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.
Spread the Love
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through our links result in a small commission to us at no charge to you. We only recommend products that meet our brand standards based on testing and first hand use by our authors.
The ultralightweight Rugged Road 25 Cooler is holds ice for up to 7 days, making it ideal for fishing, canoeing, road trips, or a day at the beach. Its durable design allows for standing or sitting, and it even floats upright. Get ready for less back pain and more enjoyable outdoor adventures with this essential cooler that combines convenience and durability.
- Lightweight
- High-quality build with a non-slip surface
- Keeps ice cold for up to 7 days
- Floats Upright
- Reversible lid
- A bit pricey
- Leaks a little when fully 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 comfortable 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 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. 😉
2. Ice Retention
Whether fishing in the hot blazing sun or enjoying the day at the beach, the compact cooler ensures it stands up to harsh environments. In my tests, the Rugged Road 25 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 features built-in cup holders, can be used as a cutting board, and it doesn’t matter which side is facing up, the 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 when the cooler is floating in the 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.
Rugged Road 25 Cooler Video Overview
Rugged Road 25 vs YETI Roadie 24: Which Cooler Wins?
|
|
 |
|
$249.99
|
$250
|
|
Ice Retention:
Up to 7 Days of Ice
|
Ice Retention:
3 to 5 Days of Ice
|
|
Weight:
5 lbs
|
Weight:
13 lbs
|
|
Capacity:
25 12 oz Cans, Plus Ice
|
Capacity:
33 Cans, No Ice
|
|
Build:
Roto-molded with Rigorite Coating
|
Build:
Roto-molded with RockSolid Coating
|
|
Unique Features:
|
Unique Features:
|
|
Add-Ons:
|
Add-Ons:
|
|
Warranty:
Lifetime
|
Warranty:
5 Years
|
- 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 Frequently Asked Questions
The Rugged Road 25 can keep ice for up to 7 days, depending on weather conditions, which makes it perfect for weekend trips or short adventures!
No, it doesn’t, but being an ultralight design, tipping the cooler to remove any water after the ice melts is easy.
It’s great for smaller groups of 2-3 people if carrying food and drinks. For drinks only, the cooler is suitable for a larger group. For a family of four, a larger model like the Rugged Road 45 would be better option.
Absolutely — it’s lightweight, well-insulated, and tough enough for remote sites or a long day by the water.
Yes! It’s 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 it’s 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.
My Final Verdict on Rugged Road 25 Coolers
We are proud owners of two Rugged Road floating coolers and have not had any issues with either. The Rugged Road 25 offers outstanding portability, cooling performance, superior durability and floating capabilities. And, of course, we can’t forget the lifetime warranty. So, if you’re looking to save your back from pain, ease of use and long-lasting ice retention, then this cooler is a fantastic choice.
Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity! For a limited time, use discount code ‘BUSHLIFE10’ at checkout to snag a fantastic 10% off on the Rugged Road Cooler. Experience its incredible floatability and lightweight design firsthand!
Need a lightweight family-size cooler for weekend camping or the beach? Check out our review of the Rugged Road 45 ice chest to see if it’s for you.
👉 I hope you enjoyed my Rugged Road Cooler reviews. Have you tried Rugged Roads ultralight coolers yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
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.
Bookmark this post on Pinterest for future reference!
