Are you in the market for a top-of-the-line cooler for your outdoor adventures? Look no further than the Yeti Tundra series. Before purchasing a Yeti cooler, it’s important to research what size will work best for your individual needs. In this Yeti 45 vs 65 guide we’ll break down the Tundra series and review each size.
Yeti offers a range of sizes and features to fit your specific needs. Coolers have come a long way in the 21st century with new technology bringing increasingly expensive options. Yeti is often mentioned as a top-performing brand, specifically their versatile Tundra model.
We review the Yeti Tundra 45 and Yeti Tundra 65 so you can make the best decision.
First, we’ll go over the features of the Yeti Tundra Series and what makes these the best coolers available. Then, we’ll share our thoughts on size, durability, weight, capacity, and more. Last, we’ll give a verdict on which model to choose. We’ve included links to purchase these models.
We do receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the Amazon affiliate links in this article, but we are not sponsored by Yeti to shill products in any way. Our team 100% recommends Yeti coolers. We want to help you make the correct size decision with helpful advice.
Yeti Tundra Series
The Yeti Tundra series is a line of high-performance coolers that have become increasingly popular among outdoor enthusiasts. With options ranging from the compact Yeti Tundra 45 to the larger Yeti Tundra 65, the Tundra series offers a size to fit your specific needs.
Yeti Durability
What sets the Yeti Tundra apart from other coolers on the market is its superior durability and performance. Made with rotomolded construction and a unique T-latch design, the Tundra coolers are built to withstand even the toughest outdoor conditions. Whether you’re going on a solo camping trip or a large family vacation, the Yeti Tundra series has a cooler to fit your needs.
Yeti Sizes
However, one of the biggest challenges of buying a Yeti Tundra cooler is what size to buy. The numbers in Yeti cooler models refer to how many quarts of liquid the coolers can hold. Yeti cooler sizes range from the smallest 35 quart model all the way to a gigantic 350 quart model.
The majority of Yeti Tundra buyers will end up deciding between the 45 and 65 quart models since these hit the sweet spot for fitting in your car while still having enough space inside.
Yeti Tundra Cooler Features
Yeti’s hard Tundra coolers come in different sizes but share many features and design aspects including:
RotoMolded Construction
Yeti Tundra coolers are constructed using a process called rotomolded construction. This process involves heating plastic material and molding it into a single piece, creating a cooler that is extremely durable and resistant to impact. The rotomolded construction makes the Yeti coolers resistant to cracks, dents, and other types of damage, ensuring that they will last for many years.
T-Rex Lid Latches
The T-Rex lid latches are one of the key features of the Yeti Tundra coolers. These latches are designed to be extra strong and secure, ensuring that the cooler lid stays closed and your food and drinks stay cold. The T-Rex lid latches are easy to open and close, making it simple to access your food and drinks when you need them.
Neverfail Hinge System
The Yeti Tundra coolers are equipped with a Neverfail hinge system, which helps to prevent the hinges from breaking or malfunctioning. This system ensures that the hinges will last for the life of the cooler, making it possible to open and close the lid thousands of times without any problems.
Bearproof Design
The Yeti Tundra coolers are designed to be bearproof, meaning that they are strong enough to resist attempts by bears to break into them. This is important for those who may be camping or fishing in areas where bears are present, as it ensures that your food and drinks will remain safe from wildlife.
Fatwall Design
The Yeti Tundra coolers are equipped with a Fatwall design, which means that the walls of the cooler are extra thick. This design helps to improve insulation and keep your food and drinks colder for longer. Additionally, the Fatwall design also provides additional structural support, making the cooler even more durable and resistant to impact.
Interlock Lid System
The Interlock lid system is another key feature of the Yeti Tundra coolers. This system allows you to securely stack multiple coolers on top of each other, saving space and making it easier to transport multiple coolers at once.
Permafrost Insulation
The Yeti Tundra coolers are equipped with Permafrost insulation, which is a type of insulation that helps to keep your food and drinks colder for longer. The Permafrost insulation is specifically designed to resist the transfer of heat from the outside of the cooler to the inside, helping to keep your food and drinks colder for days.
Coldlock Gasket
The Yeti Tundra coolers are equipped with a Coldlock gasket, which is a type of gasket that helps to prevent heat transfer between the inside and outside of the cooler. The Coldlock gasket helps to keep your food and drinks colder for longer, as it prevents heat from entering the cooler and warming up your food and drinks. This feature is particularly important for those who will be using their cooler in hot climates or for extended periods of time.
Yeti 45 vs 65 Overview
| Yeti Tundra 45 | Yeti Tundra 65 | |
| External Dimensions | 25.6 x 15.9 x 15.5 inches | 30.8 x 17.3 x 16.0 inches |
| Internal Dimensions | 18.3 x 9.4 x 10.7 inches | 23.3 x 10.7 x 11.3 inches |
| Weight Empty | 24.6lbs | 30.3lbs |
| Capacity | 54 cans (only) or 37 lbs of ice (only) | 77 cans (only) or 58 lbs of ice (only) |
| Colors | 12 | 7 |
| Price | $325 | $375 |
Yeti Tundra 45 Review
In our comparison the Yeti Tundra 45 is the smaller popular option in the Tundra series, making it the ideal size for solo trips or small groups.
Durability: Despite its more compact size, the Yeti 45 packs a punch in terms of durability. The rotomolded construction and T-latch design ensure that this cooler can withstand rough conditions and keep your drinks and food cold for days.
Weight: Weighing in at 24.6 pounds empty, the Yeti 45 is not the lightest cooler on the market. However, its sturdy design and long-lasting performance make it well worth the weight.
- Empty Weight: 24.6 Pounds
Dimensions: The Yeti 45 external dimensions are 25.6 x 15.9 x 15.5 inches, making it the perfect size for stacking in a truck bed or fitting in a small boat.
- Internal Dimensions: 18.3 x 9.4 x 10.7 inches
- External Dimensions: 25.6 x 15.9 x 15.5 inches
Capacity: Fits 54 cans (only) or 37 lbs of ice (only). Recomended 2:1 ice to can ratio.
Price: The Yeti 45 has a price tag of $325. It also available in limited edition colors that can increase the price up to $600.
Colors: The Yeti 45 comes in 8 total color options on Amazon with 5 of these being limited edition and discontinued colors that are sometimes available. See our color table below for all available colors and purchase links to each.
Our Thoughts: The Yeti Tundra 45 is a compact and durable cooler that is perfect for solo trips or small groups. Its rotomolded construction and T-latch design make it a sturdy option that can withstand tough conditions, and its mid-range price point and available colors make it a great value for money.
Whether you’re planning a camping trip, fishing excursion, or any other outdoor activity, the Yeti 45 is a great choice for those looking for a high-quality cooler that will last for years to come.
Yeti Tundra 65 Review
If you’re looking for a larger option, the Yeti Tundra 65 is the perfect choice. This cooler matches the 45s durability and construction, but with added size and capacity.
Durability: This cooler boasts the same durability and high-quality construction as the 45, but with added size and capacity.
Weight: The Yeti Tundra 65 weighs 30.3lbs empty, making it heavy for a cooler. However, the weight is put to good use thanks to 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation and an extra thick FatWall design that is certified Bear-Resistant.
Dimensions: The Yeti 65 external dimensions are 30.8 x 17.3 x 16.0 inches, making it substantially larger than the 45 model.
- Internal Dimensions: 23.3 x 10.7 x 11.3 inches inches
- External Dimensions: 30.8 x 17.3 x 16.0 inches
Capacity: The Yeti 65 holds 77 cans (only) or 58 lbs of ice (only). Recomended 2:1 ice to can ratio.
Price: The Yeti 65 has a price tag of $375, making it only $50 more expensive than the Yeti 45.
Yeti 65 Colors: The Yeti 65 is available in 3 main colors (white, desert tan, and navy) with a few limited edition or discontinued colors available. See our color table below for all available colors and purchase links to each.
Our Thoughts: The big advantage the Yeti 65 holds over the 45 is its capacity. It can hold 23 more cans (that’s a lot of beer!) and about 20 pounds more of ice. This comes at the cost of being rather large for a small space and less overall variety of colors. Exceptional peformance and craftsmanship remain the same across both sizes.
Yeti 45 vs 65: Available Colors
| Color | Yeti 45 | Yeti 65 |
| White | Yes – Check Price | Yes – Check Price |
| Desert Tan | Yes – Check Price | Yes – Check Price |
| Navy | Yes – Check Price | Yes – Check Price |
| Nordic Blue | Yes – Check Price | No |
| Nordic Purple | Yes – Check Price | No |
| Alpine Yellow | Yes – Check Price | No |
| Aquifer Blue | Yes – Check Price | Yes – Check Price |
| Coral | Yes – Check Price | Yes – Check Price |
| Harvest Red | Yes – Check Price | No |
| King Crab | Yes – Check Price | No |
| Sagebrush Green | Yes – Check Price | No |
| Seafoam | Yes – Check Price | No |
| Decoy | No | Yes – Check Price |
| Highlands Olive | No | Yes – Check Price |
Yeti 45 vs 65 Cooler Alternatives
If you have the cash (or credit) to spend over $300 on a cooler, then the Yeti Tundra series is the best cooler on the market. Options are available for less than $300, but there are steep downgrades in performance the less you pay. These are our recommendations for under 300 in different price brackets:
- Pelican 50 Quart Elite Cooler – 299.99 – A good cooler with a techno-industrial look, but underperforms Yeti and is not much cheaper.
- RTIC Ultra-Light 52 Quart Hard Cooler – $219.99 – Our vote for the best cooler under $250. A medium size cooler with great performance for the price.
- Igloo BMX 52-Quart Cooler – $ 169.99 – The best cooler option for under $200 but is nowhere near the level of Yeti performance.
Yeti 45 vs 65: Unlock Outside’s Verdict
So, which Yeti Tundra cooler is right for you? If you’re looking for a compact option for solo trips or small groups, the Yeti 45 is the way to go. Its durable design, ample size, and reasonable price make it a top-performing cooler in its class.
While the Yeti 45 is cheaper, we think the Yeti 65 is a better deal. For $50 more, you get room for an additional 23 cans or 21 pounds of ice. When you’re spending over $300 for a cooler, we think it makes sense to spend $50 more for the extra space.
Large Groups and Most Uses: Yeti 65
However, if you’re looking for a larger option for extended trips or large groups, the Yeti 65 is the better choice. Its increased size and capacity, combined with its heavy-duty construction, make it the perfect cooler for tough conditions and long-lasting performance.
Short on Space: Yeti 45
Do you have a larger vehicle or a small car with limited space? Car size can be a deciding factor, especially if every space is filled and the trunk is full of gear. Find a cardboard box or large object with similar cooler dimensions and see if the 65 is a realistic size. If you can fit lots of gear and the 65 in your vehicle, then this will be the better choice.
Buy the Yeti 65 if Space Allows
In conclusion, in the Yeti 45 vs 65 debate, both offer top-notch durability and performance, making them excellent choices for your outdoor adventures. Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to your specific needs and preferences. If you have room, it’s usually best to get the larger size.
If you’re looking to purchase the Yeti cooler as gift, consider using the cooler as a gift basket and filling it with additional gear
Whether you choose the Yeti 45 or 65, you can be confident in your investment with top-notch cooler performance that will last for years to come.
