Modular, American-made, bear-resistant, and of course ultra-durable, Otterbox’s Venture Coolers are here to usurp the frozen throne.
The Otterbox Venture Lineup begins at 25L/$230/16.79 pounds, whereas YETI jumps right from 20L/$200/15 pounds to a 35L. This is also the space Pelican’s Elite 20 which I’m a big fan of occupies.
Otterbox directly clashes with YETI at 45L/$300/26.37 pounds vs. 45L/$350/23 pounds, and again at 65L/$350/32.95 pounds compared to 65L/$400/29 pounds. In short, YETI has a slight weight advantage while Otterbox has a $50 price advantage. For needs beyond 65L, all the way up to an insane 350L, it’s all YETI.
Yet another option for simpler 45L use is the YETI TANK 45.
Those were a lot of specs to get out of the way, but what we’re (always) here to talk about is usability. The Otterbox Venture Coolers abandon the now-standard toggle closures and rope handles, which no one liked, in favor of ergonomic, molded handles and easy to operate clamps- big upgrades to carrying and operation respectively.
As I mentioned above, the Venture Coolers also feature modular mounting points for everything from dry boxes and locks to side tables and cupholders, and even a game-changing but very expensive set of wheels.
Be realistic about your needs when approaching the very in vogue high-end cooler market, but if your needs do indeed line up with Otterbox’s sizes and prices, they’re far more enjoyable to use than anything else out there.