When it comes to outdoor recreation accessories, a cooler is a must-have. Due to the huge demand from outdoor enthusiasts all over the world, a ton of cooler brands have appeared on the scene. Orion Cooler is one of those brands that entered the market a few years ago.
They offer several types of coolers, drinkware, fishing, and recreational accessories. In this post, we will review some of their premium coolers and cooler accessories. So, if you are in a dilemma about whether to go with Orion Coolers or not, this post should help you make your decision comfortably.
About the Manufacturer
The parent company of Orion Cooler is actually ‘Jackson Adventures’. This is the company that also owns the Jackson Kayak and Orion Kennels. ‘Jackson Kayaks’ was founded back in 2004. Their primary concern was to provide made-in-America kayaks to users all around America.
The company was founded by Olympic and world champion kayaker Eric Jackson. The headquarters and factory of this company are located in Sparta, Tennessee, USA. After a decade, they introduced a new cooler lineup under the brand name Orion in 2014.
They are primarily offering only hard-sided coolers as of now. But, they are adding brand new cooler accessories/gear of different sizes, shapes, and types to their collection. Similar to their kayak collection, their coolers are also heavy-duty, have high-performance features, and unique designs.
Orion Cooler Reviews
Orion Cooler Reviews
Review of Orion Heavy Duty Premium Cooler (25 Quart)
As the name suggests, this is the 25 quarts size hard cooler from Orion, which means this is the smallest hard cooler you can purchase from Orion. Yet, it comes with all the standard features that you would like to have in a heavy-duty cooler.
For example, it is built with roto-molded construction and a 2-inch insulation wall. Thus, it can hold ice for up to 7+ days. It has 4 built-in bottle openers and 6 tie-down points. The top of the cooler is padded so you can sit or stand on it comfortably.
It has low-profile snag-free recessed camming latches. For extra portability, it is equipped with motorcycle grip handles on both sides. Thanks to the oversized drain plug, you don’t have to wait longer to empty the cooler after use.
Interestingly, the Orion 25 is integrated with the Gear Track system on each side of the cooler. You can store or mount various kinds of accessories on the cooler using this system. All of the Orion hard coolers, including this one, come with bear-resistant certification.
It also has base locking features and a dry tray. On top of that, all of these Orion coolers are made in the USA. Plus, these come with a 10-year limited lifetime warranty.
The weight of the Orion 25-quart edition is about 21.5 lbs. It can hold up to 32 12-ounces cans or 40 lbs. of ice. The interior dimensions of this particular cooler are 12.25 x 9.25 inches (bottom), 13.5 x 10.5 inches (top), and 11.5 inches of height. While on the outside, this cooler measures 17.75 x 13.75 inches (bottom), 20.5 x 16.75 inches (top), and 16.75 inches (height).
You can see that it is a compact and portable hard cooler. This is perfect for weekend trips or shorter outings. Like other Orion coolers, the 25 is also available in a variety of unique coolers such as blaze, white, stone, rockfish, ocean, forest, limestone (rare), and Dorado.
What Previous Buyers Said?
Most customers have liked the compact size of this one. They have praised the durable build and inclusion of tons of features. As per them, it holds ice for a long time. They have stated that the color options of this cooler are unparalleled when compared to others.
Pros:
- Portable and small size
- Bear-resistant certified
- Comes in multiple unique colors
- Heavy-duty build
Cons:
- Pricey
Review of Orion Heavy Duty Premium Cooler (35 Quarts)
The second cooler is the 35-quart premium cooler from Orion. This one has a wider base but a lower profile compared to the 25-quart edition. Thus, it offers more space while being portable. As a result, it can come in handy for overnight camping trips.
The interior dimensions of this Orion ice chest are 15.75 x 11 inches (bottom), 17 x 12 inches (top), and 11 inches of height. While on the outside, this cooler measures 21.25 x 15.5 inches (bottom), 23.75 x 17.75 inches (top), and 16.25 inches (height). It weighs about 26.75 lbs.
The Orion 35-quarts can accommodate up to 50 lbs. of ice or 48 beer cans. Of course, all of the standard features Orion provides are also included in this cooler that we have mentioned above.
This size would fit yout Jeep perfectly. It’s recommended for short overland trips.
What Previous Buyers Have Said?
One buyer mentioned that this cooler has kept ice for about 10 days. The majority admired the ice retention and build quality of the Orion 35-quart ice chest.
Pros:
- Unique color options
- Comes with a 10-year limited lifetime warranty
- Bear-resistant certification
Cons:
- Expensive
Review of Orion Heavy Duty Premium Cooler (45 Quart)
As per Orion, the 45-quart hard cooler from them is perfect for 3-day weekend trips or sports teams. This cooler also comes with all the trademark features Orion coolers has to offer.
For instance, it has 6 tie-down points, 4 bottle openers, 2-inches insulation, a standing pad, no-skid feet, low-profile cam latches, a lockable lid, motorbike grip rope handles, gear track integration, oversized drain plug, and more.
The internal dimensions of the Orion 45-quart cooler are 18.75 x 9.5 inches (bottom), 20 x 11 inches (top), and 13.25 inches of height. The external size of this cooler measures 24 x 14.5 inches (bottom), 27 x 17.5 inches (top), and 18.5 inches (height).
It weighs about 31 lbs. Plus, this ice chest can accommodate up to 52 cans or 60 lbs. of ice, or 18 winded bottles. As usual, it is also available in all 8 different unique colors.
What Previous Buyers Said?
The majority of buyers have praised the Orion 45-quarts cooler. One of them said that all the unique features, along with the robust build quality justify the high price.
Pros:
- It has affordable pricing
- Comes with a LED display
- It is a maintenance-free battery
- This is equipped with the AGM tech
- Comes fully charged from the factory
Cons:
- A bit heavy
Review of Orion Heavy Duty Premium Cooler (55 Quart)
When you are going on a long camping or overloading trip, you will need a bigger cooler. At the same time, it should not be so big that you would have a hard time moving it all around. The Orion 55-quart cooler is the perfect solution for this type of situation.
This ice chest can hold up to 64 beer cans, or 70 lbs. of ice, or 21 wine bottles. As per Orion, it can also hold 1 processed deer or 30 sports fish. The exterior dimensions of the cooler are 21.5 x 11 x 12.75 inches and the cooler has a weight of 33.5 lbs.
As usual, it also comes with all the Orion special features and a unique color selection. If you have packed this Orion 55-quart cooler properly with ice packs, then it should retain ice for up to 7 days.
What Previous Buyers Said?
Most buyers have stated that it can easily keep ice cool for over a week. Plus, they have liked the color options, unique features, and roto-molded construction of this Orion ice chest.
Pros:
- Large spacious cooler
- Rugged build
- Comes with bear-resistant certification
- 10 year limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- A bit bigger
Review of Orion Large Heavy Duty Premium Cooler (65 Quart)
Orion recommends this 65-quart cooler for long-day fishing or large tailgate parties. Like all the other Orion coolers, it is also packed with premium features.
Some of the notable ones are Gear Track, tie-down points, bottle opener, motorcycle grip handles, lockable lid, recessed cam operated aluminum latches, drain plug, no-slip feet, lid cushioned pad, 2-inch insulation, and more.
The Orion 65 cooler can keep about 80 lbs. of ice, or 29 wine bottles, or 84 cans, or 1 proceeds deer, or 36 sport fish. All this while it weighs only 36 lbs.
The inner dimensions of this cooler for camping are 24.25 x 11.75 inches (bottom), 25.75 x 13 inches (top), and 12.5 (height). Similarly, the outer side of the cooler is 30.25 x 16.5 inches (bottom), 33 x 19.25 inches (top), and 17.75 (height).
What Previous Buyers Said?
As per the users, this is easily one of the best Orion coolers for its long ice retention capability. A few people wanted built-in wheels, though.
Other than that, most users have left positive feedback on this Orion 65-qt cooler about its build quality and long-lasting ice retention.
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Certified bear-resistant
- Aluminium latches
- Durable construction
Cons:
- Heavyweight and no built-in wheels
Review of Cooler Orion Heavy Duty Premium Cooler (85 Quart)
You might have already guessed that this is the largest cooler from Orion. The 85 is perfect for multi-family picnics, or massive large gatherings at a campsite.
Thanks to its large size, thick 2-insulated walls and roto molded construction, it has the longest ice retention capability. So, if you want the best Orion ice chest for keeping food cold, look no further.
As you would expect, this cooler/ice chest also comes with all the standard Orion features. For instance, it has bottle openers, anti-skid feet, rope handles, cushioned lid, tie-down points, large drain plug, cam-operated aluminum latches, YakAttack tracks/ram integration, and so on.
It weighs about 43 lbs. Whereas, the inner dimensions of the Orion 85-quart version are 28.75 x 13.01 inches (bottom), 30.01 x 14.375 inches (top), and 12.25 inches of height. While on the outside, this cooler measures 34.25 x 18 inches (bottom), 37 x 20.75 inches (top), and 17.5 inches (height).
Normally, it can accommodate 2 processed deer/110 beer cans/66 wine bottles/100 lbs. of ice. As a result, these ice chests are perfect for hunting and fishing.
What Previous Buyers Said?
Almost all current users are backing this cooler for its performance, build, and useful feats like bottle openers. Interestingly, a particular customer said that they own a Yeti, but this Orion 85-qt cooler is better than Yeti in many aspects.
Pros:
- Durable construction
- Spacious cooler
- 10-year limited lifetime warranty
- Bear-resistant certified
Cons:
- Very heavy
Accessories
Review of Orion Cooler Divider Coolers Accessory
This is a great accessory for your cooler to organize. Plus, you can use it as a cutting board when necessary. This cooler divider fits in the 35-quart model. However, it comes in other sizes as well. It is made of marine-grade starboard for extra durability.
Review of Orion Flip-Flop Cart – Removable Wheel/Axle Kit
You should have already noticed that none of the Orion coolers come with built-in wheels. This is a drawback in the case of the larger ones as you will have a hard time moving them around. That is when this wheel/axle kit comes into play.
These flip-flop carts are available for all the Orion coolers. If you want to make your Orion cooler more portable, then you should get this handy accessory.
Review of Orion Coolers Cup Holder Accessory
You know that Orion ice chests come with multiple attachment points for mounting additional accessories. If you want to take advantage of those features, then you can get this cup holder accessory.
This tumbler holder can accommodate different sizes of bottles, tumblers, cups, and cans. Not only that, but you can also store other small items in this while camping.
It is made with high-end materials and all the installation accessories come with this cup holder. You can move or adjust the position of this accessory easily, even after you have mounted it.
Buying Guide – Orion Cooler Review
Orion vs Yeti
Many adventure lovers want to know which is better: Yeti and Orion. You know this is not so simple, because a lot of different aspects are involved when comparing two brands.
First of all, Yeti Coolers wins by miles when it comes to variation. Yeti has many different types of coolers in different sizes and colors, whereas Orion only offers a few hard coolers.
Both these brands use roto-molded construction and extra-thick insulation on their coolers. Thus, in terms of ice retention capacity, we will call it a draw. When it comes to features, we must admit Orion has some unique features that are not available on Yeti. Orion and Yeti offer high-grade accessories for their coolers as well.
Even though Yeti Coolers is known for its expensive coolers, Orion has a slightly higher price range than Yeti on their coolers. But their exceptional features and long warranty policy justify their high price. Overall, it all depends on the buyer’s choice, but we can safely tell you that both Yeti Cooler and Orion offer top-notch coolers.
Visual Appeal
We cannot help but note that Orion has some of the best eye-catching color combinations in their coolers. These peculiar colors are sure to turn heads.
Warranty
A good cooler brand would offer a longer warranty policy. They should also provide the best after-sales service. Luckily, all Orion Core Series coolers come with a 10-year limited lifetime warranty.
Price
Orion coolers are known for their high price. You should keep in mind that they are using the best of the best raw materials and latest technologies to manufacture their coolers.
Plus, they are making them in the USA and their coolers are full of useful, yet rare features. Then again, if you are in a budget constraint there are other options available for you.
Build Quality
You should always go for the most durable cooler out there because a cooler would have to handle the harshest environment or weather.
Also, you will want long-lasting service from your pricey cooler. In that sense, Orion is at the top with its bear-resistant certified and roto-molded coolers.
Ice Retention
As the Orion coolers come with roto-molded construction and thick insulated walls, they can keep ice for a longer period. In fact, some of these coolers offer more than week-long ice retention.
Whenever buying a new cooler, you should look for coolers that are known for long-lasting ice retaining capacity.
FAQ
Who Makes Orion Coolers?
Orion coolers are made by ‘Jackson Adventures’. This is the company behind ‘Jackson Kayaks’ and ‘BlueSky Boatworks’ as well. The Orion Cooler brand was established back in 2014 and Jackson Kayak was founded in 2004.
Who Makes The Best Cooler For The Money?
The market is full of cooler brands. Based on the quality, size, features, and type, the price of the cooler will vary a lot. So, it is hard to point out a brand that makes the best cooler for the money.
However, some brands that are known for budget-friendly coolers are Engel, Frosty, Igloo, Coleman, Calcutta coolers, and more.
What Coolers Are Just As Good As Yeti?
Yeti is undoubtedly one of the best cooler brands in the world. However, they are not the only brand that makes high-quality coolers. Some other top coolers like Yeti are Pelican cooler, Frosty, RTIC cooler, Orion, Coleman, Grizzly, and so on.
Sum Up – Orion Cooler Review
Orion is offering some of the most high-performance coolers with premium features. We must admit that their color selection is outstanding and unique. Similarly, the build quality of their coolers is top-notch as well. They also offer several useful accessories with their coolers.
Admittedly, the Orion coolers tend to cost a lot. However, it is also true that these premium coolers have some unique features that are not available in any other coolers as of yet. Not even on Yeti!
In that sense, their high pricing is somewhat justified and you can go with them if you have the budget. Otherwise, you have the option to buy other cheaper coolers. It all boils down to your requirements and personal preference.
