Coleman Chiller 48 Qt vs Coleman Classic 52 Qt
Quick verdict
Winner: Coleman Chiller 48 Qt
- Coleman Chiller 48 Qt: Two to four people on a weekend trip with a short carry.
- Coleman Classic 52 Qt: Two to four people on a weekend trip with food and drinks.
Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.
Coleman Chiller 48 Qt review
Best for: Two to four people on a weekend trip with a short carry
An older 48-quart chest with a 3-day ice claim at 90°F, a hinged lid and a drain, fine for a weekend; Amazon calls it the Chiller 48, but it is Coleman's Performance 48.
Sold on Amazon as the Chiller 48, this is model 3000000152, Coleman's 48-quart Performance cooler: 63 cans, a hinged lid, two-way handles, a leak-resistant channel drain and room for 2-liter bottles upright. Coleman's chart and Altitude Sports give up to 3 days at 90°F, 25.63 x 14.13 x 14.13 in and 7.6 lb. Coleman's current Chiller 48 is a different cooler with 76 cans and swing-up handles.
Good
- Channel drain empties meltwater without tilting the cooler
- 7.6 lb empty with 63-can capacity; holds 2-liter bottles upright
- Coleman claims 3 days of ice at 90°F, enough for a weekend
Watch for
- No wheels; a full 48-qt chest is a two-hand carry by the side handles
- 3-day claim leaves little margin on a long weekend; plan to add ice
Specs from Altitude Sports product page, Amazon.com listing and Coleman's current Chiller 48 page, checked Oct 26. We compare published specs and design; we have not tested it ourselves.
Check price on AmazonColeman Classic 52 Qt review
Best for: Two to four people on a weekend trip with food and drinks
A mid-size 52-quart chest for a weekend, with a 3-day ice claim and a drain; it has no wheels, so a full load is a two-hand or two-person carry.
Coleman's 52-quart Classic Series chest (model 5860) was sold earlier as the 316 Series. Coleman lists 80 cans (40 with 26 lb of ice), up to 3 days of ice, a 250 lb Have-A-Seat lid with four cup holders, a tethered drain plug, a stain-resistant liner and a built-in ruler. It weighs 8.6 lb empty.
Good
- 80-can capacity at 8.6 lb empty, light for a 52-qt chest
- Tethered drain plug and stain-resistant liner make cleanup easy
- Lid seats 250 lb; four cup holders fit a 30-oz tumbler
Watch for
- 3-day ice claim is short for a long weekend; plan to add ice by day 3
- No wheels; swing-up side handles mean a two-hand carry when full
Specs from Coleman Classic Series 52-Quart Hard Cooler product page, Amazon.com listing and Canadian Tire product page, checked Oct 26. We compare published specs and design; we have not tested it ourselves.
Check price on AmazonSide-by-side
| Spec | Coleman Chiller 48-Quart Cooler | Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler |
|---|---|---|
| Price (typical) | $40 | $55 |
| Capacity (qt) | 48 | 52 |
| Maker's ice claim | 3 days (at temperatures up to 90°F) | 3 days |
| Holds | 63 cans | 80 cans |
| Weight (empty) | 7.6 lb | 8.6 lb |
| Wheels | no | no |
| Drain plug | yes | yes |
| Handles | 2-way side handles | swing-up side handles |
| Lid | hinged, one-handed access | Have-A-Seat lid, 250 lb, 4 cup holders |
| Build | hard-sided, low-CO2 foam insulation | hard-sided, TempLock FX insulation, stain-resistant liner, 15% less plastic |
| Outside size | 25.63 x 14.13 x 14.13 in | 25.2 L x 14.5 W x 16.75 H in |
Green marks the better figure where more (or less) is plainly better. Weights and ice claims are the makers’ own figures.
Common questions
Which one should I buy?
The Coleman Chiller 48 Qt leads on price. The two are even on maker's ice claim. Check current listings before choosing. Coleman Chiller 48 Qt: An older 48-quart chest with a 3-day ice claim at 90°F, a hinged lid and a drain, fine for a weekend; Amazon calls it the Chiller 48, but it is Coleman's Performance 48. Coleman Classic 52 Qt: A mid-size 52-quart chest for a weekend, with a 3-day ice claim and a drain; it has no wheels, so a full load is a two-hand or two-person carry.
Where do these specs come from?
From each maker’s product page and retailer spec sheets, linked under each review. We compare published specs and design; we have not tested these products. Check the listing for the exact version you are buying.
Where do these prices come from?
These are recorded Amazon prices. Check the listings for current price and availability.
More cooler comparisons
Get a full kit, not just one item
The right cooler for your trip, plus the sleep system, lighting, stove and chairs around it.
Build my kit