Yeti Tundra 35 vs 45 | Review: Is bigger always better?

Looking for a portable companion to fuel your adventures?

The YETI Tundra 35 and Tundra 45 hard coolers are the sidekicks you’ve been searching for. These outdoor warriors blend YETI’s prized tough-as-nails durability with personal-sized portability. 

Note: If you’re looking for a hands-free portable option, the YETI Hopper M20 2.0 Soft Backpack Cooler is probably more up your alley. Simply strap it on your back and start trekking. It also comes in a smaller M12 size. Also YETI just launched its newest hard cooler - the Roadie 15. Here's our first look at it. 

For a 1- to 2-day journey where having cold food and beverages are a non-negotiable, the YETI Tundra 35 and 45 hard coolers are your best friends. The YETI Tundra 35 is portable enough to haul down to the lake. Meanwhile, the YETI Tundra 45 gives you roughly 9 quarts more space so you can feed a buddy and bring a few extra brews along, too. And if you’re really looking to pack light, a soft-sided or newer-to-YETI wheeled cooler (Roadies, in YETI parlance) might be the way to go. If you want some help sorting through all the options, YETI has a cooler finder tool worth exploring.

Breaking Down the Differences Between the YETI Tundra 35 and Tundra 45 hard coolers

Capacity

The biggest difference to consider when choosing between the YETI Tundra 35 and 45 is storage capacity.

The YETI Tundra 45 offers up to 37.6 quarts of interior space. That breaks down to 54 beer cans or 37 pounds of ice.

By comparison, the YETI Tundra 35 houses 28.8 quarts, which equates to 39 cans of beer (or soda) or 29 pounds of ice. It may not seem like a big difference until you consider that’s about a 6-pack worth of less space.

Based on capacity alone, go with the YETI Tundra 45. You’ll get more bang for your buck and your beer buddies will thank you. It's easy to fill a larger cooler with more stuff; it's impossible to squeeze more into a smaller cooler when the additional space simply doesn't exist. 

Size

The 21.1” × 15.9” × 15.4” exterior of the YETI Tundra 35 is ideal, in our opinion. It nestles nicely inside the back of your vehicle without taking up too much space. Plus, it’s easy to maneuver.

The YETI Tundra 45 requires a little more cargo space with its 25.6” × 15.9” × 15.5” exterior. While it's certainly larger, the difference isn't significant. The few extra inches are really only noticeable if you’re working with tight spaces (dont' say it, Michael Scott).

If space is a big concern, use the YETI cooler finder tool to find a cooler with the best dimensions for your needs.

Weight

Compared to today's beasts like YETI hard coolers, old school Igloos and Colemans were light as a feather. The tradeoff? They also had insanely poor ice retention. The cost of the YETI Tundra series’ legendary ice retention is a heavier, bulkier cooler - even when empty.

To put that into numbers, the YETI Tundra 35 weighs in at 21.4 pounds empty. This is opposed to the 24.6-pound empty weight of the YETI Tundra 45.

Again, is the difference significant? Not really. But you very well may notice the extra couple of pounds when hauling around your Tundra full of weekend provisions.

If you prefer to pack light, go with the YETI Tundra 35. If you can spare a few more pounds, the YETI Tundra 45 is worth the extra weight.

Portability

The YETI Tundra 35 and 45 are highly sought after because of their portability. That said, the YETI Tundra 35 is the more portable option of the two.

The recessed handles located on both sides provide a firm grip while the dimensions are just right for one person to carry. Even when loaded the YETI Tundra 35 is light enough without wishing you had the help of a buddy. Tie it down to a tube for a river trip and you’ll find it packs just right.

The YETI Tundra 45 is also portable enough for the solo adventurer to haul around. However, if given the choice, I’d much prefer to haul the YETI Tundra 35.

Ease of Use

Both the YETI Tundra 35 and 45 feature highly intuitive designs. However, the YETI Tundra 35 is slightly easier to use.

Thanks to the smaller dimensions, you can nix the aggressive shoving when packing this cooler in a vehicle. Meanwhile, the lighter lid is easier to pop open and keep it there without slamming shut on your face.

What’s even better is you can single-handedly tip the cooler to empty all the water out of the sloped drain. That’s not to say you can’t do this with the YETI Tundra 45, it’s just a little bit tougher because of the size.

Color

YETI is known for offering an array of personalized colors when introducing new season lineups. This includes the YETI Tundra 35 and 45.

Both the YETI Tundra 35 and 45 come in no fewer than eight color options, from the muted Tan of the "core colors" series to the vibrant King Crab Orange in the "seasonal colors" series.

Value

YETI doesn’t put a premium price on their Tundra coolers (and every other product, for that matter) for nothing. Their performance is impeccable while their hard shells are rugged enough to take some serious abuse. With such legendary designs, you can expect to invest more in the YETI Tundra 35 and 45 than you would with mediocre coolers.

With that in mind, the YETI Tundra 45 is the more costly option of the two. However, when weighing in on all the attributes, this cooler is the better option. It will cost you a few more dollars but is well worth it in the end.

Conclusion

The portability and performance of the YETI Tundra 35 are a perfect combo for a 2-day camping trip. The 28.8-quart capacity is roomy enough to pack in all the ice and provisions you need. Meanwhile, the 20 lbs weight is light enough to haul around alone.

If you’re looking to bring an adventure buddy, the YETI Tundra 45 is a solid option. It adds slightly more storage space without costing an arm and a leg. If you don’t mind 3 lbs of extra weight, the YETI Tundra 45 is the more worthy option of the two.