We are planning to bring a cooler on our canoe trip. We are considering investing in a medium sized Yeti cooler. We were sold on it when we read that it is bear proof, so wouldn't need to be hung. Does anyone have one and have any comments about them? Are they worth the money? Thanks.

They are worth the $$-- but note that Costco sells Pelican brand which is very similar to Yeti for less $$.
As far a bear proof-- I don't know. You don't have to hang a Yeti/Pelican type cooler because they basically are heavier then granite. :O) If your canoe trip involves portaging- I would live the Yeti at home. If you plan on going to the BWCA/Q several times (who doesn't) You may want to invest the same amount of $$ in a food pack that is designed to be portaged such as this one. It will last a lifetime.
my .02

I have a similar, an Engel. As WW said, HEAVY. Supposed to be bear proof. I have thought that it would work in a #4 Doluth Pack for a food pack for trips without portages. Here's a link to the Engel. It was a little cheaper than the Yeti and did a little better in side by side test.
Engel Cooler

Time for my cooler speech. The short answer is it depends. The long winded answer is this.

I have a Yeti Tundra 120. It cost me ~$500 five years ago and it's heavy as sin. I love mine but I knew what I was getting when I bought it. Many people don't and are amazed to learn it doesn't hold ice much better than the average box store cooler if managed the same (constantly opened and closed). If managed properly it will hold ice for three weeks, but that's not why I bought mine. A comparably sized Igloo (or pick a non-rotomolded brand) with handles that will pop off the first time it's dragged and a lid that can't even be sat on, much less stood on or jumped from, is $120.

So, if you're the type who subjects a cooler to that kind of treatment (I am, and then some) then yes, it's worth it, and they are certified bear proof when locked. However, if you just need a cooler for the usual applications IMO it's not worth it. I wouldn't suggest springing for one just because it's bear proof unless you plan to take it into grizzly country on a regular basis.

All that said, if you do decide to get a rotomolded cooler take a look at Canyon. Canyon They're great guys (long story I can tell you if you're interested), and if they'd been around when I bought the Yeti I would have bought a Canyon instead. If you don't get a Canyon I agree with Terry that an Engel would have a slight edge on a Yeti with regard to cooling.

One last thing; all the aforementioned are very good coolers, BUT, I HATE the latches on my Yeti.

Happy hunting!

Oh, a couple of other neat things about the roto coolers. You can put dry ice directly into them (has to be wrapped in a towel or something with cheap coolers) and trip with ice cream or just reduce the amount of regular ice you have to carry. Rarely worth the additional expense and hassle IMO, but I have done it on occasion. Also, if you're planning a LONG trip in a hot environment you can freeze water directly in the cooler. You can even pre-cook meals and freeze them into the water.

I love that kind of stuff, but I'm sort of a weirdo. My wife calls me the Inspector Gadget of the outdoors.

I love Yeti coolers, but I sure wouldn't bring one on a flat water portage canoe trip, maybe a down river trip but that's about it, just too heavy. Also I would never bring one because I thought it was bear proof, pretty sure a determined could get in and if I drop $300 on a cooler I sure don't want a bear chewing on it!

Hhmmm, all good things to think about! Thanks guys.

quote Ragged: pretty sure a determined could get in and if I drop $300 on a cooler I sure don't want a bear chewing on it! "

Not likely. I realize this is a Yeti promo, but judge for yourself. Bears and a Yeti

Any cooler on a canoe trip can face multiple challenges in my opinion.

As far as "bear proof", I just left EP #14 a few weeks ago and found the remains of a Yeti cooler absolutely mauled and destroyed by a bear (teeth/claw marks and lid ripped off). The owners were even courteous enough to throw it back in the woods so they did't have to pack it out (sarcasm!). Embracing the "leave no trace" mantra of the BWCA, I felt the moral obligation to pack it out for them... fun.

I agree with WhiteWolf, get a good insulated food pack.

quote WalleyeHunter24: "Any cooler on a canoe trip can face multiple challenges in my opinion.


As far as "bear proof", I just left EP #14 a few weeks ago and found the remains of a Yeti cooler absolutely mauled and destroyed by a bear (teeth/claw marks and lid ripped off). The owners were even courteous enough to throw it back in the woods so they did't have to pack it out (sarcasm!). Embracing the "leave no trace" mantra of the BWCA, I felt the moral obligation to pack it out for them... fun.


I agree with WhiteWolf, get a good insulated food pack."

If they were thoughtless enough to leave behind the remains it's likely they didn't lock it. Of course it won't withstand a bear, or even a determined raccoon, possum or possibly even skunk if it's not locked. FWIW I agree a heavy rotomolded cooler would not be ideal for a trip involving portaging. They are very bear resistant though if locked.

I own several yeti coolers and 2 Engels and prefer the Engels. I was disappointed in yeti performance until I learned to "pre-cool" the chest. Throw in a bag of ice overnight before using......dump contents and then use as planned. Otherwise they aren't whole lots better than a Coleman 5 day. And yep......really heavy.

Bear proof......probably are rated as such as long as you pad lock both corners.......there are holes in the corners to accommodate pad locks.

quote DeuceCoop: "

quote Ragged: pretty sure a determined could get in and if I drop $300 on a cooler I sure don't want a bear chewing on it! "

Not likely. I realize this is a Yeti promo, but judge for yourself. Bears and a Yeti "

That video was like 5 seconds long! I want to see the full length un-edited version. I'm sticking with my statement, no way a Yeti is even close to bear proof, might stop the vast majority, but somewhere, somehow one of those bears is going to gnaw on the lock corner long enough to get in. I actually think the Canyon ones mentioned have a much better design where the lock is on the inside where its thick vs on a tab on the corner where its thin.

Cannot disagree. They'll always find a way if they want in badly enough. As I said, judge for yourself. :)

My $0.02: Yeti coolers are great - however, very heavy and very small on the inside relative to the outside dimensions. If I had 1 portage or less, I may consider it. Anything over that, I would probably leave it for the bears to play with. Or, I would go with one of their soft sided coolers. Those work well too and would be much easier to portage.