Are they worth the $$? Is there a competitor? Opinions, por favor!

Hot damn cooler talk is back!

These seem to be just as good as a Yeti, but somewhat cheaper.

http://www.bruteoutdoors.com/

I can buy and truck load of ice for what a Yeti cost.

It was funny,a sales guy at Academy caught me looking at them. He asked if I had any questions, I said yes, what is the interest rate on the finance plan for these suckers . He turned and walked away.

I have a couple friends that do have them. Both say ice retention is about the same as a good igloo or coleman, but that they are indestructible. Brute outdoors is a competitor, a bit cheaper. But on their ice retention test, they only open the cooler once a day to check it. Who drinks just one beer a day? Any cooler will hold ice longer if you never open it.

And how would you like to have one of the $500 bad boys stolen out of the back of your truck/boat

I've not pulled the trigger on one yet(i). I gotta wade through all the igloo and coleman coolers I gots before I can justify the $.

I would say it all depends on how you are going top use it.
For fishing are hunting guides who would use it extensively it would be worth the investment.
For an occasional use on weekend family outing I would think it would be under utilized for the expense.
If you just want bragging rights to how much disposable income you have, and conspicuous consumption, or just like the quality go ahead and spend the money.

i've noticed a few things about yeti's and other coolers. rarely does a guy own a yeti that doesn't also have a perfectly maintained expensive boat, a top of the line decked out vehicle, the newest and best fishing and hunting equipment, and an eye for nice (and expensive) things.

just an observation.

i don't own one, my coolers get the job done, but i guess if i had an extra couple grand laying around, i would get new yeti's for the boat, and a couple for hunting or leaving around the house.

That's kind of my take on it. If I had the money, I'd buy a few.

But rarely am I in a situation where I can't run to get ice for my Coleman every day or so.

I'm going on a 5 day camping trip at the end of the month and want to minimize my trips to the store. As of now, I'm leaning towards the Engel or the Coleman Xtreme...

Yo Bill, get you a big box of kosher salt. Pour that on top of your ice. It will last much longer.

Here is some good information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-TE4RnqT0U

get a couple Coleman Xtreme's and be done with it, those are great coolers and you really can't go wrong with them. no need to pony up for a yeti for one camping trip a year.

I have the coleman extreme. It will not hold ice for 5 days as advertised. Maybe if yo never opened it all week it would, but if you are planning to use it, you may get 2-2 1/2 days max.

My Coleman Extreme that I kept food in kept ice for 3 days Easter Weekend. The beer cooler needed ice after one day (however I did put the original ice on top of warm beer and drinks).