Is Oyster’s $550 Ice-Free Cooler Worth the Money? I Found Out This Summer.
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YETI HAS BEEN the brand to beat in the cooler space for two decades. Newcomer Oyster rose to that challenge in 2023 with the release of the original Tempo—a unique, all-aluminum alternative that delivered on every one of Yeti's promises while being smaller, lighter, and most notably, ice-free. With its Cryo Blocks or Ice Blocks , you can avoid having to use ice at all. Oyster recently upped the ante with the release of the flagship Tempo Pro . I spent the summer camping and hitting the beach with it to see if it's worth the eye-popping $550 price tag. The answer might surprise you.
- Keeps cold significantly longer than typical plastic coolers
- Compact, featherweight footprint holds 36 cans plus two ice packs
- Unique, icefree design means no more soggy food
- Handsome retro-cool aesthetic
- External thermometer makes it easy to monitor the chill
- Very expensive (and ice packs aren't included)
- Aluminum exterior is more prone to damage than plastic
- Not bear-resistant
What I Like
The strap makes for an easy, hands-free way to carry the Oyster Tempo Pro.Mike Richard
THE NEW TEMPOPro takes everything I love about the OG Tempo cooler and adds an integrated temperature gauge that measures both internal and ambient temps, plus a redesigned soft carry strap that's easier on the shoulder. It has the same retro-modern good looks with an all-aluminum aesthetic that feels like a designer skilled in Scandinavian minimalism repurposed your grandpappy's old-school metal cooler into something way, well, cooler . No surprise here as the folks at Norwegian-based Oyster did just that by pulling heavy inspiration from old school Thermos coolers. The result is something that looks unlike anything else on the market.
Like the original, the Tempo Pro weighs just over 12 pounds empty. Coupled with a compact design that's not much larger than an oversized toaster oven, it's an absolute joy to carry around compared to its hulking, bathtub-esque competitors. The aluminum lid is double-sided, allowing for easy access from either side, and completely removable, making for much easier packing and cleanup.
But how does it perform ? Oyster's standard ice blocks are designed to chill your food and drinks without actually freezing them, and they work like a charm. By pre-chilling the contents and completely filling the cooler (these two tips are critical to maximizing cold storage on the road), I've been able to get more than 48 hours of food-safe cold storage out of the Tempo Pro. Beyond that, and temps start to rise above the food-safe 40-degree mark. But, it holds beverage-safe temperatures for more than three full days. All of this was achieved with daytime temperatures in the 70s and nighttime temps in the 50s. Of course, your mileage may vary. Adding additional ice blocks will extend the total time.
Watch Out for
THERE'S NO GETTINGaround the elephant in the room: This is an expensive cooler. Even by Yeti's sticker-shock-inducing standards, $550 is a steep ask. What's more: If you want a pair of Oyster-branded ice blocks, you'll need to shell out an additional $60 because they're not included. So, obviously, for some buyers, it may just come down to budget. And while the strap is a great way to carry it, there aren't any handles if you needed to carry it that way for any reason.
While the craftsmanship is solid all-around (I've been using the original Tempo for three years with zero issues), aluminum just isn't as durable as the thick, rotomolded plastic found in other premium coolers. If you tend to be kind to your gear like me, this won't be an issue. But if you need gear that you can beat the hell out of for years to come, this isn't the cooler for you.
In that case, you may want to consider:
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For an even more portableoption, check out Coleman's all-new Snap 'N Go 55-Quart Collapsible Cooler . It's much like a traditional Coleman cooler when open, but "crushes" down almost flat for maximum packability. Plus, it's half the price of the Tempo. We liked it so much , we gave it a nod in this year's Men's Health Outdoor Awards .
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For a cheaper(but still premium) alternative, we love RTIC's 52 QT Wheeled Cooler . It has a slightly smaller usable capacity once packed with ice, but it's half the price and the wheels make it a breeze to tote around. Plus, the company's cold-keeping tech is on par with Yeti's.
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For a poweredchoice, BougeRV's CRH 21QT 12V Portable Fridge is roughly the same size, but two-thirds the price (with the optional battery). Just plug it into any standard in-car 12V outlet for virtually unlimited on-the-go cold storage.
Verdict
Look, no ice!Mike Richard
OYSTER'S TEMPO PROis a one-of-a-kind cooler with no direct competition, thanks to a unique, ice-free design that eliminates the long-standing issues that plague most traditional coolers. It's smaller, lighter, better-looking, and it keeps cold longer than comparably sized models from Yeti and Pelican (and without ice!).
But you'll pay handsomely for its next-generation design. Many potential customers are likely to balk at the price and not bother to hear the pitch. I get it. But, I learned a long time ago that it pays (literally) to invest in high-quality gear upfront. I've been using the original Tempo since it dropped three years ago with zero issues. The build quality is rock-solid and Oyster warranties everything against defects for life.
In my opinion, this is a "buy once, cry once" product. If gear space is at a premium in your car camping setup, money is no object, and you want industry-leading cold storage, the Tempo Pro delivers on all of its promises. (Tip: If you're looking to save a bit, the still-pretty-pricey original Tempo is virtually identical and it's $75 less.)
Coleman Snap N Go 55qt Collapsible Hard Cooler
RTIC 52 Quart Ultra-Light Wheeled Hard Cooler
BougeRV CRH 21QT 12V Portable Fridge
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