1.) Jon - 09/15/2016

Well, after all the discussion and research, I decided to break down and buy a RTIC cooler. I went with the soft sided 30 pack cooler. Reviews are strong and the price was so much better than that other rip-off brand who now won't sell a thing because people know that they are very over priced.
I'll ops check it next week......more to come

2.) bluecat - 09/15/2016

Are you referring to Yeti?

Show us a pic of what you got.

3.) Swamp Fox - 09/15/2016

I might have told this story on here already, so stop me if you've heard this before.

I was in Academy or some place like that recently and saw some Yeti soft-sided coolers. So I went over to look at them, although Yeti has never impressed me. $450! (as I recall). For a large insulated purse!

At least have the common decency to shoot me in the head first if you're going to try to do [B]THAT[/B] to me. :shocked:

4.) DParker - 09/15/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;43990]$450! (as I recall). For a large insulated purse! [/QUOTE]

Did it at least match your shoes?

5.) Swamp Fox - 09/15/2016

Well, that's another thing...I would have had to shop for a whole new outfit! LOL


Don't get me wrong: I get the benefit of soft-sided coolers, but Yeti must have lucky leprechauns making them out of unobtainium and gold thread for that kind of money.

6.) Jon - 09/16/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;43988]Are you referring to Yeti?

Show us a pic of what you got.[/QUOTE]

Yes, YETI.
From the stories I've been told, the guy who owns RTIC used to work for Yeti and was waiting for the copyright to expire so he could use the same technology to design his own cheaper but better cooler. There's no-way I could talk myself into buying a cooler for $300 to keep beer cold for a weekend.
Here's what the RTIC looks like although this isn't mine, it's a picture I found on the innerwebs

[URL=http://s93.photobucket.com/user/jonnybow/media/RTIC.png.html][/URL]

7.) bluecat - 09/16/2016

"Apparently the WalMart Ozark Trails tumblers are exact copies of the Yeti and Rtic (except for the logos and price) and they also ship from the same initial distributor."

These are comments from this web article. [url]https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/case-watch-yeti-v-rtic-john-drake[/url]

8.) Jon - 09/16/2016

I've read that same thing. Doesn't surprise me either. I guess the copyright (or patent) expired for Yeti and now everyone is making their own. I walked through Cabelas last weekend and they had Yeti coolers stacked up like cordwood, I'm guessing they will remain stacked in the same spot.

9.) bluecat - 09/16/2016

Your soft cooler looks like it would be the perfect solution for brining a turkey.

10.) Swamp Fox - 09/16/2016

[QUOTE=Jon;44002]...From the stories I've been told, the guy who owns RTIC used to work for Yeti and was waiting for the copyright to expire so he could use the same technology to design his own cheaper but better cooler. [URL=http://s93.photobucket.com/user/jonnybow/media/RTIC.png.html][/URL][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;44004]"Apparently the WalMart Ozark Trails tumblers are exact copies of the Yeti and Rtic (except for the logos and price) and they also ship from the same initial distributor."

These are comments from this web article. [url]https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/case-watch-yeti-v-rtic-john-drake[/url][/QUOTE]


Velly intellesting. I wonder if Walmart will start selling heavy-duty coolers. That could be good news for people like me watching a few of the other brands. Although I have been a big fan of the very affordable Igloo MaxCold and the Coleman Xtreme coolers, I can think of two or three reasons I could talk myself into buying something even better, if it didn't involve the sales equivalent of a Viking raid on a village of women, children and defenseless monks.

11.) DParker - 09/16/2016

Yeah, I just don't get the whole Yeti cooler craze. I guess I can see where a cooler that pricey might be justified in some cases, but not many. I know they're quite durable, but I could wear out and replace my 120 qt Igloo (which will keep stuff more than cold enough for a week or more if I don't open the lid) over a dozen times before I'd be out as much money as the price of a single Yeti cooler of comparable capacity.

12.) Jon - 09/16/2016

I still have 2 igloo plastic coolers that I bought 20 years ago, they work just fine still. I believe they were $35 or so. One of them has a fold out handle and wheels on the back so you can drag it around.

13.) DParker - 09/16/2016

I really neglected and abused my first big Igloo, so I only got 11 years out of it before I busted it up enough to warrant replacing it 2 years ago. I expect to get far more time out of the new one.