YETI Tundra 65 Interlocking Lid Cooler, 52-Quart
Last updated: July 5, 2022
We looked at the top Large Hard Coolers and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Large Hard Cooler you should buy.
Product Details
In our analysis of 142 expert reviews, the YETI Tundra 65 Interlocking Lid Cooler, 52-Quart placed 10th when we looked at the top 14 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.From The Manufacturer
YETI HARD COOLERS YETI Tundra coolers are the stuff of legends. They’re built for whatever Mother Nature throws their way, which is surprisingly a long list of incredibly dangerous creatures and weather patterns. But no sweat — these outdoor coolers are more than up for the challenge. From the backcountry to the BBQ get-together, your YETI Tundra is ready for any and every outdoor adventure. YETI Tundra the best cooler in the world Tundra TECHNOLOGY & FEATURES FATWALL DESIGN Extra-thick walls hold up to two inches of insulation for unmatched ice retention. PERMAFROST INSULATION Pressure-injected commercial-grade polyurethane foam in the walls and lid makes sure your ice stays ice. ROTOMOLDED CONSTRUCTION Makes it armored to the core and virtually indestructible. tundra collage Yeti Tundra Family
Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
If you only had one cooler your whole entire life, theYeti Tundra 65 could very well be the one. It most likely will last your whole entire life and still have some life in it. The rotomolded body, T-rex latches, integrated hinge and handles are sure to last through the toughest outdoor adventures.
Keeps cold for days longer.
It will keep your catches or food and drinks fresh an ice cold anywhere from three days to longer than a week depending on the conditions and how you use it.
Just like the above models, the 65 coolers also have the Rotomolded construction that makes the Tundra armored to the core and virtually indestructible so wherever you decide to take it, this portable cooler’s sturdy construction will bear the harsh abuse of nature.
- Distenia
This one will work great for people that need quite a bit of storage, but don’t need to travel with the cooler.
This yeti tundra cooler is made to withstand bear attacks. It has a Fat Wall design, roto-molded construction and is layered with Perma Frost insulation.
The thing is that it has extra-thick walls that hold up to two inches of insulation to provide you with unmatched ice retention.
The cooler is fitted with non-slip feet and anchor points for easy fastening during transit. It has easy handle side-grips and has extendable military-grade polyester rope handles to allow two people to carry it.
When it comes to insulation performance, the Yeti Tundra 65 Quart holds up pretty well. It has thick rotomoulded tough polyethylene plastic body with up to 2 inches of commercial grade pressure injected polyurethane foam insulation in the lid and the body.
The insulation of the Tundra more than matches the very high pedigree of this cooler, off-course this is very impressive. Whether you’re going out for a very long weekend, or you want something you can rely on for a picnic, the Tundra is there for you.
- Pikroll
It’s equipped with a never-fail hinge, heavy-duty latches, lip-grip handles, handles made from military-grade polyester rope and a rugged drain system that’s made to drain quickly and efficiently.
Like all YETI products, the YETI Tundra 65 is ridiculously durable and well-insulated, with ice retention of up to 10 days. It’s also certified bear-resistant.
65-ounce capacity makes this YETI cooler about as large as you'll be able to get and still have a cooler that you can legitimately call "portable."
Unlike other lower grade coolers on the market, the Yeti Tundra 65 has rotomolded construction. This type of construction makes the Yeti cooler virtually indestructible.
If a cooler is grizzly bear resistant, it’s got to be pretty durable in human hands. Because the it was such a joy to use, and kept ice for so long, it received the most extensive testing of any of our products.
While it is big, this can make it hugely beneficial for storing game and deer and also using the lid for cutting bait on the boat.
In the end I have to say that I now have a bullet proof cooler that holds ice better than anything else I have ever used. I am a huge fan of this cooler and this company and see nothing but more good times ahead. Fine job YETI!
Like any good product fit for outdoor use, the Tundra is bear-proof, so you won’t have any unpleasant surprises with large predatory fauna going through your food.
This incredible ice retention is achieved thanks to 3-inch PermaFrost insulation and thick wall design. This makes it amored to the core and indestructible, as well bear-resistant.
Like any good product fit for outdoor use, the Tundra is bear-proof, so you won’t have any unpleasant surprises with large predatory fauna going through your food.
What reviewers didn't like
Another issue with the handles is they are right at the height of the drain plug. If you don’t move it out of the way, it will get soaked. The drain plug is also kind of messy, literally spewing out everywhere once the plug is out. There’s no real direction of the water, getting everything underneath and around the cooler wet.
Grizzly proof lock costs extra.
Quite heavy to lift after storing your items
- Distenia
It will be a bit heavier than the others.
The overall storage space makes 52 lbs. And no wonder that the cooler is rather heavy.
​No cup holders on top of the lid
The thick plastic wall and dense polyurethane insulation in the constructions make it quite heavy. Even when empty, it weighs 29 lbs and will be a bit difficult to move by one person.
As the water drains out toward the end, it tends to trickle down to the bottom of the cooler and make whatever the cooler is sitting on wet, so you may have to tilt the cooler a bit to avoid that. But that’s an issue we see in most cooler drains.
- Pikroll
It's 29 pounds when empty, so imagine the weight of it when ice and food are added.
More expensive when compared to other coolers of this size
This is one of the most expensive contenders in our test.
I found this cooler to be a bit heavy but the addition of two long and sturdy rope handles make it very easy to move.
There is just one downside to this ice chest; it is quite difficult to empty the drain because there is a little lip inside of it, so you have to turn the whole cooler on its side.
View our Large Hard Cooler buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.