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

Coleman Xtreme Series 70-Quart vs RTIC Ultra-Light 32-Quart

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

The short answer

RTIC Ultra-Light 32-Quart comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about value-conscious campers who want rotomold-class ice retention without paying YETI prices — read the strengths below before deciding.

Coleman Xtreme Series 70-Quart
Ranked #4 in Best Camping Coolers Under $200
Coleman Xtreme Series 70-Quart
$80

The Coleman Xtreme 70-quart is the size-and-value pick. At $80 it's a third the price of any rotomolded competitor while delivering 70-quart capacity (100+ cans) — enough for a long weekend with a group. The Xtreme insulation does what Coleman claims (up to 5 days at 90°F), but real-world performance varies more than rotomolded coolers. Best for car camping where weight and footprint matter less than what's inside.

Strengths
  • Largest capacity in this round-up — 70 quarts holds up to 100 cans
  • Coleman's Xtreme insulation rated for up to 5 days of ice retention
  • Cheapest pick in this lineup by a wide margin
Watch-outs
  • Single-piece handles less ergonomic than the Coleman 316 Series swing-up handles
  • Latch system is plastic and can break under heavy lid pressure
  • Empty 70-quart shell is bulky in trunk-loading scenarios
RTIC Ultra-Light 32-Quart
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Camping Coolers Under $200
RTIC Ultra-Light 32-Quart
$150

The Ultra-Light 32 is the value pick that punches above its tier. RTIC took a step back from full rotomolded construction to deliver a 32-quart cooler that's 30% lighter than equivalent rotomolded models, with 2.5 inches of closed-cell foam insulation. For $150 you get more capacity than the YETI Roadie 24 and meaningfully better ice retention than the injection-molded Coleman or Igloo picks. The trade-off is drop-toughness; this isn't the bear-country cooler.

Strengths
  • 30% lighter than rotomolded coolers of the same capacity — 14.7 lb empty
  • Up to 2.5 inches of closed-cell foam insulation — multi-day ice retention
  • Holds 48 cans + 30 lbs of ice — biggest capacity at this lightweight tier
Watch-outs
  • Injection-molded body is less drop-tough than YETI's rotomolded construction
  • Bigger overall footprint than the Yeti Roadie 24 — won't fit behind some car seats
  • RTIC's customer support reputation is weaker than Yeti's

How they stack up

Coleman Xtreme Series 70-Quart

Largest and cheapest pick. Holds nearly 3x the volume of the Yeti Roadie 24 at less than half the price, but with injection-molded insulation that trails the YETI and RTIC Ultra-Light on multi-day retention. Bigger than the Coleman 316 Series 52-quart and Igloo BMX 52-quart but with simpler handles.

RTIC Ultra-Light 32-Quart

Best capacity-per-dollar among the premium picks. More capacity than the Yeti Roadie 24 and similar to the Igloo BMX 52-quart, but with rotomold-class insulation closer to YETI than to the injection-molded Coleman or Igloo BMX. Heavier than the Coleman Xtreme 70-quart but with substantially better ice retention.

Specs side-by-side

SpecColeman Xtreme Series 70-QuartRTIC Ultra-Light 32-Quart
Capacity70 quart / up to 100 cans32 quart / 48 cans / 30 lb ice
ConstructionInjection-molded with Xtreme insulation
Ice RetentionUp to 5 days at 90°F (Coleman tested)Up to 5 days (RTIC tested)
LatchPlastic flip-top
Empty Weight14.7 lb
Exterior23.2" x 15.2" x 14.5"
Interior17.5" x 11" x 9.75"
InsulationUp to 2.5 in closed-cell foam
← See the full ranking of best camping coolers under $200