YETI Roadie 48 Cooler Review

Bottom Line

YETI is known for its products that combine top-performing insulation with durable design, and the YETI Roadie 48 not only lives up to this reputation but also has the added advantage of being one of the most portable coolers available, featuring rugged wheels designed to handle the roughest terrain. 

The Roadie is not rotomolded, which is generally considered the most effective type of insulation for coolers. However, the injection-molded insulation of the Roadie makes the cooler lighter than rotomolded competitors, while still providing excellent insulation, including ten days of ice retention. 

During hot spring days of bouldering in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, we tested the cooler and loved how easy it was to roll the Roadie over uneven rocky trails, even when loaded with drinks and snacks. We were impressed by the cooler’s ability to withstand rougher use while keeping everything cold for days. 

Although the high price of the Roadie might cause some hesitation, its insulation, portability, and durable build make the YETI Roadie 48 one of the top coolers on the market. Ideal for camping trips, the Roadie offers dependable, long-lasting cold storage and is designed to endure years of use in various outdoor settings. Check out how it stacks up against our other favorites in our full guide to the best coolers.

How We Tested

CleverHiker has been testing coolers for years. For this latest update, we took a selection of coolers to California’s Eastern Sierra, where spring days offered endless sun and warm temperatures to thoroughly test ice retention and temperature control. From sitting in hot vehicles in parking lots to high-elevation days bouldering in the Buttermilks, we tracked ice melt, measured internal temperatures, and used the coolers in terrain ranging from rocky high desert to marshy riverside to evaluate durability, portability, and ease of use.

Insulation

The Roadie differs from many of YETI’s other coolers, which use rotomolded insulation. Instead, it is constructed with pressure-injected polyurethane. Although rotomolded coolers are generally considered better insulators, the Roadie did not fall short, keeping contents cold for over a week and a half. 

We filled the cooler with ice and layered in some perishable food items and canned drinks. Moving the cooler between spots outside in full sun and inside a parked van, we checked it twice daily to monitor ice retention and record its internal temperature. It took 10 days for the ice to completely melt, 11 days to reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit (the limit for safely storing food), and 12 days to hit 50 degrees (the ideal maximum temperature for chilled beer). With this level of temperature control, the Roadie performed well against rotomolded options. 

Besides its insulation layer, the Roadie features a freezer gasket built into the lid, which prevents cold from escaping, along with locking latches that seal the cooler tightly. Thanks to these design features and the high-quality insulation, the Roadie effectively maintains temperatures for days, making it especially useful for long-term cold storage.

Durability

Non-rotomolded coolers usually have seams because of manufacturing limits that require them to be assembled from multiple parts. However, the Roadie is constructed from a single piece, which helps it keep its shape better. Without seams that could crack or split, the Roadie performs better in tough environments and can be used outdoors more reliably. 

YETI incorporates the same high-quality design into other parts of the Roadie. The wheels and pull handle that make the Roadie highly portable could be weak points in other coolers — more prone to damage and wear. However, the wheels are made as durable, single-piece units and are puncture-resistant. In our tests, we rolled the cooler over rocky trails, sandy shorelines, and concrete roads with little difficulty or resistance. 

Similarly, the periscope handle locks securely in place and easily supports the weight of a fully loaded cooler. Even when rolling over rough terrain, we could use the handle to pull the cooler without twisting or causing any damage. 

Built to be durable and made with quality materials, the Roadie is an extremely tough cooler you can reliably use in more challenging conditions. It’s also easy to rinse and clean. Keeping the cooler clean helps prolong its lifespan well into the future.

Volume

Marketed as 48 quarts but actually closer to a 45-quart internal capacity, the Roadie falls in the middle range for cooler sizes. Although its smaller size means it might not hold all the cold goods for longer trips, we felt there was still enough room to store several days’ worth of perishable foods. 

Many other coolers feature long rectangular builds, but the Roadie chooses a more cube-like design that emphasizes height over length. It easily fits upright 2-liter bottles, wine bottles, and 76 cans. When fully loaded, the cooler’s vertical design might require some digging or removing items to get to things at the bottom, but we found the size and shape of the Roadie well-suited to hold everything we needed.

Ergonomics & Portability

The Roadie is the only wheeled cooler we tested. As we mentioned, the wheels are very durable and handle different types of terrain well, enhancing the cooler’s portability and usability across various landscapes. Our only issue was that the periscope handle has a fixed extension length, but despite that, we appreciated not having to strain our backs while rolling the Roadie easily over distances from a few feet to half a mile. 

Though portability is a key feature of the Roadie, it is fully designed for ease of use. The cooler has molded handles built into its sides for easy carrying, and at 28.3 pounds, it is much lighter than rotomolded options. 

Non-stick feet on the bottom prevent it from slipping, which we found especially helpful when traveling with the Roadie on the van floor as we rode over washboard roads. For those needing to secure their cooler to a truck bed, boat, or trailer, the Roadie includes tie-down slots for safe attachment. 

A rear drain near the bottom of the cooler allows for quick removal of melted water, but we were disappointed there was no leash to keep the drain plug attached to the cooler. Ultimately, though, YETI designed the Roadie to be easy to use, and wheels give it an extra advantage, making it a cooler you can take practically anywhere—even when carrying a full load.

Features

YETI products are known for their customizable features, and the Roadie is no exception. It comes in several color options, from neutral to bright shades. YETI also offers it in different sizes: 15, 24, 32, 48, and 60 quarts, making it ideal for those who appreciate the Roadie’s great insulation and portability but need a different volume. 

There are also several accessories designed specifically for use with the Roadie. The cooler includes an interior basket, which helps organize and separate specific items. YETI also offers a divider and a cup caddy for additional organization options.

We also appreciated that the Roadie comes with a code to receive a free lockport kit, which includes hardware to lock the cooler for extra security. It’s a useful additional feature for those who want it.

Should You Buy the YETI Roadie 48?

We believe the YETI Roadie 48 is one of the best coolers available on the market. Its wheels make it highly portable, allowing you to roll it over various terrains and removing the strain of carrying a fully loaded cooler by hand. It also performs exceptionally well in insulation, keeping items cold for over a week and a half. 

If you’re set on a rotomolded option, the injection-molded insulation of the Roadie might be a concern, but in our testing, the Roadie performed well against rotomolded coolers in both ice retention and temperature control, proving itself capable of handling extended trips. 

As the most expensive cooler we reviewed, the YETI Roadie is an investment. If you’re only using your cooler once a summer for backyard barbecues, it might be worth saving and choosing a cheaper option. However, if you need a cooler for multi-day trips and different environments, the Roadie is designed not only for ease of use and greater capacity but also to withstand rougher conditions.  

Though the down payment might be high, the Roadie is the only cooler you’ll need for years to come. Its durable design and quality materials are built to last and won’t need replacing. The cooler is also backed by YETI’s excellent warranty policy. Whether you use coolers often or need reliable cold storage for future camping trips, the YETI Roadie 48 offers unmatched performance and longevity.

What Other Coolers Should You Consider?

For a full list of recommendations, check out our guide to the best coolers. 

XSpec 60QT Review: At nearly half the price of the Roadie, the XSpec 60QT cooler features rotomolded insulation and greater durability. With an extra twelve quarts of capacity, the XSpec can hold everything you need for multi-day road trips or larger gatherings and keeps items cold for up to a week and a half. Its rugged construction and three-inch layer of internal insulation make it significantly heavier than the Roadie but ready to handle the toughest conditions at a more affordable price. 

RTIC Ultralight 52 Review: When portability is key and you need a bit more space, the lightweight design of the RTIC Ultralight 52 is easy to carry alone and provides slightly more room than the Roadie. Although it lacks the convenience of the Roadie’s wheels, the injection-molded insulation of the RTIC makes it significantly lighter than other high-volume coolers. Its ability to maintain temperature isn’t quite as good as the Roadie’s, but the RTIC still offers impressive ice retention for a week. 

YETI Tundra 65 Review: If you need more space for food and drinks but still want the high-performance insulation and quality design of the YETI brand, the Tundra 65 is a larger capacity cooler suitable for longer trips or bigger groups. The only IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee) certified cooler we reviewed, the Tundra is designed to keep contents cold for days under the harshest outdoor conditions.