I tried the YETI Roadie 32, and it’s so good I wish I had bought it sooner

The YETI Roadie 32 is the newest wheeled hard cooler in YETI’s premium lineup, designed for day trips, weekends away, and anyone who wants cold drinks on tap without hauling a giant chest. This is why I requested one for review; I loved the idea of a highly portable drinks cooler that’s not a real pain to transport.

With a 32-quart (~30L) capacity, it strikes a practical balance between portability and performance, offering room for up to 50 cans or over 30 pounds (~13.6kg) of ice. The Roadie 32 is in the sweet spot of the full spectrum of the best YETI coolers (the Roadie family, anyway), sitting bang between the non-wheeled Roadie 15 and Roadie 24 and the larger Roadie 48 and Roadie 60.

I’ve been using it for weeks, conducted multiple experiments (some involving 40 cans and multiple kilos of ice cubes), and hauled it around to beach get-togethers to see how the Roadie 32 fares. My expectations were sky high, but this versatile cooler exceeded almost all of them. Apart from a couple of quirks, it really is the best cool box out there for couples and smaller groups.

YETI Roadie 32 review

Price and availability

The YETI Roadie 32 was launched in April 2024 and is available to buy now directly from YETI US, YETI UK and YETI AU for a recommended price of $375/ £350/ AU$500. In classic YETI fashion, it comes in around nine colourways, some of which are permanent and some limited. I tested the (slightly boring) Charcoal version.

Specifications

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 19.8 x 20.6 x 20.1 inches/ 54.1 x 46.5 x 40.9 cm
• Capacity: 32 quarts (~30 litres)
• Cold performance: up to 5 days
• Weight: 24.47lbs / 11.1 kg

Design and build quality

The YETI Roadie 32 is built with the same rotomolded construction found in the brand’s toughest hard coolers, giving it serious structural integrity without sacrificing portability. Even though it’s tough as a rock, the Roadie 32 isn’t bear-proof like some other YETI coolers because it doesn’t have the padlock holes in the corners.

Externally, the RockSolid shell handles most of the heavy lifting. It can withstand bumps, drops, and people who may be a little more heavy-handed than others. Meanwhile, the NeverFail hinge system ensures the lid stays securely attached to the main body by utilising dual pins to prevent the kind of flex and failure commonly found in cheaper models.

Inside, thick PermaFrost insulation lines the cooler walls and lid, and a ColdLock gasket forms an airtight seal to maximise ice retention. The InterLock lid system further ensures that cold stays in and heat stays out.

The 32-quart interior can accommodate up to 50 cans or 36 lbs (~16.3 kg) of ice. It’s pretty spacious inside. Its height, in particular, allows you to store wine bottles or 2-litre soft drink bottles upright. You can buy dividers and different trays to compartmentalise the Roadier 32 – I would recommend this if you’re planning shorter trips with your partner (you can fill half of the cooler with ice/paper/etc).

What sets the Roadie 32 apart from smaller hard coolers is its mobility. It features puncture-resistant, ultra-quiet NeverFlat wheels, which are probably my favourite features. I couldn’t believe how little sound the wheels make. They almost rival the “ultra-silent” 360 Hinomoto wheels on my Db Ramverk Pro Carry-on Luggage.

The four-stage Periscope telescopic handle is also very cool. Not only does it make it easy to manoeuvre the Roadie 32 around tight corners, but it’s also a lot easier to lug a full cooler around using the Periscope handle and the wheels. The combo allowed me to pull the box over raised pavement, sand, steps and grass easily.

Should you need to lift the Roadier 32 into a car or over larger obstacles, fear not, as the low-profile LipGrip side handles make two-person transport easy without adding bulk. The QuickLatch system is great for closing the Roadier 32 properly and effortlessly with just one hand.

Finally, the leak-resistant BESTDAM drain plug helps discharge some of that melted ice water without having to tip over the Roadier 32. Sadly, the hole isn’t located right at the bottom of the cooler, meaning you will have to tip it slightly to drain all the water. The BESTDAM drain plug seems to be perfectly positioned on smaller models, like the Roadier 15.

Performance

I decided to conduct an experiment with the YETI Roadie 32, which involved 2 kilos of ice, 40 cans of soft drinks, a large YETI ice block and my balcony.

Based on feedback from the YETI team on how to pack a cool box, I set out to fill the Roadie 32 to the brim with stuff. Turns out, it’s harder to fill these things than you think. No matter how much ice I poured into the crevices, the Roadier 32 seemed insatiable.

Nevertheless, I did my best to make the cooler as full as possible and set it down on my balcony. The temperature wasn’t the hottest – around 18°C/64.4°F – and I kept the Roadier 32 out of the sun (which you should do anyway). I check the temperature in the cooler every day, and I gradually worked my way through the cans.

Full disclosure, I could have used more ice (perhaps another 2kg), and the cans could have been cooler when they were added. Even with the conditioner not perfect, the Roadie 32 did a stellar job of keeping things cool and calm inside. Even after a week, there were still ice cubes in the box, despite us opening it at least a few times a day.

When, after around 10 days, I decided to move the remaining cans into the fridge, they were still cooler than the ambient temperature, which blows my mind. Of course, I also took the Roadie 32 on beach trips, and it performed equally well. The darker Charcoal colourway I had for testing attracted heat more than necessary, but the inside of the cool box stayed frosty throughout the day.

Verdict

The YETI Roadie 32 is a brilliantly judged wheeled cooler that balances capacity, portability, and ruggedness in a way few others can. It’s built like a tank, keeps things cold for days, and rolls more smoothly than any cooler I’ve tested, with those ultra-quiet NeverFlat wheels standing out. The telescopic Periscope handle is both sturdy and ergonomic, making this surprisingly easy to manoeuvre across everything from grass to gravel.

It’s not bear-resistant like some other YETI hard coolers (there are no corner lock ports), and the drain hole could be better positioned, but those are minor complaints in what is otherwise an incredibly refined bit of gear. The 32-quart size hits a sweet spot for couples, small families, or anyone wanting a high-capacity cooler that won’t dominate their car boot or garage.

If you want YETI-grade performance with the bonus of effortless mobility, this is it. From beach days to balcony chill-outs, the Roadie 32 proves itself over and over. Pricey, yes, but if you’re going to invest in a cooler that lasts a lifetime, this is one of the smartest ways to do it.