Cobalt Cooler Review

Pros	Cons
Seamless Rubber seal	Drain plug not attached to the cooler
Wheels	5 Day Ice retention for lightweight cooler
Multiple carries options
Value
Clamp Closure

Blue Coolers has just released a new lighter weight and smaller dimension cooler branded as Cobalt Coolers.  These cooler have been added to reduce the weight and overall size of large rotomolded coolers but still offer superior ice retention over the cheap formed Colman coolers you used to pick up as a kid. The same manufacture procedure is used to create these highly durable coolers, plus they added a more friendly closure (which I prefer) and cut the weight.  We were really excited to get to take a first look at the Cobalt Coolers and compare them with the Blue Cooler we already reviewed here as well as some of the competition from Rtic Reviews we did here.

There are some new differences between the Blue Coolers and the New Cobalt light-weight coolers. Aside from the size, is new latches to close the cooler. They are much easier to use for kids (and adults). They flip up and push down to open and close as opposed to having to stretch the “T” style rubber handles.

Cobalt Cooler Dimensions

30 Quart: External: H:15.8” x W:23.5” x D:15.6” Internal: H:11” x W:10” x D:18”

55 Quart: External: H:18.9” x W:27” x D:18.1” Internal: H:13” x W:22” x D:13”

55 Quart Wheeled: External: H:18.9″ x W: 27″ x D:18.1″ Internal: H:13” x W: 22” x D:13”

Cobalt 25: External: H:13.1” x W:18.25” x D:13.75” Internal: H:10” x W:14.4” x D:10.1”

Cobalt 55: External: H:15.6” x W:28.25” x D:15.5”   Internal: H:11.5” x W: 22.75” x D:12.5”

Cobalt 55 Wheeled: External: H:16.4” x 29.25” x 15.5” Internal: H:11.5” x W:22.75” x D:12.5”

Cobalt Cooler Weight

30 Quart: 21.2 lbs. Empty

55 Quart: 28.2 lbs. Empty

55 Quart Wheeled: 33.4 lbs Empty

Cobalt 25: 14.3 lbs Empty

Cobalt 55: 26.5 lbs. Empty

Cobalt 55 Wheeled: 29 lbs. Empty

Cobalt Cooler vs. Blue Cooler

What is the difference between the Blue Cooler and the Cobalt Cooler?

The main difference is that the Blue Cooler is rated with 10-day ice retention and the Cobalt cooler is rated as a 5-day ice retention cooler.  The insulated walls of the cooler are thinner, but this is far different from the cheap coolers you might buy from a convenience store.  Other smaller differences include the t-style closure vs. a latch closure and the overall dimension and weights.

Should I buy a wheeled cooler?

You might have noticed a lot of cooler companies including a wheeled version of their popular coolers.  The great thing about wheels on rotomolded coolers is they don’t really affect the size or volume at all.  You should buy a wheeled cooler if you plan to be moving the cooler with a single person or multiple times a day.  If you always have someone around to help move a 100+ lbs cooler then wheels might not be that important.

Should I buy the Blue Cooler or Cobalt Cooler?

When considering a Blue Cooler vs the Cobalt Cooler the best way to decide is the amount of food and beverages you plan to cool and the amount of time you want to keep them cool.  You can get away with using a Cobalt cooler for over 5 days if you fill it half full of ice. Alternatively, you can use a Blue Cooler for a weekend trip only using a few icepacks and a single bag of ice.  Think about how you plan to use the cooler, and if long trip use is more important than weight and size.

The handles are no longer a continuous loop of rope. They are now sewn metal brackets to keep the handles in place.

The two coolers shown are both 55-quart size, but you can see the size difference. That is how that Cobalt coolers managed to reduce weight and footprint by reducing the size of the insulated walls. Just because this cooler is smaller and only rated to keep ice for 5 days, it’s still the same rugged rotomolded construction. Even better, for weekend trips where you only need to keep food and beverages cold for 3 or 4 days or maybe in shaded or cooler weather the Cobalt cooler is perfect for these situations.

Conclusion

There are a few other subtle differences like the locking hole having a large gap that requires a longer lock. Overall, the coolers are pretty similar. They defiantly both feel rugged and provide great ice retention. The new Cobalt cooler is a lot more comfortable to move by a single person and with the wheels makes it easy for a child to move around the campsite.