Orca Coolers vs. Yeti Coolers: Which Cooler Brand is Right for Me?

Shopping for a new cooler can be a bit overwhelming, with so many options on the market. Whether you’re looking for a cooler for tailgating before the big game, laying out by the pool, a week-long camping trip, or something for that sunny day on the boat, the goal remains the same. You need a good quality cooler to keep your drinks cold!

To help you decide, we compared two of the top cooler companies: Orca coolers and Yeti coolers. In short, Orca coolers are a better investment when than Yeti coolers. They are more affordable, offer better ice retention, a lifetime warranty, a bigger variety of colors and designs and are made in the USA. Already sold on Orca? Shop for Orca coolers.

If you’re still not decided, read on to learn more about why Orca is the best cooler brand for you.

About the Cooler Companies

Before we get into the details of Orca coolers and Yeti coolers, let’s start with some background about the two companies. Yeti is one of the most recognizable brands in the market and are viewed by many as the top dog in the space. Yeti has been in business since 2006 and they were the first company to produce a rotomolded cooler. They have been extremely successful in the space and are one of the most popular brands of coolers on the market.

Orca is a newer company and began selling coolers in 2012. Their coolers were extremely high quality and American-made. Their incredible product and exceptional warranty, which we’ll touch on more later, has catapulted Orca coolers into the conversation as the top brand on the market.

Cooler Pricing and Sizes

You might be wondering what sizes and pricing options are available for each brand. Both Orca and Yeti offer six different size ranges for their coolers.

Orca offers the following size options:

• 20 Quart
• 26 Quart
• 40 Quart
• 58 Quart
• 140 Quart

Yeti offers the following size options:

• 21 Quart
• 29 Quart
• 38 Quart
• 57 Quart
• 150 Quart

When comparing price, Orca coolers range anywhere from $199 for a 20 Quart to $499 for a 140 Quart, where Yeti coolers range anywhere from $399 for a 21 Quart. to $999 for a 150 Quart. So, while Yeti offers the bigger cooler, considering the price difference, it’s up to your personal preference if it’s worth the extra cost. In terms of producing a high-quality cooler, Orca is the main competitor for Yeti, but Orca’s coolers come at a much more affordable price point, making them the clear winner.

Orca also offers a military and first responder discount, directly through their website. In most cases this discount can be up 20 percent off, which is a significant discount.

Cooler Color and Design

Cooler appearance might not be important to some, but for others this is a huge factor in the decision-making process.

When it comes to the colors and design options, Orca coolers offers a wider variety compared to Yeti. Where Orca coolers set themselves apart from Yeti even more is that Orca does not just offer a few solid color options. In addition to their wide variety of colors, they also offer NCAA, NFL, MLB and NHL team designs. Both Orca and Yeti offer custom design options where customers can upload images or logos to be placed on the cooler.

When it comes to the actual design elements of the coolers, Orca and Yeti look extremely similar. They both place their brand name on the front of the cooler and feature a rotomolded design.

The main difference in the design of the coolers is that Orca coolers offer more insulation than Yeti coolers. Orca coolers have three inches of insulation in the lid of the cooler, as well as in the cooler walls. Yeti only offers two inches of insulation in the walls and lid.

How much of a difference can one extra inch of insulation really make? According to an ice retention test done by The Cooler Box, Orca coolers drastically out-performed Yeti in their ice retention test. Watch a video comparing the two.

Location of Manufacturing

Another major selling point of Orca coolers is that they are made in the USA and they proudly display the American flag on their coolers. When looking to buy a premium cooler that is American made, look no further than Orca. While other cooler manufactures like Yeti, have moved manufacturing overseas, Orca coolers have been providing jobs to countless Americans since the company begin selling coolers in 2012.

Warranty

When spending a substantial amount of money on a cooler, it’s important to know what warranties are available. While Yeti offers a five-year warranty, it does not cover all elements of the cooler. For example, if the latches of a Yeti cooler break, they direct their customers to pay for replacement parts. Even though they advertise it as a five-year warranty, it is really a five- year limited warranty that only covers defects to the actual body of the cooler.

Orca coolers offers a lifetime warranty on all of their hard-side coolers, covering all elements of the cooler. As long as you keep your receipt to show proof of purchase, Orca Coolers will replace the cooler at no cost to you.

Orca Coolers are the Clear Winner

After comparing Yeti and Orca coolers, it’s clear that Orca is the top choice on the cooler market. With their incredibly wide variety of sizes, colors and NCAA, NFL, NHL, and MLB team logos, they offer something for every sector of the market at a better price than Yeti. When purchasing a cooler from Orca coolers you get a lifetime warranty and a quality product made in the USA.

Purchase your very own Orca cooler from Slick Woody’s, today!