The Pelican 8QT Personal Cooler is designed for those who need a compact means of keeping food and drinks cold without carrying the additional bulk of a larger cooler. While the 8QT shares much of the same overall design philosophy as Pelican’s larger Personal and Elite series coolers, its smaller dimensions make it substantially easier to transport and better suited for individual use.
Exterior
Made from a two-part, 1.5” thick molded shell of polyethylene with an 8-quart (7.57-liter) capacity, the 8QT Personal Cooler provides an exterior measurement of 13.40” (L) x 9.45” (W) x 10.50” (H). The 8QT Personal Cooler maintains the same rugged construction and straightforward feature set as found in Pelican’s 14QT and 30QT coolers, while reducing the overall footprint considerably.
The front of the cooler uses Pelican’s Press & Pull™ latches to secure the lid, providing a simple means of opening and closing the main compartment. The lid also incorporates a stainless-steel hinge for durability, and a small dry-storage compartment intended for items that should remain separate from the primary wet/cold-storage area.
The cooler’s carrying handle is attached to the sides of the cooler, and folds down flush against the lid when not in use. This allows the cooler to maintain a relatively compact profile during transport. Additionally, the sides include tie-down slots to secure the cooler when needed.
Interior
The interior of the 8QT Personal Cooler provides a single main storage compartment measuring 10.80” (L) x 6.40” (W) x 7.50” (H).
A removable ice pack is incorporated into the interior of the lid that can augment any added ice, or provide a stand-alone means to keeping the interior temperature cool.
A 1” deep, removable tray is also included and occupies part of the available vertical storage space. The tray extends into the available interior depth, which can make a difference when loading taller beverage containers the end-user should be aware of.
The stark color contrast between the exterior and interior was used by Pelican to make it easier to distinguish the contents from the interior walls, particularly when multiple items are stored inside.
The 8QT cooler is available in Dark Grey/Green (featured), White/Dark Grey, and four other color combinations.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Excellent (5/5): With an MSRP of $69.95, the Pelican 8QT Personal Cooler occupies a reasonable position within the personal hard-sided cooler market. While it is more expensive than some similarly sized alternatives, the additional cost provides several features not commonly found on lower-priced personal coolers, including the removable inner tray, integrated and removable ice pack, dedicated dry-storage compartment in the lid, Press & Pull™ latch, collapsible carrying handle, and tie-down openings. For comparison, the 8-quart RTIC Road Trip Personal Cooler ($59), the 7-quart Igloo Playmate Pal ($22.99), and the 8-quart YETI Roadie 8 ($165) show the drastic differences in the market cost for similar products. Although the Pelican is not the least expensive option in this size category, its price remains competitive when considering the additional features and construction. The RTIC provides a lower-cost alternative with a similar 8-quart capacity, while the Igloo offers a significantly less expensive and simpler design. The YETI, meanwhile, costs more than twice as much as the Pelican despite being in the same general capacity class. For the individual looking for a compact cooler with more features and a more substantial construction than a traditional lunch cooler, the Pelican 8QT represents a strong value.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): From a comfort aspect, the 8QT Personal Cooler was easy to transport due primarily to its compact size and integrated carrying handle. The smaller footprint made it considerably easier to move around than the larger coolers previously evaluated, and it could be placed on the floor in front of a passenger seat without consuming a significant amount of additional space. This made the 8QT particularly well suited for longer vehicle trips where available cargo space may already be occupied by other equipment. The carrying handle remained secure during normal movement and did not move unnecessarily, although its limited range of movement forward was noted. As with the larger Pelican coolers, additional grip texture on the handle could potentially improve tactile comfort when the cooler is heavily loaded and held in-hand.
- Durability – Good (4/5): Similar to the Pelican 14QT and 30QT cooler previously evaluated, the 8QT Personal Cooler demonstrated the same rugged construction expected from a Pelican hard-sided product. Normal surface wear and cosmetic marring were noted during use over time, but these marks were consistent with the type of wear normally seen on coolers and Pelican hard cases used in the field. At no point did the observed wear compromise the cooler’s polyethylene shell, latching hardware, or ability to contain its contents. Rolling the cooler with an ice/water mix did not show any leakages or compromise in the seal. The cooler was transported normally, either by its carrying handle, or easily positioned on the floor in front of the passenger seat. The 8QT cooler is also supported by Pelican’s three-year warranty.
- Functionality – Good (4/5): The primary function of the Pelican 8QT Personal Cooler evaluated was to retain cold temperatures while providing a compact means of transporting beverages and other temperature-sensitive contents during field use. Initial testing confirmed that the cooler accommodated six 24 fl. oz. cans or eight 8 fl. oz. cans while retaining room for additional items or loose ice, not including the supplied removable ice pack incorporated into the interior side of the lid. The primary limitation observed during use was the removable inner tray, which occupied approximately one inch of interior depth and prevented the 24 fl. oz. cans from being positioned vertically while the tray was installed. Once this limitation was accounted for (by either removing the tray or adjusting the contents), the 8QT functioned effectively as a compact personal cooler. To evaluate its cold-retention performance, the cooler was filled halfway with loose ice cubes (no water present) and monitored over a 34-hour period, recording water temperatures as the ice melted. At 16 hours of elapsed time, approximately half of the ice had melted, with the resulting water measuring 30°F. By 22 hours, approximately two-thirds of the ice had melted, and the water temperature had increased slightly to 31°F. At 34 hours, all ice had melted and the remaining water had reached 55°F, establishing the observed limits of ice retention under static test conditions and indicating that the cooler was best suited to shorter-duration applications or use with periodic ice replenishment. At no point was any water leakage or moisture weeping on the exterior observed. With no drain port, the only way to remove melted ice/water was to completely remove any contents first. The dry-goods storage space on the exterior of the lid provided useable storage for utensils, napkins, or other reasonably flat items that could be separated from the cold storages space.
- Weight – Average (3/5): At 6.3 pounds empty, the Pelican 8QT was not noticeably heavy when compared with larger hard-sided coolers, but it is heavier than several other personal-sized options. The 8-quart RTIC Road Trip Personal Cooler (4.1 pounds), the 7-quart Igloo Playmate Pal (2.2 pounds), and the 8-quart YETI Roadie 8 (7.9 pounds) show the Pelican 8QT occupies an appropriate (or average) place in the market for its design and materials. When the cooler was loaded and being carried by hand, the adjustable handle provided good balance and felt sturdy enough to not pose a concern in the cooler tumbling or tipping. Throughout the evaluation period, the overall size of the cooler made transportation relatively easy, and its compact footprint allowed it to be placed in the passenger seat or footwell without taking up excessive space or posing excessive bulk. While lighter alternatives are available, the 8QT’s weight remains reasonable for a hard-sided cooler with its included features and construction.
Overall Rating – Good (20/25)
Product Link: https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/coolers/8qt?sku=8Q-1-DKGRYEGRN
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.
The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author. The views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.