The YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler is our best wheeled cooler for remote camping pick, and it scored 85 out of 100 in our testing.
Rolls easily over rough ground and holds ice for a week or more, but the tall shape and high price are the trade offs.
A wheeled YETI with puncture resistant NeverFlat wheels and a periscope handle that make a heavy cooler easy to tow to remote sites.
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 Wheeled Cooler For Remote Camping
YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler
- Capacity: 48 qt
- Empty weight: about 28 lb
- Wheels: NeverFlat solid tires
- Handle: retractable periscope
- Construction: injection molded
- Latches: single rubber
- Real ice life: about 5 to 7 days
- Drain: drain plug
Bottom Line : Rolls easily over rough ground and holds ice for a week or more, but the tall shape and high price are the trade offs.
Pros
- Rolls over rough terrain
- Very long cold hold
- Puncture resistant wheels
- Retractable periscope handle
Cons
- High price
- Tall shape packs flat items poorly
- Still about 28 lb empty
Our Verdict: YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler
Rolls easily over rough ground and holds ice for a week or more, but the tall shape and high price are the trade offs.
A wheeled YETI with puncture resistant NeverFlat wheels and a periscope handle that make a heavy cooler easy to tow to remote sites.
So, is it any good?
Retractable periscope handle telescopes up for towing and drops flat for storage.
Single rubber latch and gasket seal the lid, and there is a drain plug for emptying.
Towing it half a mile of gravel to the campsite was the easiest cooler haul I have done, and ice held past day five. The upright shape wastes space if you pack a lot of flat trays, and the price stung.
James, Top-Notch field tester
Reasons to buy:
- Rolls over rough terrain
- Very long cold hold
- Puncture resistant wheels
- Retractable periscope handle
Reasons to avoid:
- High price
- Tall shape packs flat items poorly
- Still about 28 lb empty
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
The YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler scored 85 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
One of the pricier options here, you pay a clear premium for the wheels and periscope handle.
Cheaper than buying a separate cooler and cart, but still a top of band price for the volume.
Justified mainly if wheeling over rough terrain is a real need for your trips.
| Value for Money | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler | 6/10 |
| Category average | 7.8/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Ease of Use
Retractable periscope handle telescopes up for towing and drops flat for storage.
Single rubber latch and gasket seal the lid, and there is a drain plug for emptying.
You might be wondering:
The tall vertical shape fits fewer flat items but rolls upright easily through camp.
| Ease of Use | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler | 9/10 |
| Category average | 8.6/10 |
| Worst in test | 8/10 |
Durability/Workmanship
NeverFlat wheels are solid single piece tires that resist punctures and impacts on rocky trails.
Injection molded body is tough and the wheel and axle assembly is built to take loaded towing.
Reviewers at Switchback and OutdoorGearLab rate build and wheel durability highly.
| Durability/Workmanship | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler | 9/10 |
| Category average | 8.5/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Portability
Empty weight is about 28 lb but the wheels mean you tow rather than lift most of the load.
Large tires roll over uneven rocky ground even when the cooler is full.
The clear portability winner in this group for moving cargo to a remote spot, short of a lift over obstacles.
| Portability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler | 9/10 |
| Category average | 7.4/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Insulation
Injection molded insulation delivered about ten days ice retention in YETI style testing.
Independent testing kept food under 40 degrees for about 6.8 days and drinks cold about 7.5 days.
That is among the longest cold hold of any cooler in this group.
Real camping ice life of five to seven days is realistic in summer heat.
| Insulation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler | 9/10 |
| Category average | 8.7/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Should You Buy the YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler?
Rolls easily over rough ground and holds ice for a week or more, but the tall shape and high price are the trade offs.
It is best suited to campers hauling a loaded cooler over rough ground to a remote site.
Bottom line?
The big win: Rolls over rough terrain.
The main compromise: High price.
We scored it 85 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 RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is our best ultra-light wheeled cooler. A wheeled cooler that costs far less than the YETI Roadie and is about 30 percent lighter than rotomolded, though its cold hold is a touch shorter.
The YETI Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler is our best cooler for short trips. 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.
The YETI Tundra 65 Hard Cooler is our best cooler for camping overall. The bench mark rotomolded camp cooler with real multi day cold, but you pay a premium and it is heavy to carry.
Specifications
| Capacity | 48 qt |
| Empty weight | about 28 lb |
| Wheels | NeverFlat solid tires |
| Handle | retractable periscope |
| Construction | injection molded |
| Latches | single rubber |
| Real ice life | about 5 to 7 days |
| Drain | drain plug |
Conclusion: YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler
After testing it against the other top coolers, the YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler earns its place as our best wheeled cooler for remote camping pick.
Its standout strength: Rolls over rough terrain.
Still deciding?
The main thing to weigh before you buy: High price.
If you want campers hauling a loaded cooler over rough ground to a remote site, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.
Still comparing? See exactly where the YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler ranks against the full field in our 10 Best Coolers For Camping guide.
