RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light Cooler Review: Is It Worth It?
A reliable hard cooler that keeps my drinks cold without the premium price.
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Kevin Underwood
The RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light Cooler at the lake, where my brother put it to use throughout the summer.
RTIC sent me its 32 QT Ultra-Light Cooler at the beginning of summer to try out and review. I gave it to my brother to put to use because he spends a lot of time at the lake during the summer, which seemed like a good way to see how it would hold up beyond a couple of outings.
He's been using it all summer, mostly loaded with beverages and ice, and I've been checking in with him about how it's performing. His answer has been straightforward: it keeps everything cold and he likes it.
What has stood out to me just as much is the price.
I own a RovR cooler and I'm familiar with other premium brands like YETI, where hard coolers can cost quite a bit more. After seeing how the RTIC performed all summer, it has made me question how much I need to spend on a cooler for this kind of use.
I'm not saying all of these coolers are the same. They aren't. Different brands have different construction, features and designs. But when the main goal is to fill a cooler with ice and drinks, head to the lake and have everything stay cold all day, the RTIC does that job well.
This fall, I'll also be putting it to use tailgating at Auburn games.
RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light: How We've Used It
My brother used the RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light throughout the summer for drinks and ice at the lake.
My brother has had the RTIC at the lake throughout the summer. Most of the time, he uses it exactly how I would expect a cooler this size to be used: filled with beverages and ice for the day.
It has been great at keeping everything cold, which sounds like a basic thing to say about a cooler, but that's what matters.
RTIC rates the 32 QT Ultra-Light for up to five days of cold retention when following its cooling recommendations. We haven't tested that because neither of us normally needs a cooler to hold ice for five days.
What I can tell you from his use this summer is that the drinks stay cold through a day at the lake. That's the kind of performance I care about more than seeing how many days I can make the same bag of ice last.
I've used more expensive coolers, including my RovR, and there are plenty of premium coolers out there from brands like YETI. Those coolers can have different features and construction, so this isn't about saying they're all exactly the same.
It's more about what I need a cooler to do.
For a lake day, I need ice to stay ice and drinks to stay cold. Based on how the RTIC has performed throughout the summer, I don't see a reason to spend more if that's what you need from your cooler.
The RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light is currently $159, which puts it well below the price of many premium hard coolers. If you're looking for a straightforward cooler and don't need all the extra features available on some higher-priced models, I think that's a compelling part of this cooler.
You don't necessarily have to spend $300 or $400 to get a good hard cooler.
I'll also be using it at Auburn football games this fall. The 32 QT size should give me plenty of room for drinks, ice and food without bringing an enormous cooler along.
I haven't taken it to an Auburn tailgate yet, so I'm not going to tell you how it performs there until I do. I'll update this review after I've used it through football season.
War Eagle.
Size and Weight
The 32 QT is a nice size for the way we've been using it. It gives you plenty of room for drinks and ice without being an enormous cooler that takes up more space than you need.
RTIC says the 32 QT can hold up to 48 cans without ice and up to 30 pounds of ice. We haven't packed 48 cans into it, but there's enough room that you're not trying to carefully arrange everything just to get the lid closed.
The Ultra-Light part of the name also comes into play here. The cooler weighs 13 pounds empty, and RTIC says its construction makes it up to 30% lighter than comparable rotomolded coolers.
Once you fill any cooler with ice and drinks, it's going to get heavy. But starting with less cooler weight doesn't hurt.
For me, though, the lighter weight isn't the main reason I like it. The bigger story is that you get a useful amount of capacity, it reliably keeps everything cold, and the price is well below many of the premium coolers I've looked at.
After seeing it used throughout the summer, I think the value is the most compelling thing about this cooler.
There are coolers with more features, wheels and different construction, and there are plenty that cost more. I own one of those premium coolers, too.
But if what you need is a solid hard cooler that holds plenty of drinks and ice and keeps everything cold for a day at the lake, a road trip or a tailgate, I'm not sure you need to spend $300 or $400 to get it.
For what I need a cooler to do, that's a good argument for it.
RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler Specs
The RTIC has a 32-quart capacity and weighs 13 pounds empty. RTIC says it can hold up to 48 cans without ice or up to 30 pounds of ice.
It has up to 2.5 inches of closed-cell foam insulation and a freezer-style gasket. Other features include rope handles, molded-in side handles, non-skid rubber feet, tie-down slots, two drainage holes, and a built-in bottle opener.
RTIC rates the cooler for up to five days of cold retention when following its cooling recommendations. We haven't tested it for five days, so I'm not going to make that claim based on our experience. Its use so far has primarily been single-day trips.
For me, the specs that matter most are the 32-quart capacity, the 13-pound empty weight and the amount of room you get for drinks and ice.
I write Overland Girl, where I share firsthand travel experiences across the American West — from desert landscapes and national parks to small towns layered with history. My work blends movement, place, and the stories that shape them.
Some posts may include affiliate links to products or services I use on the road. If you choose to purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps support continued travel and storytelling. I only link to items I personally use or would use myself.