Ozark Trail 26 Quart High Performance Roto-Molded Cooler with Microban®, Gray

Straight out of the box I did notice the amazing heavy duty latches. These latches help ensure the cooler stays tight to keep the cold inside, and no spills. Unlike other coolers without latches that may pop open or get left open. It does have slots on the side so you can add a lock. It is extremely well built and states it is bear proof. I did not get the chance to test this feature. It has a nice cushioned top handle which makes carrying less painful. It notes it has molded side handles, however the handles are very narrow and are very uncomfortable and awkward to carry by the sides and could use a cushion. It does have a bottle opener attached to the side, which is a nice add on. And a ruler on top for measuring fish, and 2 cup holders! The seals are noted to be freezer grade to hold in the cold. It does have a drain which is always a plus! It is noted to be made out of Microban material which is an antimicrobial product that keeps the cooler from staining and growing bacteria which in my opinion is a major issue with coolers. Once the cooler is full it does become heavy and I feel Wheels would have been a great addition!  I did a side by side comparison with my typical 38qt $25 cooler. The Ozark Trail cooler is smaller at 28qt and The ice melt difference was not too different on day 1. Day 3-4 is where this cooler began to SHINE! On day 5 the "other brand" cooler had 0 Ice cubes while The Ozark held ice through day 7 and cold through day 8! There are tips and tricks to make the Ice last longer such as: using cold beverages, The fuller it is the longer it will stay cold, using cubed ice rather than crushed, and pre-chill your cooler. I was skeptical at first as there was a $60 difference between my current cooler and the Ozark cooler. However for a $60 difference between the 2 brands, but I do see why the price point is higher. With all the extra add ons and holding Ice for 2 extra days. I did not think I would be impressed as it was pricey, but this cooler proved itself!

I love this cooler. I'm very impressed with how long it keeps Ice. I'm in the south with high temperatures and it kept ice For 4 days. And the drainage spout makes it a breeze to drain and refill. Thick durable construction and heavy duty handel. Definitely a great buy.