All of my coolers have seen better days. I'm going to pick up a new "family vacation" size. What do you think is the best bang for the buck? Yeti price range is out of my budget.
Thanks in advance.

Walmart Fallapart and some blocks of ice.

How long do you want to keep ice. I have a rectangular and two round (like water coolers) that are ozark trail brand from Walmart. They are very well insulated and have kept ice in the back of my truck for 3 days in the summer heat - could have gone longer. I also have a gigantic (120 qt?) Coleman. The Colemans didn't use to have any insulation but they're trying to keep up with the expensive brands so they also fill the void with foam now. If full, it will keep ice for a couple of days.

I've never been in a situation where I had a cooler but couldn't get out for ice. Coolers = a vehicle to move the cooler and therefore a way to get to ice. Three days is enough for me.

I have Coleman extremes and they do really good. There's better, but not A lot considering the price difference.

Coleman Xtreme. They make them with or without wheels. They are a fraction of the price of a high end cooler like a Yeti and work fine. Freeze jugs of water and you're good to go for a few days.

Had good luck so far with lifetime coolers sold at Wal-Mart. Like the latches, don't like yeti type latches. Also like my pelican cooler but more $$. Also bought a Canyon cooler($$) haven't used it yet. All three have better latch system's than yeti imo.

Go to Wal-Mart and get a couple of the Ozark trail cooler it's comparable to the yeti just not as expensive .

I cheat and cut to fit a piece of closed cell foam to cover the contents of my coolers to help keep things cold then if it's really hot I'll wrap a packing blanket around each cooler then a plastic tarp with the silver side out to reflect some heat away from the cooler .
Just some suggestions that work very well for me when I get out of town work and I'm living out of a 5th wheel camper and electrical power can be unreliable at times .
Allan

I have a big colman cooler , it keeps ice quite a while . I keep a 10 liter jug frozen as well as several smaller jugs, frozen in the freezer. . Place them on the bottom ,I wet several newspapers and put them on top of the food . this seems to extend the life of ice.. old243

Just don't buy an Igloo!

For the money Coleman Extremes work well. That newspaper wrap on ice helps a lot, I’ve never been where I couldn’t get some ice to help. I also keep mine in the shade when I can when it hot out.

Coleman extreme best bang for the buck

Coleman Marine Extreme

You can buy a lifetime supply of ice for 1/2 the cost difference between a good low cost cooler and a high end cooler like Yeti. For the same outside dimensions the Yeti will have more insulation and so less space inside. If you need more insulation you can always do like Alan said and put in some foam panel insulation from Lowes. I do that and it works pretty well.

I would never buy a Yeti due to their anti-2nd Amendment stance.

I saw a hunting show once where the hunter used a couple of the high end coolers as secure shipping containers for his gear. That's the only use I think justifies the cost of one of the high end coolers.

Agree!

They hold ice as well or better than Yeti's at about half the price and much less weight. I've had mine for close to ten years and consider it a very good purchase.

Cabelas

I have one. Its under $70.00 shipped a couple of years ago.
It is 120 quarts. 200 cans of your favorite beverage.
Check this out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Coleman-120-Quart-6-Days-Xtreme-Cooler-Drinks-Ice-Chest-Heavy-Duty-Outdoor-Boxes/362764833042?hash=item5476781112:g:0zkAAOSwOBldinuy

There are some that are 100 quart w/wheels.

The filters won't let me use the real name but I have a "Cold Bass Turd" and absolutely love it. It is a roto molded cooler like a Yeti but far lighter and much less expensive.

I wouldn't buy a Yeti because, didn't they make some disparaging remarks about guns or hunting, trapping, or something like that, kicking some of their biggest customers in the teeth? it was posted on here some time back.

Coleman Extreme.
You can even drill a couple holes in the underside of the top and foam the top full.
That will make it even better.

Take a look at Kodi for a hard sided cooler or Ice Mule for back packing. Ice Mule isn't any cheaper than Yete- just way better IMO