Lifetime 48 qt. High Performance Hard-Sided Cooler

This thing holds ice like no other!

I had the opportunity to try out the latest from Lifetime, the 48 quart Glacier Cooler. This is not the first Lifetime cooler i have owned. Once again, Lifetime has made a great product. The color scheme is super cool with the various shades of light blue, making it unique and pretty. It’s more interesting that the solid bold colors or bland neutrals that most coolers have now days. To test it out i put in two bags of ice then hauled it around for 4 days in hot july weather. I used it to cool down drinks, keep icey pops frozen enough to have for a post hike treat, and chill food. After opening it up repeatedly and adding warm items, I still had a little ice left on day five. I love the rope handles that lay tight and allow for easy packing of other equipment around cooler. The lid latches are simple and rugged, easily sealing down the top. The drain plug is large and fairly easy to open. The flat rubber feet on the bottom are nice to keep it from sliding around so it stays where you put it. However it makes it necessary to pick up and move rather than shoving or dragging it into place. My one complaint is when after emptying out the water from ice melt, I developed a small leak at the drain. It took a couple minutes for me to realize the rubber washer in the cap had fallen out in the grass. Fortunately I found it and after putting it in bottom of drain cap, no more leaks. The fact that it is a regular garden hose washer is genius, so if it does get lost, it can quickly and inexpensively be replaced instead of requiring a proprietary sized washer. Good job making it simple. Is it the best cooler out their? No. It is the best value for the money. Yes, and better than I will likely ever need. I could spend a bit less and be constantly disappointed, or double and even triple the money, for something that Lifetime coolers beats. I love my other Lifetime coolers and highly recommend them. Plus the new color is awesome.

I've been testing this Lifetime 48-quart cooler and overall I'm impressed. I specifically put it through a 100°F+ heat test, and it held ice solidly for over 24 hours straight — that's exactly what I need for weekend trips and long days outside. The build quality feels rugged and well-made, with sturdy latches and a tight-sealing lid that clearly does its job when it comes to insulation. I also really like the color — a two-tone orange/yellow fade with a red interior. It stands out and doesn't look like every other cooler at the tailgate or campsite. My one real complaint: there's no wheel option. Once this thing is fully loaded with drinks and ice, it gets heavy fast, and having to carry it (versus roll it) from the car to the campsite or backyard is a workout. A wheeled version, or even an add-on wheel kit, would make this close to perfect. Bottom line: excellent ice retention and a durable, good-looking cooler. Just plan on lifting, not rolling — bring a friend if it's fully loaded.

Picked up this Lifetime 48 qt cooler. First, love the colors...so much more fun than all the whites and grays everywhere. Second, this is much lighter than coolers from competitors that I've used. You would think that could sacrifice performance, but I loaded this with a bunch of mini bottles of water for a get-together with family and friends, threw some ice on top, and the water was cold, even in 100⁰ heat. Two enthusiastic thumbs up from me!