Whether you’re tailgating, camping or going on a road trip, odds are you’ll want to take a cooler with you. The ever-popular Yeti coolers have long been the gold standard, thanks to their ability to keep ice intact for hours. And as much as we love Yeti products here at Family Handyman, new coolers are coming onto the scene worthy of attention. One of those coolers is the Tempo Cooler, a new performance cooler from Oyster.
The Oyster Tempo Cooler is an aluminum cooler designed to keep food and drinks cold with or without ice. That’s right, no ice is required—which means no wet messes. Sound too good to be true? We put the new Tempo Cooler to the test to tell you how it really performs. And we didn’t stop there—we tested both the Oyster Tempo Cooler and Yeti Roadie to deliver a true performance comparison. Here’s what we discovered.
What’s the difference between the Oyster Tempo Cooler and the Yeti Roadie?
The Oyster Tempo Cooler and Yeti Roadie are similar in that they both have the power to keep your food and drinks cold for days. They also both have locking lid latches that help seal in the cold.
The aluminum Oyster Tempo comes in one size with an adjustable strap and handle for easy carrying. Because the Tempo uses ice packs instead of ice (although you can use ice in it if you need to), it bypasses the 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio and gives you more space to store food and drinks.
The Yeti Roadie comes in multiple sizes and colors. The smallest Roadie 24 has a carrying strap like the Oyster, while the larger Roadie 48 and Roadie 60 have wheels and a telescopic handle for easy transporting. In terms of size, the Tempo Oyster is probably most like the Roadie 24.
All About the Oyster Tempo Cooler
The first-edition Tempo Cooler by Oyster sells as a bundle with two cold thermal ice bags, a canvas tote, an aluminum handle and a shoulder strap. You can purchase additional thermal ice packs if you please, but my cooler stayed cold with just two frozen ice packs at the bottom for more than 24 hours. With two ice packs, the Tempo holds 36 cans. It has a six-gallon capacity and weighs just a little over 12 pounds. The Tempo is about 20 inches wide, 12 inches deep and 12-1/2 inches tall. The Tempo’s wrought and cast aluminum body is easy to disassemble and clean, too—just rinse with water or clean with dish soap for tough messes.
When it comes to keeping drinks cold, I found that the Oyster Tempo Cooler did a surprisingly good job. I couldn’t believe how quickly the entire cooler became cold with just two ice packs at the bottom and the lid sealed. I was even more impressed when reaching in for a drink at a tailgate to find the sides and top of the cooler cold to the touch. The cold temperature really stays locked in and disperses throughout the Tempo. The cooler stayed cold from morning to night with the ice packs sealed in. After 24 hours, the temperature of the cooler was still below 40 degrees. After 48 hours, the temperature of the cooler reached about 45 degrees.
As far as cold food storage goes, you’ll want to be a little more cautious with the temperature of any cooler over an extended period, so here’s a breakdown of how the Oyster Tempo keeps food safe per the number of ice packs used:
- One Oyster Ice Pack provides 10 hours of food safe storage
- Two Oyster Ice Packs provide 20 hours of food safe storage
- Three Oyster Ice Packs provide 30 hours of food safe storage
- Four Oyster Ice Packs provide 40 hours of food safe storage
The Oyster Tempo Cooler, in my opinion, is the perfect car cooler. Its no-ice feature means no spills or water leaks in your vehicle. Plus, the Tempo fits perfectly in a backseat or trunk of any size. I reach for my Tempo anytime I’m going on an overnight stay, road trip or picnic.
Pros
- Durable
- 100% recyclable
- Fits easily in backseat or trunk
- Impressive insulation
- Only needs two Oyster ice packs to chill the entire cooler
- Lightweight when empty
- Sold with ice packs, handle and shoulder strap
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Too short to hold taller (wine) bottles
- Very expensive
All About the Yeti Roadie
The Yeti Roadie is a hard-shell cooler with the same cold-holding power as the Yeti Tundra coolers, but the Roadie is designed to be more portable. The Yeti Roadie cooler comes in multiple color and size options. The Roadie 48 and 60 have side handles and a drain plug, as well as a collapsible handle and hard, durable wheels at the back. The smallest Roadie 24 has a shoulder strap instead of wheels—and it’s most comparable to the Oyster Tempo Cooler in terms of size.
The Yeti Roadie 24 is about 16-1/2 inches wide, 17-1/2 inches tall and 14 inches deep. It’s also car-size. The Roadie 24 weighs about 13 pounds and holds 33 cans (without ice). With a 2-to-1 ice-to-contents ratio, the cooler will obviously hold fewer cans. What I love about the Roadie is that it’s tall enough to hold wine bottles, so if you’re planning a romantic picnic, the Roadie has you covered (and your wine chilled).
I have the Roadie 48, and while it fits in the backseat of my sedan, I have a hard time getting it in the trunk because of its height. I wouldn’t have this problem with the Roadie 24. I take my Roadie 48 when I’m going on longer camping trips since the wheels make it easier to transport heavier items and a fully packed cooler.
When it comes to keeping drinks cold, the Roadie can easily keep ice intact for 48 hours with a 2-to-1 ratio. With any cooler, if you’re using it in especially hot temperatures or frequently have the lid open, ice retention will go down. But the Yeti Roadie Cooler undoubtedly has cold-staying power.
Pros
- Extremely durable
- Impressive insulation with solid ice retention
- Lightweight when empty
- Fits easily in cars and boats because of its vertical shape
- Holds tall items, like wine and soda bottles
- Multiple sizes and colors available
- Accessories and add-ons are available separately
- Five-year warranty
Cons
- Some users note that the latches can get caught between the lid and cooler while closing
- Pricey
The Bottom Line
When it comes to keeping drinks cold for hours on end, you can’t go wrong with either the Oyster Tempo Cooler or the Yeti Roadie. When trying to decide between the two coolers, it will really come down to a matter of preference. Do you prefer ice packs over ice? I’d go with the Tempo. Do you use a cooler frequently for wine? I’d go with the Yeti Roadie.
When I’m going on longer trips and need to haul more cold food and drinks, I go with my Yeti Roadie 48. But keep in mind, this is the size that has wheels and more space. If I’m going on a short day trip or road trip, I grab my Oyster Tempo. I love the no-ice feature (no wet cans or soggy sandwiches).
Where to Buy the Oyster Tempo Cooler
The Oyster Tempo Cooler retails for $500 at Oyster Cooler. You can snag it with the ice packs and other accessories, which is super convenient. I must say, this cooler looks stunning in person. You can also shop the Tempo at Huckberry.
Where to Buy the Yeti Roadie
The Yeti Roadie 24 retails for $250, while the Roadie 48 retails for $450 at Yeti. In terms of price, the Yeti Roadie 24 is half the cost of the Oyster Tempo Cooler. You can also shop the Roadie 24 at Amazon, where it has almost a perfect rating from more than 6,000 users. You can find the Roadie 48 on Amazon, too. You can’t go wrong with this timeless classic, either.
Article source here: Oyster Tempo Cooler vs. Yeti Roadie: Which Stays Colder Longer?
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