Gear Review: YETI Hopper M30

What is it?

YETI Hopper M30

What sets it apart?

While YETI’s Hopper soft cooler has been around for a while, they added one big update. They have re-engineered the opening to offer a wide mouth for easy loading and unloading. It closes almost on its own with something called HydroShield Technology – a strip of ultra-strong magnets – then is secured with two Quick-Release Buckles to ensure it can withstand being tossed around. A tough cooler got tougher. 

How do I use it?

If you’ve never used a YETI cooler, especially a soft one, then you are really missing out on what can best be described as wizardry. You put your drinks and food in there with some ice or freezing element, and open it up literally days later and everything is still cold. I’m a grown man, and I have no conception of how this is possible. It feels like it’s breaking a fundamental law of the universe. 

How much?

$299

More Information:

YETI.com

Angler’s insight:

It’s no secret that there are tons of companies trying to do what YETI has done. But if you’ve had any experience with competing products you’ll quickly learn the old adage “you get what you pay for.” YETI’s products cost more, but last forever and do exactly what they promise, and do it well. If you are going to buy a cooler, you will likely use it for a long time. Makes sense to invest in one that does the best job it can. The soft coolers always came with tradeoffs compared to the hard ones, but YETI has cracked the code. If you need a larger soft cooler,  you can’t go wrong with this one.