YETI Roadie 15 vs 24 | Which is right for you?

YETI Roadies keep getting more portable!

With the introduction of the all-new YETI Roadie 15, the Roadie 24 is no longer the smallest Roadie on the block. So which one is best? Well, they're actually two very different coolers with different ideal use cases. We break down the differences to help you decide which is the better fit for your needs.

Because size is pretty obvious here, we're going to start with a look at the features that distinguish the Roadie 15 from it's larger sibling. 

Roadie features

Let's level-set with features shared by both models:

• LipGrip™ Handles are out of the way for easy carrying
• BearFoot™ Non-slip feet on the base of the coolers prevent slipping and sliding while on smooth surfaces
• AnchorPoint™ Tie-down slots to secure your Roadie to anything from your boat to your truck bed to your SUP (where the smaller Roadie 15 is intended to be used)
• QuickLatch™ system for closing, opening and securing the lid of your Roadie cooler

Now let's look at some important differences between the two:

Carry strap

The new Roadie 15 comes equipped with YETI's 10-inch-long DoubleDuty™ shoulder strap, a soft-surface pad to make the weight of the Roadie 15 less noticeable and more comfortable when transporting on your bony shoulder. The double in DoubleDuty™ comes from its inclusion of a padded webbing handle for single-handed cooler carrying when the length of the strap is cinched down. 

The DoubleDuty™ strap can also be completely removed from the Roadie 15 depending on your needs and uses - for example, if you want to use the tie-down slots to affix your Roadie to the back of your ATV or personal watercraft. 

The Roadie 24 uses the HeavyHauler™ handle. Our take is that the team at YETI looked at the strap and made some improvements for the Roadie 15. The strap on the Roadie 24 would certainly benefit from the additional shoulder cushioning of the DoubleDuty™, because the cooler is still small enough to feasibly sling over your shoulder for short distances.

Drain plug

The Roadie 15 has the BestDam™ drain plug, while the Roadie 24 does not have a drain. Does this matter? Not really for coolers this size, but we again have to wonder if this is just a result of the newer model getting the features, like a second child being spoiled. At the end of the day, if we had to pick one, we'd want the drain on the larger model (Roadie 24) because it can hold substantially more ice (10 pounds). 

Size and weight

Obviously, the Roadie 24 is larger and therefore heavier. We can sum up the functional difference like this - it can hold 11 more cans (leaving a lonely can from our 12-pack) than t he Roadie 15, and wine bottles and 2-liter bottles can store upright inside it. The Roadie 15 can fit 2-liter bottles and wine on their side. This capacity difference matters not only if you want to haul more drinks on your adventures, but also if you are looking to keep things cold longer.

The general recommendation for rotomolded hard coolers is a 2:1 ratio of ice to food and beverages. With the Roadie 24 you can conceivably take the same amount of food as you would with the 15 and use a higher ratio of ice to extend cooling time. Another consideration in ice retention - the Roadie 24 is 2.5 inches thicker across the width and 2.2 inches thicker across its depth (thickness is the difference between exterior and interior dimensions). This implies the Roadie 24 has more polyurethane foam insulation and therefore should perform better when it comes to ice retention. We haven't yet gotten our hands on a Roadie 15 for testing, but the specs lead us to this conclusion.

When it comes to weight, the Roadie 15 is 3.5 pounds lighter. That may not sound like much, but a sub-10lb cooler of this quality sure is nice. 

Here are the cooler dimensions side-by-side

Our bottom line

You should be using this information to consider how you plan to use your cooler. Either the Roadie 15 or Roadie 24 is going to fit behind your driver's seat. The Roadie 15 is aimed at not only those who don't need any more carrying capacity than it offers, but also enthusiasts who are looking to strap provisions to their paddleboard or generally for more mobile adventures. If you're mostly going from the car to the beach, park or ballfield, then the extra size and weight of the Roadie 24 doesn't feel like a big penalty to store more cans and have potentially better ice retention. On the other hand, if you are on the move or on a personal flotation device where wine sitting upright isn't on your priority list, then the Roadie 15 is a no-brainer.

If you're torn between the two sizes, then the comfort and convenience of the DoubleDuty™ strap and BestDam™ drain plug should have you leaning toward the Roadie 15.