Head-to-head · Best Camping Coolers Under $200

Coleman Classic Series 70-Quart Hard Cooler vs Coleman Xtreme 50-Quart Wheeled Cooler

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Coleman Xtreme 50-Quart Wheeled Cooler comes out ahead by a narrow margin (3.9 vs 3.8). Coleman Xtreme 50-Quart Wheeled Cooler is best for: families and groups who want an easy-rolling cooler for long weekends on a budget. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Camping Coolers Under $200

Coleman Classic Series 70-Quart Hard Cooler

3.8

2 sources$74.99as of Oct 16

The Coleman Classic Series 70-Quart (sold as the 316 Series) is a large, cheap, blow-molded chest cooler with a seat-rated lid, cup holders and a fish ruler. CleverHiker found it the lightest and largest cooler in its test and measured six days until all the ice melted, but faulted the lid for having no latches and leaking when tipped. Tom's Guide found it kept food and drinks cold for two days, well short of Coleman's five-day claim, and recommends it for weekend and short fishing trips.

Strengths

— Lightest and largest-capacity cooler in CleverHiker's test, at 11 lb 6.4 oz empty and 70 quarts
— Kept ice for six days in CleverHiker's measurements, and items reached 40 degrees F only after eight days
— Easy to drain and clean; Tom's Guide propped it on its side and emptied it through the drain tap

Watch-outs

— No latches on the lid, and CleverHiker found water leaked from the lid seam when the cooler was tipped over
— Tom's Guide found it practically at room temperature after four days, well short of Coleman's five-day claim
— The 70-quart size has no wheels, and Tom's Guide found the stiff lid hard to open

$74.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Camping Coolers Under $200

Coleman Xtreme 50-Quart Wheeled Cooler

3.9

2 sources$75as of Oct 17

The Coleman Xtreme 50 is a blow-moulded, 50-quart hard cooler with two wheels, a telescoping handle and four cup holders moulded into the lid. OutdoorGearLab found the wheels surprisingly capable and recorded food-safe temperatures for just over four days, while CleverHiker saw ice last until day five in its outdoor test. Both criticise the lid, which has no gasket or latches and can leak, and CleverHiker notes the build is not suited to tough outdoor use. It suits families and groups who want a cheap, easy-rolling cooler for a long weekend; anyone needing a week of ice or a rugged, leakproof box should look at a rotomoulded model.

Strengths

— Wheels and telescoping handle roll it easily over concrete, asphalt and even sand
— Held 90 cans in OutdoorGearLab's packing test, and fits an upright wine bottle
— Kept contents at or below 40°F for just over four days in OutdoorGearLab's test

Watch-outs

— No gasket or latches on the lid, so meltwater can leak out
— Lid takes real effort to open and close
— Blow-moulded shell is not built for rough use

$75 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Coleman Classic Series 70-Quart Hard Cooler

At 70 quarts it matches the capacity of the Coleman Xtreme 5-Day 70 QT and holds far more than the RTIC Ultra-Light 32 QT or the Ninja FrostVault 30 QT. Like the Xtreme 70 its lid has no latch or gasket, while the RTIC Ultra-Light 32 seals with an O-ring gasket. CleverHiker lists its empty weight at 11 lb 6.4 oz, lighter than the RTIC Ultra-Light 32's 13.4 lb.

Coleman Xtreme 50-Quart Wheeled Cooler

At 50 quarts the Xtreme holds about 20 quarts less than the Coleman Classic Series 70-Quart and the Coleman Xtreme 5-Day 70 QT, and 18 more than the RTIC Ultra-Light 32 QT. Its main draw is the wheels and telescoping handle, which CleverHiker found let it be hauled farther with less effort than a non-wheeled cooler.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Coleman Classic Series 70-Quart Hard Cooler	Coleman Xtreme 50-Quart Wheeled Cooler
Capacity	70 qt	50 quarts (52 qt measured by OutdoorGearLab)
Empty Weight	11 lb 6.4 oz (CleverHiker)	—
Construction	Blow-molded plastic	Blow-moulded plastic
Lid	Have-a-Seat lid, supports 250 lb, no latches	—
Extras	Four cup holders, fish ruler	—
Other Sizes	52, 120, 150 qt	—
Can Capacity	—	90 cans (measured)
Weight	—	12.7 lb
Dimensions	—	22.6 x 17.6 x 17.5 in
Wheels	—	Yes, with telescoping handle
Lid Features	—	4 moulded cup holders, no latches or gasket
Drain	—	Tethered drain plug

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