Coleman Steel Belted Cooler Review

Bottom Line

In a nod to their 1950s-era coolers, Coleman’s Steel Belted offers the charm of vintage style while providing a modern cooler experience. Encased in metal, the cooler’s stainless steel accents are inspired by Coleman’s original designs. The metal parts not only add visual appeal but also reinforce the cooler’s build, providing extra protection for the interior plastic body. 

With a 54-quart capacity, the cooler is one of the larger options we reviewed, while still weighing less than similarly sized coolers. The slimmer insulation profile allows for more interior storage while keeping weight down. The cooler provides plenty of space for a group or to pack everything needed for a long weekend, all without becoming too heavy to carry alone. 

We tested the Coleman in sunny eastern California during warm spring days, doing activities like bouldering, fishing, and driving around town. The cooler kept ice frozen for five days, a shorter period compared to similar models, but with its affordable price, unique design, and high-volume portability, the Coleman Steel Belted offers reliable and spacious cold storage that reflects your style. Check out the other coolers we tested in our complete guide to the best coolers.

How We Tested

For this update, we brought coolers to California’s Eastern Sierra to test ice retention and temperature control in various conditions, from hot parking lots to high-elevation bouldering in the Buttermilks, assessing durability, portability, and ease of use. 

Insulation

Sandwiched between a plastic frame, a layer of foam gives the Steel Belted its insulating power. Filled with perishable snacks and drinks, we used the cooler in the California high desert, exposing it to warm temperatures and full sun to test its insulation. 

It took five days for the ice to completely melt, six days to reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and seven days to reach 50 degrees. Monitoring the ice’s condition, we observed that it deteriorated faster than in other coolers, and overall, the Coleman didn’t keep the low tempretures as long as the other tested coolers. 

However, the Steel Belted still offers several days of reliable cold storage. Due to some design features and the faster melting, it wouldn’t be our top choice for long trips, but the Coleman is well-equipped to handle weekend adventures and full-day events.

Durability

Most modern coolers are made from heavy-duty plastic, but to maintain its vintage appearance, the Steel Belted features a metal exterior that also boosts its durability. 

We conducted several fall tests on the cooler, dropping it from standing height and dragging it across different surfaces. The metal and plastic bottom received some dents and scratches from harder falls, but we found the metal shell helpful as a protective layer. The combination of metal and plastic construction enhances the Coleman’s structural stability and helps ensure its longevity. 

The bottom of the cooler doesn’t have non-slip feet, which became troublesome when transporting it on the floor of our van. The cooler slid around in the moving vehicle, with this bumping creating more potential for the cooler to sustain damage. 

The cooler’s body is sturdy enough to serve as a seat, and its hardware—latches and handles—are crafted from rust-resistant stainless steel. The Coleman Steel Belted may have a retro look, but its vintage design elements also boost its durability and enable it to serve as a reliable cooler for many years to come.

Volume

At first glance, the Coleman Steel Belted doesn’t seem impressive in size. However, the slim profile of the insulation allows the cooler to hold ample internal storage. 

Able to hold up to 85 cans, the Coleman is one of the larger-volume coolers we tested. We filled it with food and drinks, and found it easy to load. The 54-quart capacity is ideal for mid-sized groups and provides plenty of space for everything you need to accommodate a few people. Because of its insulation limits, we don’t recommend it for multi-day trips, but the cooler is big enough to hold days’ worth of perishable items.

Ergonomics & Portability

The Steel Belted cooler has a more boxy rectangular shape. Unlike some coolers that are longer, the compact design of the Coleman makes it easy to carry on your own. Also, the thin insulation helps keep the weight down, and the cooler is lightweight for its size, which adds to its portability. 

The steel-plated exterior gives the Coleman its vintage look, but a downside of the design is how hot the metal gets. Especially when the cooler is placed in direct sunlight, the body becomes warm, making it uncomfortable to sit on or touch. 

The primary issue we faced was with the lid. The lid is not watertight, and the latch does not ensure a secure seal. If the cooler is tipped over or jostled on bumpy roads during transport, leaks happen. We also found that it was still possible to open the cooler even when the latch was locked. The lack of a tight seal not only causes spills but also allows cold air to escape.

Features

Following the vintage style, Coleman only offers the cooler in the traditional color options of green and red, and no alternative sizes are available. Without the customization options provided by other brands, the Steel Belted cooler is a dedication to the retro aesthetic. 

Some coolers come with fun built-in accessories, like bottle openers or tie-down points, but the Coleman is simply a cooler. If you’re seeking additional features, you’ll find better options elsewhere. The Coleman Steel Belted is ideal for occasions when a cooler’s appearance is just as important as its ability to keep things cold.

Should You Buy the Coleman Steel Belted Cooler?

The Coleman Steel Belted Cooler stands out for its balance of portability and larger capacity. Its compact design and lightweight build make it easy to carry, even when fully loaded. 

Although it is one of the more affordable coolers we tested, the leakage problems with the lid and the less effective insulation prevent it from being an ideal choice for road trips or long-term use. Other coolers at similar prices kept items cold longer and were built to withstand harsher outdoor conditions. 

The Coleman is well-equipped to store everything you need for day trips and short-term events, and it will reliably keep items cold throughout these outings. Its chic retro style sets the Coleman apart from other coolers, and whether it’s a picnic or a barbecue, the Steel Belted cooler combines aesthetic appeal with spacious functionality.

What Other Coolers Should You Consider?

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

Coleman 316 Series 70QT Review: Another member of the Coleman family, the 316 Series 70QT is even more affordable than the Steel Belted and larger. With a capacity of over 100 cans, the 316 Series is suitable for your next beach party or backyard bash. With few additional features, the 316 Series is straightforward, but it keeps contents cold for more than a week and maintains a low cost. 

RTIC Ultralight 52 Review: Comparable in price, the RTIC Ultralight is an injection-molded cooler that keeps cold temperatures longer than the Coleman Steel Belted. Designed with a compact shape and significantly lighter than similar rotomolded options, the RTIC is easy to carry while still being durable.  

YETI Roadie 48 Review: One of the top coolers on the market, the YETI Roadie 48 is a wheeled cooler with exceptional portability. Heavy-duty and puncture-resistant wheels allow this cooler to move easily across all types of terrain and distances. Although slightly smaller in volume than the Steel Belted cooler, the Roadie offers plenty of space and provides high-performance insulation.