5 Best Coolers made in the USA

Looking for the best coolers for your next camping adventure? Here are the 5 best coolers made in the USA!

A good cooler is definitely something you want to include in your camping packing list.

A good cooler will keep your food and drinks cold and safe to eat! If you’re looking to invest in American-made camping gear, then start with a good quality cooler that is made in the USA.

Reasons to Consider Buying American-Made Coolers

There’s no shortage of cooler brands out there, and scrolling through the countless reviews can be time-consuming. Let me take some of the guesswork out of it for you!

One quick search for “cooler” on Amazon is sure to bring up hundreds of options. But have you ever really scrutinized where these products are made?

I don’t doubt you can find some decent coolers made in other countries, but I’d like you to consider buying an American-made cooler for three reasons:

Quality Control

In order to operate as a successful business in the competitive U.S. market, our domestic businesses are held to a higher standard of quality control. We also have governing bodies in place to shut down or penalize companies that do not meet particular standards.

Customer Support

When a problem arises with your product, it’s much easier to handle it and rectify the situation with a domestic company. You can also guarantee that the customer support team will operate within or near your time zone.

Support for the US economy and jobs

There’s nothing more American than stimulating our own economy and helping support jobs for our current and future generations.

There can, of course, be a slight downside to buying a cooler made in the USA. A higher quality product plus the cost of doing business in the US means the higher production cost is often passed on to the consumer.

Even so, try thinking of it this way: buying a cooler made in China may be cheaper, but oftentimes you get what you pay for.

You don’t always have to spend hundreds of dollars on a high-end cooler to get a quality American-made product. But speaking of high-end coolers, let’s talk about the Yeti.

Are Yeti Coolers Made in the USA?

You’ve probably heard of Yeti coolers, since they’re known in camping circles as something of a status symbol.

Don’t get me wrong, Yeti coolers work great! But if your aim is to buy American, you should know that when you buy a Yeti cooler, it will be hard to know for sure if it was made in America.

Yeti does some manufacturing in the USA, but they also have manufacturing plants in the Philippines and China.

While some of their products will be labeled that they were “Made in China,” not all of them will specify. The only real way of knowing whether a Yeti cooler was made in the USA is to contact them directly and ask about the specific model.

Are RTIC Coolers Made in the USA?

Another well-known cooler brand is RTIC, and you’ve probably seen them at campsites and tailgates aplenty.

If you buy an RTIC cooler, you unfortunately won’t be buying an American product. In fact, unlike Yeti, absolutely none of the RTIC coolers are made in the USA. The vast majority of RTIC coolers are made in China.

Does Coleman Make Any Coolers in the USA?

Coleman is a trusted and affordable brand among campers. So you might be wondering: do they make coolers in the USA?

While Coleman started out manufacturing lanterns in Kansas over a century ago, the brand has since expanded its outdoor accessories game. You’ve no doubt seen their products everywhere, from Walmart to Costco.

When you’re looking to buy a cooler that’s made in the USA, Coleman products need a bit more clarification.

The Coleman coolers are marked “Made in America,” but that’s because they are assembled in the USA. The coolers are comprised of components made both domestically and overseas.

If that’s close enough to “Made in the USA” for you, then that’s great! Coleman makes decent and affordable coolers.

However, if you’re looking for a brand that is made from 100% American-manufactured components, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

What Coolers Are Made in the USA?

Believe it or not, there are plenty of cooler brand options that are made here in the US. These coolers are completely manufactured, assembled, and sold in our country.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some of the best coolers made in the USA that I’d recommend checking out:

1. Grizzly

Grizzly coolers are made in Iowa and carry a lifetime warranty, making the investment totally worth it. These coolers are bear proof, and come in a wide variety of colors. If you’re looking for a smaller cooler that’s good for a day excursion to the lake, check out the 15 quart size.

2. Igloo

If you’re looking for a wide variety of cooler sizes and price points, look no further than Igloo. This cooler brand has been American-made since 1947.

3. ORCA

ORCA is a newer brand of coolers made in the USA. They use roto-molding technology to make their coolers some of the best in the game. The coolers are manufactured in Tennessee and Ohio, and provide a lifetime warranty.

4. Lifetime

Lifetime coolers are made in Utah and Tennessee, and are bear proof which makes them perfect for camping. They’re also at a lower price point than some of their competitors, and can often be found on sale for less than $100.

5. Pelican

Pelican is a well-known and trusted brand among many outdoor adventurers. Their products are made in California, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. We like the 50-Quart model for its protruding handles, making it easily transportable to the campsite.

Aside from these five top-contenders, you can also find American-made coolers made by Bison, Cabela’s, Cordova, Camco Currituck, Frigid Rigid, ICEHOLE, ICON, Kenai, Kong, Orion, OtterBox, RovR, Rubbermaid, and Taiga.

I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of these coolers made in the USA! And the best part is, you can kick back with a cold one at the campsite knowing you’ve done your part to support a domestic business.