Yeti Colster vs Thermos Comparo

blind99

Background: The Yeti Colster is a great beverage holder.  I used it all summer and it keeps things nice and chilled even in hot sun.  Great, but costs $30.  I saw the Thermos can insulator, and got it delivered for $12.  I'd like to do a side by side comparison in the hot sun, but around here that's not happening.  

So here's the setup: An Igloo cooler (sorry, no Yeti or RTIC here) with a heating mat on the bottom.  Ambient temp in the cooler was around 80 degrees.  Two cans of soda, opened at the same time, put into room-temp Thermos or Yeti, and set on a cardboard box so they wouldn't be touching the mat directly.  At 30 minutes, I started draining a few oz each time I checked the temperatures, to simulate drinking.  I used a measuring cup and a scale to make sure I was removing the same amount.  I swirled the liquid in the can for a good 15 seconds to make sure I got a steady temp with the Thermapen.  And each time I measured, I swapped the positions of the cans in case one part of the chest was warmer.  I went out a little past 3 hours.  If you can't/don't finish your drink in 3 hours, use a refrigerator.

Results: For the first 90 minutes, the temperatures were exactly the same. After 3 hours, the temperature of the soda in the Thermos-held can was 1 degree warmer than the Yeti soda.

Other thoughts: At higher temps, the difference could be greater.  The Yeti is more versatile and holds different sized cans / bottles better than the Thermos because of the removable gasket.  I haven't used the Thermos as much as the Yeti so I can't speak to its durability.  The Yeti is definitely more substantial.  The Yeti is a really nice splurge or gift, but the Thermos seems well worth its $12.  I'll test again in the hot summer.

Ozzie_Isaac

Well done comparo!  Thank you for taking the time and posting it.

blind99

Thanks @Ozzie_Isaac afterwards I realized I should have also done a can with no insulation. I'll have to rerun the experiment. Wife thinks I'm nuts though. 

Foghorn

Great post.  We need more threads like this.  Hard to stir up too much of an argument when there is good science involved.

Jeepster47

blind99 said:

... Wife thinks I'm nuts though. 

Does your wife roll her eyes excessively?  Then she's moved beyond the thinking stage.

Thanks for taking the time to run the test.  Interesting results.  Would have guessed the Yeti to be a better performer than the results show.

KiterTodd

That's cool.  Thanks for that.  Yeah, those high end vacuum seal cups and coolers are pricey.  They do work well, though, but in this case, doesn't seem worth the price.

I just picked up a couple of these Hydro Flask pint "glasses" and they are awesome.  I've been "testing" it since Thanksgiving and can attest that I pour in a cold beer and even if I'm sipping on it for a couple hours, the beer stays fridge cold. Even when I'm down to an inch in the bottom. It's really nice!
True Pint

bgebrent

Science!  Good job brother.

tgs2401

I guess I drink too fast  Never needed to keep a beer cold for very long.....

caliking

First sip at 30mins? Beverage lasting 3 hrs?? You've obviously never met @henapple. 3 cases have disappeared in that much time.  

Kidding.  Objective comparisons are helpful. 

YukonRon

Yeah, but if RTIC had one, it would be cheaper, better built,  and keep things colder/warmer longer than either of those two. 

shucker

very cool test thanks for sharing

blind99

@caliking I know, I think we need a better testing protocol!  What I really want to know is if I drink 10 oz of beverage and I get distracted by screaming kids/ribs caught on fire/marauding buffalo, will the final swallow be OK an hour later?

someone who lives where it's hot and sunny should help in the name of science.  @yukonron weren't you someplace sunny recently?

@jeepster47 she's beyond eye rolling and disbelief.  we've reached the tolerance stage   I suspect under harsher conditions the Yeti might start to pull away.  It just seems better insulated.

blind99

@kitertodd I haven't seen those, they look nice.  I keep glass pint glasses in the freezer and they only last about a year - no matter how I try to pad them they always crack eventually.

KiterTodd

blind99 said:

@kitertodd I haven't seen those, they look nice.  I keep glass pint glasses in the freezer and they only last about a year - no matter how I try to pad them they always crack eventually.

These are great.  It's as good for beer as it is for coffee.

It is interesting to compare both companies.  Both great products that work well.  Yeti seems to market more towards hardware stores and sportsman.  That's the egg tie in, perhaps.   HyrdoFlask seems to market more towards outdoor enthusiasts and craft beer guys.

It turns out that HyrdroFlask was first to the game and they alledge that Yeti is actually using their old patent which utilizes a lead plug during the vacuum seal process.  You'll always see a seam/ring around the bottom of the cups which are part of this. 

HF uses a new aluminum plug patent which makes the products look seamless.  They do the seal and then paint over the plug.   Don't know if either method is better or worse, was just interesting to hear.  I like that both have different product lines.  The rocks glasses YETI has are great.