Bottom Line
Lugging a cooler to your campsite or picnic spot is never a fun task, but the Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme offers convenient portability and generous interior capacity at a hard-to-beat price.
The Coleman’s wheels make it much easier to haul between destinations compared to non-wheeled alternatives. Although we encountered some difficulty pulling the cooler over more rugged terrain, the wheels saved us from back strain on firmer, more even ground.
The Xtreme retains ice for five days, which – along with its 50-quart capacity – makes it a great choice for accommodating several people over a long weekend. It’s a roomy and reliable option at a truly budget-friendly price.
Made with a durable plastic, the Coleman is reasonably well built, but design elements like a leaky lid and lack of latches make it less reliable than more premium hard-sided alternatives. Still, as one of the cheapest coolers we tested, it’s a solid choice for casual outings and those looking to save. To see how it stacks up in the market, check out our gear guide to the best coolers.
How We Tested
We brought the Coleman Xtreme with us on adventures around California’s Eastern Sierra, where sunny days and the transition from spring to summer pushed the cooler’s limits. We also subjected the cooler to a series of tests to examine ice retention and temperature control. Other factors like portability, durability, and features factored into our overall performance rankings.
Quick Specs
Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme with Wheels
Best Balance of Portability & Price
CleverHiker Rating: 4.2/5.0
Price: $65
Empty Weight: 12 lb. 11.2 oz.
Volume: 50 qt.
Sizes: 50 qt.
Pros
- Wheels make for easy portability
- Spacious capacity
- Affordable
Cons
- Wheels don’t work as well on uneven terrain
- No latches to keep lid the closed
Insulation
The 50-Quart Xtreme with Wheels uses a blow-molded construction to keep costs low. This process involves injecting air into molten plastic to create the shell. This construction type sacrifices some durability and cold retention compared to more premium injection-molded and rotomolded coolers.
To test the cooler’s insulating capabilities, we filled it with ice and set it outside, monitoring the rate of ice melt and frequently checking the internal temperature. We noted when it reached 40 degrees Fahrenheit (the maximum temperature for safe food) and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (the ideal temperature for chilled beverages). Enduring a mix of sun and shade in temperatures ranging from the low 60s to high 70s Fahrenheit, the ice completely melted by day five and hit our temperature benchmarks by the end of the fifth day.
The Xtreme’s lid is insulated, which isn’t always the case with budget coolers. The lid also seals tightly, but it doesn’t have a gasket, and the cooler forgoes latches to keep the lid securely closed. The lack of closure mechanism and gasket means the seal between lid and body isn’t airtight, creating a weak spot where cold air can seep out.
Durability
We dragged the Coleman Xtreme through a range of environments and terrain. The cooler’s plastic build proved resilient, suffering only minor surface scratches and nicks. Its blow-molded construction lacks the structural structural integrity of rotomolded designs, but we didn’t experience any cracking or splitting in testing. For light outdoor use, it’s more than adequate.
The lid functions as a seat and can support up to 250 pounds. Though the wheels don’t have the best tread, they won’t pop since they are made of a single piece of plastic. The exposed, thin metal bar that connects the wheels to the body does seem susceptible to damage, so you’ll want to be careful on rough ground.
Volume
The Coleman Xtreme has a spacious interior that can swallow up to 84 cans. The insulation eats into usable space a bit, but the cooler can easily store the necessary food and drinks to keep a group fed and hydrated for several days.
The cube design favors height over width and can fit upright wine bottles or other tall items. We did find that the horizontal space required us to stack items on top of each other, necessitating some digging or unpacking to access items at the bottom. But overall, the design is spacious and entirely functional for groups and multi-day outings.
Ergonomics & Portability
Wheels make the Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme easy to drag over most terrain, even when fully loaded. The telescoping handle has two height settings for dialing in a comfortable position. We were able to haul the Xtreme farther with less effort than a non-wheeled cooler. The only downside is that the wheels don’t fare as well on uneven terrain like sand and loose gravel.
When the wheels don’t cut it, the cooler has molded handles built into the sides for carrying by hand. The handles are convenient for lifting the cooler in and out of a vehicle but not comfortable over long distances.
The Xtreme’s cube shape fits neatly in a car trunk, with a wide opening that provides easy access to the interior. The lid seals tightly, requiring some force to yank it open. Despite being tight, though, the lid is not leakproof – water will seep out if the cooler tips over.
Features
Coleman has been a mainstay in the outdoor scene for decades, and their products are known for being both affordable and reliable. The Xtreme sticks to this formula with a basic but approachable design. There aren’t many color options or flashy accessories available, but it gets the job done for casual outings with good wheels, a periscoping handle, and a lid that doubles as a seat.
There are also four molded cup holders built into the lid, but that’s pretty much the extent of the feature set. The cooler does have a small drain plug at the rear, which is angled for easy drainage. It is slightly high, so you’ll have to tip the cooler to get the last bit of water out, and its narrower diameter has a slow flow rate. We like that the drain plug cover is attached to prevent it from getting lost.
Should You Buy the Coleman Xtreme with Wheels?
The Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme with Wheels is an easily portable option at a very approachable price. The wheels and telescoping handle make it a breeze to haul empty or fully loaded, and there’s ample capacity for groups and long weeks. The cooler also performed better than expected in our cold retention test, keeping ice frozen for a very respectable five days.
That said, the Xtreme isn’t equipped to handle tough outdoor use. The blow-molded plastic construction isn’t particularly rugged, and the lid lacks both a gasket and latches for keeping it securely closed. This detracts from ice retention and means the cooler isn’t fully leakproof. Casual outdoor-goers may not mind these downsides, in which case the Xtreme is a solid option at a hard-to-beat price.
What Other Coolers Should You Consider?
For more recommendations, head over to our gear guide to the best coolers. The three alternatives below are especially strong alternatives to the Coleman Xtreme.
YETI Roadie 48 Review: Another wheeled cooler, the Roadie 48 is a huge step up in quality and performance – with an equally huge price jump. The Roadie’s wheels are much more rugged and capable than the Coleman’s, and it can keep ice frozen for over a week (compared to just five days for the Xtreme). If you have the budget, the Roadie will last for years or even decades.
RTIC Ultra-Light 52 Review: Although it doesn’t have wheels, the RTIC Ultra-Light is a lightweight hard-sided cooler that’s easy to transport. Comparable in capacity to the Coleman, the RTIC is more rugged and comes with a fuller feature set, including a freezer-style gasket, more comfortable rope handles, and T-latches for securing the lid.
Coleman Classic Series 70-Quart Review: Another strong value from Coleman, the Classic Series 70-Quart is a great choice for those looking to maximize space while minimizing cost. Like the Xtreme, it’s relatively basic and best suited for more casual use, but its lightweight and spacious build is nice for large groups.
