Thermik High Performance Roto-Molded Cooler, 25 qt, White

1st time we used it, I realized the drain plug had been broken during shipping. Since this is a HUGE cooler and I didn't want the hassle of boxing it up and sending it back I chose to replace the part. In the mean time, thinking that the plug was still sealed okay, we used it on a trip to get groceries home (100 miles). It was awful!! The frozen foods were melted....the ice had melted....we were very disappointed. Then I discovered that the plug did not seal and decided that maybe that is why the cooler didn't work. This would also explain why it never created a vacuum lock. So, the plug part is supposed to get here today and we will do a test on it tomorrow to see if it creates the vacuum lock and keeps things really cold. If not, it is going back. I will update this after the test.UPDATE: 6/30/18.. We tested the cooler with the new part on it. The first day, it did create the vacuum lock like it was supposed to. We shut it again and checked the next day...when we opened it, there was no vacuum lock again and the ice had totally melted. The window for returning it is gone so now we have a $300.00 cooler that might or might not work??UPDATE: 7/13/18....I found the website for Thermik and told them of my problem. They sent me a replacement (genuine Thermik part) for the broken piece. The founder of the company contacted me and assured me that I would not be stuck with a cooler that I was not happy with. They also answered all of my questions about how to pack the cooler for its best performance. According to the manufacturer, to keep frozen foods from melting, it is best to layer things, ie: put chunked ice on the bottom, then put in the frozen foods that are in plastic containers (so it doesn't matter if they get wet), then put in the frozen foods that are in cardboard as the next layer, then put a layer of cooler packs (or something similar that won't get everything wet) on top of the frozen food and for the last layer, put in the food that just needs to be kept chilled, not frozen. I have to travel 100 miles from the grocery store to home so I am anxious to try this out, as my frozen items are always melting by the time I get home. So after the next grocery shopping excursion I will update this again, but for now I am giving it 4 stars because of the company's excellent customer service.August 9, 2020. Little late, but here is another update: We love the cooler! We use 4 to 6 of the Cooler Shock ice packs and it worked great to get our groceries home, and now that we live in Southern AZ, it is needed more than ever. While we still lived in MT, our grandkids borrowed it for a weekend. They put 4 cooler packs and a bag of ice in it on Friday afternoon and when they got home on Monday, there was still ice left in it. It is a great cooler and I have changed my rating to 5 stars.

I spent way too long deciding on this cooler. In the end I'm very happy with the purchase. All of the features came in very handy including the divider, basket, large drain, pressure release valve (yes really, I was skeptical, it's sealed and a changes in elevation or fronts will make it stick shut). It is not too heavy, and the straps being flexible is quite nice. I really like the latches compared to the ones you have to pull on to close, very easy to latch. Most importantly it kept ice in extreme heat and didn't sweat. I made some block ice for it which kept things cold for 4 days in a hot car before I supplemented. After that I was able to go a few days before refreshing a bit. One thing to keep in mind when reading reviews is that the temperature inside a cooler can vary significantly from the bottom to the top. If your perishables are submersible and the things on top can be a little warmer (i.e. 56F) you can really stretch your ice.The reason for a 4 instead of a 5 (see update below) is that when I drained it the first time, I used the small drain opening, and wasn't able to get it to stop dripping after closing the valve. I didn't notice that there was a gasket on that valve like there is the larger one, but ultimately that was the cause. I was able to fix it by purchasing a hose seal for a garden hose from Ace. If indeed there was a gasket on there when I bought it, which fell off when I opened the drain, the review stands as others will experience the same thing, and I would recommend switching to a hose seal, which seats in there and won't fall out.Update:Not long after writing this review I received a hand written note and a redesigned drain cap with a built in gasket. Very impressive customer service and also good to know they have corrected this minor issue.

held my three 26+" red drum from a trip four days ago / this picture is four days later ... still ice, (tail had to be cut off the 33''), and we are in 80+ October texas heat in the garage. Chest is rugged. My 200#+ self has stood on it many times. Clasps are firm. Need two hands sometimes - if you are reaching behind a seat, etc. But thats part of the game of a good clasp. Have scratched it, cut it with my fish knife, banged it, slid it across the pickup spray on bed, and it has held 6+ years. Bought it for low $200 and would stand up to any $500 Sasquatch named brand out there. Sometimes hard to find, but a great value and great item

The thermik 45 cooler is a pretty awesome cooler. I really have no major complaints about this cooler. Several things that really stand out to me. First and probably most important to me is the latches. The way they flip and latch is so much better than some of the competition. The other being the vacuum release button. I do also like the handles on it. They just feel rugged and look cool.The one thing i was a little disappointed in is the ice retention. 10lbs of ice will last about 2 days and there ice retention on advertisement is up to 5 days. I will say though, it does continue to keep the drinks at a chilled temp for about 2 more days.Overall. Not a bad buy.