Pelican 30QT Elite Cooler - White

Can't say I've been too impressed.I'd like to say that I wish I was writing a review about my new Pelican 30-quart cooler, but since I have yet to receive a functioning product I can only say that the Pelican company has not been very impressive.I ordered my 30-quart cooler a couple of weeks ago during the 4th of July sale. It took about three to four days for the cooler to ship, but I received it fairly quickly once FedEx picked it up. When I got the cooler I could not wait to load it up with some ice and beer to try it out. I have to say I was quite surprised when I popped the latches and flipped up the lid only to hear the lid crash to the ground because there was no hinge pin installed on the cooler.I quickly called the Pelican customer service line. I will ... MoreCan't say I've been too impressed.I'd like to say that I wish I was writing a review about my new Pelican 30-quart cooler, but since I have yet to receive a functioning product I can only say that the Pelican company has not been very impressive.I ordered my 30-quart cooler a couple of weeks ago during the 4th of July sale. It took about three to four days for the cooler to ship, but I received it fairly quickly once FedEx picked it up. When I got the cooler I could not wait to load it up with some ice and beer to try it out. I have to say I was quite surprised when I popped the latches and flipped up the lid only to hear the lid crash to the ground because there was no hinge pin installed on the cooler.I quickly called the Pelican customer service line. I will be the first to admit that the customer service rep has been very nice and professional. After sending some photos of my defective high-dollar cooler to Pelican, I was told a new one was on the way. Now six days later I call to request tracking information only to find out that the replacement had not shipped until I called.I was going to let the hinge pin thing go without issue, but now finding out that the replacement was not sent when I was told it would was the last straw. Obviously Pelican doesn't treat all of their customers this way, but I can honestly say that I am not impressed with their company.

I purchased their 400$ 34 quart soft shell cooler with a 3 year warranty and it broke within a year. They decided to send this cooler as a replacement. I repeatedly told their customer service representative that this was not an appropriate replace for size, price, or versatility and even stated at the very least I'd prefer the backpack cooler, but was entirely ignored and have been told they have sent this cooler. I am now out 130$ and a functional cooler that fits my needs. If you purchase anything from this company be prepared to be grifted out of any chance of an adequate replacement, they even attempted to get me to pay shipping to return my initial purchase, which would have left me out an additional 100$. Just buy Cordova, American made and actual customer ... MoreI purchased their 400$ 34 quart soft shell cooler with a 3 year warranty and it broke within a year. They decided to send this cooler as a replacement. I repeatedly told their customer service representative that this was not an appropriate replace for size, price, or versatility and even stated at the very least I'd prefer the backpack cooler, but was entirely ignored and have been told they have sent this cooler. I am now out 130$ and a functional cooler that fits my needs. If you purchase anything from this company be prepared to be grifted out of any chance of an adequate replacement, they even attempted to get me to pay shipping to return my initial purchase, which would have left me out an additional 100$. Just buy Cordova, American made and actual customer service that stands by and backs up its products.

Colder drinks longer, and a cooler you won't BREAK!We've had an 80qt Wheelie for a few years now for fishing and it changed everything. I understand now why people buy there! No more worrying about if the ice will last. no more worrying about a cheap cooler getting broken or spilling water in your vehicle. Heck you can even stand on it as a sporting event for a better view!Pelican is without a doubt the best built of any of the premium coolers, cost competitive with the the other high end model too! Don't get fooled by all the import copycats to the premium cooler market. Good things cost money! Get a Pelican and you'll have bought the very best and never be sorry!You see our pelican coolers used on many videos on our channel at youtube.com/scottnra Fishing ... MoreColder drinks longer, and a cooler you won't BREAK!We've had an 80qt Wheelie for a few years now for fishing and it changed everything. I understand now why people buy there! No more worrying about if the ice will last. no more worrying about a cheap cooler getting broken or spilling water in your vehicle. Heck you can even stand on it as a sporting event for a better view!Pelican is without a doubt the best built of any of the premium coolers, cost competitive with the the other high end model too! Don't get fooled by all the import copycats to the premium cooler market. Good things cost money! Get a Pelican and you'll have bought the very best and never be sorry!You see our pelican coolers used on many videos on our channel at youtube.com/scottnra Fishing just wouldn't be the same without it and now our drinks will stay cold even on the longest and hottest fishing days!

Good alternative to Yeti

I bought it originally for the summer season to keep my drinks and food cold in my car after a long day's hike, but the first unit I purchased unfortunately didn't retain a proper seal at the gasket, allowing for the ice to melt quickly, and Pelican deemed it defective. I sent my cooler back to them directly (at their cost), and they sent me a new unit after 3 weeks or so. I'm guessing they were manufacturing some more units. 2nd cooler had some minor light leakage, but I figured out that you can pull down on the gasket a bit to create that tight seal.Do these following tests to ensure your cooler is a-ok :Light leakage - stick a flashlight inside the cooler and ensure there is no light leaking between the lid and the body. If there is, pull down on the gasket ... MoreI bought it originally for the summer season to keep my drinks and food cold in my car after a long day's hike, but the first unit I purchased unfortunately didn't retain a proper seal at the gasket, allowing for the ice to melt quickly, and Pelican deemed it defective. I sent my cooler back to them directly (at their cost), and they sent me a new unit after 3 weeks or so. I'm guessing they were manufacturing some more units. 2nd cooler had some minor light leakage, but I figured out that you can pull down on the gasket a bit to create that tight seal.Do these following tests to ensure your cooler is a-ok :Light leakage - stick a flashlight inside the cooler and ensure there is no light leaking between the lid and the body. If there is, pull down on the gasket from it's seating a bit and test again. I've had no light leakage since I've manually adjusted the gasket. (Pelican's online FAQ says there should be no light leakage when completely closed)Leaking plug - There's been some previous internet reviews of water leaking from the draining plug despite it being tightly closed.Pre-cooling - Quite important to pre-chill the cooler before using it. Instead of buying/wasting ice cubes before your trip, find some suitable containers/bottles that you can fill with water, freeze and reuse. I luckily had a square empty sauce containers that ended up being 5lbs when frozen, so I freeze and rotate them on a weekly basis.Overall a good cooler, the ice will last close to, if not over a week if properly chilled.Pros:Lifetime warranty, hassle-free exchangeCustomer service via Pelican (in Edmonton) was pleasant to deal withSave a few bucks in comparison to a similarly sized YetiGood for long-term coolingCons:Lifetime warranty does not cover latches (from what I've read)It's unique shape does not pack squarelyHeavy (21.6lbs)Over-kill when a $30~$80 cooler is sufficient for a day or two of cooler.

Highly recommended

Bought this cooler as I wanted something similar in quality and cooling longevity to a Yeti but choice was scarce. This cooler ticks all those boxes and then some. It keeps contents cold for several days (with a decent amount of ice). The cooler feels very durable overall, high quality plastics with rubberized feet, and the hinges to latch it closed seem heavy duty and once closed lock in place. I find the lid makes it a little top heavy but I haven't had any problems with that. Cupholders are a nice touch. The drain plus is recessed and sits lower than the bottom level of the cooler, so melted ice can be drained out without emptying out the cooler. This cooler is heavy duty enough that it can double as a stool. Very impressed so far!

Pelican has been around for a while and the workmanship shows in this cooler. While it may not be...

Pelican has been around for a while and the workmanship shows in this cooler. While it may not be the expense of the cooler brand that everyone knows, it seems to retain ice really well, even in the sun, so long as it stays shut most of the time. I did notice that it will lose ice pretty quickly if it's used as a beverage cooler with people getting in and out of it a lot, but I did notice that when I left in in my car exposed to the sun for a couple of hours, the ice melted faster than I would've expected since it remained shut the entire time. Only other thing that I felt was noteworthy, as others have mentioned, the rubber seal on the interior of the lid is missing about a quarter to half inch in the middle by the hinge. This likely causes a small gap in the seal ... MorePelican has been around for a while and the workmanship shows in this cooler. While it may not be the expense of the cooler brand that everyone knows, it seems to retain ice really well, even in the sun, so long as it stays shut most of the time. I did notice that it will lose ice pretty quickly if it's used as a beverage cooler with people getting in and out of it a lot, but I did notice that when I left in in my car exposed to the sun for a couple of hours, the ice melted faster than I would've expected since it remained shut the entire time. Only other thing that I felt was noteworthy, as others have mentioned, the rubber seal on the interior of the lid is missing about a quarter to half inch in the middle by the hinge. This likely causes a small gap in the seal which would contribute to a small amount of ice melting. Please note that I have not contacted Pelican as it didn't seem necessary for my situation. Overall I am very satisfied with my purchase, especially since I got it on a really good sale. I would say that the quality control might be slightly lacking, but it's not really the end of the world as the performance is roughly what I would expect it to be.

Perfect size, excellent ice retention

I just used this cooler for a short road trip and it was stellar. Ice retention was great compared to the previous coolers that I have owned and the build quality is fantastic. The small finishes like the cupholders with sloped drainage, the bottle opener, and the sloped drainage are fantastic. The locking clips are awesome, very secure and easy to use. Be mindful of the weight and the dimensions. It's not light (especially when it's loaded) and it may not fit in your trunk if you have a smaller car.Highly-recommended if you're looking for a durable cooler with plenty of space and a solid construction that will last longer than a couple of seasons. There are more Pelican purchases in my near future.Also, Altitude was great as always. Very smooth transaction and ... MoreI just used this cooler for a short road trip and it was stellar. Ice retention was great compared to the previous coolers that I have owned and the build quality is fantastic. The small finishes like the cupholders with sloped drainage, the bottle opener, and the sloped drainage are fantastic. The locking clips are awesome, very secure and easy to use. Be mindful of the weight and the dimensions. It's not light (especially when it's loaded) and it may not fit in your trunk if you have a smaller car.Highly-recommended if you're looking for a durable cooler with plenty of space and a solid construction that will last longer than a couple of seasons. There are more Pelican purchases in my near future.Also, Altitude was great as always. Very smooth transaction and fast-shipping to Ontario.

Worth the money.

I got the 30 l model. I have not used this cooler yet. But, I watched numerous YouTube videos. This cooler always came out with flying colours. It is a very well thought out design. Two little things, the cup holders have drain slots which also capture a strap if needed to secure across the cooler. Then the drain for the ice water is below the surface of the bottom. Not earth shattering but evidence of a well considered design. The latches are very secure and easy to manipulate, but not for bears.Thing is built like a tank with a lifetime warranty. How often do you see that today? Speaking about that ice water drain, that was the one thing reviewers noted. The the screw on cap had a moulded leash that showed evidence it could break over time. Pelican must have been ... MoreI got the 30 l model. I have not used this cooler yet. But, I watched numerous YouTube videos. This cooler always came out with flying colours. It is a very well thought out design. Two little things, the cup holders have drain slots which also capture a strap if needed to secure across the cooler. Then the drain for the ice water is below the surface of the bottom. Not earth shattering but evidence of a well considered design. The latches are very secure and easy to manipulate, but not for bears.Thing is built like a tank with a lifetime warranty. How often do you see that today? Speaking about that ice water drain, that was the one thing reviewers noted. The the screw on cap had a moulded leash that showed evidence it could break over time. Pelican must have been listening, another good sign. It is now a very sturdy cable sheathed in tubing.You better pick the right colour because you are going to have to live with it a very long time.

our second pelican cooler

Last month we got the 50qt version from altutude sports and impressed by its performance at our camping trip so we decided to buy one extra more. Got the last one, gun metal / od green. Beautiful colour and performance.For overall design comment: i think pelican’s roughed design fratures stands more from the out coolers.And overall performance comment: it is a beast.