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The portability and performance of the YETI Tundra 35 are a perfect combo for a 2 day camping trip.
Looking for a portable companion to fuel your adventures?
The YETI Tundra 35 and 45 are the sidekicks you’ve been searching for. These outdoor warriors blend YETI’s prized tough as nails durability with personal sized portability.
However, if you’re looking for a hands-free portable option, the YETI BackFlip 24 Soft Cooler is probably more up your alley. Simply strap it on your back and start trekking.
For a 1 to 2 day journey, the YETI Tundra 35 and 45 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 extra space so you can feed a buddy and bring a few extra brews along too. However, if you’re really looking to pack light, a soft sided cooler would be the way to go. Luckily, YETI has a cooler finder tool to help you decide.
Differences Between the YETI Tundra 35 and 45
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 28 beer cans or 34 pounds of ice.
In comparison, the YETI Tundra 35 houses 28.8 quarts which equates to 21 beer cans or 26 pounds of ice. This probably doesn’t sound 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.
Size
The 16 1/8” × 15 3/4” × 21 3/8” exterior of the YETI Tundra 35 is the ideal size. It nestles nicely inside the car cab without taking up too much space. Plus, it’s easy to maneuver.
The YETI Tundra 45 requires a touch more precious cargo space with a 16 1/8” × 15 3/8” × 25 3/4” exterior. While this is certainly bigger, it’s not by much. The few extra inches are really only noticeable if you’re working with tight spaces.
If space is a big concern, use the YETI cooler finder tool to find a cooler with the best dimensions for your needs.
Weight
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.
Compared to today, old school coolers were light as a feather. They also had insanely poor ice retention. The cost of the Tundra series’ legendary ice retention is a higher empty weight.
To put that into numbers, the YETI Tundra 35 weighs in at 20 lbs empty. This is opposed to the 23 lbs empty weight of the YETI Tundra 45.
No doubt, you’re probably thinking that’s not much of a difference. And rightfully so, it’s not. However, you may notice the extra weight when hauling around your 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.
Both the YETI Tundra 35 and 45 come in four different color options which include aquifer blue, navy, desert sand, and white.
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 four different color options which include aquifer blue, navy, desert sand, and white. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to snag the YETI Tundra 35 in the vibrant king crab orange.
Value
YETI doesn’t put a premium price on their Tundra coolers for nothing. Their performance is impeccable while the hard shell is 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.
