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This story was created by Men's Journal in partnership with Ninja Kitchen.
As we head into the warm weather months, having a good cooler is the key to a successful picnic, road trip, or backyard gathering. While a cooler might not sound like something that typically has a lot of unique features, Ninja just proved that assumption wrong with the release of its new FrostVault cooler line. I tested the FrostVault recently and discovered that a cooler can be much more than just a box that holds ice. As I plan our family’s summer adventures, I can’t imagine not taking the FrostVault along, even over the other premium, more expensive, hard cooler that we already owned. Keep reading to learn why the Ninja FrostVault is the only cooler you will ever need again.
Is the Ninja FrostVault Worth the Hype?
I reviewed the FrostVault 50-quart size and, off the bat, it’s worth noting that this cooler is big.
The 50-quart FrostVault is a great size for a weekend-long camping trip or hosting a party in the backyard when you want to keep lots of beverages cold, but it’s a little too hefty to take along for a picnic or afternoon at the park. This is where the 30-quart model, which retails for $200, comes in as a better size for on-the-go outings or times when you just need to keep a few things chilled. According to Ninja, the 50-quart can fit 80 cans and the 30-quart can fit up to 48 cans (without ice).
The construction on the FrostVault feels well-built and durable, and while I don’t necessarily recommend allowing your toddler to climb in and out, ours did and the FrostVault didn’t tip over. The cooler has sturdy handles for carrying, a convenient drain plug on the side, and a single-handed latch that seals the lid and the cooler drawer (more on that later).
Ninja FrostVault 50-Quart Hard Cooler with Dry Zone, $250 at Ninja Kitchen
On the weekend that we were testing the Ninja FrostVault, it was a beautiful spring day in Colorado, so we took the opportunity to load up the cooler with drinks and ice and leave it on the sunny deck for the afternoon while we played and did yard work. Even in the spring, Colorado sun is no joke, and the Ninja did beautifully. The ice barely melted throughout the afternoon and all the drinks stayed ice cold. We plan to use this cooler during our big Memorial Day BBQ when temps are higher and feel confident that things will stay chilled in the premium insulation.
Overall, the FrostVault is a solid cooler every way you look at it, but the unique “Dry Zone” drawers make it a total stand out. At the bottom of the cooler, there is a slide-out drawer that sits below the ice and can keep things dry and cold at food-safe temperatures (under 40 degrees Fahrenheit) for days.
Ninja FrostVault 50-Quart Hard Cooler with Dry Zone, $250 at Ninja Kitchen
This isn’t something I’ve seen in a cooler before but it’s absolutely genius. I can think of so many use cases where this would come in handy: Say "goodbye" to soggy sandwiches that have been sitting in melting ice or baked goods that have been totally crushed by heavier items. Most importantly, on a road trip when our car is packed to the brim, having a drawer to pull out to access snacks without digging out the cooler to open the lid is a gamechanger. It also helps keep things organized, offering the ability to put ice and beverages in the cooler's main compartment and then foods down below.
Ninja FrostVault 30-Quart Hard Cooler with Dry Zone, $200 at Ninja Kitchen
Yeti vs Ninja: Which Is the Better Cooler?
The other big name in coolers is Yeti, and I happen to have the brand's hard cooler (the Tundra) as well, so it was easy to do a side-by-side comparison. The quality of the Yeti and the Ninja felt very similar, with no noticeable differences between the two in terms of general construction. The Ninja Frost Vault 50-quart, however, is $50 cheaper and has 13 quarts of extra storage than the comparable Yeti 45 cooler, which retails for $300.
To see how the two stacked up, I ran a small test where I loaded the Yeti and the Ninja each with a gallon baggie of ice and left them sealed overnight. Both coolers had the same exact amount of melting, so no clear winner there. The main difference between the two premium coolers is the dry storage setup. Yeti uses a wire basket that sits in the main body of the cooler, while the Ninja has a dry storage drawer underneath the cooler body and, I have to say, the dry storage drawer is by far my favorite thing about the Ninja and the reason why I would pick it over the Yeti any day, before even considering the fact that it’s a better deal. It’s so nice to have somewhere separate to keep things you want to keep dry and cold and a place where things won’t get crushed or lost within a bigger cooler. I also prefer the latch on the Ninja over the “T-Rex” latch-style of the Yeti; the way it locks in just feels more secure.
Ninja FrostVault 50-Quart Hard Cooler with Dry Zone, $250 at Ninja Kitchen
This summer, no matter if you’re choosing a cooler based on price, functionality, style, or features, the Ninja FrostVault coolers come out on top. I plan to purchase the 30-quart cooler as well to take along on smaller picnics and short trips. Where will you go with your FrostVault?
This story was created by Men's Journal in partnership with Ninja Kitchen.
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