Have you ever struggled with lugging a heavy, bulky cooler to the beach, on a fishing or canoe trip, or even loading the cooler into your car? Then you know how frustrating and painful it can be. The Rugged Road 25 cooler promises to deliver the performance of larger coolers without the weight. But does it live up to the hype?
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. Here’s my honest review of the Rugged Road 25.
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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 & Specifications of the Rugged Road 25
1. Size and Portability
With an empty weight of 5 lbs, the Rugged Road 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, I have even used the lightweight, portable cooler for road trips to pick up birthday cakes. I also like that the RR25 is short and wide, allowing you to scan what’s inside quickly and saving you from digging and cooling off the cooler.
Carrying the rugged cooler for adventures is easy, thanks to its lightweight and clever handle design. It’s also super convenient, as it fits neatly into my jet ski and allows you to spend more time taking the waves or making them. 😉
To make packing more effortless for your next adventure, check out the Rugged Road Cooler and be ready to travel light!
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 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.
You don’t have to settle for coolers that let you down. The Rugged Road 25 is built to last. Get yours online at Rugged Road and experience the performance you can count on.
4. Floatability
I admit that lounging beside a cooler is not something you see daily, but it beats the little floaties you put your drink in. This feature makes it the best cooler for beach trips or a day out on the lake. While your little drink holder unnoticeably floats away from you, leaving you thirsty, the Rugged Road 25 will float beside you upright and hold drinks for your entire grouping.
The 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 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 has tossed in a removeable snack rack as a bonus. That’s right, say goodbye to disintegrating packaging and spoiled food!
Who Should Buy the Rugged Road 25?
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 cooler will do the job and lighten your heavy gear loads.
Price
At $225, you might agree that the RR25 is expensive, but let’s put the price into perspective. For coolers under 10 lbs, the Rugged Road is the only one that is lightweight, floats, blast-proof and has a lifetime warranty, making the RR25 an affordable roto-molded cooler for every adventure or road trip. And, let’s face it, coolers are used a lot if you’re a traveller, angler, hunter, beach-goer or driving the kids to their games.
Rugged Road 25 Cooler Video Overview
Rugged Road 25 vs YETI Roadie 24: How It Stacks Up Against YETI
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$224.99
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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
While YETI is a recognized and sought-after premium brand, the Rugged Road is a better option for those seeking a durable, lightweight and more budget-friendly cooler. I would say that the Rugged Road Outdoor cooler lineup is the best coolers like YETI. Learn more about the Rugged Road 25 here.
FAQ’s
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!
Yes! The cooler is highly durable and waterproof, making it suitable for the beach or rainy outdoor activities.
No, it doesn’t, but being an ultralight design, tipping the cooler to remove any water after the ice melts is easy.
If carrying food and drinks, the Rugged Road 25 is great for smaller groups of 2-3 people. For drinks only, it is suitable for a larger group. For a family of four, you might want to consider a larger model like the Rugged Road 45.
Absolutely! At just 5 lbs, the Rugged Road 25 is lightweight and features a comfortable handle that makes it easy to transport.
My Final Verdict on Why the Rugged Road 25 Cooler is Perfect for Outdoor Adventures
We are proud owners of two Rugged Road 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.
Ready to make your outdoor adventures more enjoyable? Don’t wait! Visit Rugged Road to grab your Rugged Road 25 and start exploring with the ultimate cooler by your side.
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 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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Everyone needs a good cooler. What a great list. I wonder if anyone on my Christmas list needs a cooler.
Haha, there’s only one way to find out. You have to put your feelers out. 🙂 Thank you for your comment!
For me, the best features of a cooler are lightness, waterproofing and durability. So yes, I think it’s a bit of an expensive option, but the fact that it comes with a lifetime warranty is one of the important points that would convince me to buy it. Thanks for sharing this product!
I wholeheartedly agree!! I think most of us are done with spending big dollars on low quality products.
Sounds like a game-changer for outdoor trips! Thanks for your honest thoughts on the Rugged Road 25.
Awe, thank you for your comment. I’m glad you liked the post.
The Rugged Road 25 cooler is great! 7 days of ice retention—sign me up. And it floats too! Thanks for this review. I will be purchasing this next summer.
It’s a purchase you won’t be disappointed with. We absolutely love ours. Apparently it’s blast proof, but I’m too nervous to test the claim.