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Outdoors head-to-head

Igloo BMX 52vsRTIC 45 Hard Cooler

Age hasn't cost the 2015 RTIC 45 Hard Cooler the lead: it averages 8.5 against 8.0 for the 2018 Igloo BMX 52, and takes Performance 8.8 to 7.8.

Igloo BMX 52

Igloo

8.0

Blow-molded but reinforced, and it lands squarely between disposable and rotomolded.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

RTIC 45 Hard Cooler

RTIC

8.5

Rotomolded ice retention within a day of the benchmark, at a fraction of the outlay.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Where they diverge

The widest gap is Performance, RTIC 45 Hard Cooler ahead 8.8 to 7.8. They come closest on Value, 8.8 to 8.6. Left of center is Igloo BMX 52, right is RTIC 45 Hard Cooler.

Igloo BMX 52 versus RTIC 45 Hard Cooler — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 4 axes. Bars for Igloo BMX 52 run left from the axis labels, bars for RTIC 45 Hard Cooler run right. Igloo BMX 52: Performance 7.8, Value 8.6, Durability 8.0, Design 7.6. RTIC 45 Hard Cooler: Performance 8.8, Value 8.8, Durability 8.6, Design 7.8.Igloo BMX 52 (left)RTIC 45 Hard Cooler (right)PerformanceIgloo BMX 52 — Performance 7.8 out of 107.8RTIC 45 Hard Cooler — Performance 8.8 out of 108.8ValueIgloo BMX 52 — Value 8.6 out of 108.6RTIC 45 Hard Cooler — Value 8.8 out of 108.8DurabilityIgloo BMX 52 — Durability 8.0 out of 108.0RTIC 45 Hard Cooler — Durability 8.6 out of 108.6DesignIgloo BMX 52 — Design 7.6 out of 107.6RTIC 45 Hard Cooler — Design 7.8 out of 107.8Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better

Which one to pick

Take the Igloo BMX 52

  • You want more than a supermarket cooler without rotomolded pricing
  • Weight matters — this is far lighter than rotomolded boxes
  • Tailgates and campsites rather than expeditions

Take the RTIC 45 Hard Cooler

Leads on Performance, Value, Durability and Design.

  • You want rotomolded performance without the premium name
  • Weekend trips where a day of ice retention either way is academic
  • The cooler lives in a truck bed and takes abuse

What each one gets wrong

Igloo BMX 52

  • Multi-day ice retention is the whole requirement
  • You need bear certification

RTIC 45 Hard Cooler

  • Latches and hinges have to feel as good as the box
  • Resale value is part of your calculation

Specs, side by side

SpecIgloo BMX 52RTIC 45 Hard Cooler
ConstructionBlow-molded, stainless steel kick platesRotomolded, pressure-injected foam
Capacity52 quart45 quart class
HandlesRubberized, fold-down—
Certification—IGBC certified at this size, padlocks required

Rankings they both appear in

Questions

The Igloo BMX 52 is 3 years newer. Why does it score lower?
Because the axes didn't move the way the release dates suggest. The 2015 model takes Performance, Value, Durability and Design, widest on Performance at 8.8 to 7.8. The 2018 model doesn't lead a single axis.
What did the 2018 model improve?
Nothing that shows up in the 4 axes. Its own listed weakness reads: Multi-day ice retention is the whole requirement.
Which one ranks higher in "Rotomolded or not, the latches go before the shell"?
RTIC 45 Hard Cooler sits at #1 in "Rotomolded or not, the latches go before the shell", Igloo BMX 52 at #4.