Coleman Classic 52 Qt vs Igloo BMX 52 Qt
Quick verdict
Only one available on Amazon
The Igloo BMX 52 Qt was out of stock on Amazon at our last check. Check the Coleman Classic 52 Qt listing before buying.
Coleman Classic 52 Qt: Two to four people on a weekend trip with food and drinks.
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Igloo BMX 52-Quart Cooler
amazon.com price: ~$100(last checked Jan 30)
Currently unavailable on Amazon
See in-stock alternativesColeman 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 AmazonIgloo BMX 52 Qt review
Best for: Two to four people keeping food cold over a car-camping weekend
A lighter route to multi-day ice than a rotomolded chest; the trade-offs are a blow-molded shell and no wheels at 52 qt.
The BMX 52 is a blow-molded 52 qt chest with extra-thick foam walls, an insulated lid and rubber T-latches. Igloo claims five days of ice and 83 cans. It has a threaded drain plug that takes a garden hose, four tie-down points, stainless hardware and non-slip corners, and weighs 16.4 lb empty. Igloo gives no test conditions for the five-day claim.
Good
- Igloo claims 5 days of ice from extra-thick foam walls and an insulated lid
- Threaded drain plug can take a garden hose
- 16.4 lb empty, with four tie-down points and rubber T-latches
Watch for
- Blow-molded shell is less impact-resistant than a rotomolded chest
- No wheels: a loaded 52 qt chest is a two-handle carry
Specs from Igloo's BMX 52 spec article, Altitude Sports BMX 52 spec page and Amazon.com listing, checked Oct 26. We compare published specs and design; we have not tested it ourselves.
Currently unavailable on Amazon
See in-stock alternativesSide-by-side
| Spec | Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler | Igloo BMX 52-Quart Cooler |
|---|---|---|
| Price (typical) | $55 | $100 (last checked Jan 30) |
| Capacity (qt) | 52 | 52 |
| Maker's ice claim | 3 days | 5 days |
| Holds | 80 cans | 83 cans |
| Weight (empty) | 8.6 lb | 16.4 lb |
| Wheels | no | no |
| Drain plug | yes | yes |
| Handles | swing-up side handles | two swing-up side handles, stainless-reinforced |
| Lid | Have-A-Seat lid, 250 lb, 4 cup holders | hinged, insulated, rubber T-latches |
| Build | hard-sided, TempLock FX insulation, stain-resistant liner, 15% less plastic | blow-molded, extra-thick foam walls |
| Outside size | 25.2 L x 14.5 W x 16.75 H in | 25.98 x 16.34 x 16.54 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 Igloo BMX 52 Qt was out of stock on Amazon at our last check. Check the Coleman Classic 52 Qt listing before buying.
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.
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