YETI Hopper

By Jim Draper

Each January I look forward to attending the ATA (Archery Trade Association) show. It’s a great time to catch up with old friends, and of course, to see what new products are coming out. One of my favorite booths to visit is the Yeti booth. Over the years they have become a household name in the cooler industry. I have really enjoyed my Tundra, so of course I was excited to see their new line up. Although the Tundra series of coolers is great, they are heavy and bulky and therefore not always a logical choice for short trips or taking it with you on the beach. One of the new products I was interested in getting my hands on was the Yeti Hopper. The Hopper is Yeti’s solution to the flimsy soft-sided coolers out there. Yeti’s DRYHIDE shell is extremely durable, puncture resistant and leak proof. The shell is made from the same material as high performance whitewater rafts, so you can bet that it will hold up to just about whatever us outdoorsmen can throw at it. The great folks at Yeti also took into consideration that we may spend days or even weeks afield without being able to give it a good cleaning so they used a liner that was anti-microbial and resists mildew. It also boasts a HYDROLOK zipper, designed to prevent leakage. Combined with the COLDCELL insulation, the Yeti cooler will keep your beverages cold for days. I chose the Hopper 20, which using Yeti’s 2 to 1 ice ratio, holds 12 cans of whatever beverage your prefer, and 20 pounds of ice. I have taken the Hopper 20 on the road with me a few times now, and was impressed with its portability and ice retention. While at the ATA, I also picked up a couple of Yeti’s other products, the Rambler Colster, which keeps your bottle or can icy cold for quite some time, and the Rambler Tumbler, which will maintain your hot or cold beverage’s temp for hours. I absolutely love my Tumbler. Be sure to check these and Yeti’s other products out on their website, www.yeticoolers.com.