I admit I am a bit of a cooler snob, which is to say I really like and appreciate quality coolers. I grew up in the ‘70s and my dad had the old red and green Coleman coolers with the metal twist latch. At the time, these were the “good ones”. When I began to hunt in other states and found the need to transport meat back home, I found my little beach coolers weren’t up to the task. So began my love affair with high end coolers. Since that time I have purchased a dozen or so, ranging in size from small lunch bags to a huge 400 quart model that takes 4 of us to lift when filled with elk meat. Even though I have all that I “need”, I’m always on the lookout for something better.
While perusing the aisles of the 2023 SHOT Show, my daughter, Tayler, and I stumbled upon Rugged Road coolers. At first glance I thought this was just another high end cooler but I’m glad we stopped to take a closer look. Rugged Road coolers feature several innovative designs that are pretty cool, but the key attribute setting them apart from the competition is their extreme lightweight. For example, the 65 quart model weights just 13 pounds. This is less than half the weight of a comparable high end cooler and it does it while providing longer ice retention. How can this be possible?
Rugged Road achieved their unprecedented strength to weight ration by combining two new technologies. The new insulative technology is called Fridgite and allows the walls of the cooler to be thinner while still providing long ice retention. The coating of the cooler is called Rigorite which is ultralight and blast-proof. This allows the cooler to be thinner while being tough, which also provides more interior space while allowing the overall dimensions to be smaller than competitors’ models.
Some other cool features of Rugged Road coolers include their “Double Up” dual handle system. This gives you a molded fixed handle as well as a rope handle. One of my favorite features is the Kick Flip Lid. The lid is easily removable and reversible. One side has drink holders and a snack tray molded into it while the other side has a ruler and cutting board. The ability to remove the lid is also really helpful when it is time to hose out the cooler. The lid can even be used as a kick board if you want to swim with it! This brings up the next neat feature; the cooler floats! Not only does it float, but it floats upright so you can take it in the water with you and actually use it while you float down the river.
The coolers come with a divider and snack tray, things you often have to pay extra for. They have an amazing non-slip finish on the outside and a special non-slip coating on the feet that helps to keep them from sliding around the truck bed. The coolers also have a gasket seal around the rim so when it is closed with the latch secured, nothing is getting in or out of this thing. Finally, they come with a lifetime warranty so you have peace of mind knowing you bought something of quality. I highly recommend you check out their website and read more about them. You won’t be disappointed.