Coleman Classic 52 Qt vs Igloo Profile II 50 Qt

Quick verdict

Winner: Igloo Profile II 50 Qt

  • Igloo Profile II 50 Qt: A big, light drinks cooler for a beach day or a tailgate.
  • Coleman Classic 52 Qt: Two to four people on a weekend trip with food and drinks.

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Our pick

Igloo Profile II 50-Quart Cooler

amazon.com price: ~$49

Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler

amazon.com price: ~$55

Igloo Profile II 50 Qt review

Best for: A big, light drinks cooler for a beach day or a tailgate

Lots of room for little weight, but Igloo pitches it for single-day events and it has no drain plug; pick a cooler with a multi-day claim for a weekend.

The Profile II 50 is a 50 qt hard cooler with THERMECOOL foam, a Cool Riser base, swing-up handles, a tie-down loop and a liner with pour channels; it is made in the USA. Amazon lists it at 78 to 79 cans and 5.6 lb empty. Igloo gives no ice-retention figure and says it keeps items cold all day. It has no drain plug, so a full chest has to be tipped to empty.

Good

  • 50 qt of space for 5.6 lb empty
  • Swing-up handles and a tie-down loop; made in the USA
  • Liner pour channels make tipping out meltwater cleaner

Watch for

  • No drain plug: you tip a full 50 qt chest to empty it
  • Igloo pitches it for single-day use and gives no ice-days figure

Specs from Amazon.com listing, checked Oct 26. We compare published specs and design; we have not tested it ourselves.

Check price on Amazon

Coleman 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 Amazon

Side-by-side

Spec Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler Igloo Profile II 50-Quart Cooler
Price (typical) $55 $49
Capacity (qt) 52 50
Maker's ice claim 3 days not listed
Holds 80 cans not listed
Weight (empty) 8.6 lb 5.6 lb
Wheels no no
Drain plug yes no
Handles swing-up side handles swing-up handles, tie-down loop
Lid Have-A-Seat lid, 250 lb, 4 cup holders slotted lid
Build hard-sided, TempLock FX insulation, stain-resistant liner, 15% less plastic hard-sided, THERMECOOL foam
Outside size 25.2 L x 14.5 W x 16.75 H in 24.95 x 14.58 x 14.77 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 Profile II 50 Qt leads on price. Check current listings before choosing. 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. Igloo Profile II 50 Qt: Lots of room for little weight, but Igloo pitches it for single-day events and it has no drain plug; pick a cooler with a multi-day claim for a weekend.

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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