Yeti Tundra 45 Review

The Yeti Tundra 45 is a rotomolded cooler with indented and covered rope handles and an internal height of 10.25 inches that doesn't quite let a standard 2L bottle of soda or 750ml bottle of wine stand upright. It has a dual-size drain, a dry storage basket, tie-down loops, and is Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) certified.

Performance Comparison

Insulation

Providing 98 hours of sub 40°F temperatures during our insulation testing, the Tundra 45 does just about average when compared to the others its size. If your concern is less about fresh food and more about cool drinks, this mid-sized model went on to maintain internal temperatures of 50°F for 108 hours locked inside our hot testing room. While this performance is impressive, it's worth noting that the Tundra 45's roughly 35-quart capacity is also one of the smallest in this grouping, giving proportionally more ice and less dead space within, furthering its ice retention properties. It's still a high-quality piece of gear though, with a rubber seal around the lid and secure latches to hold in that cold air while you're out in hot weather.

Durability

We've come to expect quite a bit from the durability of a rotomolded cooler, and the robust design and construction of the Tundra 45 do not disappoint. The hinge — often a weak point in competing models — is thick, well-protected, and feels very solid even as we attempted to overextend it. Yeti's T-grip rubber latches continue to be a favorite in the face of dozens of similar options, with their needle-threading combination of flexibility and strength. However, this particular unit arrived with a few issues we aren't excited about, most prominently the gap between ends of the rubber gasket around the lid. With just a piece of fabric tape stretching across this space, the cooler isn't airtight or leakproof. Though more of an aesthetic complaint, our Tundra 45 also has plenty of thin plastic sticking out from the edges of the cooler, leftover from the rotomolded manufacturing process. These careless seams don't affect the use of the chest but give an overall air of carelessness that we dislike seeing in such an otherwise well-designed and high-functioning unit.

Ease of Use

When accessing cooler contents, the lid of the Tundra 45 somehow manages to stay open without actually spanning a full 90 degree angle. The Tundra line of coolers prioritizes a longer, lower shape that makes it easier to locate small contents even when the chest is filled with slushy ice water. It also has a small channel that effectively drains meltwater from its dual-sized drainage port. Though we find the roughly 35-quart capacity to be both useful and convenient, we do think the name of this cooler is a touch misleading. Yeti lists the dimensions of this model's interior prominently in its description, which can easily be calculated (we also measured it) to learn that the Tundra 45 actually has a volume of a bit over 34 quarts. This is a theme across many of the Yeti coolers we've tested over the years. Again, we continue to appreciate the actual volume and convenient sizes of the models we've tested, we're just not stoked on the lack of consistency between models' names and volumes.

Portability

Tipping the scales at over 30 pounds, the Tundra 45 is a bit heavier for its volume than the general trend among models we tested. Its smaller size helps to make up for it a bit, while the low profile of this mid-sized chest helps it be manageable by a single person, even when loaded up with provisions for your day. Just like much of the competition, the Tundra 45 has two sets of handles that we find very convenient for facilitating solo carry (indented handles under the sides of the lid) or two-person lugging (rope handles with grooved, rubber grips). The rubber feet help this cooler stay in place when you finally get it where you want it.

Additional Features

Perhaps most notably, the Tundra 45 comes with a perfectly sized dry goods bin that hangs inside the cooler — though its widely spaced wires aren't ideal for holding smaller items. To accompany tie-down slots on either side of the lid, Yeti has added shallow channels that help hold a webbing strap in place as it travels up and over the edges of the lid. This model has been certified “bear resistant” by the IGBC, with locking front corners to actually keep critters out when used with Yeti's cooler locks — which we have tested. They fit perfectly and seem to work well (though no actual bears attempted to break in during our testing), though they can be challenging to fit the key into, as the keyhole faces directly toward the ground and can't be rotated upward for easy viewing.

Should You Buy the Yeti Tundra 45?

The Tundra 45 is an expensive cooler that's built to last. It combines a simple design with several functional features and a family of additional accessories that just might be your dream cooler kit. It's a great mid-sized cooler for those who need a little extra strength and performance from their gear. If you use your cooler a lot and want something that lasts, this one is worth the investment. If you only need an infrequent picnic partner or camping companion, this beefy box might be overkill.

What Other Coolers Should You Consider?

Yeti makes a handful of other models worth checking out. The Yeti Roadie 24 is a personal-sized option that performs just about the same in its insulation performance. For a larger, more portable option, check out the Yeti Roadie 60. This rugged model has wheels and a handle, allowing it to roll along just about anywhere you plan to go.