Yeti’s Fiercest Rival Just Released the Hard Cooler I Wish They’d Make

RTIC’s lightweight wheeled 22-quart icebox hits a Goldilocks-level sweet spot.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published March 12, 2025

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Regular GP readers are no doubt aware of our affinity for the 2024 edition of Yeti’s Roadie 15.

We love this hard cooler’s price point, mobility and single-handed accessibility so much, it cracked last year’s GP100.

rtic 22 qt ultralight wheeled cooler beauty — RTIC’s new cooler appears to offer the perfect combination of size, cooling power and portability — at a nice price.

However, we’re always on the lookout for the next big — or little — thing and with RTIC’s new 22 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler, I believe I’ve found it.

Yeti has yet to offer such a compelling combo of size, portability, cooling power and price, making it an early contender for the next GP100.

Small wonder

Right off the bat, I love that RTIC took the initiative to make a wheeled cooler at this size, which is fully 10 quarts smaller, 6.7 pounds lighter and $181 cheaper than the smallest Yeti wheeled option. (It’s also $31 cheaper than the beloved Roadie 15.)

rtic 22 qt ultralight wheeled cooler silhouette — This cooler’s slim profile makes it easy to stow when transporting via backseat, trunk or truck bed.

Thanks to ultralight construction, it weighs less than 18 pounds empty, with a roughly 19″ upright body that makes a 21″ by 16″ footprint, easing storage and trunk transport.

Even so, it can fit up to six wine bottles or 28 cans, more than enough for a day at the park or beach.

Wheel genius

As much as I dig the Roadie 15 and 24’s multiple carry options, they ultimately amount to brute lugging. Meanwhile, this cooler’s puncture-resistant tires, premium bearings and durable stainless steel axle enable you to smoothly drag it around for years.

rtic 22 qt ultralight wheeled cooler wheels — The beefy tires and retractable handle enable you to tow this cooler just about anywhere.

Complementing that feature is a long ergonomic handle that makes the cooler easy to tow behind you; it telescopes down and out of the way when not in use.

When you do come to a stop, non-skid rubber feet help keep the cooler securely in place.

Chill factor

Of course, none of that matters if the contents don’t stay cold. According to RTIC, up to 2.3 inches of closed-cell foam insulation and a freezer-style gasket will preserve the cold for up to four days — if you follow the brand’s cooling tips

rtic 22 qt ultralight wheeled cooler latches — Substantial T-latches help lock in the cold when hungry and thirsty folks aren’t letting it out.

Additional Siberian security comes in the form of two burly T-latches, which clamp down to keep the seal tight when greedy hands aren’t reaching into it.

Bonus features

One Roadie 24 feature Yeti added to the 15, in response to customer feedback, is a drainage plug, which makes it easy to ditch melted ice halfway through the day and lighten the load.

This RTIC unit has this feature too, via a single plug rapid V-drain tucked in the back of the cooler and accessible from the outside.

rtic 22 qt ultralight wheeled cooler open top view — A drainage port, silicone cargo net and built-in bottle opener score three more points for RTIC.

This cooler boasts two other welcome traits. The first is a little silicone cargo net built into the underside of the lid, a handy storage spot for smaller items.

The second is a stainless steel bottle opener, integrated into the right outer corner, so you’re never left stranded with an ice-cold Mexican Coke and no way to open it.