Coolers · owner-verdict comparison

Igloo BMX 52 QT vs YETI Tundra 45: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Igloo BMX 52 QT: 89% of 18 owners recommend it, vs 77% of 48 for the YETI Tundra 45.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Igloo BMX 52 QT

89%of 18 owners recommend
89% recommend · 11% neutral · 0% don't
Full owner report →

YETI Tundra 45

77%of 48 owners recommend
77% recommend · 11% neutral · 12% don't
Owners praise
  • Holds ice for days, often 4-5 and up to a week camping
  • Tough, near-indestructible build that takes a beating
  • Versatile 45 size, easy for one person to carry
Owners complain about
  • Not airtight and leaks when tipped on its side
  • Ice retention no better than cheaper coolers in side-by-side tests
  • Expensive for the performance you get
Full owner report →

What Igloo BMX 52 QT owners say

“I did it on mine and it works great.”
— @rsaunders223 on YouTube
“I have the BMX 25 cooler for the last 3 years and it has not disappointed me.”
— @Eb-ux9bz on YouTube
“the hinges were garbage. Just short screws directly into the plastic body, and they pulled out within 3-4 uses.”
— @ljf29NH on YouTube

What YETI Tundra 45 owners say

“Their standards are out of this world.”
— @Rollinjoints420 on YouTube
“Yeti Tundra 45. I keep it in the bed of my truck. I toss ice in it once a week and always have cold drinks and a spot to put leftovers from restaurants.”
— aschiano on Reddit
“I ain’t paying $300 for a cooler.”
— @billcook4768 on YouTube