Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Does the World Need an $800 Vacuum-Insulated Cooler? Yeti Says Yes

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Few things polarize car campers, fishermen, and tailgaters like talk of “premium coolers.” Yeti and Pelican are brands revered by many, while others chastise them as ridiculously overpriced novelties marketed to yuppies who don’t know any better. The debate is only set to become more contentious with Yeti’s announcement of an all-new flagship $800 vacuum-insulated cooler.

We won’t lie: It’s easy to balk at the $800 price tag. This is just a cooler, after all. But, the Yeti V Series Stainless Steel Cooler delivers something that’s been surprisingly lacking in the cooler industry: Vacuum insulation. Many companies have long relied on the technology in travel mugs, as it’s incredibly efficient at keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. Most engineers consider it to be the single most effective way to insulate just about anything. Yeti itself uses vacuum insulation in its Rambler Drinkware. It’s odd, but it seems no other company has thought to use the same tech in its coolers as well.

Recommended Videos

The V Series cooler boasts vacuum-insulated panels all around, including in the lid. The plastic body is wrapped in kitchen-grade stainless steel that acts as a secondary insulation layer. It’s also tough, handsome, and designed to wear beautifully with age. The dual cast aluminum hinges are sturdy and built to last while a durable, single-center latch keeps everything on lock-down. A deep seal drain plug in the bottom is leakproof and makes draining the cooler simple without having to pour out the contents from the top.

With exterior dimensions of roughly 23 x 17 x 15-inches, this medium-sized cooler is a surprisingly hefty 35 pounds empty. Given that weight, the lack of built-in wheels like those found on the 37-pound Yeti Tundra Haul, for example, seems like a strange oversight. Still, the 55-quart Yeti V Series Stainless Steel Cooler is roomy enough to carry 65 pounds of just ice or 46 cans of beer (assuming a 2:1 ice-to-can ratio by volume).

In a recent three-day, head-to-head test between the new V Series and Yeti’s own Tundra cooler (considered by many to be the gold standard of premium coolers), Popular Mechanics confirmed the former delivers on its promise. “By the end of the test, the staying power of the V Series’ vacuum panels became clear,” the tester concluded. More specifically: “The cans that stayed in the V Series for all 72 hours were nearly 2.5 degrees colder, on average, than the Tundra cans chilled for the same amount of time. Even more impressively, the V Series retained 44% more ice at the end of the test.”

The Yeti V Series Stainless Steel Cooler goes on sale on December 5. If $800 is too rich for your wallet, however, check out our roundup of the best coolers on the market in 2019.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
How to plan your Glacier National Park visit for 2025: Reservation deadlines and key rules
Here's what Glacier National Park's new reservation system will mean for you in 2025
Hiking Glacier National Park in Montana.

Glacier National Park is one of the most gorgeous ones in the United States, so it's not a surprise that it saw almost three million visitors in 2023. Visitors can't get enough of Going-to-the-Sun Road, Lake McDonald, and the many lakes and glaciers in the area — the best time to visit Glacier National Park is often the busiest time. Because of the congestion in recent years, the National Park Service had previously enacted a reservation system for entry to the park as part of a pilot program. The National Park Service recently revealed this will continue in 2025, including timed entry reservations for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork — here's what you need to know.
Here's how it will look like going into 2025
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park Tevin Trinh via Unsplash / Unsplash
West Entrance: Going-to-the-Sun Road

Reservations required: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., June 13 – September 28.
Applies to travel beyond Apgar Village.
Entry without a reservation: Before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m.
Exceptions: Visitors with lodging, camping, or certain commercial reservations (originating beyond Apgar checkpoint) will be allowed entry.

Read more
How to plan a day hike: Essential tips for beginners
Day hikes aren't hard to plan; just follow these steps
Man wearing yellow jacket and backpack hiking or rucking in forest or woods with tall trees

Day hikes are one of America's most treasured pastimes, and with some of the most amazing sights for hiking on the globe, it's easy to see why. Nothing beats the fresh air and the invigorating exercise, and the best part is that you can go on these adventures pretty spontaneously. While day hikes require minimal planning, there are still a few things you should bring together before you go.

In this guide on how to plan for a day hike, you'll find essential tips for mapping out your route, packing the right gear, staying nourished, and ensuring your safety on the trail. Follow these steps, and you'll be ready for a successful day hike.
Get the route right

Read more
Insulating your tent for winter camping isn’t as hard as you think
Insulating your tent for winter camping isn't as hard as you think
Woman with a headlamp camping in a winter tent surrounded by snow.

When temperatures drop, and the wind starts howling, heat loss while winter camping can quickly turn a cozy night into a frosty one. The secret to keeping your tent warm isn't about getting the most high-tech gear. Actually, it lies in understanding how heat escapes. From the cold ground beneath you to the sneaky drafts around your tent, each type of heat loss plays a role in how well your tent holds onto warmth. In this article, we'll explore the various ways that heat can sneak away from your tent, as well as how to insulate a tent for winter camping.
Types of heat loss while winter camping and how to avoid them

There are several ways your body and tent lose heat: conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation. Here's how to avoid all four:
Ways to avoid heat loss due to conduction
Conduction occurs when heat is transferred from your body to colder surfaces, like the ground. To prevent heat loss through conduction, focus on insulating surfaces that come into direct contact with your body.

Read more