

The most known brand that can compete with Yeti is Pelican. They strive to be a higher-quality product featuring almost similar properties to Yeti.

Are Hard-Sided Coolers Better Than Soft-Sided Coolers?

The type of cooler you get will depend on your activities, how long you’ll be out, and how much ice and refreshments you’re bringing.

A hard-sided cooler is best for rugged adventures, especially if your trip might get extended.

These coolers can insulate your refreshments for a longer amount of time. It also has a higher storage capacity, making them great for longer trips.

On the other hand, soft-sided coolers are made for daily use. They’re smaller and hold fewer items, making them great for smaller groups at most.

It usually doesn’t hold temperatures for longer than a day. However, some with better quality can stay cool for a bit longer.

When Do I Need a Large Cooler?

It also depends on your activities.

Outdoor enthusiasts are usually okay with having a small to medium-sized cooler — which would usually be around 12 quarts.

A small camping party of three people would usually settle for 50 to 60 quarts.

However, if you’re a hard-core hunter or the type to go on extended trips, you should get a 100 to 200-quart cooler.

There are even some which can carry up to 400 quarts.

It’s also important to note where you’ll put the coolers when not in use. After all, it’s difficult to have a 200-quart one in a small apartment.

Top 3 Picks Recap

You can easily find several hard-sided coolers with similar traits in the market.

However, based on the reviews and features of some coolers, some stand out more than others.

Here’s a recap of my top picks for giant coolers so you can further narrow down the right cooler for you:

YETI Tundra 125 Cooler – Best Overall

Source: Yeti

Coming from one of the best brands for premium coolers, the Yeti Tundra 125 is a reliable cooler for all your adventures.

As expected, it lives up to its hype.

It’s durable and will keep your ice frozen for days. It’s perfect for trips and large events to upgrade your outdoor gear.

If you’re looking to invest in a cooler that you can use for a long time, this is the best one.

Coleman Ice Chest 316 Series Wheeled Hard Coolers – Best Value

Source: Coleman

Easily wheel your cooler around and get your money’s worth. Coleman has been known for its quality and durability.

It beats the other prices of coolers on this list while guaranteeing a tough and reliable product you can use for a long time.

Your refreshments and ice are guaranteed to stay cold with this excellent cooler.

Igloo Polar 120 Qt. Cooler – Best Budget Pick

Source: Igloo

This cooler won’t catch your eye when you shop. However, Igloo can easily help you save some money while keeping your refreshments ice-cold at a great price.

Its quality and functionality make it a great storage system when you’re on a budget.

Conclusion

Getting a large cooler is a great investment, especially if you’re the type who’s always outdoors and adventurous under the sun.

It doesn’t matter if you’re camping, hunting, or on any other long trip — you can rely on these storage products to keep your items cool for a long time.