RTIC vs. RovR: Do You Need to Spend More on a Cooler?
The RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light and RovR RollR 30 are close in size but not in price. So what are you getting for the extra cost?
The RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light and RovR RollR 30 are close in capacity, but the RovR costs more and comes with additional features.
For a long time, I thought a good cooler was one of those pieces of gear you had to spend a lot of money on. My former partner and I had a RovR RollR 60, so I spent plenty of time using a premium cooler and liked it. I've also written more about RovR and the outdoor gear the company makes.
Then RTIC sent me its 32 QT Ultra-Light Cooler to review. My brother used it throughout the summer at the lake, mostly filled with ice and drinks. It kept everything cold. No surprise there. That's what a cooler is supposed to do. But it did make me start thinking about price. I cover how we used it in my full RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light Cooler review.
For this comparison, I'm looking at the RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light and the RovR RollR 30. They're close in capacity, which makes more sense to me than comparing the RTIC with the much larger RollR 60 I used.
The RTIC is currently $159. The RovR RollR 30 is $224.99.
Both have the same basic job: keep your food and drinks cold.
So what are you getting for the extra cost?
Disclosure: RTIC provided the 32 QT Ultra-Light Cooler to me for review. My firsthand experience with RovR comes from the RollR 60 my former partner and I had. I have not personally used the RollR 30. All opinions and experiences are my own.
What You Get When You Spend More
The RovR RollR 60 is a larger wheeled cooler with more capacity and features.
The RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light is the simpler of the two coolers. It 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.
The RovR RollR 30 is in the same general size range but has more built into it. It has all-terrain wheels and RovR's AnchR system for adding accessories. RovR has designed its coolers as a system, not just a place to put ice, food, and drinks.
I understand the appeal of that because I spent a lot of time using the larger RollR 60. I liked the RovR. It felt well made, and I liked the thought that went into the design.
But the RTIC surprised me because for the way we've been using it, I haven't found myself wishing it did more.
My brother filled it with ice and drinks, took it to the lake, and everything stayed cold.
That's what made me start questioning how much I need a cooler to do beyond that.
What Matters to Me in a Cooler
The RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light is smaller and simpler, but it handled what we needed it to do: keep drinks cold for the day.
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 claim because that's not how we've been using it.
For a day at the lake, it works.
I spent a lot of time using the RovR RollR 60, and it worked too. There were things I liked about having the additional features, and I can see why someone would want them.
But the RTIC has changed how I think about how much I need to spend on a cooler.
There are times when those extra features make sense. If you're moving a loaded cooler around a lot, camping for several days or want to add accessories, what RovR builds around its coolers could be worth paying more for.
Most of the time, though, I want a cooler to do something much simpler.
I need it to keep things cold.
The RTIC has done that.
Do You Need to Spend More on a Cooler?
The RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light and RovR RollR 30 are close in capacity, but there's about a $66 difference between them at current prices.
That's not an enormous difference, especially for a piece of gear you might own for years. But it's enough that I would think about what I'm getting for the extra money.
With RovR, you're getting more features and a cooler designed to work with its accessory system. Those things have value if you're going to use them. I know from my experience with the RollR 60 that I like RovR coolers, so this isn't about one being good and the other being bad.
It's about how much cooler you need.
If you're going to use the additional features RovR builds into its coolers, spending more can make sense.
But if what you need is a cooler you can fill with ice, food, and drinks and trust to keep everything cold, my experience with the RTIC has made it harder for me to justify spending more just because a cooler has more features.
That's ultimately what I'd think about before choosing between these two.
What will you use beyond the cooler itself?
For me, keeping things cold comes first. The rest has to justify the price.
Sometimes more money gets you more cooler. That doesn't necessarily mean you need more cooler.
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.