Top 10 Best Pelican Coolers Reviews — Complete Buying Guide

Not long ago, a cooler was considered good if it kept ice for an entire weekend. Today’s innovative and premium coolers have quadrupled that period but at the cost of an arm and a leg. With a considerable amount of dollars on the line, it’s only fair that you get good bang for your buck. With that said, we set out to try and identify the best coolers as reviewed by a majority of consumers. Before you go and buy one, take a look at our top ten list of Pelican coolers. You will notice that we included a list of pros and cons at the end of each description for a more intimate understanding of each product. We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to.

ProGear Elite Cooler, 35 Quart

With 4.4 out of a possible 5 stars, you can’t help but take a closer look at what is referred to as a Grade A cooler.

It’s also important to note that Pelican coolers come in various sizes from 20 all the way to 250 quarts. This particular model is a 35 quartz model with a super solid tactical build.

The unit is fully insulated with a rubber gasket at the bottom, sides and even on the lid. As a result, you’re assured of days and days of frozen ice. While some of the ice may melt, most users reported frozen ice six days later in 95 degrees of weather and up to ten days on 75 degrees of weather.

ProGear’s elite cooler will reduce and minimize the amount of air that gets in, which means all the heat stays out while the cold stays in. Its ability to maintain temperature for a long time is what most users reported.

If you’re looking for a cooler for marine fun or a truck bed, this is the best thing you can get for your trip.

Pros

• Has an airtight drain that drains a full tank in less than a minute.
• Easy for cleaning inside after storing meats and fish for a couple of days.
• Its handles and latches are excellent; plus it has great accessories for Pelican coolers.

Cons

• If you’re looking for a cooler for camping where portability is needed, then you may want to consider another option. It is heavy when empty and even worse when fully loaded.

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ProGear Elite Cooler, 45 Quart

ProGear Elite Cooler is an American made super fine heavy duty cooler boasting seven to ten days of frozen ice. While this sounds somehow implausible, many users have sworn that it keeps ice frozen for extended periods and in extreme temperatures.

One user took her family out for camping with this cooler. She says that the chest beat them hands down. Their ice lasted the whole trip, which was 3 days and then 5 more days in her 100 degrees garage. That was a total of 8 whopping days with the whole family being in and out of it. How is that for its effectiveness?

Some users mentioned encountering a few problems with this cooler, but they did mention getting excellent customer service upon calling the manufacturer. A few users also reported a leaking drain, but this seemed to be the minority who unfortunately received the rare but dreaded defective units.

Pros

• Keeps ice frozen for a really long time
• Padlock ready with a great seal to ensure the safety of its contents.
• Has real handles with great latches

Cons

• It is pretty heavy for one person to move it by themselves. You may want to consider buying a collapsible cart for moving it around.

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ProGear Elite Cooler, 65 Quart

What’s that one thing you do after using a cooler or replacing ice? If your answer is to drain the existing water, then you’re absolutely right.

You know how hard it can be to do this on your own. Nevertheless, Pelican’s ProGear 65 quart cooler offers ease in this department with its sloped drain that can be attached to a garden hose, which means it drains itself.

But wait! That’s not all…

Road trip buffs adore this cooler, as one user mentioned that it fits perfectly in the back of their jeep with one seat removed. Another user said that it could keep ice frozen for a few days even without the lid on.

Users also reported good preparation such as pre-cooling to get optimal use and frozen ice time from this and all other Pelican coolers.

This cooler may just win the contest for being one of the best Pelican coolers with the highest levels of durability thanks to its over ten-day ice retention capabilities.

Pros

• Maintains its cold temperatures thus keeping ice frozen for up to 10 days.
• It has a solid, durable construction with excellent handles and latches
• It has a lifetime no questions asked return replacement policy

Cons

• Some users mentioned that they received the unit and noticed that its drain plug was leaking. But since it has a lifetime no questions asked replacement warranty, you will be shipped in a new one as soon as possible.

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ProGear Elite Cooler, 20 Quart

This Pelican cooler is yet another solid choice. You will be surprised how roomy it is despite the fact that it’s only a 20 quart. One user reported being able to fit almost ten sodas, 8 beers, 4 Gatorades and 4 bottles of waters inside. Pretty impressive huh! Additionally, it comes with a bottle opener, unlike the bigger coolers.

Even though it doesn’t have a drain, it is a small unit and therefore easier to pick up and empty out. Its ice retention capability is impressive by its own standards, but due to its size, it cannot stand up to the larger Pelican coolers.

In terms of convenience, it boasts up to three days of frozen ice. One user reported filling it with a generous amount of ice the night before her hike, and it was half full of ice and half full of cold liquid the night after. The trick with this unit is to empty the water as often as possible and if possible add additional ice every day for more durability.

Pros

• It can keep ice frozen for a considerably long time despite its size
• Has a carry handle but can also be carried using the handles that are molded to its sides.

Cons

• It doesn’t have a drain, but thanks to its size, emptying it is quite a breeze.

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ProGear Elite Cooler, 95 Quart

The 95-quart Pelican cooler is by far the highest performing in terms of ice retention and it is proudly manufactured in America (not overseas), so I’m not surprised that it managed to claim the #1 spot for the best cooler.

It isn’t the cheapest cooler in the market; in fact, it’s almost priced in the same way as Yeti models, which are one of the most expensive coolers. However, by all means, you get what you pay for and more. With an incredible rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, you can bet you’re making the right choice.

The most attractive thing about this chest is the fact that it can hold a countless number of items inside. As such, it’s a great option for when you’re going out with all your workmates or your entire class.

If you live in extremely hot places you definitely need a great cooler and this one fits the bill perfectly — it outdoes all its competitors, and it is the best one hands down! With its rugged look, excellent drain, unbeatable ice retention capabilities and a lifetime guarantee, your family, friends and colleagues will totally fall in love with it.

Pros

• Holds ice for up to 10 days and even longer with constant opening and closing
• Very durable with a solid construction. One of the best Pelican coolers on the market.
• Much more affordable than Yeti coolers yet surpasses their quality standards

Cons

• It is a hefty unit. Weighs up to 100 lbs when fully loaded with ice
• Its price is on the high-end of the spectrum. You need to be using it for money-making purposes like fishing, to get the most value out of it.

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ProGear Elite Wheeled Cooler, 80 Quart

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ve most likely heard of the many positive reviews: well built, sturdy and durable, excellent ice retention capabilities, easy drain plug, smooth wheels, great handle and even a bottle opener and cup holder.

However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let me tell you everything about this particular Pelican cooler.

This 80-quart beast is just enormous; it’s a beast. Do not expect to fill it to the brim with beer, sodas, and ice and just toss it in the back of your truck. You’ll probably need more than two helping hands to do that.

The design of its wheels is pure work of art. The cooler never rests on its wheels when its sitted still, which means you can stand it on the boat or truck without it rolling all over the place.

But this might come out as a double-edged sword. This is because its feet are set to a height that when you move the cooler from one place to another, you’ll have to lift it completely off the ground to engage. In the process, its drain plug might scratch the ground thus causing scuff marks on concrete areas.

Luckily, it comes with a lifetime warranty. However, this only covers the box. The drain plug, feet, latches, gasket and all other things prone to wear are not covered.

Everything considered, it’s still one of the best Pelican coolers on the list, and even though it’s a little pricey, it’s worth the money. I mean, ten days ice retention is no joke at all.

Pros

• Non-skid raised feet
• Slanted drain with threaded plug that can be attached to a garden hose
• Has an integrated fish scale
• Has molded in handles with built-in trolley
• Has heavy duty wheels and is one of the best Pelican coolers available

Cons

• Some users mentioned that it is heavy and has thick insulation so inside space is smaller as compared to the overall size of the cooler.

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ProGear Elite Cooler, 150 Quart

The 150 quart Pelican cooler deserves #2 spot on this list of the best Pelican coolers 2016. It has arguably the best ice retention capacity in the industry, outlasting all other coolers. If achieving the highest level of ice retention is your goal, then you seriously need to consider this cooler.

The cooler is also the most adored with an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon. It is without a doubt that Pelican absolutely put a lot of emphasis in the manufacturing of their coolers.

This unit is extremely similar to Yeti in design, more so than any other Pelican coolers in this list and even their price is extremely similar.

This cooler looks great, performs really well (between 7 and 10 days of ice retention) and is an overall exceptional cooler.

While this unit is priced highly, many mentioned that it’s a great alternative for anyone looking for a cooler that is comparable to Yeti, yet performs much better. If you want an ice cooler that outperforms itself, then this may just be a score for you.

Pros

• Incredibly good ice retention capability
• Very well constructed and relatively overbuilt
• Has 2 sets of handles — under the lid and flush mounted molded
• Has moulded-in tie downs
• It has excellent lifetime guarantee

Cons

• Between the 150 quarts size and insulation both on the top, sides and bottom, it is a massive monster. Carrying it around is not a one-person job.

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Pelican Elite Cooler, 30 Quart

The Pelican Elite is a fantastic cooler that stands tall among the rest for several reasons. First off, when it comes to ice retention, it’s one of the best performing Pelican coolers on the market (5 days ice retention). It outperforms big brands like Yeti and Grizzly keeping ice for up to two more days in some cases.

It’s a well-priced cooler, with the 30 quarts selling at around $250 on Amazon. This compared to Yeti’s $350 for a 37-quart cooler is just awesome.

Again, even though this cooler is $100 less, it is actually packed with remarkable features. It has molded handles and tie down slots, locking latches, stainless steel bottle opener, lockable hasp and non-skid rubber feet plus leak-proof drain plug and 4 self-draining cup holders.

Some users said that the ice didn’t stay frozen for long periods, but one user mentioned that this could be due to improper use. The user went on to say that for maximum efficiency, the cooler should be packed as much as possible, and then pre-cooled before packing, which is accomplished by placing frozen water bottles before use.

Pros

• Keeps ice frozen for a long time
• Padlock ready with a great seal to ensure the safety of contents.
• Has good handles with great latches

Cons

• It is pretty heavy for one person to move it by themselves.

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Elite Cooler, 70 Quart

 

This is yet another cooler with equal or better ice retention capabilities than the Yeti for a fraction of the price. Elite Cooler, 70 Quart has a similar design and latch system and performs just as well.

With a good rating on the Amazon platform, you can be assured that you’re making a great purchase. It can retain ice for up to 8 days and is a good hiking and camping companion.

Again, some users said that the ice melted quickly, but their claims were immediately challenged since warm beverages cause ice to melt faster. They stated that the ice would simply melt since a cooler is not a refrigerator. The trick is to drain the accumulated water as soon as possible.

Just like its 35 quartz counterpart, it has molded handles and tie down slots, locking latches, stainless steel bottle opener, lockable hasp and non-skid rubber feet plus leak-proof drain plug and 4 self-draining cup holders. Undoubtedly, one of the best Pelican coolers available.

Pros

• It can keep ice frozen for a considerably long time despite its size

Cons

• Just like the big Pelican coolers, it is a very heavy unit.

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ProGear Elite Cooler, 250 Quart

 

The cooler against which all other Pelican coolers can be measured, the biggest cooler, the best on this list and the iPhone of all Pelican coolers.

There’s no denying it; the 250 quart is the beast of all coolers. It has a strong foothold in the market being the largest in size. This thing weighs about 80 pounds when empty, and I guess it weighs over 500 pounds when it is full of canned drinks and ice.

Ice retention up to 15 days which is really good for when you live in the hottest cities around the world. 8 customers have reviewed it, and all of them gave it a 5-star rating.

If showing off at your party is of significance to you, then this cooler is going to do the job better than you can imagine. Moreover, its design is simple and elegant, and its performance is unbeatable.

Even though it is priced a bit higher, one will agree that the price is well worth it when you find your drinks and foods still frozen after many days of camping. That’s what makes it one of the best Pelicans, if not the best Pelican on the market today.

Pros

• Incredibly good ice retention capability
• Very well constructed and fairly overbuilt
• Has two sets of handles — under the lid and flush mounted molded
• Has lifetime guarantee

Cons

• Between the 250 quarts size and insulation on the top, sides and bottom, it is a very large monster.

Why You Should Buy a Pelican Cooler

• Convenience and Security

If you’re looking for a cooler that you can use on long trips, especially if you’ll be away for a couple of days, and may want to keep your foods and drinks locked, because security may be of concern, you need not look further than the Pelican coolers. Pelican offers some of the best coolers on the market with secure locking appliances. Its users have also reported its ability to keep ice cool for extended periods of time, and in the hottest conditions thus they are an ideal choice for long trips.

• Durability

Do you need a cooler that can be turned and tossed as you cruise down your next adventure? One that can stay in place while you hit the road (or the waves) without scratching its floors, then you may want to consider buying Pelican coolers. Why Pelican? Boaters and road buffs swear by the functionality of these units. Those who have used it before are proud to mention how useful and practical the Pelican coolers are in rugged environments.

• Price

Is price a great concern for you? Do you require a super heavy duty cooler but are operating on a tight budget? If you know that you need something more than what is offered at the local store, then you may want to consider buying a Pelican cooler. Why? Pelican coolers are a name that many users recognize. If you are looking for a quality cooler at an extremely pocket-friendly price from a company with an established reputation in the cooler industry, then the Pelican may be the best choice for your money. You will definitely get maximum bang for your buck.

• Size

Will you be using the cooler alone or with your entire family? Will you need to pack food and drinks for days or even weeks? How much will you carry for everyone present? It is always wise to find a cooler that will accommodate all your food and drink needs. For instance, if you’re looking for 30 quarts, you may want to opt for 35 quarts to be on the safe side. This also helps you accommodate any last minute purchases of individuals joining the trip. For this reason, you should consider getting a Pelican cooler. Why is this? The range of sizes of Pelican coolers goes from 20 quarts all the way to 250 quarts. This ensures that you’re able to find one that fits your needs perfectly. Even more fascinating is the fact that some pelican units have cargo nets attached to the side to provide extra storage space for items not requiring refrigeration.

• Handles

Are you looking for something with wide grips or soft flexible grips? Will you transport the cooler all by yourself? How far will you need to carry the cooler? The pelican coolers listed in this review have different grips and handles to enable you to find the perfect cooler to suit your needs.

• Weight Capacity

Do you want a cooler you can sit or stand on? Are you looking for a cooler that you can accommodate several things on its top? Well, you need not look further than the Pelican coolers. This is because they are constructed using stronger material and sturdier hinges, thus allowing them to be as durable as possible. It is also important to note that they are made from the USA and can pass the test of time and durability.

• Takeaway

While you may be tempted to pick just any cooler, you need to know that the best cooler isn’t always necessarily the most costly. Every cooler has a unique benefit. Take a closer look at each unit and see whether it fits your personal needs. At the end of the day, if a cooler keeps items cold for a longer time, then you’re good to go. However, sometimes you require specific functions from your cooler, which is why you need to choose carefully. Remember, don’t pick a cooler just because you want one, ask yourself the right questions and find one that fits the bill.

Competition — Which One Is the Best among Reviewed and Why

The ProGear Elite Cooler, 95 Quart is by far the highest performing in terms of ice retention and it is proudly manufactured in America (not overseas), so I’m not surprised that it managed to claim the #1 spot for the best cooler. It isn’t the cheapest cooler in the market; in fact, it’s almost priced in the same way as Yeti models, which are one of the most expensive coolers. However, by all means, you get what you pay for and more. With an incredible rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, you can bet you’re making the right choice. If you live in extremely hot places you definitely need a great cooler and this one fits the bill perfectly — it outdoes all its competitors, and it is the best Pelican coolers hands down! With its rugged look, excellent drain, unbeatable ice retention capabilities and a lifetime guarantee, your family, friends and colleagues will totally fall in love with it.

Sources:

Amazon.com

Ebay.com

Ebay.com