The RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is a lightweight but rugged and thermally-efficient cooler with wheels. The most important feature is that it weighs less than similarly sized competitive rotomolded coolers with wheels.
To get us a closer look, RTIC sent Man Makes Fire a review unit. After testing the 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler during the review process on multiple beach days and camping trips, this what we learned:
RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler Review
The RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is lightweight yet rugged and easy to pull. If you have a big beach or park day planned away from the parking lot, it’s hard to beat a rolling cooler.Even though the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is not a rotomolded cooler — which are generally considered the most rugged coolers available — it has a proven rugged design. In fact, RTIC claims its Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler has been tested to withstand 2,000 pounds of downward force. That’s pretty impressive, especially when it comes to the wheels and axle. We don’t have a literal ton of weight handy for testing, but we don’t believe that most other lightweight coolers would be able to hold up under that kind of force.
The RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler delivers an outstanding weight-to-performance ratio.
At this point, you might be wondering how RTIC’s Ultra-Light cooler is different from a rotomolded cooler. Here are the key differences: Rotomolded coolers have virtually seamless plastic-like shells with thick insulation inside the walls. They’re very tough but are also heavy. Injection-molded coolers are assembled with separate sections of plastic-like shells. The key benefit to injection molding cooler parts is that it lets the manufacturer use less unneeded material to create a lighter cooler.
The main drawback to injection molded coolers is that they’re not quite as rugged as rotomolded coolers — but they are much lighter. I’m a pretty strong guy, but even I prefer to lift less weight into and out of the back of my pickup.
Enter the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler
The RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler includes handy features like a stash pocket in the lid and a built-in bottle opener.Even though RTIC’s design uses separate sections that are assembled together, RTIC didn’t cut any corners: The 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is designed to maintain excellent durability. RTIC released its first injection-molded cooler way back in 2021 — the non-wheeled 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler — and we were very impressed with its durability then. After long-term testing, it’s held up remarkably well. No breaks, no cracks, no heat-related (sitting in hot sun or hot vehicle) stress issues with the lid or latches. We’re still very impressed. Read our full original RTIC Ultra-Light Cooler Review here if you want more detail.
Meanwhile, the 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is just as good as the original — only better because it has wheels!
Key Features & Specs
Raised skid-resistant feet, along with the wheels, keep the cooler off of hot surfaces to help extend ice retention.RTIC reports a 52-quart capacity, and when we do the math of the interior volume to see if you actually get 52 quarts, you do — and maybe even a tiny bit extra. We very much appreciate cooler brands who use numbers in their model numbers that accurately reflect the actual size — so that’s a pro for RTIC coolers.
Capacity: 78 cans or 53 lbs of ice
Weight: 30 lbs
Exterior dimensions: 29″ x 18.25″ x 18.75″
Interior dimensions: 20.75″ x 12″ x 12.5″
Calculated volume: 54~ quarts
Size options: 52-qt
RTIC reports up to 2.5″ of closed cell foam insulation, but there are a few spots in the construction where it seems a bit thinner. Still, the RTIC cooler is very thermally efficient. In our hot-day beach test, the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler held plenty of ice all day long — even after half a dozen kids were in and out of the cooler nabbing drinks and food.
In the backyard, the Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler held ice for four days in 85-degree weather. Our real-world usage testing shows that, despite regular opening and closing, the RTIC 52 Quart Ultra-Light Cooler is very thermally efficient. In general, competing rotomolded coolers with thicker insulation will get you a bit longer ice retention, including rotomolded RTIC coolers . . . but we rarely need it unless we’re heading out on a weeklong expedition. The RTIC’s size is really best used for big day trips or 3-day weekend camping trips — in which case the thermal efficiency will cover what 99% of us will want with the cooler easily enough.
If you like heavy-duty rotomolded coolers but are tired of lugging around the extra weight, the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is for you.
Of course, it’s important not to forget the freezer-style gasket in the lid. Most cheaper competitive coolers skip a true well-sealing lid gasket and they tend to have poor performance. RTIC’s freezer-style gasket works very well.
Impressive Wheels
The wheels are sized well, absorb impacts, and roll easily.The wheels are puncture and impact resistant. They’re seem to be made of a heavy-duty rubber-like material that can absorb impact but hold their shape. I like them a lot.
RTIC protects the stainless steel axel by running it through the inside of the cooler. The wheels have premium ball bearings, letting them roll easily and smoothly.
Great Pull Handle
The powder-coated aluminum pull handle has good ergonomics and feels pleasantly solid.The pull handle is stout: It’s powder coated aluminum with non-slip silicone grips. When you let go of it, it has a no-slam design that lets it fall gently back into place.
You also get silicone T-latches for the side, padlock slots, tie-down slots, and a built-in bottle opener.
Inside the lid — and this is different from the original non-wheeled Ultra-Light Cooler — you get a handy silicone cargo net.
As we expect from every great cooler, you also get raised non-skid rubber feet.
The only quibble we have with the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler is the drain plug design. It’s a quality plug, but the positioning doesn’t drain the cooler completely when it’s time to clean and store it. Just wipe out the excess before long-term storage and you’ll be fine.
Don’t forget to shop RTIC’s 52-QT Accessories to dial-in your cooler here!
Competitive Alternatives & Options
The RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is our favorite lightweight rolling cooler option.For a full list of competitive alternative and options, check out our guide to the 12 best wheeled coolers — which features the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler. We rank the 52 QT Ultra-Light Coolers as having the best rugged blend of strength-to-weight. For a shorter list of competitive options, these wheeled coolers might also work for you:
YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler — The YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler is a high-quality wheeled cooler with a cube-like shape. Including overall general excellence, the biggest benefit to the Roadie 48 is its non-standard cube-like shape and its luggage-style telescoping pull handle. If you have a specific space you need to fit your wheeled cooler, the Roadie 48 might fit better than more tradition cooler shapes like the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler. The biggest drawback is the much higher price point. Read our full Roadie 48 Review for more detail.
Coleman Convoy Series 65-Quart Cooler with Wheels — The Coleman Convoy Series 65-Quart Cooler with Wheels is lighter than the RTIC Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler . . . but it’s not as rugged. Compared to cheaper department store alternatives, the Convoy is significantly better, but we believe the RTIC will easily win out in long-term performance and will be the better buy over time. Still, if you want a good cooler and you’re on a tight budget, the Convoy might be worth a look.
Long-Term Update
I have a lot of great coolers in multiple sizes readily available to me, wheeled and not wheeled, and I find myself reaching for the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler even when I know I won’t have to pull it very far. What does this reveal? It means I appreciate this RTIC cooler’s lightweight form factor even when I know I won’t technically need the wheels for a long trek. It’s a solid cooler that’s easy to lift into the back of my pickup. I like it and still recommend it.
The Bottom Line
All-in-all, the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler delivers an outstanding weight-to-performance ratio. Like the original, this new version is also a flat-out winner with efficient multi-day ice retention. The overall design includes high-quality details — like the powder-coated aluminum handle and sweet easy-pulling wheels. If you like heavy-duty rotomolded coolers but are tired of lugging around the extra weight, the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is for you. Very highly recommended.
Get the Gear:
Looking for a smaller, lightweight road-tripping cooler? Read this full review:
