Cooler full of drinks in the shore

K2 Coolers Review

If you’re looking for a K2 Coolers review, it’s probably because you’re looking for a quality cooler without spending a lot of money. Having a good cooler with you is a great idea for when you go on your outdoor adventures, and it makes an excellent companion for when you go bow hunting.

K2 is mentioned sometimes as a potential alternative to more popular brands like Yeti or Pelican. But can it really hold its own against these other brands? Or does it fall short of expectations?

Before you take the plunge with one of these coolers, there are a few things you should be aware of. How long does it retain ice? Is it made with quality materials? And of course, how does it compare to the competition? These are a few of the things you should know in a K2 Coolers review.

Comparison Table

What Are K2 Coolers?


K2 Coolers Summit 20 Cooler, Duck Boat Green

  • One piece roto-molded polyethylene construction for extreme durability
  • Extra thick insulation for maximum ice retention
  • Premium features such as padded shoulder strap, ICE vault lid gasket, POSITRAC lid latches, ENDURA integrated hinge…

K2 is a Louisiana-based brand that started in 2011. As you might have guessed, they specialize in outdoor coolers. Virtually all of their coolers feature rotomolding. This technology is a popular trend among coolers today as it allows manufacturers to make coolers that are both more efficient and more affordable.

Even though K2 is a US-based company, they actually manufacture their products in Thailand. This allows them to keep costs down when they’re creating their coolers. As a result, they’re able to make some of the most affordable coolers on the market without sacrificing quality.

Additionally, K2 offers a seven-year warranty on all of their products. So if you do happen to have a problem, you have plenty of time to get your money back.

What Else Do You Need to Know in a K2 Coolers Review?

There’s obviously much more to learn in a K2 Coolers review. There are some additional features to examine that might help you decide if these coolers are right for you.

What are its main features?


K2 doesn’t slouch when it comes to its main features. One of these features is pull-up latches that keep the lid tight. This is a unique feature as most coolers use pull-down latches. The lid also has a commercial-grade rubber gasket that keeps the cold air in and the warm air out.

Furthermore, this cooler uses a single stainless steel pin hinge to connect the lid to the base. This is a smart design choice since the hinge is usually the first thing to break on most coolers. The drain plug on these coolers allows you to drain the cooler with only a partial turn, or you can pull it all the way out to make it drain faster.

These coolers feature both nylon rope handles and integrated handles that are molded into the cooler’s body. This gives you a couple of different options when it comes to carrying the cooler. Lastly, K2 coolers have non-slip rubber feet on the bottom that prevent them from sliding around while you’re driving.

How well does it retain ice?


Of course, this is the main thing you want to know in a K2 Coolers review. Ice retention is the single most important aspect you need to consider when you’re shopping for a cooler. So how well does K2 perform in this regard?

All of our research shows that K2 performs very admirably. Reviewers noted that this cooler will retain ice anywhere from 5 to 14 days, depending on the weather. Needless to say, this is pretty impressive.

Numerous ice tests also showed that it holds its own against many of the more popular brands on the market. All in all, you shouldn’t have to worry about ice retention if you buy a K2 Cooler.

Is it durable?


Almost every K2 Coolers review agrees that these products are incredibly solid and are made with high-quality materials. Testers put them through absurd levels of abuse, and they still will not break.

This is partially because of their rotomolding technology. As we mentioned before, almost every high-end cooler uses this technology today, and for a good reason. It creates extremely durable products.

On top of that, these coolers also feature three layers of insulation. That’s in addition to the extremely durable plastic that constitutes the body itself. And once again, you don’t have to worry about the hinge breaking as you might with other coolers.

What does everyone else think?


So far, we’ve been looking at professional opinions of these products. But what do the actual customers think?

Overall, almost every K2 Coolers review from customers was positive. Most people felt it was a great value when compared to some of the more popular brands. They also loved how durable it is along with its extra features. Additionally, many customers appreciated its ice retention. Several people said it retained ice for at least five days at a time.

However, not everyone was impressed with its ice retention. Some people felt it didn’t last as long as it should’ve and said that more expensive coolers retain ice longer. This was especially true for customers living in desert climates.

Some people suggested pre-chilling your items, which would help avoid this problem. Aside from this one issue, most people were perfectly happy with this product.

How We Formed Our Opinion

For these reviews, we used customer reviews, professional reviews, and the products’ official websites as our main sources of information. Some of the professional resources we consulted include Open Air Life, and Wide Open Eats.

When reviewing these products, we focused on a few key areas. These include durability, ice retention, and extra features. Price was also a major factor in these reviews.

Our opinions were largely informed by a combination of product research and reviews.

Checking out the Competition

Of course, any useful K2 Coolers review should mention the competition as well. There are several other excellent coolers on the market today. Let’s see how K2 measures up.

YETI Tundra 45


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…
  • Will keep your ice… well ice thanks to up to 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation and an extra thick FatWall design is…
  • The Rotomolded Construction makes the Tundra armored to the core and virtually indestructible so wherever you decide to…

YETI is the brand that all other cooler brands must be compared to, and the YETI Tundra 45 is one of their best products. Like K2 Coolers, this cooler has rotomolded construction that makes it almost indestructible.

It also features T-Rex lid latches that are made of heavy-duty rubber. Likewise, its rope handles are made of military-grade polyester rope. Furthermore, this cooler has three inches of permafrost insulation and an extra thick FatWall design.

Most reviewers said that this cooler is incredibly durable, and it retains ice for a shockingly long amount of time. Customers tend to agree with these opinions. Many people were pleasantly surprised at just how long their items stay cold in this cooler.

On the downside, some customers complained about how heavy it is. This can make it difficult to carry. Also, several people felt that it’s simply overpriced.

On that note, the YETI Tundra 45 costs virtually the same as K2 Coolers. At the end of the day, K2 compares very favorably to this mega-popular brand. Both have very similar properties, and it’s difficult to say that one outperforms the other in any significant way. Which one you decide to buy will largely come down to personal taste.

Pros

  • Extremely durable

  • Incredible ice retention

  • Excellent features

Cons

  • It’s heavy

  • It’s expensive

Pelican 70QT Elite Cooler


Pelican Elite 70 Quart Cooler (White/Gray)

  • VOLUME: True 70 quart internal volume
  • EXTREME ICE RETENTION: 2 inches of polyurethane insulation with a 360 degree freezer-grade gasket delivers extreme ice…
  • FEATURES: Overmolded carry handle, 3 inch locking latches, reinforced lockable hasp, stainless steel bottle opener,…

The Pelican 70QT Elite Cooler is another excellent cooler from one of the most popular brands on the market. It features two inches of polyurethane insulation and a 360-degree freezer-grade gasket. This allows it to retain ice for an incredibly long time.

This cooler also has a few unique features, such as integrated cup holders and a built-in bottle opener. Other features include three-inch locking latches, non-skid rubber feet, an anti-shear hinge system, and an over-molded carry handle.

Reviewers were very impressed by how long this cooler retains ice. They also loved the cup holders and the built-in bottle opener. Customers also loved its ice retention, and they felt its snap latches make it very easy to transport.

Once again, several people simply felt that this cooler is too heavy. Also, many customers had issues with it leaking at the drain plug. Unfortunately, this was a very common problem for most people.

Again, the Pelican 70QT Elite Cooler costs basically the same as K2 Coolers. In this case, we have to recommend K2. The Pelican 70QT Elite is a very good cooler, but the leaky drain plug is a very obvious design flaw. You won’t have this problem with K2 Coolers.

Pros

  • Lots of great features

  • Very durable

  • Excellent ice retention

Cons

  • Drain plug tends to leak

  • It’s very heavy

K2 Coolers Summit 30 Cooler


K2 Coolers Summit 30 Cooler

  • One-piece roto-molded polyethylene construction for extreme durability
  • Extra thick insulation for maximum ice retention
  • Premium features such as ICE vault lid gasket, POSITRAC latches

Finally, we have the K2 Coolers Summit 30 Cooler. This cooler The K2 Coolers Summit 30 Cooler is a top-quality cooler that has received high praise from customers. With a spacious 30-quart capacity, it is perfect for a day trip or weekend outing. The Summit 30 is also built to last, with high-quality materials that can withstand extreme temperatures and rugged conditions. Its heavy insulation ensures that your food and drinks stay cold for extended periods, even in hot weather. The cooler is also designed with portability in mind, featuring comfortable handles and a sleek, easy-to-clean design. Overall, the K2 Coolers Summit 30 Cooler is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable, high-performance cooler that can keep up with their outdoor adventures.

Pros

  • The Summit 30 has a large 30-quart capacity, making it perfect for day trips or weekend outings.

  • The cooler is heavily insulated, ensuring that your food and drinks stay cold for extended periods, even in hot weather.

  • The Summit 30 is designed with portability in mind, featuring comfortable handles and a sleek, easy-to-clean design.

Cons

  • The Summit 30 is relatively heavy, making it difficult to carry for extended periods.

  • The cooler is more expensive than some other coolers on the market, making it less accessible for budget-conscious consumers.

K2 Coolers Pros and Cons

As you can see from this K2 Coolers review, there’s a lot to love about these coolers. They’re ridiculously durable, and they retain ice incredibly well. They also come with loads of extra features that make them more convenient to use. And of course, they’re very reasonably priced as well.

The only real issue is that some customers weren’t as impressed with the ice retention. This mostly seems to be the case for people who live in very warm climates. Once again, we suggest pre-chilling your items to avoid this issue.

Pros

  • Great ice retention

  • Extremely durable

  • Lots of great features

  • Seven-year warranty

Cons

  • Ice retention is shorter in warm climates

Is This the Cooler You’ve Been Looking For?

two guys drinking beer from k2 cooler

Image Source: Pexels

Now that you’ve read this K2 Coolers review, you should have a good idea of whether or not these coolers are right for you. In truth, these coolers can be a great choice for almost anyone. They retain ice well, they last a very long time, and they have a great range of features. And of course, they have an excellent warranty on the off-chance that something does go wrong.

The only reason you might choose not to get one of these coolers is if you live in a warmer climate. The ice retention isn’t quite as impressive in desert climates. In this case, you might want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, these coolers are a great choice for almost anyone.

But what do you think? Do you have any experience with one of these coolers? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Image Source: Unsplash

 

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