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.
Full review
Ice through day five, food-safe for four
OutdoorGearLab measured the inside of the Xtreme 50 at or below 40°F for just over four days, passing 50°F only about 12 hours later, which it called fair for the price but well behind many coolers it has tested. CleverHiker filled it with ice and left it outside in temperatures from the low 60s to high 70s Fahrenheit; the ice was fully melted by day five and it said the cooler performed better than expected. Both trace its limits to the build: CleverHiker notes the blow-moulded shell gives up some cold retention against rotomoulded designs, and that the insulated lid has no gasket to seal it.
Wheels that cope with more than pavement
Portability is where the Coleman scores best. OutdoorGearLab rated it 8.4 for moving and lifting, said it rolls smoothly over concrete and asphalt and still crossed sand and rocky beaches, and weighed it at 12.5 lb empty. CleverHiker found it could haul the cooler farther with less effort than a non-wheeled model, though the wheels struggled on loose gravel and sand, and it warned that the thin exposed metal axle bar could be damaged on rough ground. Moulded side handles help with lifting it into a car, although both reviews found them uncomfortable over any distance.
A lid that neither latches nor seals
The lid is the main compromise. OutdoorGearLab saw water surge out during testing because there is no seal between lid and body, found it takes a decent amount of effort to open and close, and noted it will not stay fully open unless the telescoping handle is pushed down. CleverHiker likewise reports that the lid seals tightly enough to need a firm pull yet still leaks if the cooler tips over. Inside, OutdoorGearLab fitted 90 cans against Coleman's 84-can claim, and both reviewers found room for an upright wine bottle, though CleverHiker had to stack items and dig for those at the bottom.
Cheap and capable for casual trips
OutdoorGearLab recommends the Xtreme 50 for buyers on a tight budget who do not need food to last more than four days, but not for anyone wanting high-performance insulation or heavy-duty construction; it added that its test cooler had lasted several years despite a one-year warranty. CleverHiker calls it a roomy and reliable option for casual outings at a budget-friendly price, citing the tethered drain plug and a lid it says supports 250 lb, while pointing to the YETI Roadie 48 as the step up for longer, rougher use.
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
- +Light for its size at 12.5 lb empty, so most people can lift it fully loaded
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
How it compares
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.
Rating sources
Counts as 3.86/5 in our score — this publisher's 149 scores on the site average 3.69, so its scores are adjusted up to compare fairly with other publishers.
“Overall Score 68”
Counts as 3.90/5 in our score — this publisher's 60 scores on the site average 4.49, so its scores are adjusted down to compare fairly with other publishers.
“Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme with Wheels Best Balance of Portability & Price CleverHiker Rating: 4.2/5.0”
Our 3.9 score is the average of these published ratings, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores. More about methodology.
