Pelican Cooler Reviews [Top 6 Models To Consider]

A few years back, a cooler was considered great if they can keep the ice from melting for approximately 5 days. At present, premium coolers have increased their ice lifespan by up to 10 days. However, they are not cheap at all. Therefore, it is essential that you choose the best cooler that is worth your money.

When it comes to premium cooler, Pelican is the one of the top brands of choice. You might be wondering why. All the coolers made by this brand are very durable and have amazing features as well. But before you decide to buy one, check out our Pelican cooler reviews first. We will present a list of their specs, pros and cons, making it easier for you to compare and decide.

Quick Answer- The Top 6 Pelican Cooler Models for 2019

The Pelican ProGear Elite Cooler is an American made durable cooler that can keep ice frozen for 7 to 10 days. Although it sounds impossible, a lot of users have testified that this is true and it also keeps their ice frozen for longer days even in hot temperature.

This Pelican cooler is perfect for tailgating, backyard cookouts, fishing, a weekend camping trip, boating, food transportation and a lot more. It has press and pull latches that are secured firmly so you can hold latches tightly even under pressure. ProGear Elite 45 Quart has a built-in bottle opener to keep the content secured because of its molded-in lock hasp.

This Pelican 80 Quart Wheeled Cooler has a lot to offer and we considered it to be the best Pelican coolers with wheels. They are well-built, has an easy drain plug, sturdy and durable, smooth wheels, excellent ice retention, great handle and even comes with cup holder and bottle opener. Talk about value!

The Pelican 80 is a beast. They are often recommended for big events, week-long camping trips, beach trips, commercial use, fishing, picnics or job sites. The cooler has durable non-skid, rubber and raised feet. It won’t slide around in your truck bed.

This is the biggest cooler in the list since it can accommodate up to 250 quarts of ice. It has a firm, strong foothold in the industry, which is the biggest in size. This Pelican Elite Cooler weighs around 80 lbs when empty, and can go over 500 lbs when full of ice and canned drinks.

It can retain ice up to 15 days which makes it very helpful if you are going camping for a long time or living in a place where it is always sunny. This Pelican 250 QT Cooler is perfect for big parties. Also, its design is simple yet elegant.

This ice box has a freezer grade gasket that holds water so that it won't leak. The Cooler offers lots of features like hinged handle system and dual molded-in, non-skid and non-marking raised feet, sloped drain, press and pull latches, and a lot more. The hardware is corrosion-resistant, with integrated fish scale on the lid and made of stainless steel.

This is a great cooler that is popular compared to others due to several reasons. The Pelican wheeled cooler has two-inch of polyurethane insulation having a 360-degree freezer-grade gasket. It can keep your ice up to 10 days. It can also accommodate the internal volume of around 45-quart. It has molded-in handles and a built-in trolley handle.

It is covered with anti-corrosion steel that resists any pull and drag. Just like other Pelican models it has molded handles, reinforced lockable hasp, anti-shear hinge system, stainless steel bottle opener, molded tie-down slots, and 3-inch locking latches.

Lastly, it has a leak-proof drain plug, non-skid rubber feet, and integrated measuring board on the lid in inches and centimeters. It includes a lifetime guarantee - if you break it, the company will replace it.

The Pelican 20 QT cooler has thick polypropylene insulation, some handy built-in features, and burly latches. It has a beefy handle and stainless steel hardware. The cooler weighs around 12.5 pounds. All Pelican products have a lifetime warranty.

This Pelican can accommodate up to 15 cans. Because of its upright design, you can easily pack it into your adventure mobile. This ice cooler can keep your beers chilly for three day weekends it does not matter how hot or cold the temperature will be.

One of the standout features of the Pelican Elite 20 QT is its big ABS latches. It is easy to operate and is sealed tightly inside. This feature also makes sure that nosy wildlife will not have any chance of stealing the content. If you require further protection, it has a molded lock hasp.

The Pelican Elite Soft cooler has a more straightforward approach as compared to Pelican's hard-sided coolers. The company focuses on convenience, so instead of overwhelming the user with lots of features and accessories, they adhere to quality construction and excellent performance.

It has 840D TPU double-coated material as its foundation. This material is very resilient to scratches, tears, and cuts and is recommended for taking into challenging outdoor elements. It is like a combination of wool and denim.

Pelican and Ye​​ti are two popular brands of coolers. The question is which brand manufactures the best coolers. Let's find out by comparing the two based on the following - ice retention, insulation, design, size and capacities, and others.

Ice Retention

One of the reasons why Yeti and Pelican are a bit costly is because of their high-end, roto-molded coolers. Both brands can keep ice longer as compared to budget-friendly coolers.

When we tested a Yeti Tundra cooler 50 QT and Pelican 50 QT cooler and placed them in a shaded area with the temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, we observed that Yeti retain ice for 10 days, 4 hours only as compared to Pelican cooler that held ice for 10 days, 8 hrs. Pelican can retain ice 4 hours longer than Yeti.

Insulation

Pelican coolers can keep ice longer because they have thicker insulation. The Yeti designs have thick walls and 2.5-inch thick lid while the Pelican has 2.5 inch thick walls and a 3-inch thick lid. If you are more concerned on how long a cooler can retain ice, then the Pelican brand has an edge.

Design

Both Yeti and Pelican have a uni-body roto-molded design. It means that the main body of the cooler is made of one roto-molded plastic which has even thickness. This is ideal for creating a waterproof and leak-proof cooler that is resilient to shock such as dropping from helicopters, bear attacks, and others.

Latches and Handles

This is part of the construction where Pelican has an advantage over Yeti. Many users have reported that Pelican latches are more superior than Yeti coolers. The rubber on Yeti models gets less rubbery over time, particularly when exposed to bad weather and sunlight. Pelican bolted-in latches will outlast the rubber latches on Yeti for several years.

Both Yeti and Pelican coolers have a fool-proof latch, so if you have the plan to go into the bear country the contents of your cooler are safe because of their bear-proof construction. Pelican coolers will remain bear-proof even when the locking mechanism is damaged. While in Yeti coolers the bear can destroy the rubber latches using their teeth and eventually open it.

Drainage Plug

The differences between Pelican and Yeti drainage plugs is worth discussing. The Pelican cooler has a one-inch drain plug attached that can double as a hose connector. But some users complain about the plug being cheap.

On the other hand, the plug on the Yeti is one inch and detachable. Also, it is designed so you can turn it partially and empty the cooler slowly without detaching the plug entirely. The only drawback is that the plug is not directly connected, you may lose it. For more information on yeti coolers, check out our yeti cooler reviews.

Measuring Tape

This is one feature that is not present on Yeti coolers. Fishers prefer Pelican coolers than Yeti coolers because of the measuring tape. They can easily measure their catch on the measuring tape on the lid.

However, if you are more into canoeing or camping, this is not much of your concern. Check out what are our nominated coolers used for camping.