YETI 45 vs 65

Keeping your perishables fresh and your beverages cold is important for any outdoor trip, and for those who need a durable, convenient cooler that offers days of ice retention, I’ve compiled everything to know about YETI Tundra 45 vs 65 to help you to pick the one that is suitable for your needs. 

In summary, if you need a cooler for a maximum of three-day trips that don’t require big capacity, with a capacity of 28 cans (or 37.6 quarts) YETI Tundra 45 would do the job perfectly. It takes up %27 less space on your trunk compared to YETI 65 (YETI 45 and 65 respectively takes up roughly 110 quarts and 140 quarts of space). YETI Tundra 65, on the other hand, can keep your beverages cold up to 6.5 days and it’s ideal for large groups’ outdoor adventures. 

YETI Tundra 45 Review

• WEIGHT: 23 lbs
• OUTSIDE DIMENSION: 16.1” × 15.4” × 25 .8”
• INSIDE DIMENSION: 9.4” × 10.6” × 18.4”
• CAPACITY: 28 Cans

First things first, contrary to common belief, the number 45 doesn’t refer to the size of the cooler, it’s just the name of the model, YETI Tundra 45 is actually 37.6 quarts, not 45 quarts.

So if you were expecting a cooler that offers a capacity higher than 45-quarts then I suggest you look at YETI Tundra 65 below.

Now that we’ve been through this, we can jump into the features of the cooler.

YETI Tundra 45 is the perfect balance for size and capacity, it’s not so big, won’t take up too much space in your trunk, but it offers a capacity that would be enough for 3 to 4 days (for one-two person).

With a 2:1 ice to can ratio by volume (recommended by YETI), the Tundra 45 can hold 28 cans, it’s also deep enough to take 1L bottles as well.

If you’re not familiar with the cooler market, you might find YETI Tundra 45 a little bit expensive (see the price on Amazon), but the thing is, YETI is the market leader for a reason, it offers the whole package:

• The perfect durability: YETI Tundra 45 and all other YETI hard coolers are bear-proof
• Excellent ice retention: YETI Tundra 45 can keep your beverages cold up to 3-4 days
• Very convenient: From nonslip feet to drain system it offers lots of features (I will get into each feature below)

Color Options for YETI Tundra 45

• Chartreuse (view at Amazon)
• Desert Tan (view at Amazon)
• High Country (view at Amazon)
• Sea Foam (view at Amazon)
• Sagebrush Green (view at Amazon)
• White (view at Amazon)
• Charcoal (view at Amazon)
• Coral (view at Amazon)
• Navy (view at Amazon)
• River Green (view at Amazon)

YETI Tundra 65 Review

• WEIGHT: 29 lbs
• OUTSIDE DIMENSION: 17.2” × 16” × 30.6”
• INSIDE DIMENSION: 10.6” × 11.1” × 23.1”
• CAPACITY: 42 Cans

Just like YETI 45, YETI Tundra 65 doesn’t offer 65 quarts of volume as well, it’s 57.2 quarts, so if you’re looking for a cooler that offers 65 quarts or higher volume, in YETI’s line I would recommend YETI Tundra 75 it’s 74.8 quarts (closest one).

So with that important information out of the way, let’s dive into the cool features of this very popular cooler.

YETI Tundra 65 is the perfect cooler for big groups, it’s big, it’s durable, and it offers excellent ice retention even better than YETI Tundra 45 (I will get into the details below).

With a 2:1 ice to can ratio (by volume), it can take 42 cans, and it offers enough capacity for at least 2-3 days for four people (really depends on what you’re taking with you).

And since they have the same design it offers every feature that YETI 45 provides, such as Doublehaul Handles, Neverfail Hinge System (I will cover and explain each feature below.

Color Options for YETI Tundra 65

• Desert Tan (view at Amazon)
• Ice Blue (view at Amazon)
• Sagebrush Green (view at Amazon)
• White (view at Amazon)
• Navy (view at Amazon)

Specs: YETI Tundra 45 vs 65

The Differences of YETI 45 vs 65

Size & Capacity

The main differences between YETI Tundra 45 and 65 are their size and capacity. Also, as I’ve mentioned above, the number on the name doesn’t refer to the size of the cooler.

YETI Tundra 45 and 65 offer respectively 37.6 and 57.2 quarts of volume, so YETI Tundra 65 offers %55 (20 quarts) bigger interior volume than YETI Tundra 45.

Also with a capacity of holding 42 cans, you can put 14 more cans to YETI Tundra 65 compared to YETI Tundra 45 (holds 28 cans). 

Here are other YETI Tundra sizes and dimensions:

Ice Retention

YETI Tundra 65 is the clear winner in this department, with roughly 6.5 days of ice retention, it can keep your beverages cold 3 more days than YETI Tundra 45 (offers roughly 3.5 days of ice retention).

Although YETI Tundra 65 is better than Tundra 45 when it comes to ice retention, you must know that it depends on a lot of factors, like outside temperature, things you put in the cooler, etc. Therefore most cooler brands including YETI don’t provide you an approximate ice retention day.

But, if ice retention is an important factor for you, without any hesitation you can go with the YETI Tundra 65.

Weight

With 29 lbs of weight, YETI 65 is 6 lbs heavier than YETI 45 when empty. Compared to the big difference in capacity, the weight difference is not that much.

If I have to put it another way: YETI 65 weighs %26 heavier than YETI 45 but it offers:

• %55 bigger interior volume
• %50 higher can-holding capacity (it can hold 14 more cans)
• 3 more days of ice retention

One important factor that most people miss is, how heavy are YETI Tundra 45 and 65 are when they’re fully filled with cans and ice.

So I must say over-all YETI Tundra 65 is more efficient than YETI Tundra 45, but at the end of the day it all comes down to “how much capacity and ice retention do you actually need?”.

There’s no meaning to get a bigger cooler, if you won’t be able to carry it, right?

When it’s fully filled with cans and ice, YETI Tundra 65 weighs roughly 96 lbs, YETI Tundra 45 on the other hand weighs roughly 67 lbs.

Colors

What color Yeti should you get

YETI 45 is the clear winner in the color department, but the thing is, darker colors absorb more heat. A black cooler’s surface can get up to 170°F on very hot days, on the other hand, a white cooler’s surface gets up to a maximum of 110 °F, so not only it’s impossible to sit on a black cooler during hot days, but it’s also less efficient ice retention-wise.

So, always go with the white cooler…

Efficiency

Weight: YETI 65 can hold 42 cans while weighing 29 lbs (empty), which means,  you will be carrying 1.44 lbs of the cooler for each can, YETI 45 on the other hand holds 28 cans with 23 lbs of weight, so it can carry 1.21 can/lbs. So, if you go with YETI 65 you will be carrying less “cooler weight” per can.

Size: YETI 65 takes up 146.5 quarts of space but offers 57.2 quarts of capacity (due to the thick walls), so it offers %39 of its space for storage, YETI 45 on the other hand takes up 110.5 quarts of space but offer 37.6 quarts of capacity, so it offers %34 of its space for storage. So YETI 65 is again the more efficient one.

Ice retention: Although it depends on a variety of factors YETI 65 offers roughly 6.5 days of ice retention, YETI 45 on the other hand can keep your beverages cold for 3-4 days.

So, for efficiency comparison of YETI 45 vs 65, the winner is YETI Tundra 65 for every factor you should take into consideration.

But keep in mind that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should directly go for YETI 65, consider how much space you actually have in your trunk/boat? or likewise how much ice retention you actually need?

The Similarities of YETI 45 vs 65

Since both coolers have exactly the same design they offer the same features, so let’s dive into each feature, with pros and cons.

Insulation Features

FatWall Design

Tundra series have a very thick wall design (up to three inches) to provide the maximum level of insulation and increase ice retention.

Permaforst Insulation

There is a material called polyurethane, which is also used in refrigerators and most of the cooling systems, between the inner wall and the outer wall of the cooler to decrease the heat loss through the walls.

ColdLock Gasket and InterLock Lid System

In addition to the wall insulation, Tundra 45 and 65 features a gasket and Interlock Lid System (the ridge design that sits perfectly to the gap on the lid) to keep the cold air inside and hot air outside to extend the ice retention time.

One important thing to mention is although it comes with a gasket, they’re not leakproof, once your YETI Tundra fall down to its side, it will leak… Personally, I think this is the biggest con of the Tundra series.

Durability Features

Rotomolded Construction

The YETI Tundra series are made of extremely durable polyethylene material and a combination of this durable material and great construction results in a bear-proof cooler.

NeverFail Hinge System

YETI Tundra series features two hinges that attach the lid to the cooler, and they’re designed with two hinge pins and an interlocking system to prevent them from ever breaking.

T-Rex Lid Latches

So far, except for the leaking problem, I’ve pointed mostly the pros of the Tundra, but it’s important to mention the bad parts too, the lid latches of the Tundra line which is called T-Rex are not the most customer-friendly design.

Some people like it but for me, they’re not the most convenient lid latches on the market, if getting something from your cooler quickly is important to you, you might not like the Tundra Lid Latching system.

But I also have to give credit to Latch design, they do keep the lid tightly closed.

Convenience Features

Vortex Drain System

This is probably my favorite feature of the Tundra Series. If you ever had a cheap cooler you might know how annoying it’s to try to pour the water out of the cooler without losing any ice.

Well probably YETI Tundra designers had this problem before and they thought of placing this very convenient drain system.

It really is very very easy to use, just open the drain lid, let the gravity do its job, and close the lid again, there you go, you’re done.

Non-Slip Feet

Another annoying thing with cheap coolers is, if you don’t place them tightly, they tend to travel around in your trunk while you’re driving.

So to avoid this problem, YETI Tundra series have non-sliding bottom.

Handles

YETI Tundra series feature DoubleHaul handles which is basically military-grade nylon rope that has a plastic rubber on it, so not only they’re extremely durable but they also ease the carrying process very much.

Also, the Tundra series has Lipgrip handles as well, they’re built in the design, therefore the handles don’t take up any space.

Locking Holes

YETI Tundra series have locking holes on each top front corners to keep your food safe, it’s not a must, but still, it’s good to have.

Tie-down Slots

Last but not least, the Tundra design has two slots on the top right and top left sides allowing you to mount the cooler to your truck, boat, etc. 

This feature might seem insignificant. However, when you get into tough surfaces, your firm mud-terrain tires might start to bounce, so a mounted cooler will definitely help you better. 

Frequently Asked Questions For YETI Tundra Series

Is the Yeti Tundra Worth It?

Well, it all depends on what you’re expecting from a cooler if you’re an outdoor enthusiast who’s looking for a convenient cooler that will hold your ice for more than four days which is durable enough for years of use then yes they’re worth it.

BUT, if you only go for one or two days trips maximum of 2-3 times a year, then going for a cheaper brand such as Igloo Coolers might be a better option for you.

How Do Yeti Coolers Work?

YETI coolers have a material called polyurethane between their inner and outer walls, and this material has an extremely low “heat transmission coefficient” to decrease the heat loss to a minimum level, and also YETI Coolers have a gasket on their lids to prevent hot air from coming in and heat the inside of your cooler. 

Verdict – YETI 45 or 65

YETI Tundra 45 is the better option for you if you:

• Don’t need ice retention for more than 3-4 days
• Have a small trunk (YETI 45 takes up 110.5 quarts of space)
• Don’t need a capacity of more than 28 cans
• Don’t want to carry more than 67 lbs (weight of YETI 45 when fully filled with ice and cans)

YETI Tundra 65 is the better option for you if you:

• Need ice retention up to 6 days
• You have a trunk that is big enough to hold 146.5 quarts of space
• Want a cooler that can hold up to 42 cans
• Are able to carry 96 lbs of weight (YETI 65’s weight when it’s full)

You might also like our article about the YETI Hopper Flip 12 and 18.