The Rugged Road 25 is light, compact, blastproof and it floats! But how does it compare to a YETI? Let’s take a look at my honest review and see if the Rugged Road v2 is worthy of being part of your cooler collection or even a replacement.
I know you have struggled with lugging heavy, bulky coolers to the beach, on a fishing or canoe trip, or even loading the cooler into your car. You also know how frustrating and painful it can be. The Rugged Road 25 cooler promises to deliver the performance of larger coolers without the weight.
As someone who struggles with carrying heavy coolers, I was curious if this portable outdoor cooler could help lessen the load on our outdoor adventures. Let’s see if it pans out.
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Finally, a high-performance cooler that doesn't require a workout to carry. The Rugged Road 25 weighs only 5 lbs but features a blast-proof shell that can handle being dropped, sat on, or used as a float. Itās the ultimate back-saver for the beach or the bush.
- Insanely Lightweight: Only 5 lbs (roughly 1/3 the weight of a YETI 25).
- Floats Upright: Perfect for canoeing, fishing, or poolside drinks.
- Blast-Resistant TitanShell: Can literally take a beating and keep its shape.
- 7-Day Ice Retention: Performance that rivals much heavier rotomolded coolers.
- Premium Investment: Higher upfront cost than budget coolers.
- Not 100% Hermetic: Can show minor leaks if held upside down/submerged.
Key Features of the Rugged Road 25 V2: Toughnes in a Small Cooler
1. Rugged Road 25 Can Capacity and Portability
With an empty weight of 5 lbs, the lightweight Rugged Road v2 is easy to carry when loaded with ice and your favourite drinks and snacks. It’s small enough to fit on a fishing boat, in a canoe, in the car or even on a paddleboard, yet spacious enough to hold 25 12-ounce cans with ice.
Thanks to its thin walls, the Rugged Road 25 has a large interior capacity – it’s become the best small cooler for road trips. I have even used it for out of town runs to pick up birthday cakes.
I love that the RR25 is a small, hard sided cooler that is short and wide. It allows you to scan what’s inside quickly and saves you from digging and unnecessarily cooling off the cooler.
Carrying the rugged lightweight cooler for adventures is easy, thanks to its lightweight and clever handle design. It’s also super convenient, as it fits nicely into my jet ski and allows you to spend more time taking the waves or making them. š
2. Ice Retention
The Rugged 25 cooler use Fridgite insulative technology to keep your drinks and food cold. We’ve used this compact cooler, while fishing in the hot blazing sun and enjoying a day at the beach. In my tests, the Rugged Road 25 v2 cooler kept ice frozen for 36 hours under the hot sun. While it’s not a full seven days, the cooler contents stayed cold for a few more days.
3. Durability & Build
Besides being an ultralight cooler for outdoor adventures, I love that this durable outdoor cooler has a blast-proof shell – not that I need it. It’s awesome knowing that my cooler is virtually indestructible, tough, and can handle rough handling.
It’s a compact roto-molded cooler, built with a Rigorite Coating that allows you to trek through harsh environments and not worry about your cooler cracking or breaking. Even an accidental drop won’t hurt it. My husband and I have stood on the Rugged Road 25. My kids have jumped on it, used it as a floaty, and I have even used the cooler as a seat for long paddles on a paddleboard.
4. Floatability
The big question here is, do Rugged Road coolers float? Of course, they do! I admit that lounging beside a cooler is not something you see daily, but it beats the little floaties you put your drink in.
The fact that this small hard shell floats makes it the best cooler for beach trips or a day out on the lake. You not longer need to be irritated by your little drink holder unnoticeably floating away from you, leaving you thirsty, the Rugged Road 25 will float beside you upright and hold drinks for your entire group.
And no, it doesn’t have magic powers to stay put, there’s a little loop on the handle that you can tie to.
The Rugged Road Outdoors cooler one hundred percent floats upright. For a perfect horizontal float, the content weight needs to be distributed evenly. Fully loaded, the cooler has a lot of buoyancy and is difficult to submerge. For kicks, I submerged the cooler, which leaked a tiny bit.
Not that this is a major issue, as I doubt anyone would sit there trying to sink their cooler, but at least you know you can use it as a floaty. Not too sure how happy your friends will be seeing that you’re hogging the drinks!
5. Easy Access & User-Friendly Design
The Rugged Road portable cooler features a multi-purpose, easy-access lid that is completely removable. The lid is a no fuss, single hinge design, which makes removal easy. Featured in the Kick Flip lid are built-in cup holders, the underside can be used as a cutting board, and it doesn’t matter which side is facing up, the multipurpose lid will lock back in place.
Sold separately is the option to use a padded carry strap. If not using one, you can use the side holes as anchor points or tie-down points to secure the cooler in a boat or ATV, or stop it from floating away in a river or lake.
We’ve all experienced gross and soggy food, and it’s a complete waste of money. Worse, is if you’re camping in the middle of nowhere and there is nowhere to replenish the lost food supply. Here’s the good news. Rugged Road coolers come with a removeable snack rack as a bonus. That’s right, say goodbye to disintegrating packaging and spoiled food!
The snack rack sits right above 12-ounce cans. Water bottles can be laid down to fit underneath. You can also use the bottom for ice, drinks and food items that melted ice cannot penetrate. In the snack rack fits an entire 12-egg carton with room to spare for fruits, veg and pepperettes.
Value: Is the Rugged Road 25 Worth It?
The Rugged Road 25 cooler is perfect for those seeking a lightweight solution to a heavy problem. Not only is this an ultra-lightweight cooler, but it’s also durable and functional for any outdoor enthusiast, day-tripper or even festival-goer. Whether you are an angler or jet skier looking to pack some drinks and snacks or a mom driving her kids to a game, this road trip, personal cooler will do the job and lighten your heavy adventure gear loads.
Rugged Road Cooler Price
At $250, you might agree that the RR25 is expensive, but let’s put the price into perspective. For coolers under 10 lbs, the Rugged Road v2 is the only lightweight roto-molded cooler that floats, is blast-proof and has a lifetime warranty, making it an affordable small cooler that will last you for years.
And, let’s face it, coolers are used a lot if you’re a mega outdoor enthusiast. From it being a personal cooler, to fitting conveniently into small spaces like fishing boats, to floating in pools and lakes, to hauling snacks for kids after-school games, the price of the cooler becomes affordable when you get so much use from one small item.
New for 2025, Rugged Road Outdoors just announced that they will pay you to trade-in your old cooler! In fact, you can get up to $100, depending on size. No, this offer makes it compelling to buy the best cooler money can buy!
Rugged Road 25 Cooler Video Overview
Rugged Road 25 vs YETI Roadie 24: Which Cooler Wins?
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$249.99
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$250
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Ice Retention:
Up to 7 Days of Ice
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Ice Retention:
3 to 5 Days of Ice
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Weight:
5 lbs
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Weight:
13 lbs
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Capacity:
25 12 oz Cans, Plus Ice
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Capacity:
33 Cans, No Ice
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Build:
Roto-molded with Rigorite Coating
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Build:
Roto-molded with RockSolid Coating
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Unique Features:
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Unique Features:
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Add-Ons:
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Add-Ons:
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Warranty:
Lifetime
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Warranty:
5 Years
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- Thinner Walls
- Snack Tray
- Removable Lid with Drink Holders Non-Slip Surface
- Floats
- Multi-purpose lid
- Padded Carry Strap
- TracPad
- NeverFail Hinge System
- Fits Wine Bottles
- Coldlock Gasket
- HeftyHauler Handle
- Non-Slip Feet
- Basket
- Tie-Down Kit
Rugged Road vs YETI, the ultimate cooler battle! While YETI is a recognized and sought-after premium brand, the Rugged Road is a better option for those seeking a durable, lightweight and floatable cooler. The YETI Roadie 24 cooler is heavy with thick walls, deeper and carries a 5-year warranty.
Having both coolers, we love the YETI and have owned their hard cooler since they launched it way back when. Cleaning the YETI is easier, because of the smooth surface, but when it comes to weight – hands down the Rugged Road wins.
I also love the fact that it floats and takes an absolute beating, which in my opinion makes it the best camping coolers like YETI. You can see the full lineup for yourself here to compare.
Rugged Road 25 FAQs
The Rugged Road 25 can keepĀ iceĀ for up to 7 days, depending on weather conditions, which makes it perfect for weekend trips or short adventures!
No, itĀ doesn’t, but being an ultralight design, tipping the cooler to remove any water after theĀ iceĀ melts is easy.
It’sĀ greatĀ for smaller groups of 2-3 people if carrying food and drinks. For drinks only, the cooler is suitable for a larger group.Ā For a family of four,Ā a larger model like the Rugged Road 45 would be better option.
Absolutely ā itās lightweight, well-insulated, and tough enough for remote sites or a long day by the water.
Yes! Itās compact and rugged, which makes it ideal for road trips, off-roading, and even jet ski coolers with the right rack setup.
It holds 25 quarts, so itās in the compact cooler category, but roomy enough for a weekend adventure.
Both are high-end coolers, but the Rugged Road is lighter and floats upright and fully loaded, making it perfect for off-road trips or boat days.
The RR25 cooler can be purchased through Rugged Road’s website.
For a limited time, use code ‘BUSHLIFE10’ at check out for an exclusive discount of 10% on any Rugged product.
Download our Camping Gear Checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything!
Final Verdict: Why We Switched to Rugged Road
Look, the YETI is a great-looking cooler, but after carrying both, the Rugged Road 25 is the one that actually makes it into the truck. The fact that it weighs only 5 lbs is a massive relief for my back, but honestly? Itās the “blast-proof” shell that sold me.
Most lightweight gear feels fragileālike youāre one accidental drop away from a crack. But weāve stood on this thing, used it as a boogie board in the water, and treated it like a piece of utility equipment. Itās a rare combo: itās the lightest cooler weāve ever owned, yet somehow the one we worry about breaking the least.
Itās a premium investment, but itās a ‘buy once, cry once’ piece of gear thatās backed for life. If you want to grab one, use our code BUSHLIFE10 to take 10% off your order. It makes a big difference on the final price!
Your 10% Off Code: BUSHLIFE10
Need something bigger for a full weekend with the family? Check out ourĀ Rugged Road 45 ice chest reviewĀ to see the 25’s big brother in action.
šĀ Have you struggled with heavy coolers, or are you looking to make the switch to ultralight? Drop a comment below and letās chat!
Disclosure
Rugged Road Outdoors has graciously provided the RR25 for our honest review. This Rugged Road cooler review is not sponsored, nor have we received any monetary compensation. We are proud to have the Rugged Road 25 as part of our cooler family, and truth be told, it’s our most used cooler for water activities.
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