Yeti Silo 6G water cooler review

Cold drinks on the go, courtesy of a portable water cooler requiring zero external power? The Yeti Silo 6G may just have our hydration needs sorted

Yeti Silo 6G water cooler
(Image credit: Gavin Stoker)
T3 Verdict

A square plastic water butt or cooler, the Yeti Silo 6G offers a slick yet simple solution for those wanting to keep cool and suitably quenched when they build up a thirst. Featuring the same rock-solid build and heat insulted construction the Yeti product line-up is known for, this is a great – albeit pricey – solution for big summer gatherings.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Cold drinks whenever and wherever

  • +

    Rugged build that can withstand knocks

  • +

    Great for large gatherings

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    No carry straps

  • -

    Very heavy to carry when full

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Outwardly the Yeti Silo 6G water cooler resembles ‘just’ another premium priced, ultra fashionable cooler/ice box in its manufacturer’s range, with its hard and robust plastic exterior and prominent logo. Indeed it most closely resembles Yeti’s Tundra range of cool boxes. But peek a little closer at the Yeti Silo 6G and, as a point of difference, you’ll see it features a Manneken Pis-like appendage for the dispensing of ice cool liquid. 

Sure, if you're on your own, then one of the best Thermos flasks will do the trick, but for large gatherings in hot weather, the Silo looks like a superb solution. Could this really be a dream come true for anyone who has fancied having a personal water cooler outside of the office, specifically one you can take just about anywhere and everywhere, to quench the thirst whenever it strikes? Read on to discover why the Silo 6G ranks among the best Yeti coolers.

If you want something for food, you'll find options from a range of brands in our best cool box guide. And if you're on the hunt for a bargain, check our roundup of the best cheap Yeti deals before you buy. 

Yeti Silo 6G water cooler review: design and features

The pitch for the Yeti Silo 6G water cooler is fast flowing iced water accessible in the great outdoors. Approximately 7.5Kg in weight, build quality and robustness is just what we’d expect from the brand. Once again the interior here is insulated to keep the cold in and the outdoor heat out. Yet where it obviously differs from the rest of its maker’s products is via the inclusion of a dispensing nozzle near its base – this potential weak spot and place for potential leakage in an otherwise rock solid construction protected up to a point by a steel metal strip placed in front and above it. Yeti maintains this protective strip additionally provides anyone using it with a place to grip and steady the unit with their hand while releasing its swift-pour flow with a press of the thumb.

Yeti Silo 6G water cooler

(Image credit: Gavin Stoker)

Not unsurprisingly, the ‘G’ in the Silo 6G model name stands for ‘gallons’ – with this six-gallon unit being the only such option in its manufacturer’s range at the time of writing. Unlike the comprehensive Tundra range, there are currently no step-up 8G or 10G Yeti water coolers in existence. Filling its internal chasm with water and ice is a safer bet than pouring sticky soft or alcoholic drinks into its voluminous innards. But if we do want to fill it with anything other than water, the unit’s smooth interior surface and removable plastic nozzle does handily mean that cleaning it with soap and water is relatively easy. Internal dimensions are 9.25x13.6x9.25 inches, while the unit measures 15.6x18x15.6-inches on the outside – so three inches broader in dimensions than a vinyl record.

Yeti Silo 6G water cooler

(Image credit: Gavin Stoker)

Yeti Silo 6G water cooler review: verdict

Want to enjoy your own water cooler moments anywhere and everywhere? Given that this is, on the face of it, a large plastic box, it may seem like a bit of a luxury over simply buying a bottle of water from the fridge at the garage or bringing a personal flask from home, but when a thirst strikes, the Yeti Silo 6G won’t leave either yourself, family or pals dry-mouthed. 

This feels and handles like a premium product at a premium price, with a rock-solid build that justifies its existence and outlay. A five-year warranty provides additional peace of mind if you’re worried about the possibility for leaks.

Gavin Stoker

Gavin Stoker has been writing about photography and technology for the past 20 years. He currently edits the trade magazine British Photographic Industry News - BPI News for short - which is a member of TIPA, the international Technical Imaging Press Association.