Cooler Showdown: Yeti vs Ozark (Walmart’s Brand)

Quick Overview

Luxury Pick
-
Editors Choice
YETI Tundra 45 Cooler, White
Ozark Trail 73-Quart High-Performance Cooler, Grey
Pelican 70QT Elite Cooler (White/Grey) | 46 Can...
Name
YETI Tundra 45 Cooler, White
Ozark Trail 73-Quart High-Performance Cooler, Grey
Pelican 70QT Elite Cooler (White/Grey) | 46 Can...
Amazon Prime Status
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Our Rating
Features
Ice Retention
Warranty
Value
Check Current Price on Amazon
Luxury Pick
YETI Tundra 45 Cooler, White
Name
YETI Tundra 45 Cooler, White
Amazon Prime Status
Our Rating
Features
Ice Retention
Warranty
Value
Check Current Price on Amazon
-
Ozark Trail 73-Quart High-Performance Cooler, Grey
Name
Ozark Trail 73-Quart High-Performance Cooler, Grey
Amazon Prime Status
-
Our Rating
Features
Ice Retention
Warranty
Value
Check Current Price on Amazon
Editors Choice
Pelican 70QT Elite Cooler (White/Grey) | 46 Can...
Name
Pelican 70QT Elite Cooler (White/Grey) | 46 Can...
Amazon Prime Status
Our Rating
Features
Ice Retention
Warranty
Value
Check Current Price on Amazon

Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler

Features: Durable, and great user experience.

Ice Retention: Plenty of ice, kept our beverages ice cold after a week on the road.

Warranty: Five Years. Feels durable enough to last.

Value: Expensive, but well worth the money in my opinion. Keeps the meat nice and chilled in the cooler for days.

Ozark Trail 73 Cooler

Features: Enough, but nothing special.

Ice Retention: Lukewarm water after a week of use, could be good for short trips.

Warranty: Five Years. Similar to Yeti, feels a tad flimsy.

Value:  Cheap, a decent value, good for families on a budget.

Introduction

Ever since I purchased my Yeti, I have really begun to clue into the ongoing comparisons that others make with alternative brands while searching for the best coolers.

One rivalry that has been getting a lot of attention is the one between my chosen brand, which is certainly Yeti, the Trail coolers made by Ozark. Ozark coolers are sold exclusively by Wal-Mart (also available on Amazon as of 2017), and they have become acting as a sort of house brand for the retail giant.

A lot of friends of mine use Ozark Trail coolers, and they sure like to boast about how they did not have to pay as much as me and the other Yeti users. Needless to say, they end up patting their own backs and having a good laugh about the foolishness of Yeti cooler owners.

Contents

Yeti Tundra 65

I’m glad they’re happy, but I’d like to officially bring my point of view to the discussion: they’re also wrong. Ozark, the brand made by Wal-Mart, is a clone, its a knock-off, alternative– it is manufactured in a cheaper way, and it does not hold ice as long. These are just a few standout issues, which have good company among other inferiorities brought to the equation by Ozark.

Cooler enthusiasts have been becoming more aware of the prominence of Ozark models on the market. They are only available at Wal-Mart, as they have a specific deal with them. Like Yeti, and many other brands who manufactures premium quality coolers, the cooler is roto-molded and insulated. My initial impressions of these Ozark coolers were pretty strong.

I’ve got a friend with an Ozark Trail, so I took my Yeti over to his place, and his was agreeable enough to allow me to perform as ice test. He was aware that I had some issues with the brand, and definitely is not a fellow who lives and dies by the Ozark sword; he just liked the value for the dollar, which I think is totally fair.

Anyway, here are the formal results from the Ozark cooler vs. Yeti cooler test:

Appearance

They look a little bit alike, but the Ozark is considerably more awkward and cheap looking. Like RTIC and many other brands, I have to think twice before calling their coolers and products “knock offs” of Yeti products. It may be harsh wording, but I believe it to be true. As I mentioned before, the Ozark is practically a clone of a Yeti. As well as being a brand, Yeti has also become a style of cooler. Though there are things to be said for using the innovations of competitive products, I think there is something to be said for paying a bit extra to go for the model that everybody else is copying, rather than settling for a less expensive, more cheaply made “knock off.” Also, a product backed by Wal-Mart doesn’t necessarily inspire confidence as far as morality goes, in my opinion… Not that I have a huge problem with Wal-Mart, but they’re not exactly an innocent little Mom & Pop shop.

I think this is a clear decision for Yeti, who innovated their own product and created their own design… Rather than depending on a great company to come along with an idea to steal, Yeti entered the scene and set the standard, which many competitors borrow from. Though it’s simple, it’s slick and modern, and Yeti wins this by a long run.

Functionality

To put it simply, there is no way that Yeti is losing this battle to most coolers, perhaps most specifically that applies to the Ozark. The Yeti manages to fend off some pretty tough competition; I don’t think that the Ozark qualifies in that category. The Yeti won the ice test by at least a day.

The Ozark hardly lasted 4 days, while the Yeti had enough ice left in it at that point that it looked like it would last at least 2 more. And that was in quite a cool environment; because of the inferior insulation, I have heard Ozark Trail users complain about their ice melting between 8-12 hours, which is not at all acceptable for a product claiming to be a valid competitor to industry leaders. As far as coolers go, this is the definitive quality, in my opinion. I also think that the Yeti is generally made from higher quality materials and has a more organic, user friendly, and natural feel. The Ozark is made in China, and completed with unsatisfactory rubber latches which seem pretty feeble. Ozark hardly puts up a fight. This one goes to Yeti.

Value

What cooler you deem to be more valuable will ultimately depend on your priorities. If you are looking for a better cooler, and prioritize quality above other aspects, the Yeti’s high price also represents much higher value for your dollar. Yeti offers a great warranty, and is an industry leader in almost every quantitative field that applies to premium coolers.

If you are pinching pennies and looking for a cooler than can deliver admirable results for as low of a cost as possible, the Ozark is not a bad option. It is very functional, and offers many of the same positive features as the Yeti; it just brings nothing new or unique to the conversation at all, which is exactly why Yeti is such a remarkable brand in the first place. I believe that Yeti delivers more bang for your buck, but I realize not everybody is financially comfortable or secure enough to invest the extra money into their cooler. Again, if you’re looking for a cheap alternative, the Ozark is a fine choice…

Conclusion

Sale
YETI Tundra 45 Cooler, White
  • The YETI Tundra 45 combines versatility with durability with a capacity of up to 26 cans with a recommended 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio
  • Ice stays ice thanks to up to 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation and an extra thick FatWall design is certified Bear-Resistant
  • The Rotomolded Construction makes the Tundra armored to the core and virtually indestructible so wherever you decide to take it, this portable cooler’s sturdy construction will stand up to the rigors of the journey

At the end of the day, you are comparing an original to a clone. What I can say about the Ozark Trail, though, is that it hardly even classifies as a clone. If you are looking for a Yeti knock off, there are better brands on the market. Still, I think that you would be better off making a conscious effort to save up a bit more money and invest in the real deal.

50 thoughts on “Cooler Showdown: Yeti vs Ozark (Walmart’s Brand)”

  1. While Ozark may not be quite as good ,it does show that the Yeti brand could be sold for a considerable amount lower price. Yet they still gouge the price . I can buy a lot of ice with the 200$ price difference. RTIC has proven to be a tough competitor also and if I were to spend that much money on a cooler it would be RTIC or Ozark

    Reply
    • Well that’s a dumb answer
      4-5 bucks for a 20lb bag of ice last 2-3 days(I had a Walmart brand) I use mine 7 days a week for work I got tired of buying ice 3 times a week so that’s 15 bucks a week 60 bucks a month 720 bucks a year
      Yeti 1 20lb bag and a 10lb bag($2.50 for that) $7.50 a week 30 bucks a month 360 bucks a year
      How much ice are you actually going to get for what you save.

      Reply
      • Ice cubed remained present in an Ozark for 4.5 days. That also includes opening and closing to remove prepared meals so it was filling with air instead of product during the trip. It was on sale and at that time less than a third of the price of the Yeti that had a sticker on it claiming the same amout of days of ice. It’s a no brainer unless you like buying CEO’s a third vacation home.

        Reply
          • I live in Phoenix AZ and have a 73 qt Ozark. I use a 1 gallon bottle frozen and cube ice. I had cold food for 7 days. I use it for food so I’m in and out of it all day. I do try to keep it in shade as I do with any cooler but for the price it works for me.

          • Just went camping, precooled my cooler the night before filling with ice all the way full. Lasted 4.5 days in 90 degree weather (not directly in sun tho) when I came home I pulled a chunk of ice out and water would freeze your hand. Way worth the money!

        • My Ozark cooler was in my truck for 6 days with bedcover on , temp around 85°-90° . Still ice in it and water was so cold you couldn’t stand to have hand in it for very long at all !!

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      • I think if I was spending that much on frozen water at a store, I would be more concerned with making my own frozen water for cents than the price of the cooler it melts in.

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        • That’s what I did while I was using igloo coolers I went out and bought an ice maker for my house. Between work/fishing/camping I was spending a lot in ice. The ice maker paid for itself in 1 years use! With that aid I bought a large ozark trail with bounces between my truck and the boat and I couldn’t be happier with it. When I cooler is getting opened constantly during a day it won’t retain ice well no matter who makes it so why spend it on a yeti!

          Reply
        • Pre cool your cooler even yeti tells you this. Pre cool both cooler put the same amount of ice on each one. After 7 days you tell me which you would buy. I bought the ozark trail and laughed at my brother In law who bought the yeti. Now he owns ozark trail

          Reply
      • I couldn’t get past the fact you contradict yourself in the same breath to even read your comment. One second you say you can buy a 20 lb bag of ice for 4-5 $ then turn around and say a 20lb AND 10 LB FOR 2.50??????

        Reply
      • I,ve conducted scientific tests on the yeti Stainless steel cup versus the Ozark cup. After just 24 hours the ozark cup still had more ice than the yeti. I paid $86 for the Ozark cooler versus $199 at the time for the yeti cooler. I doubt there’s going to be much difference

        I’m going to use the analogy of cars. Many people will buy a Range Rover over a Subaru. But I guarantee you the Subaru will drive just as nice and have less maintenance than the rover which cost 3 times as much. The suburu will also last longer!

        Reply
    • I couldn’t get past the fact you contradict yourself in the same breath to even read your comment. One second you say you can buy a 20 lb bag of ice for 4-5 $ then turn around and say a 20lb AND 10 LB FOR 2.50??????

      In response to Joe..

      Reply
  2. I don’t (haven’t yet) canoe camped in grizzly bear country but I have (do) in black bear country. I use a cheap cooler and pray bears don’t get it at night while camping in the backcountry. If the ice did not last in the Ozark Trails (a brand I normally hate and wouldn’t spend money on, but is so much cheaper in this case) as the Yeti but it kept the bears out of it I’d consider it a fair tradeoff for the cost. If the ice lasted 4 days it would last as long as my average canoe camping trip.

    Reply
  3. Probably should have reviewed two coolers of the same size to get an actual comparison. A smaller cooler should not last as long as a larger volume cooler. Even YETI to YETI this would be the case.

    Reply
  4. Not knocking this post, but it sounds like the comparison was written by a closed minded Yeti fanboy. I don’t have a dog in this fight, but if I were to pick one it would be the Ozark. There’s not enough of a difference between the lot to justify spending the extra money, unless you want to stick one of those trendy stickers on the back of your always shiny 4WD Chevy Silverado…you know, the one mommy and daddy bought that will never see a speck of mud?

    Yeti’s are fine and all, but their prices are too high. Ozark may be a little behind them in performance, but their price is also a lot more affordable. At the end of the day, we’re comparing devices that hold ice. Really nothing to get too excited over.

    Reply
  5. The YETI is GREAT, and if you absolutely, positively must have 7 days of ice when there is no way to replenish, then YETI maybe the only choice.

    From a position as one who typically does 4, maybe 5 days in the high desert of California, where it is 95 to 105 degrees from late May thru Mid September, Ozark at 1/3 the cost of a YETI, is a FAR MORE reasonable purchase FOR ME!

    With either, start with about 10 # of dry ice on the bottom, under the water ice, and you will get a about 40 even 50% longer life from your water ice.
    Increase that when you wrap all sides, and the top with REFLECTIX. You will be rewarded with another 18 to 24 hours of frozen water ice.

    Reply
    • As I read all the reviews from the yeti Ozark and all the other brands of coolers seems to me it is all about what you use the cooler for one review put in there as a frozen gallon of water from your refrigerator freezer last a whole lot longer then a bag of ice from 7-Eleven so as I see do your own research and most people are out somewhere for 7 days or worrying if their ice is going to last

      Reply
  6. Yeti is the original? Engel has been making a roto-molded cooler much longer I do believe they were the first. So yeti is a clone of Engel? I dont know what all the fuss is about with Yeti just buy the best you can afford (best not expensive) and enjoy life.

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  7. Read reviews. Bought the Ozark. I just can’t shell out for the Yeti. I will say the Ozark seems a lot heavier – empty – than the Yeti.

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  8. While I am financially able to buy the over priced Yeti. I have my funds due to not wasting it . Buying an extra bag of ice occasionally is not so bad considering how often I use it .

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  9. when your the first to make something you can charge whatever you want and after similar items become available its hard for yeti to lower the price i assume because then everyone will know for sure the got price gouged. shame on you yeti!

    Reply
  10. Well Yeti’s marketing team won an award. So that should tell you something. These companies put a lot of money into marketing a product to get people to want to buy it.

    Reply
    • Marketing can make a company A LOT of money. (and cost unsavvy consumers a lot of money too).

      “My Pillow” started charging $85 each when they first came out… Marketing can win over customers who are convinced they are getting the best. No shame, or scamming in overpricing something–as long as you can convince people to buy it.

      $10 for a two pack of memory foam pillows at Costco means I get to keep $160 in the bank, instead of buying overpriced pillows. Profit margin for those “my pillows” must be ENORMOUS.

      Tip for money conscious campers: Freeze a pack of water bottles the night before you leave. Free ice–and it lasts longer than cubes.

      My vote is for Ozark.

      Reply
  11. I own a yeti and I love it! We camp a lot in some places far off the grid and I wouldn’t leave home without it.

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  12. After Yeti ditched me and my 2nd Amendment brother, I’ll ditch yeti and by something more American!! Stick the yeti

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  13. If I were living out of an ice chest like truck drivers and oildfield welders do, I’d spend the money on a Yeti because those extra couple days will add up in the long run. For what I use my coolers for, an old fashioned Igloo is fine. I always laugh at those that absolutely have to spend hundreds on a Yeti just to keep their 12pk cold for sat night. To he honest, that makes up 95% of the Yeti owners I know. The other 5% are truckers and welders who use their coolers daily.

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  14. yeti is yet another company, like Dick’s, that chooses to invest in politics – i will NEVER buy a Yeti due to its anti-gun stance – Yet can go papa india sierra sierra up a rope

    meanwhile, i’m off to Wally World to buy an Ozark Trail cooler – and some ammo

    Reply
  15. I bought an Ozark 20 because I was on a road trip and my soft side cooler ate 10# / day sitting in the. Front car seat. Once the OT20 was cooled it held ice about 20 days. The only problem I had was it pulled a vacuum while cooling and I had to use a tool to pry it open to break the vacuum. I think it’ll do okay for general soda/beer use. I got a Yeti35 using my credit card points. Haven’t used it but it looks better designed and built. It was basically free so we see how it stacks up very soon. They both have a place in my camping. Oh yeah, the ice I used was from Sonic, small pellets, not block.

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  16. Just last week I bought the OT52 for a 4 day camping trip with friends (because that is what I could afford). There was a Yeti and an Orca of about the same size there. Everyone laughed at my “Knock Off” Cooler. The average daily temp was 94, the nights got down to the high 70s. All three were kept side by side under a pop-up that never saw direct sunlight because of trees. We all stored food in them. Drinks were stored in a big Walmart Iglo cool to prevent opening the food coolers to much. However, we cooked 3+ meals a day so they were all opened a bit. At the end of the trip the Yeti and the Orca were both very cold but full of water with a little bit of ice. The OT52 was full of ice with some water. Milk, Cheese, raw chicken were all perfectly ok. Everything in the Brand name coolers was thrown out.

    So Why? How did my $135 cool win? Cause I did it right. I pre-chilled the cooler, I put a 10lbs sealed block of ice in, loaded frozen stuff low, covered it, then cold stuff and filled all the gaps with cubed ice. The other 2 guys just thought since they had the big names they would be fine to throw the food in and some ice.

    Bottom line, use it right and it will do fine. If I decide to go one a ten day trip maybe this would be a different story. But I bet I could have gotten at least 6 out of the OT. Everyone who says their ice does not last is using the cool wrong. Sorry. But it is hard to argue with this real world test. I had no brand loyalty. I just had 150 bucks and needed a cooler. So I took 5 min (ironically on the Yeti website) to learn how to use it.

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  17. I compared a lot of coolers and a lot of reviews and decided for the Yeti Tundra 35. I thought a lot about the price but at the end of the day you want good quality. You invest in many coming years – so it’s worthwhile! My cousin did ice a ice challenge between my Yeti and his Ozark, and Yeti won by at least one or two days.
    By the way, not to support the NRA is a good thing in my opinion. There are far to many weapons in the hands of persons who don’t need it and in the hands of persons who should’t have it. Far too many kids and persons get daily killed daily in this country!!!

    Reply
  18. I own both a Yeti and an Ozark…comparable size, we use them early season elk archery hunting in Montana. Last year mid-day temps were in the 90’s and the results were very similar between the two as far as ice retention. I do prechill both coolers in my large freezer for a week prior to my trip and that makes a huge difference in ice retention.

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  19. Yeah yetis and anything with yeti man is a ripoff !! I use dry ice and regular ice mixture in a old Coleman xtreme and ice would last days so I can imagine my new osark trail cooler will work really well I’ll Save my money thank you very much

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  20. If the Ozark Trail cooler had been referenced in a country song, we’d be spending $250 on them. It’s clever marketing and the sheep mentality that sells Yeti’s overpriced products. My 26 quart Ozark Trail will hold ice for 3+ days with little pre-chilling, and I got it for $86. If buying a Yeti is what makes you’re friends think that you are cool, by all means, waste your money. If you’re already damn cool, like me, you don’t need to spend an extra $200 on a cooler to impress your peers! And if some a-hole decides to steal my cooler, I’m not $250-$300. If you’ve had a bad experience with Ozark Trail high performance coolers, you’re probably doing something wrong.

    Reply
    • I agree…..I bought an Ozark trails 52 last summer when I was cross country, put in dry ice and block ice in California and there was still some block ice left when I got back to NY 6 days later. Oh, and the cooler was inside a vehicle the whole time and many days in a locked hot vehicle.

      Reply
  21. More than 40 years ago my ex-wife and 3 friends paddled open canoes 10 mile out to Horn Island off the Gulf Coast in July. In the sun for 3 days. We had 2 Colman ice chests with block ice, frozen drinks and some dry ice which we put in the bottom. We were careful to open the chests only when it was needed to so. Never ran out of ice. Summer on the Gulf of Mexico is hot, and we were never in the shade. Use your head, not your money !

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  22. Want to make any cooler to last longer? Use old towels. Lay one inside a pre-chilled cooler covering bottom and sides and after filling with whatever fill rest of cooler with old towels. Keep all space filled. It works great I know from experience.

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  23. I enjoy my yeti 60, yeti soft cooler and vibe 25 qt cooler!

    The key with keeping the items cooler longer is to chill the cooler a few hours before your ready to pack!

    I’ve had drinks stay ice cold in my yeti soft cooler for 4 days in the back of a suv with summertime hear of 95-100 degrees. I also recommend freezing a few water bottles as well!

    Reply
  24. Have an Ozark Trails 27 qt.cooler that I use inside my sailboat that doesn’t hold ice worth a damn and sweats like a pig. The lid never seems to me to fit down snug like I would think it should. Yet the ones I see on the videos don’t look to me to be fitting any better. THAT SAID—now that I read that YETI IS ANTI -CIVIL RIGHTS ( You know— the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 14th amendments to the U.S. constitution I WOULDN’T BUY A YETI IF I HAD TO CARRY ALL MY ICE IN MY UNDERWEAR!!!! Screw Yeti.

    Reply
  25. I own both! Everyone has something to say about this. but the truth is it just depends on what you are doing with it, and what your budget is. The Ozark is a great cooler, But the company’s QA was horrible. It took me 3 to get a good one. The lids did not all fit/seal properly, one of them had the latches on backwards, and there were other variances in them, If you get a good Ozark Trail, performance is only slightly less than the YETI. which makes it a good value. If you purchase a YETI, you will get a very top notch product. I own 2 YETIs, and neither have had any problems. The lids fit properly, they hold ice for a very long time, and every one is the same. The Ozark has a nifty bottle opener in the lid that is pretty handy as well, whereas the YETI is more of a basic product. Overall I believe that the YETI is a superior product, but the Ozark is a solid contender if you get a good one, and less than half the price! Also, both YETI, and Ozark Trail are made in China. Look to ORCA to find one that is made here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. I have done a lot of research on this topic, as well as my own tests. I wouldn’t give up any of my coolers, I use, and like them all.

    Reply
  26. Yeti does make nice things, but way way overpriced. With that said I’m looking at Otterbox coolers (same as Yeti, the brand power allows them or justifies them in charging an extra couple hundred or whatnot) and trying to talk myself into why Otterbox would be a better option than Ozark. Are the accessories and 10 days (instead of 4.5) of holding ice worth it and the ‘accessories’???? I guess if you’re going camping or something where you’re going to be outdoors for a LONG period. I’m going to the beach, staying in a beach house so don’t really need LONG term like that. 4.5 days is MORE than enough. BUT BUT all those accessories which seem completely unnecessary but convenient keep me thinking about it……..Yeti/Otterbox it seems like buying name brand or store brand products in the store.

    Reply

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