The YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler is our best cooler for short trips pick, and it scored 83 out of 100 in our testing.
A small, tough, easy to carry YETI for day trips and short stays, but you pay a premium for a cooler that holds ice two to three days.
A compact 24 quart YETI with a DoubleDuty shoulder strap and drain plug, built for grab and go trips rather than long camp stints.
Here's the deal:
We tested it head to head against the other top coolers, and below we break down how it did on Value for Money, Ease of Use, Durability/Workmanship, Portability, Insulation, where it falls short, and whether it is worth your money.
Best Cooler For Short Trips
YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler
- Capacity: 24 qt
- Empty weight: about 13 lb
- Carry: DoubleDuty shoulder strap
- Insulation: PermaFrost
- Construction: rotomolded
- Drain: drain plug
- Real ice life: about 2 to 3 days
- Latches: single rubber
Bottom Line : A small, tough, easy to carry YETI for day trips and short stays, but you pay a premium for a cooler that holds ice two to three days.
Pros
- Very portable at about 13 lb
- Hands free shoulder strap
- Tough rotomolded build
- Added drain plug
Cons
- Pricey for the small size
- Only 2 to 3 day real ice
- Small 24 qt capacity
Our Verdict: YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler
A small, tough, easy to carry YETI for day trips and short stays, but you pay a premium for a cooler that holds ice two to three days.
A compact 24 quart YETI with a DoubleDuty shoulder strap and drain plug, built for grab and go trips rather than long camp stints.
What's the bottom line?
The DoubleDuty shoulder strap lets you carry it hands free, padded and adjustable.
The 2.0 update added a drain plug so you no longer have to tip it to empty.
Slinging it over one shoulder to the beach was effortless and it kept drinks cold all weekend. It is tiny and it is dear, so I would not lean on it for a full camping week.
Emma, Top-Notch field tester
Reasons to buy:
- Very portable at about 13 lb
- Hands free shoulder strap
- Tough rotomolded build
- Added drain plug
Reasons to avoid:
- Pricey for the small size
- Only 2 to 3 day real ice
- Small 24 qt capacity
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
The YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler scored 83 out of 100 overall.
It is strongest on ease of use and weakest on value for money.
Here is how it did on every metric we tested, with exactly how each score compares to the rest of the field.
Value for Money
Expensive for its small size, you pay YETI money for a day trip cooler.
The premium buys build quality and carry comfort rather than large volume or long ice.
Worth it only if you want a small YETI you carry often, not for multi day camp cooling.
| Value for Money | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler | 6/10 |
| Category average | 7.8/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Ease of Use
The DoubleDuty shoulder strap lets you carry it hands free, padded and adjustable.
The 2.0 update added a drain plug so you no longer have to tip it to empty.
You might be wondering:
Single latch and gasket seal are simple and quick, and the tall narrow shape fits wine bottles upright.
| Ease of Use | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler | 10/10 |
| Category average | 8.6/10 |
| Worst in test | 8/10 |
Durability/Workmanship
Rotomolded shell in a small package, as tough as its bigger Tundra siblings.
Strap hardware and latch are well made and take repeated field use.
Reviewers consistently rate the build near the top for a personal size cooler.
| Durability/Workmanship | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler | 9/10 |
| Category average | 8.5/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Portability
At about 13 lb empty it is easy to carry solo, the most portable cooler in this group.
Shoulder strap and compact size make it a genuine grab and go cooler for a day out.
Small footprint fits behind a truck seat or in a kayak.
| Portability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler | 10/10 |
| Category average | 7.4/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Insulation
PermaFrost insulation holds cold up to about 5 days in ideal conditions.
Under normal use expect two to three days of ice, longer only with pre chill and a 2 to 1 ice ratio.
One test still had large ice chunks after 72 hours.
Its small volume means less thermal mass, so real ice life is shorter than the big coolers here.
| Insulation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler | 8/10 |
| Category average | 8.7/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Should You Buy the YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler?
A small, tough, easy to carry YETI for day trips and short stays, but you pay a premium for a cooler that holds ice two to three days.
It is best suited to solo day trips and short overnights where carry comfort matters most.
Want to know the best part?
The big win: Very portable at about 13 lb.
The main compromise: Pricey for the small size.
We scored it 83 out of 100.
What Other Coolers Should You Consider?
Not sold on this one? A few others from our testing are worth a look.
The YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler is our best wheeled cooler for remote camping. Rolls easily over rough ground and holds ice for a week or more, but the tall shape and high price are the trade offs.
The Coleman Classic Insulated Cooler is our best budget cooler for camping. Cheap, light and easy to drain, but the honest ice life is one to two days and there is no latch on the lid.
The ENGEL 60 QT Ultra-Light Cooler is our best lightweight cooler for long trips. Injection molded so it is far lighter than rotomolded rivals while still holding ice most of a week, a smart pick for longer carries.
Specifications
| Capacity | 24 qt |
| Empty weight | about 13 lb |
| Carry | DoubleDuty shoulder strap |
| Insulation | PermaFrost |
| Construction | rotomolded |
| Drain | drain plug |
| Real ice life | about 2 to 3 days |
| Latches | single rubber |
Conclusion: YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler
After testing it against the other top coolers, the YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler earns its place as our best cooler for short trips pick.
Its standout strength: Very portable at about 13 lb.
So:
The main thing to weigh before you buy: Pricey for the small size.
If you want solo day trips and short overnights where carry comfort matters most, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.
Still comparing? See exactly where the YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler ranks against the full field in our 10 Best Coolers For Camping guide.
