As an angler, home cook, and the primary grocery shopper for my little urban family, I hardly ever leave home without a cooler. Most of the time, though, a hard cooler, or even a soft vinyl-coated one, is too cumbersome. I live in New York City, and I don’t always have my car. But I am regularly with a toddler in tow, carrying perishable snacks, or shopping or fishing, often on impromptu occasions, and it pays to have something serviceable—and durable—on hand.
Suffice it to say, coolers are a big part of my day-to-day life. I have also been a cooler tester for several publications over the last decade and evaluated just about every brand of chilly bin you’ve heard of. So when I finally give my heart to a cooler, it is through hard-earned affection, resulting in a real, slow-burn kind of love. And the daily driver cooler I’ve fallen for is actually a lunchbox: YETI’s Daytrip lunch bag, which is also our splurge recommendation in our lunch boxes review.
Why The Yeti Daytrip Isn’t Your Childhood Lunch Box
Credit: Amazon
Insulated yet compact and collapsible (it can fold down to a manageable size to fit into a backpack, tote, stroller undercarriage, or purse), the Daytrip proves that it’s worth its sub-two-pound empty weight time and again. Adding an ice pack keeps a bottle of milk, a six-pack of beer, a slab of meat, or a handful of fresh fillets cold for hours.
That’s thanks to YETI’s proprietary closed-cell foam (the same stuff that insulates the brand’s hard coolers) and a pair of magnets that help keep the opening sealed much better than your average lunch box. Further, there’s what I consider marine-grade finishings throughout: a heavy-duty nylon handle, a series of loops for clipping on a carabiner, and a rust-proof metal clasp that latches easily and firmly. The latter compacts the interior, squishing out lingering warm air and slowing oxidation, essential when stowing fresh meat, seafood, or poultry.
My particular Daytrip has seen all this service tenfold and then some. For no less than five years, it’s had all of the above spill in it. It’s been dragged across rocks and pavement, forgotten with the aforementioned contents inside, scrubbed and rinsed, and come out like new each and every time. The liner is so sturdy and stain- and odor-resistant that I confidently drop fish fillets directly into it without bothering to use plastic bags. In a pinch, I’ll even slip a whole fish in there, spines and all, without worry. A quick scrub with dish soap and hot water, and the bag is no worse for wear.
Serious Eats
Why We’re the Experts
- Owen Burke is a writer who has reported on coffee, kitchenware, outdoor gear, boats, the environment, and more.
- He’s been testing coolers for almost a decade and relied on them in professional and recreational capacities throughout his life. He’s also worked in kitchens, raw bars, and aboard private and commercial fishing vessels.
- He keeps the YETI Daytrip on hand to tote all kinds of foods, including beverages, snacks, raw meat, seafood, and more.
