Orca 40 Review

The Orca 40 is a rotomolded cooler with indented hard plastic, foam-covered webbing handles, and an internal height of 11.25 inches — not quite tall enough to accommodate most upright bottles of wine or 2L bottles. It features a dual-size drain, tie-down loops, a mesh pocket on the back, and certification from the IGBC.

Performance Comparison

Insulation

Though Orca's vague claim that the Orca 40 maintains the “freshness of your stowed items for up to 10 days” leaves room for interpretation, this small model performed well for its size during our insulation testing. In our insulation test, the Orca 40 lasted five days, maintaining sub 40°F temperatures, the recommended threshold to maintain the freshness of the most sensitive food items, including raw meat and dairy. This 40-quart model kept internal temps below 50°F for several more hours, lasting 5.5 days in our hot room below that threshold.

While the Orca 40 is great for a long weekend trip, there are other compact options that will last a bit longer, as shown in the graph below.

Durability

As we've come to expect from rotomolded coolers, the Orca 40 feels solid and well-built. Its rubber latches (shaped like orca tails) are some of the thickest and least flexible we've laid our hands on, adding to our confidence in their ability to withstand the test of time better than many others. Both sets of handles proved to be more than adequate enough to haul around this cooler filled with drinks and road trip snacks. Even the mesh pocket on the back is attached well and never caused any issues or gave us any worry during our testing period.

We had no issues with the drain plug, nor did we see anything that makes us worry about it eventually leaking. The integrated hinge for the lid is robust and gave only the smallest noise of complaint when we attempted to overextend it. As an IGBC certified product, this cooler proves itself very well-suited to withstand an impressive amount of use and abuse — we sat, stood, and jumped on it. Barring extraordinary abuse or circumstances, we expect this cooler to last a very long time.

Ease of Use

As a mid-sized model, the Orca 40 is fairly simple and straightforward, making it easy to use. The lid stays open at 90 degrees for easy loading, while the top is textured, helping it better hold whatever you set on top of it. The drain plug has two size options for easy use; unthread it slightly, and a channel running through the plug lets water out, or remove the plug entirely for faster drainage. Like most models we tested, it lacks a leash connecting the plug to the body of the cooler, so be certain not to misplace your cap. The exterior mesh pocket is sealed by a wide strip of velcro to make sure whatever you put in it stays.

Portability

The Orca 40 weighs just over 26 pounds. Filled to the brim with delicious refreshments, it's not a lightweight item to cart around. Curved, rubber-covered webbing handles make for fairly easy two-person carry, while indented handles under the sides of the lid provide useful single-person grips. Its narrow profile adds a bit to the comfort of carrying this medium ice chest despite its slightly taller shape that can bump against knees at times. Rubber feet help it to stay in place in the trunk of your car or deck of your boat while in use. Overall, it doesn't have any standout features that make it comparably easier or harder to carry.

Additional Features

While a relatively simple cooler, the Orca 40 has several understated features that we love. To accompany tie-down slots on either side of the unit are indented channels on the edges of the lid that help to hold your strap in place, even as you bounce over uneven terrain. Thick rubber feet underneath further add to this stability. The front corners of the lid have lockable sections if you need to keep your food safe from roaming bears. As mentioned, we love the large mesh pocket on the backside of the cooler. We continuously found it more useful than expected throughout testing for a slew of dry items, as it became a feature we missed on other coolers without it. And if you feel you want more accessories and add-ons, Orca makes plenty of other options we didn't test with our standard model.

Should You Buy the Orca 40?

If you only need a cooler a couple of times a year, it might be overkill, but if you're searching for a mid-sized, 40-quart cooler that needs to withstand frequent use (and maybe abuse), we think the investment here is worth it. Its insulation is just about average, though it should be enough for most outings and camp trips.

What Other Coolers Should You Consider?

The Ultralight RTIC 52 is a great option in the medium-large size range. It's lightweight and easy to move around. Plus, it does well in its insulation performance. If you like the sound of the Orca but want it to be larger, you're in luck. The Orca 58 is one of our favorite coolers in the lineup. This lasted the longest in our insulation tests and has many of the same great features as the 40, like a mesh net.