This can include things such as premature leaking, warping of the lid, and stitching coming undone. Ozark Trail is one of the most common brands we have been asked about as a potential “Yeti replacement”. We must admit that the huge price cut and supposed similar ice retention and features are tempting. An example of the color choices for the popular 24-can soft cooler is shown in the image below. The pockets on the front will be zippered while any on the sides will be open and mesh. Though it’s a bit too tall to be able to leave in place when we want to make the bed, it fits just fine on the front seat. If you have a bigger van though, it would double as an additional seat in the cabin. How does this compare to some of the premium coolers on the market such as Yeti? And these thick walls are coated in a UV-resistant layer that helps to protect the cooler from sun damage over time. Depending on if you go with an Ozark Trail hard-sided cooler or an Ozark Trail soft-sided cooler, you can expect different features. We will break down the specific features for each type of ice chest in the sections below. We think this is one of the best coolers for camper van life. Our favorite feature of the Ozark Trail Soft Coolers is their additional storage options. Every model will come with at least one separate zippered pocket and many will have multiple zippered pockets in addition to mesh side pockets. All models are super easy to transport thanks to multiple carrying methods including optional wheels, padded shoulder straps, and more. Rather, they are a good companion for a lunch outing or small picnic. Specifically, the smaller models will have ice life that starts at just a couple of hours and creeps up to around half a day. The more capable premium models should keep ice for up to a day and a half. Their low-cost, soft-sided cooler options don’t have a lot of storage volume or insulation to help them out. And while we are on the subject of the premium soft-sided coolers, there are a few additional features specific to them. The weather was in the high 90s during the test, the coolers were in full sun for most of the morning, and we opened them several times throughout the day. The ice melted in the Coleman in 24 hours and the YETI in 48 hours. What I found most fascinating about this test is that the water in the YETI stayed cold for three additional days after the ice melted. The water was cold enough that had the gallon jugs been milk, we would have been able to drink out of them for three days after the ice melted. All-in-all, the YETI lasted for five days and the Coleman for one day. We have been receiving a lot of complaints as of late from people who are mentioning that the zippers on their soft-sided coolers are going out after 6 to 12 months. Ozark Trail’s lineup of soft coolers tries to adhere to their “affordability first” approach. This includes simple lunch boxes and tiers up to premium totes and cooler backpacks. Specifically, you will find 6-can, 12-can, 24-can, 36-can, 42-can, totes, and cooler backpacks. As for prices, the lower-end models are easily into the budget price tier while the premium creeps up to intermediate. The ice life, well not bad, was not near what Ozark Trail stated in their specifications. The coolers remained in the same location for the duration of the 6 day test, only being opened to snap daily progress pictures. The Pelican also features a different pull handle than the Yeti and Ozark coolers as well. I do think the Pelicans pull handle is the lowest on my list of the three. But even if you do deal with a minor quality issue, the amount of money you’ll save compared to comparable coolers is huge. Maybe you’ll get lucky and receive one without these problems. Basically, you have a small cooler, you have a medium cooler, and you also have a fairly large cooler. They also have some great but more mainstream designs for the tightest of budgets, by the way. The style is better, build quality is better, they have better ice retention and more choice. If your budget can stretch a bit they are worth checking out. I really like these coolers as they offer great value but they don’t break the bank. In fact, at the time of writing this Lifetime coolers are even cheaper than Ozark Trail coolers with the 55-Quart selling for under $100. Because of this, their coolers are certified bear-resistant by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) and join the club of other well known, bear-proof coolers. That means you don’t have to worry about a grizzly bear gaining access to your cooler contents. Another good thing about Ozark Trail coolers is that all of their metal components are made of stainless steel, which is resistant to both breaking and corrosion. If you’re going to create a top tier cooler, it obviously has to be rotomolded. If you want your cooler to be both tough and durable, you can’t skimp on this one aspect of design.