Yeti Roadie 15 Hard Cooler review: compact, carryable and very, very cold

Yeti Roadie 15 Hard Cooler: first impressions 

Just because you're looking for a small cooler doesn't necessarily mean you're looking for something light and cheap, and the Yeti Roadie 15 is as bulletproof as any of its designs, but compact. Built for days at the beach and short camping trips (without the family), this camping cooler really checks off nearly every box.

Yeti's claim is that it holds 22 cans (only) or 16lbs of ice, but since you're likely to want both of those things, realistically you're probably looking at about 15 or 16 cans plus ice. You can lie wine bottles down and fit three in easily, and if it's food you want to keep cold, there's plenty of space in this sensibly-dimensioned cooler.

In our field tests, we found the Permafrost insulation kept things reasonably icy for about 48 hours, but obviously timing varies depending on how and where you're using it. Of course, it also keeps hot food hot, and it's easy to drain when the ice starts melting thanks to the Bestdam drain plug.

A cooler of this size typically has carry handles, and while this one does have what Yeti calls "Liftgrip" handles – meaning indentations where you can slide your fingers – what's unusual and frankly genius is that it comes with a very robust and comfortable carrying strap. The cooler is just small enough that you can comfortably cart it over one shoulder as long as you're not going too far, and you'll have your hands free.

This cooler latches shut and keeps the heat out, and the mechanisms are easy to operate single-handedly if you're juggling a cold drink at the same time. They're not bear-proof, but Yeti does sell a tie-down kit and a security cable lock separately. The brand also warns that this cooler isn't leakproof, which means if it ends up upside down there may be spillage.

However, if you're planning on loading this up in the back of your truck or onto a boat, rubber grips at the bottom prevent it from sliding away, and if you're just packing it in the back of a car, it fits neatly into any trunk and between seats, plus it makes a fairly comfortable seat itself. When you get home, it's easy enough to clean with a wipe of soapy water.

It's heavier than your average small cooler but built to be bulletproof and look, you don't need us to tell you it's expensive. But if you want a really classy, high performing smaller cooler? This is it.

Yeti Roadie 15 Hard Cooler: in the field 

I got this cooler just as the warm weather dissipated last year, but thanks to some fun family trips I've still been able to get some use out of it for picnics and outdoor gatherings over the past six months.

Here’s how it performed:

Construction and design

Yeti is the gold standard when it comes to camping coolers and like any other from the Austin brand, this one is built to basically withstand everything but a bullet (I haven't tried shooting it, it's far too nice for that).

The construction is what Yeti calls Rocksolid and that's exactly how it feels. Yes, it's heavier than similarly-sized coolers from other brands, but if you've ever owned a cheaper cooler, you'll feel the difference in the overall build. One of the first things to go with cheaper coolers is, of course, the hinges and locking mechanisms, and while I've only had this for months and not years, I have great confidence in both the interlocking two-pin hinge design and the Quicklatch closures. Even the carry strap is super robust.

As for design, it's pretty perfect. It's the smallest hard cooler Yeti makes, so it's really intended for days out or maybe an overnight car camping trip if there's just one or two of you. I've found it holds enough food for a night away, plus a few drinks, or enough drinks for a party, and the interior space can sensibly fit wine b0ttles lying down, stacked cans or tupperwares of food.

I'm able to open and latch it with one hand without any struggling (which of course means a bear could too, but I don't live in bear country anymore) and it's easy to grab with both hands when I'm hauling it out of the trunk.

Insulation and performance

If you're investing a lot of money in a Yeti cooler, you probably have one question and one question only: how long does it keep food cold? Or hot, for that matter?

Sensibly, Yeti doesn't specify this on its website, which makes sense, since how long it will keep ice frozen all depends on what's inside it, how hot it is outside and how frequently you open it. To try and help you with this question, I did an unofficial lab test where I filled it with six bottles of water and two bags of ice. I kept it indoors at room temperature and checked it every few hours. The ice lasted about 48 hours under these conditions. Needless to say, if it were outside on a hot summer camping trip, I might expect that time to be cut down substantially, but I still think you can rely on 24 hours of cold food from it, and since it's a small cooler, I think that's more than adequate.

As for keeping food hot, I haven't tried that yet, but one of these days I'll chuck a roast beef in there as an experiment and let you know.

Portability

Since Yetis are a little heavier, I was a bit worried about carting this thing around, and while it's not exactly built for a long trek, I must say I'm enormously impressed by how well the padded carry strap works. It really is as comfortable as Yeti claims and for me, makes it easier to haul it up and down stairs and across the park.

There are also two grip handles, which are basically indents for your fingers (which means they'll never break off) that make it easy to lift in and out of the car.

Speaking of the car, the dimensions of this cooler make it really packable. I drive a small Toyota Yaris but on a family vacation to the Galloway Forest where we wanted to bring some groceries, it easily fit in the trunk along with suitcases and other bags. It's also small enough to slide in between seats.

Value

It's a Yeti. So yes, it's expensive. Do you need to pay $200 for a small cooler? Of course not. But if you want one that will last a lifetime, or you just love the brand, you'll find this delivers on all its promises.

Yeti Roadie 15 hard cooler: the bottom line 

The Yeti Roadie 15 takes everything that makes Yeti coolers great and delivers it in a smaller package, which is ideal for day trips, picnics and road trips. This cooler is portable, packable and keeps food and drinks colds for ages. Yes, you can find a cheaper cooler, but it might be hard to find one that matches this one's quality and longevity.

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