The Igloo BMX 52 cooler and the Yeti cooler are good considerations when looking for a portable cooler. They can also be referred to as portable cooler boxes. These are cooler models that are both suited for outdoor excursions. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler and the Yeti cooler vary in many ways. Some of their notable differences are in price, capacity, weight, and features, amongst others. They also have some near similarities. For instance, their ice retention capabilities are more or less similar. We shall be comparing them so that you can easily pick between the Igloo BMX 52 and the Yeti.
Table of Contents
Igloo BMX 52 Vs Yeti: Comparison Table
| Igloo BMX 52 | Yeti Cooler | |
| Build Material | Heavy duty blow-molded | Heavy duty roto-molded |
| Capacity | 52 quarts | 45 quarts |
| Dimensions | 26.22 × 17.2 × 16.93 inches | 25.75 × 16.5 × 16.25 inches |
| Weight | 16.4 pounds | 0.06 pounds |
| Warranty | 1 year limited | 5 year limited |
| Duration | 4 to 5 days | 4 to 5 days |
| Chamber Depth | 26.57 inches | 13.38 inches |
| Cans Capacity | 83 cans | 26 cans |
| Price | Check Price On Amazon | Check Price On Amazon |
| Igloo BMX 52 |
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| Yeti Cooler |
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Igloo BMX 52 Vs Yeti: Design
The Igloo BMX 52 cooler’s build material is heavy duty blow-moulded. The base is also reinforced. These attributes make it durable and well-protected. The Yeti cooler also has a roto-molded build thus making it robust to the core. The Yeti cooler has a FatWall design that is Bear-Resistant certified. No wonder Yeti considers this cooler ‘nearly unbreakable’. The build material for both the Igloo BMX 52 and the Yeti is resistant to rust.
All the steel components are made out of stainless steel. The stainless steel component contributes to these two coolers being lightweight and well-insulated. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler has built-in tie down loops – used to secure the cooler when transporting it. There is also an integrated ruler on the lid which comes in handy when estimating capacity of contents. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler also has UV inhibitors to guard against sun exposure.
Igloo BMX 52 Vs Yeti: Insulation And Ice Retention
The Igloo BMX 52 cooler has Cool Riser Technology. The base of the Igloo BMX 52 is moulded and elevated thus providing a buffer against possibly hot surfaces. The same design element is featured on the Yeti cooler. The Igloo BMX 52’s foam is 20 percent thicker and the lid is insulated. The Yeti cooler also has extra thick walls making up to 3 inches of insulation. The Yeti has polyurethane foams in those walls and the lid as well. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler and the Yeti cooler essentially have Permafrost insulation. The Igloo BMX 52 provides ice retention at 90 degrees Fahrenheit lasting between 4 and 5 days. The same also applies for the Yeti cooler.
Igloo BMX 52 Vs Yeti: Recommended Uses
Recommended uses are for the Igloo BMX 52 cooler are for the beach, for hunting, fishing, camping or the general outdoors. Camping and hiking are the most recommended uses for the Yeti cooler. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler is unisex whereas the Yeti is best suited for young girls. That even comes as no surprise when you consider that the Yeti cooler is significantly smaller. This makes it easier for young girls to carry and handle the Yeti cooler given its lightweight.
Igloo BMX 52 Vs Yeti: Handling And Care
It is easy to care for the Igloo BMX 52 because you can simply hand wash it; that is what Igloo actually recommends. The same applies for the Yeti cooler; Yeti recommends hand washing. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler has latches that keep the lid firmly in place. They are made out of rubber for easy handling. The Yeti cooler also features T-Rex lid latches made out of robust rubber. The Yeti also features patented keeper technology.
The Igloo BMX 52 has a threaded drain plug. The drain plug’s tethered cap is stainless steel and is non-slip and easy-grip. There are handles that enable two-handed handling for both the Igloo BMX 52 cooler and the Yeti cooler. This makes it easier to lift and carry the coolers as one person or two people. Both the handles and latches of the Igloo BMX 52 and Yeti are bulky. This makes them robust and also provide for firm grips and positioning respectively.
Pros Of The Igloo BMX 52
The Igloo BMX 52 cooler is much cheaper. The price tag of the Yeti cooler is enough to purchase almost 3 Igloo BMX 52 coolers. The Igloo BMX 52 also has much more capacity. It has a capacity of 52 quarts compared to the Yeti’s 45 quarts. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler has a chamber depth of 26.57 inches (compared to the Yeti cooler’s 13.38 inches). The Igloo BMX 52 can carry 83 cans whereas the Yeti can only manage 26 cans. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler is unisex thus making it comfortably usable by anyone. The Igloo BMX 52 has broader use cases namely, for the beach, for hunting, fishing, camping or the general outdoors. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler is also uniquely endowed with the Cool Riser Technology.
Cons Of The Igloo BMX 52
The most obvious downside of the Igloo BMX 52 cooler is that it is quite heavier, especially compared with the Yeti cooler. The other disadvantage of the Igloo BMX 52 is its 1 year limited warranty. It is way too short compared to the Yeti’s 5 years. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler is not certified Bear-Resistant. Of course the Igloo BMX 52 is robust but it may have its limits especially in harsher environments. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler has some limitations insulation-wise. The Igloo BMX 52 does not have an effective lid or seal to keep external air outside. This can lead to shorter ice retention periods.
Pros Of The Yeti
The Yeti cooler is famed for delivering much higher and reliable performance. The build quality and design of the Yeti cooler is unparalleled. The FatWall design and Bear-Resistant certification speaks to that. This makes the Yeti long lasting; even for a lifetime and it can withstand harsh environments. The other advantage of the Yeti cooler is that it is lightweight. This is convenient for females or generally users particular about how much weight they must handle. The T-Rex lid latches on the Yeti cooler enable efficient handling. Plus the Yeti is also equipped with patented keeper technology. The other huge upside of the Yeti cooler is its warranty. The Yeti has a 5 year limited warranty; much longer than the Igloo BMX 52’s 1 year.
Cons Of The Yeti
The Yeti cooler is clearly way too expensive. In fact, Yeti coolers are generally premium-priced making them out of reach for many prospects. The Yeti is also significantly small or smaller. The Yeti cooler’s chamber depth and can capacity are eclipsed by those of the Igloo BMX 52 cooler. The Yeti cooler is not considered unisex; it is meant for female use. Whilst this may be good for females it presents limitations for male use. This is why the Yeti is significantly smaller and lighter in weight. The recommended uses for the Yeti are also limited – just camping and hiking.
Factors To Consider When Purchasing Portable Coolers
The first thing to consider is the projected types and quantities of items you would want to put in the cooler. This will usually depend on the number of people involved and projected durations of using the cooler. This brings to the fore the capacity of the cooler; it is an essential consideration. You also have to consider the type of environment and circumstances under which you will use the cooler. This will often feed into choosing the type of cooler ideal for your needs.
Some common types of coolers are passive coolers, thermoelectric coolers, compressor coolers, and absorption coolers. You will also have to factor in the features of a cooler in question. Coolers have different features, some desirable and some not so you have to look into that. Other factors to consider are how you intend to transport the cooler and general weather conditions. Put together, these factors will help you narrow down your options so that you can pick the best cooler.
Igloo BMX 52 Vs Yeti: Our Pick
Picking the best between the Igloo BMX 52 cooler and the Yeti cooler is a no-brainer. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler is significantly cheaper than the Yeti cooler. The capacity attributes of the Igloo BMX 52 cooler far outweigh that of the Yeti cooler too. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler has an overall capacity of 52 quarts. Its chamber depth is also roughly double that of the Yeti cooler.
The Igloo BMX 52 cooler has a can capacity of 83 cans; compared to the Yeti cooler’s 26 cans. The Igloo BMX 52 cooler also has several features that the Yeti does not have. An example of that is the UV inhibition feature. The other upside of using the Igloo BMX 52 cooler is that its uses are more diverse. The Yeti cooler is just confined to camping and hiking as recommended uses. Thus when you put all these dynamics together, our best pick is the Igloo BMX 52 cooler.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Is Yeti So Expensive?
Yeti cooler are usually costly due to several factors. This stems mainly from their impeccable build quality and design. A Yeti cooler’s insulation and heavy duty robustness is exceptional. For instance, Yeti coolers have FatWall designs and are certified Bear-Resistant. The other factor is that they have considerably long warranties e.g. 3 years and 5 years. Yeti coolers are also eco-friendly; something Yeti prioritizes immensely.
Is A 52 Quart Cooler Too Big?
Well, it depends on the number of people involved and the duration for when the cooler is being used. Generally, 35 to 45 quarts suffices for an average-sized family’s weekend camping trip. Anything beyond 45 quarts can last the same family an entire week. If you are by yourself, 25 to 45 quarts can last you up to 4 days. Thus, a 52 quarts cooler can do for week long camping trips for a family.
Can I Put Hot Drinks In An Igloo Cooler?
An Igloo cooler is primarily insulated. This implies that it can keep contents cold or hot. Essentially ice is needed to keep the contents cold. However, to keep contents hot or warm, for instance, hot chocolate, you would require a heat source.
How Can I Keep Ice Frozen Longer In My Cooler?
You can pre-cool the cooler throughout the night before the day you want to start using it. This can be achieved by placing the cooler in a cool place overnight. The best approach would be to place some ice in the cooler overnight. This will have the effect of getting rid of trapped heat inside the cooler.
Do You Put Ice On Top Or Bottom Of The Cooler?
You must start off at the bottom by placing block ice. Then you place your frozen or desired items on top of the block ice. On top of that you then place ice blocks or cubes. Make sure all empty spaces or crevices are covered or filled by ice. The presence of substantial free moving air inside will shorten the ice retention period. No wonder you should orderly arrange the ice and contents.
Conclusion
The Igloo BMX 52 cooler and the Yeti cooler are good in their individual respects. For the most part, it is clear that the Igloo BMX 52 cooler would be your best choice. Just looking at the price point alone it is evident. That is buttressed by the superior and additional features the Igloo BMX 52 has over the Yeti cooler. However, there may be contexts where one may prefer the Yeti cooler. This can be due to the fact the Yeti is more inclined towards female use. Thus weight considerations can be a huge consideration for female consumers.
| Igloo BMX 52 |
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| Yeti Cooler |
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