The Strategist Guide to Shopping at Yeti

I’d love to be able to tell you that Yeti’s coolers are overrated, and that you’re paying a premium for the status-y brand name. Yet multiple catering and food experts I’ve spoken with over the years have said that these double-walled beasts are better than the competitors. CookDan Pelosisays he’s tried other brands but continues to be blown away by how the Yeti Tundra’s one-piece roto-molded construction keeps things that much icier. “If you’re having a big party, you can use it as your refrigerator for the weekend,” he says. It’s even strong enough to be used as extra seating at dinner parties and outdoor gatherings if needed. LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, the owner of the restaurant and wine barFour Horsemenin Williamsburg, is also a fan. “Nothing ever gets warm in there,” he says. “It’s bonkers.”

Read more:The 10 Best Coolers

The wheeled version of the legendary Yeti Tundra features the same bearproof roto-molded design, strong seal, and thick insulation that can keep ice solid for four to five days — and even longer if you’re smart about how you pack it. The brand also sells optional baskets and dividers for the Tundra Haul, but just note that they’re not the same as those compatible with the original Tundra.

Read more:The Best Wheeled Coolers

Yeti’s city-friendly over-the-shoulder Hopper soft cooler is a longtime Strategist-staff favorite and ourbest overall cooler. My fellow writer Dominique Pariso loves that it’s “UV-resistant, mildew-resistant, leakproof, and practically disasterproof.” Another fan isJulie Lindenman, owner of her namesakeevent-planning company, who says that it easily fits up to “a couple bottles of wine, lunch for two people, two water bottles, and a few other drinks.”

Nick Dierl, the co-founder of music PR firmOrienteer, first came across Yeti’s rubberized tote bag when deciding upon a gift for the groomsmen at his wedding. He’s since transitioned into using it as a work bag, finding that it works especially well for business travel. It typically holds his computer,toiletries, and a pair of running shoes, and it is surprisingly comfortable to carry even packed to the brim. While Yeti is best known for making coolers, this bag isn’t designed to insulate what’s inside — although Dierl says the fact that it’s fully waterproof means you can fill it with ice and drinks in a pinch if need be. His bag lacks any meaningful signs of wear and tear after two years of regular use: “How many totes can you say that about?”

Read more:The Best Work Bags for Men, According to Stylish Guys

As Strategist senior writer Michael Zhao wrote in hisgift guide for outdoorsy dads, this 3L waterproof pouch is perfect for protecting an e-reader, small tablet, phone, or other sensitive items from sand and surf.

We tend to use Yeti’s vacuum-sealed rambler vessels as water bottles, but they’re great for keeping all sorts of drinks hot or cold. MixologistTiffanie Barriere(also known as the Drinking Coach) batched a cold cocktail with ice in hers and took it to a small house party where only beer would be served. “My cocktail stayed cold with ice for at least 3.5 hours,” she says.

Read more:The 10 Best Vessels for Carrying Drinks

Ramblers also come in this stemless-wineglass shape, whichPomp & Whimsygin founder Nicola Nice told us she’s a fan of. “I like to call it the Swiss army knife of glassware,” she says. “When you’re outdoors, you want something that won’t tip easily on grass or sand.”

Although designed for outdoor use, some people love their ramblers so much that they keep them handy at home. “I was at a friend’s house and she had a ton of these almost in place of where I would anticipate a coffee mug,” recallsDr. Becky. “I was up really early and made coffee alone and I wasn’t about to ask her, ‘Hey, do you have mugs?’ So I just grabbed one of these and then I realized,Oh, this is amazing. It keeps my coffee hot the whole time but not scalding hot. And I love the feeling of holding the mug and it not having a handle.” She ordered her own and now drinks from it every morning.

A water bottle for kids needs to be able to withstand some rough and tumble. Cookbook authorErin Gleesonsays that while her three kids have been especially “hard on water bottles” in the past, none of them have yet been able to make a dent in these “tough” bottles from Yeti. Not only is the brand’s thick, steel construction incredibly drop-resistant, but this design also has a handle for little ones to grip, and, at 12 ounces, is slightly smaller and more manageable than your typicaladult-size bottle, which come in five sizes from 18 to 64 ounces. (Gleeson also says the smooth, stainless-steel interior keeps them “not grimy” and appreciates that both the lid and bottle are dishwasher-safe.)

Read more:The 14 Best Water Bottles

Instead of decanting, you can also just plop a whole bottle of wine in Yeti’s chiller. This stainless-steel tube “holds temperature better than any other on the market that I have seen,” says Terence Lewis, beverage director atSafran Turney Hospitality.

There’s something chic about this bucket, which you can get in a number of non-boring colors, includingpastel pinkandteal. It could even make a nicegift basketfor the boat dad or gardener who should appreciate the non-slip handle.

Yeti bought out the cast-iron company Butter Pat Industries in early 2024, and now produces this skillet under its own name. Our kitchen and dining writer Emma Wartzman says it’s noticeably smoother and more nonstick than cheaper cast-iron cookware out there. “If I rub my fingers across the surface, it’s slick as can be,” she says. “And it easily — as in, without any effort — stays that way.”

Read more:Good Cheap Cast Iron Exists, But the Expensive Stuff Is Worth It

Strategist writer Arielle Avila says that Yeti’s padded waterproof picnic blanket is similarly durable and has lasted for two seasons of park picnics and beach hangs so far without so much as a loose thread. “It’s expensive, but has withstood lots of spills without staining,” she says. “And our dog loves it — she rolls around and is pretty rough on it and it hasn’t torn at all.” Pelosi, who doesn’t own a dog but is something of a beach-picnic expert, also raved about this blanket to me, admitting that while it’s “not the cutest,” it’s extremely waterproof and easy to carry.

Read more:The 11 Best Picnic Blankets

Beach chairs need to be lightweight and portable in order to be practical, which means that manufacturers tend to design them on the smaller side. Sadly, this means that people with long legs or larger frames miss out on the all-day comfort that others take for granted. Not so with Yeti’s brand-new four-stage-reclining beach chair, the larger size of which I was pleasantly surprised by when an early testing sample was sent my way in January. This is a truly spacious (literally love-seat size) chair that can take on a lot of weight (the brand says 350 pounds), and it isn’t too heavy, considering its dimensions and the quality of materials used. There’s a shoulder strap that makes it easy enough to carry, especially if you’re tall. And once the chair is plonked down in the sand, expect envious looks from fellow beachgoers crammed into their Tommy Bahamas.

Read more:The 12 Best Beach Chairs