XSpec 60 QT Evaluation | CleverHiker

Backside Line

For these searching for a cooler that may deal with all their out of doors adventures, the rugged design of the XSpec 60 QT is right for the hardest environments. Amongst well-known manufacturers like YETI and RTIC, the XSpec was a modest standout for the CleverHiker crew, impressing us with its sturdiness and insulating talents. 

We examined the cooler within the dry warmth and mountain terrain of the excessive desert of japanese California. The rotomolded XSpec offered over per week and a half of ice retention and constant temperature management, proving its skill to function dependable chilly storage for prolonged journeys. 

It was the heaviest cooler we reviewed, and we discovered it laborious to hold alone, making it a less-than-ideal selection when you want to haul your cooler various toes. Nonetheless, if portability isn’t a vital concern (or you’ve a good friend prepared to share the load), the no-frills XSpec is a heavy-duty cooler at an reasonably priced value. 

Particularly contemplating it’s a high-volume choice, the XSpec gives one of many lowest costs among the many coolers we examined. Effectively-made and constructed to resist day by day put on and tear for years, the XSpec gives the storage and insulation wanted for all the things out of your subsequent huge outing to multi-day tenting journeys. 

For info on different top-performing coolers, see our full information to the perfect coolers.

How We Examined

CleverHiker has examined coolers for years, bringing a range to California’s Japanese Sierra for this replace. The spring climate within the space, with its solar and heat, allowed us to completely check ice retention and temperature management. We tracked ice soften, measured inside temperatures, and used the coolers in varied terrains, from scorching parking heaps and excessive elevations to rocky deserts and marshy riversides, to guage sturdiness, portability, and ease of use.

Insulation

Though it doesn’t have the model recognition of YETI, the XSpec quietly impresses with its high-performance insulation. The XSpec is a rotomolded cooler with three inches of insulation and a freezer-style sealing gasket that successfully traps within the chilly. Rotomolded coolers are typically recognized for his or her superior insulating capabilities, and the XSpec doesn’t disappoint. 

We examined it in situations starting from outside in full solar to inside a parked van, monitoring temperature and ice retention. It took 9 days for the ice to utterly soften. Because of the gasket’s tight seal, inside temperatures within the cooler took 11 days to achieve 40 levels Fahrenheit and 13 days to achieve 50 levels. 

In our testing, we discovered ice remained intact longer, taking extra time to soften than in different coolers. The XSpec’s skill to maintain issues chilly for over per week and a half makes it a great selection for prolonged journeys, particularly these the place dependable storage for perishable meals is important.

Sturdiness

The XSpec is made with food-grade, secure LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene) that’s UV protected for further sturdiness on an already powerful materials. Its rotomolded design includes a single-piece building, which helps stop structural points by eradicating seams within the cooler’s physique. 

Free from structural flaws that might crack or cut up over time, the XSpec can also be sturdy sufficient to deal with the hardest situations. We dragged and dropped the cooler on concrete and rocky trails. The XSpec got here away with solely minor aesthetic dents on its exterior. 

Our largest grievance is that, regardless of its sturdiness, it’s not bear-resistant licensed. Though you may not have the ability to go away it out on the campsite in bear nation, the XSpec is dependable. Whether or not you’re floating the river or tenting for a protracted weekend, the XSpec is designed to resist powerful out of doors situations. It’s a cooler you’ll be able to confidently tackle all of your adventures with out worrying about injury, constructed with sturdiness in thoughts.

Quantity

Many firms promote their coolers as having a better quantity than they really do. XSpec isn’t any exception, however its 57-quart capability is just a few quarts lower than the marketed 60, making it extra correct to its dimension than many of the coolers we reviewed and offering loads of inside storage. 

With a 90-can capability and sufficient peak to suit an upright bottle of wine, the XSpec is spacious inside and, among the many merchandise we examined, one of many coolesters with the most important capacities. We discovered its compact, rectangular form well-suited for storing a mixture of drinks and meals gadgets.

The XSpec gives loads of house for a multi-day journey. Its mixture of upper quantity and long-lasting insulation is particularly helpful when you’ve loads to maintain chilly and need to keep off the overwhelmed path with out returning to city to refresh the ice.

Ergonomics & Portability

The XSpec includes a vary of design particulars that make it simple to make use of. A sloping drain and drain plug related to the cooler with a series make it extremely easy to take away water. Non-slip toes on its base stop the cooler from sliding on flooring. We discovered this particularly useful when touring with it in our van. Even when going over washboard roads, the cooler stayed in place as an alternative of getting knocked round within the automobile. 

We particularly appreciated the XSpec’s latches, that are simple to open however lock securely, in contrast to the rubber T latches of comparable choices from YETI and RTIC. This latch fashion gives further safety in opposition to unintended opening and retains the lid tightly sealed. 

Heavy-duty nylon handles with sturdy plastic grips provide an alternate strategy to carry the cooler, along with the built-in handles on its sides. Nonetheless, the XSpec is the heaviest cooler we examined, and we discovered it troublesome to hold totally loaded on our personal.

Though the load of the XSpec limits its versatile portability in comparison with different coolers, its design options create an ergonomic expertise that enhances its performance.

Options

In comparison with the customization choices from manufacturers like YETI, XSpec is sort of fundamental. The cooler solely is available in 4 colours and lacks completely different sizes. We did like that XSpec gives their coolers in lighter shades, which don’t warmth up as rapidly in direct daylight, serving to the temperature inside keep decrease longer. 

Though colour selections are restricted and XSpec doesn’t provide suitable equipment, the cooler options a number of built-in components that set it other than different fashions. A ruler is etched on the lid, which additionally has a textured floor that doubles as a reducing board. The inside rim features a compass and bottle openers on the corners, which additionally function lock plates for securely sealing the cooler with a padlock.

In the event you don’t must equipment your cooler out to your particular wants, the XSpec is a simple selection that also gives some enjoyable and helpful options.

Ought to You Purchase the XSpec 60 QT?

The XSpec 60 QT is a superb all-around cooler. With insulation that maintains a dependable and constant temperature for over per week and a half, together with a sturdy design, the XSpec gives excessive efficiency by combining fashion and practicality at an affordable value. 

Its 57-quart inside storage is completely suited to holding all of the necessities for teams or longer journeys. Particularly whenever you need to enterprise removed from the closest grocery retailer or gasoline station and keep there so long as attainable, each the XSpec’s long-lasting ice retention and spacious inside make it attainable to increase your off-grid adventures. 

The heavy weight of the XSpec makes it much less sensible for outings the place on-foot hauling is required to achieve the vacation spot, and its sturdiness is perhaps an excessive amount of for an informal picnic or seashore day. Nonetheless, the XSpec 60 QT is a well-made and sturdy cooler at a a lot cheaper price than different comparable fashions. 

Even with a considerably cheaper price tag, it doesn’t sacrifice high quality. Whenever you want a cooler that may deal with altering situations and out of doors publicity, the XSpec is constructed to resist even the roughest use.

What Different Coolers Ought to You Contemplate?

For a full checklist of suggestions, take a look at our information to the perfect coolers. 

YETI Tundra 65 Evaluation: In the event you’re looking for a high-capacity cooler that gives sufficient house to deal with your subsequent huge gathering or multi-day street journey, the YETI Tundra 65 gives ample room together with wonderful insulation. Efficiency-wise, it’s akin to the XSpec, however the Tundra options the additional advantage of YETI’s number of colour selections and equipment to boost customization and group. 

Coleman 316 Collection 70QT Evaluation: When you want to preserve a variety of gadgets chilly, a big cooler is important however may be laborious to deal with. Capable of maintain over 100 cans, the Coleman 316 is constructed to serve huge teams and meet all of your chilly storage wants. It’s lighter and extra reasonably priced than different coolers, making it simple to hold whereas nonetheless conserving ice for as much as per week. Though it’s primarily for informal outings, the 316 Collection is ideal whenever you want most cooler house. 

RTIC Ultralight 52 Evaluation:  Although not fairly as giant because the XSpec, the RTIC Ultralight 52 gives ample house mixed with a light-weight design. Weighing 10 kilos lower than the XSpec, the Ultralight 52 is far simpler to hold by hand, whereas nonetheless offering loads of chilly storage. Injection-molded insulation—somewhat than rotomolded—helps the RTIC scale back weight, with solely a slight influence on total chilly retention.