roto-molded cooler on a paddle board

The Best Hard-Sided Cooler for Stand Up Paddle Boarding

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One of the fastest-growing outdoor sports is stand up paddle boarding because a paddle board can be used for multiple activities like paddling, cruising, and fishing. During those hot summer says it’s no surprise to see the majority of the paddles with a cooler on cooler on board. One of the most important accessories to SUP is a good hard-sided cooler. A rotomolded cooler is specifically made to keep your drinks cold for days and acts as a chair to relax and keep the party going. We’ve previously reviewed the best soft-sided coolers which are great for light weight options, but our true favorite SUP coolers can be seen here.

Name Picture Price Max Pressure Our Rating Best Price
YETI Roadie 20 Cooler $$$ 20 Quart 9.8/10 See Current Price
RTIC 20 Cooler $$ 20 Quart 9.5/10 See Current Price
Orca Rotomolded cooler $$ 20 Quart 9.4/10 See Current Price
Igloo BMX SUP Cooler $$ 25 Quart 9.2/10 See Current Price
REYLEO Camping Cooler $$ 21 Quart 9/10 See Current Price

What is a Roto-Molded Cooler?

The Best Hard-Sided Cooler for Stand Up Paddle BoardingWhen it comes to choosing a cooler there are a plethora of options but over the years, a new breed of coolers is taking the spotlight – rotomolded cooler. A rotomolded cooler is a cooler that has gone through the rotomolded process which results in greater thickness in the walls of a cooler. The thickness allows better ice retention and increased durability. Some rotomolded cooler manufacturers boast that they can retain ice for 10 days and be durable enough to survive a bear attempting to open your cooler. 

What are the Benefits of using a hard- Sided Cooler While Paddle Boarding?

The benefits of using a hard-sided cooler are easily noticed: 

A Comfortable Paddle Board Seat

 

The anchored cooler not only keeps your drinks cold but gives you a place to sit while paddle boarding

Maximal Cold Retention 

Rotomolded coolers are the best option for you to keep your drinks and food cold

Spend More Time in the Water

With less traveling to shore, store your food, drinks, and gear on board and allow for bigger day trips

Use it With Other Outdoor Activities

A great cooler is important across all outdoor activities. Now that you have one, you can use it camping, mountain biking, and with barbecues in the backyard.

How to Attach a Hard-Sided Cooler on a SUP?

a lady sitting on a hard-sided cooler while paddle boardingIf you are looking to set up your paddle board make sure your hard-sided cooler has a strap holder attached to the side and that your paddle board either has a place for a leash plug adapter or a place where a strap can easily go through so you can strap the cooler in. When including a hard-sided cooler to your paddle board, you need to put the cooler just a few inches behind you at the place that you would normally stand on a paddle board. This helps balance the board for weight management and provides the most stability for sitting.

The Best Hard-Sided Cooler for SUP

YETI Roadie 20 Cooler

Summary: The Yeti Roadie Cooler’s dimension is 19.5 x 12 x 15 inches and it weighs around 15 pounds. It also has 2 inches of insulation. The rotomolded build is durable, and according to reviews, can survive harsh environments and conditions. Yeti is one of the premium brands for a cooler. 

Pros:

  • Sturdy, hard to the core.
  •  It comes with a lock on the side.
  • The handle locks into place.
  •  It is Bear resistant.
  • You can stand on the lid.
  • Ice can remain in the container for 3 days and longer depending on conditions and environments.
  • 5-year warranty.

Cons:

  •  Not leakproof (according to some reviews). If you turn the cooler upside down or if it tipped to the side, it would spill.
  • It is heavy.

Yeti Roadie Cooler for paddle boarding

Click on the image for more information

RTIC 20 Quart Cooler

Summary: The RTIC 20 cooler is a rotomolded cooler with an integrated locking system. It has 3 inches of isolated walls. The product’s dimension is 20.6 x 16.1 x 14.8 inches and it weighs around 20.6 pounds. It has rope handles. 

Pros:

  • Sturdy, hard to the core.
  • It comes with a lock on the side.
  • The handle locks into place.
  • Bear resistant.
  • Less expensive than the competition.

Cons:

  •  Heavy, 1-year warranty (competitors have a longer warranty.)

RTIC 20 Quart Paddle Board Cooler

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ORCA 20 Quart SUP Cooler

Summary: The Orco 20 qt Cooler product’s dimension is 13 7/16 x 9 x 9 7/8. It is Durable. It weighs around 18 pounds. It has a drainage sprout at the bottom. It has a rotomolded for isolation and Ice retention. Stainless steel grip handle.

Pros:

  •  It comes with a lifetime warranty.
  •  Cargo net at the back (extra storage).
  • Study.
  • Spill-proof. 

Cons: 

  •  No bear-resistant certification. 

Orca 20 qt paddle board cooler

Click on the image for more information

Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler

Summary:  The Igloo BMX 25 qt cooler is 19.58 x 15.69 x 13.24 inches and it weighs around 11 pounds. It is a heavy-duty blow-molded construction so that it will have a solid grip. The hinge is also rust-resistant.

Pros:

  •  Cheap compared to competitors.
  •  Good price and value tradeoff.
  • Lightweight but sturdy.
  • Three-point grip handle.

Cons:

  •   No drainage plugs.

Igloo 25 BMX 25 QT Cooler for Paddle Board

Click on the image for more information

REYLEO Camping Cooler 21 Quart

Summary: The REYLEO Cooler is a rotomolded cooler so it is both durable, and with great isolation. The dimensions are 21 x 15 x 15 inches. It weighs 16.4 pounds. It can take up to 30 cans.

Pros:

  • Cheap for a rotomolded cooler.
  • Water drainage.
  •  Built-in fish ruler.
  •  It also has a bottle opener.

Cons:

  • Some reviewers on Amazon have complained about the latches ripping after a short amount of use.

REYLEO Cooler for Paddle Boarding

Click on the image for more information

Conclusion:

There are many different coolers for different purposes. The more expensive coolers tend to have longer ice retention rates and can be used for longer trips. In addition, the color of the cooler and the environment play a crucial part in how long the ice lasts. A white colored cooler would last longer than a dark-colored cooler. Almost all the coolers above promise an ice retention rate of at least 2 days. 

Works Referenced:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/leebelltech/2018/02/15/paddle-boarding-tech-how-the-sport-is-evolving-thanks-to-innovations-in-inflatable-board-designs/#2e6db2b1147f

https://bestcooler.reviews/rotomolded-coolers-process-explained/

https://www.cnet.com/news/best-coolers-for-2020-cabela-yeti-igloo-coleman-pelican-compared/

http://paddleboardjunction.com/paddle-board-accessories/best-cooler-for-paddle-board/

https://blog.overtons.com/fishing/how-to-build-a-paddle-board-fishing-setup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkbhlts4tKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAH4m91UTzM

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