Camille Pilar is a surfer and writer in Lingayen, Philippines. She loves to explore new waves and surf trip adventures with her friends.
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Viper Fins Review

viper-fins-review

When it comes to serious bodysurfing or bodyboarding, Viper Fins come to mind. These surfing fins were designed to put cutting edge technology into powerful and seamless motion when riding a wave. If you are an intermediate to advanced bodysurfer or bodyboarder looking for the best high performance fins, you’ve come to the right place. Continue Reading

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YETI Hopper Two Review

Hopper Two Coolers Review

When it comes down to finding the perfect cooler for your needs, there are definitely things you should consider. Some of those considerations might include:

“Is it easy to carry?”

“Will it stand up well against the elements?”

“Can it keep my stuff cold for long periods of time?”

The cool thing is, these are all things that the YETI Hopper Two helps to provide, and in our YETI Hopper Two Review, we’re going to give you the lowdown on how. When it comes to keeping things nice and cold, there is no soft-shell cooler that outdoes the YETI Hopper Two. Thanks to the thick structure, you not only get extreme durability, but ice retention like no other. Because of the soft-shell, it’s also incredibly lightweight, making it far easier to carry around than the hard-shell box coolers that you’re most likely used to using. Let’s dig in a little bit deeper though and find out why the Hopper Two is so well renowned.

The Review

Yeti Hooper Coolers

Specifications

  • Outside Dimensions: 12” x 18” x 25”
  • Inside Dimensions: 9” x 14” x 17”
  • ​Empty Weight: 5.5lbs
  • Can Hold 23 cans of Beer or 28lbs of Ice
  • Durable and Puncture-Proof Dry Hide Shell
  • Superior Cold Cell Insulation
  • 100% Leak-Proof HydroLok Zipper

Pro's

  • Thin Profile Design that is Easy to Transport
  • 100% leak-proof and waterproof HydroLok Zipper
  • Wide Mouth Opening for Easy Access and Visibility
  • Tough, Puncture-Resistant Dry Hide Shell
  • MOLLE-Style HitchPoint Grid for Attaching Accessories

Con's

  • A Bit on the Pricey Side

Why Is the Price So High?

If you try and put the YETI Hopper Two side by side with other soft-shell coolers that are on the market, you’ll realize that the expensive part of the Hopper Two is not the brand, but instead the actual quality of the product. In terms of durability and performance, the YETI Hopper Two is far superior to these other coolers. There seems to be a parallel rise in popularity with similar brands like RTIC, but even they haven’t quite caught up to the output of YETI brand. The YETI Hopper Two is definitely an investment, though one that is going to be longer term than any other.

In life, you get what you pay for, and that sentiment rings true when it comes to the YETI Hopper Two. You get the dry hide shell that is completely resistant to punctures, UV Rays, mildew, and more, a cold cell insulation that can keep the stored contents cold for days at a time, and a huge variety of accessories that you can use to modify or upgrade your cooler with as you please. It’s a hefty price to pay now, but you’ll be happy down the line when you’ve been using the same cooler for a decade.


Insulation Performance

If you try and compare the insulation performance of the YETI Hopper Two to the other soft-shell coolers on the market, you’ll realize that none of them can keep cold like the YETI Hopper Two. YETI has been the leader in terms of superior cooling performance for quite some time, and while other companies have tried to recreate and rebrand their products as their own, they’ve yet to get that same science down. Time and time again, third-party tests show that the insulation performance with the YETI soft-shell coolers is much stronger.

This is all thanks to the mix of onboard features, one of the most prominent being the thick cold cell, rubber foam insulation that can keep things cold for days at a time. They also have the air tight HydroLok Zipper that keeps all the elements out while keeping all of the cold air inside. Whether you’re looking to keep a few of your favorite brews cold while you hit you local beach, or trying to keep a few perishable meals cold while you’re on your weekend long camping trip, the YETI Hopper Two will be there for you with insulation performance unlike you’ve ever seen before.

For more about insulation performance and other characteristics that separate a great cooler from a cheap cooler, make sure to view our FinBin page.


Who Is The YETI Hopper Two Perfect For?

With the very slim profile and lightweight build, the YETI Hopper Two seems like a little tote bag that you would just use to pack your groceries in after you hit the market. While you can definitely use it to store your groceries in, and while it will do the job better than any other insulated tote bag out there, there is so much more to the YETI Hopper Two than groceries. If you just want a nice little tote bag, we wouldn’t go as far as to lay down that kind of cash for this cooler.

The YETI Hopper Two is meant for days when you’re hitting the road and seeking adventure or new horizons. It’s meant for people who are heading out to sea for a long day of fishing. It’s meant for taking with you on your 20-mile bike ride through the hills. It’s meant for your weekend spent lying under the giant redwoods. In all, it’s meant to be outdoors. With the variety of accessories and cooling qualities unlike any other cooler, it wouldn’t do it justice if you just used it for those little back and forth market trips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yeti Hopper Two Vs. Flip

The first thing that you’ll notice when you stack these two coolers side by side is the difference in size, shape, and overall design. The Hopper Flip coolers are more lunch-box style coolers, and even the biggest one, the Hopper Flip 18, is still a bit smaller than the Hopper Two. The Flip 18 will hold up to 20 cans of beer while the Hopper Two can hold up to 23. Even with that, the Hopper Two ways only .4lbs more than the Flip 18.

While the Hopper Two is bigger, it somehow is easier to transport from place to place. This is because of the thinner profile that resembles a tote bag. It rests better at your side, though still has a larger bottom so that it can stand up right when you drop it on the ground. Other than that, they both have the same performance and same basic features and accessories. It just depends on what shape of cooler you prefer.


YETI Hopper Two vs. Hopper

The first prominent change to the Hopper Two from the original was the way that the zipper was placed. It is now on the face of the bag, rather than the top. This makes the mouth open a little bit wider, in turn making your items easier to load, and making them more visible when you’re done loading them. The second major change is the actual shape of the cooler.

The Hopper Two is a more tapered-style tote design while the original was a bit boxier. This gives the Hopper Two the advantage in terms of trying to store it in small spaces. The last change that you’ll find is the handle that they added on the top of the cooler. It basically just gives you another way to carry it. In all, the changes are nothing major, and if you don’t want to spend the extra money, the Original Hopper is just as solid.


Does the YETI Hopper Two come with a warranty?

The Hopper Two comes with the same exact warranty that all of YETI’s soft-shell coolers come with. That warranty is a three-year limited warranty that has a few specific conditions pegged onto it. Basically, if you find some sort of manufacturer error or defect within the first three years of you using it, you can return your cooler to YETI for a free exchange. Like we said, there are definitely some conditions when it comes to this warranty, and because it would be a lot to right about in this article, we’ll direct you to their warranty page here.


Overall Rating

If you are in the market for a cooler that can rough it through the outdoors right alongside you, the YETI Hopper Two is an excellent choice. The ice retention is unlike anything else when compared to other soft-shell coolers, and you also get incredibly portability and durability. Obviously there is a lineup of other YETI soft-shell coolers that you could get, though the Hopper Two is by far our favorite of the bunch. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the reliability of YETI Brand Coolers.

Overall, we have to give the YETI Hopper Two an A+ overall. Like we said before, it’s a true investment, though keep in mind that it is something long-term that will last for years to come.

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