Igloo Yukon Cooler Review
Last Updated by Brandon F. on July 13, 2022
The Igloo Yukon Cooler is Igloo’s primary attempt at competing with the “big boys” of the premium cooler world. They implemented many of the same manufacturing techniques, features, and design aspects that you are used to seeing in Yeti, RTIC, Orca, and more. The result is an extremely tough cooler that has a very impressive ice life. And, as you might expect, it also results in a much higher asking price than most other Igloo products.
Below are our top choices for Igloo Yukon Coolers. Hop on below to see our full review.
Igloo Yukon Cooler Lineup
The Igloo Yukon Series has gone through some changes over the past few years. Originally, it was called the “Igloo Yukon Cold Locker” Series but apparently, Igloo has decided to abbreviate it down to just “Igloo Yukon”.
However, you will still find the “Cold Locker” phrase displayed on the labeling. Also, they have slimmed down the model choices. There used to be a 120-quart option as well as a 50-quart wheeled option. However, now the only options are 50-quart and 70-quart (both non-wheeled).
These are good sizes to have, although people after an extremely large cooler that can handle an entire family’s chilled items or someone needing a huge cooler to load up for a tailgate may find that the removal of the 120-quart to be disappointing.
Igloo Yukon Cooler Features
Don’t let the Igloo name fool you: this cooler has many of the features that you are used to seeing from the other popular premium cooler companies. Igloo designed this cooler take compete with the top of the pecking order in the cooler world. So you will find many of the same features that you are used to seeing in Mammoth and K2.
One of the most notable features of the Igloo Yukon Coolers (and one that will play a huge part in the ice retention numbers discussed below) is their extremely thick insulation. You will find that the body has a MINIMUM of 2″ thick insulation and the lid has a MINIMUM of 3″ insulation. This is quite impressive and among the thickest in the industry. And this insulation comes in one piece thanks to the implementation of Roto-molded Construction.
We also really like the Igloo Stable Grip Integrated Handles. While most other brands utilize rope handles, the Stable Grip Handles are much larger which makes them better suited for people wearing gloves or who have large hands that can’t comfortably grasp conventional rope handles. Also, it can double as an anchor for tie-down loops.
The oversized tethered drain plug is also a nice touch. It is not only easy to screw/unscrew, but it also allows for quick and efficient removal of water inside the cooler. Speaking of oversized, the rubber gasket is also quite large and provides an excellent seal between the lid and the body. This is essential for maximizing cooling performance.
And for keeping the lid and the body nice and snug, the latches are designed to put some force down. Igloo went with a somewhat unique design. While most brands have the “T” part of the latch do the holding, these latches have a hole in the middle that hooks onto the attached steel pin on the body of the cooler.
And you will find the usage of steel throughout this cooler. Not only are the pins steel, but so are the rods and other necessary hardware. This ensures long-lasting performance and resistance to corrosion and rusting.
While there are several other notable features, the last two we are going to focus on are a couple of our favorites: the integrated fish ruler and built-in bottle opener. If you are anything like us, you have run into cases where you needed to measure something while outdoors and didn’t have a tape measure around.
Fear no more! The Igloo Yukon Cooler comes with its ruler embossed right on the lid. And it goes without saying, but having a bottle opener around is always a nice touch. These features are essential in today’s cooler market.
Igloo Yukon Cooler Ice Life
If the Igloo Yukon Cooler hopes to truly be able to compete with other premium cooler brands then it needs to excel at arguably the most important metric: ice life.
According to Igloo, their Yukon Coolers are capable of up to 7 days of ice life. These are pretty lofty numbers and are the level of many of the popular premium cooler brands on the market.
But how accurate are they?
We see that Igloo has the recipe for long ice life figured out: rotomolded construction, thick insulation, thick gasket, and quality components. But cooler companies are notorious for overstating their ice numbers because they use “best-case” scenarios (ie filling the cooler to the brim with ice, storing in a cool/dry place, never opening it, etc.). This isn’t how a cooler is used in the real world!
So we put our coolers through real-life tests. We leave them out in the heat, don’t fill them all the way up with ice, and we occasionally open them.
The results were as follows:
As you can see, the actual ice numbers were very impressive. You will find that the 70-quart model can reach nearly a full week of ice life when half full (very close to Igloo’s numbers).
And, as expected, the larger cooler typically will out-perform the smaller cooler with equivalent amounts of ice. This has more to do with ice capacity and heat transfer elements than it does with the specific attributes of the cooler.
Igloo Yukon Cooler Appearance
The Igloo Yukon Coolers take a very safe but proven approach in their design. You won’t find a lot of bright colors of custom graphics but you will find an ice chest that looks tough. Our favorite feature look-wise is the side handles that are molded into the body. Most other coolers will utilize side rope handles so these features alone will instantly make the Igloo Yukon stand out.
Also, the latch design is different than the typical “T-latch” we are used to seeing. This, combined with the handles and the “bling” from the stainless steel hardware creates a high-quality look that will get compliments in any social setting.
Your color choices are limited, however. You can choose between white and tan in both the 50-quart as well as the 70-quart. We wouldn’t mind if Igloo decided to expand their color choices to a few more but it is only a minor complaint.
Igloo Yukon Cooler Price
When most people think of Igloo, one of the first things that come to mind is “affordable”. Igloo has made a name for itself by offering coolers with decent performance at an attractive price point.
However, the Yukon is a bit different.
There is no way around it: the asking price is pretty high. It will fall in line with what you are used to seeing from other premium cooler brands. However, this isn’t any normal Igloo Cooler. This cooler can compete and BEAT many of those other premium coolers in toughness, ice life, and features.
So while the Igloo Yukon Cooler will fall into the premium price tier. It is still a good value considering what you are getting.
Igloo Yukon vs. Yeti
While most of the time comparing an Igloo Cooler to a Yeti Cooler would not make much sense, in this case, it is a very good comparison.
Typically, a Yeti cooler is going to have a much longer ice life, be tougher, and bring to the table than an Igloo Cooler. Also, a Yeti will cost a lot more.
But in this case, the Igloo shares many of the same characteristics and can go step-for-step with the best that Yeti has to offer.
What Yeti still does have on the Igloo Yukon is a much larger range of sizes, more color choices, and more accessories. It also has the reputation of being a “Yeti”. Unfortunately, Igloo (while a great company) doesn’t carry that reputation when someone sees one of their typical coolers.
That being said, the Igloo Yukon slightly out-performs an equivalent-sized Yeti in terms of ice life. And for toughness and build quality, they are essentially equal. Finally, the Igloo Yukon, while expensive, is still quite a bit cheaper than the budget-busting Yeti.
It is a tough comparison but unless you are after a specific size or color that Igloo doesn’t offer, then the Yukon makes a strong case because of the money you will save.
We hoped this overview of the Igloo Yukon Coolers we helpful. Hop on below to see our ratings for each metric in our review.
Storage Size: 50, and 70-quart sizes
Construction: Plastic and steel composition
Cost: Premium-priced
Features: Integrated fish scale, Roto-molded construction, Raised surface on the lid, Over-sized drain plug, Dual lid locks, Cool Riser technology, Self-stopping hinge
Pros: Amazing cooling ability, Extremely tough and long-lasting, Aggressive styling, Proven reputation
Cons: Very heavy and bulky, Expensive
| Insulation Ability | |
| Mobility and Durability | |
| Visual Appeal | |
| Cost | |
| Overall Rating |
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This is our Igloo Yukon Cooler Review. The Igloo Yukon Cooler is arguably the toughest coolers that Igloo makes, capable of an advertised 7 days of ice retention. It is constructed of thick rotomolded plastic and comes with many impressive features including dual reversible ski pads, wider gripped handles, cool riser technology, UV inhibitors, stainless steel hardware, dual lock lids, and more. It is available in 50 and 70-quart non-wheeled versions. The colors available include white and tan. This product is primarily made of plastic and steel.
Insulation Ability – 
The ability to keep ice frozen is the strong point of this cooler. Being nearly inches thick on the lid and 2+ inches thick on the body, it has an enormous cold barrier. Also, the lid closes air-tight so essentially no cold air can escape. This is attributed to both the large rubber gasket as well as the effective latch design. This, plus the helpful inclusion of the riser technology means that you can lay the cooler directly on a hot surface without much concern for heat exchange.
You can expect ice to stay frozen for 6 to 7 days with the 70-quart model even in the summer with this product, which is quite good. The 50-quart is slightly lower but should still last for multiple days.
Mobility and Durability – 
The Igloo Yukon Cooler is extremely durable and can handle any sort of abuse you can throw at it. If there are any doubts just look at the IGBC (International Grizzly Bear Committee) sticker on the side! The metal hardware is very strong and there are little or no concerns with weak points in the handles or hinges that can be an issue in lower-end Igloo coolers. We also like the cool features such as the built-in fish scale and bottle openers on the corners.
That being said, this comes at the cost of these being extremely bulky and rather heavy coolers. Expect this to be a 2-person carry, even in the smaller sizes. And speaking of sizes, there are only two.
Visual Appeal –
These are rather attractive iceboxes. The combination of the sturdy construction with the high-quality hardware and hinges make it look the part of a tough competitor. Even the locks on the lid and threaded drain plug are beefed up and compliment the overall feel. This is one of the toughest-looking and most attractive Igloo coolers we have come across and does a good job of representing the build quality throughout it.
Cost – 
These premium coolers come with a premium-tiered price tag. You do get a lot of cooler for the price, but you will end up paying close to what you would pay for many other more traditionally expensive brands such as Yeti and Pelican.
Overall Rating –
The Igloo Yukon Cold Locker Cooler Review earns 4 out of 5 coolers. An extremely effective insulator packaged in a rock-hard shell with very few weak points, the Yukon Series hits all points. It has enough features to appeal to most people looking for a premium large ice chest, but it does come with a rather high price tag that will rival some of the other higher-end brands on the market. If you are willing to spend the money we recommend checking this one out.
