# Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler (Igloo) and Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler (Pelican) among hard coolers. Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler is the cheaper of the two at $174.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler | Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $174.99 | $310.95 |
| Brand | Igloo | Pelican |
| Capacity qt | 52 | 50 |
| Can capacity | 83 | 38 |
| Ice retention days | 5 | 8 |
| Rotomolded | No | Yes |
| Empty weight (lb) | 16.34 | 26.39 |
| Bear resistant certified | No | Yes |
| Drain plug | Yes | Yes |

## Key differences

- Capacity qt: Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler 52 vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 50
- Can capacity: Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler 83 vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 38
- Ice retention days: Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler 5 vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 8
- Rotomolded: Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler No vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler Yes
- Empty weight (lb): Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler 16.34 vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 26.39
- Bear resistant certified: Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler No vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler Yes

## What reviewers say

**Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler** — Only one whitelisted tester—Reviewed (USA Today)—lab-tested this exact Pelican 50QT Elite model. Reviewed measured 135 hours of cold retention (interior to exceed 40°F, filled halfway with ice in a 72°F / 50% RH lab) and praised the feature set and sturdy build, but flagged the cooler as heavy (26.4 lb empty), bulky to move for its capacity, and relatively expensive. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler: https://www.target.com/p/igloo-bmx-52-quart-ice-chest-cooler-with-cool-riser-technology-rubberized-lid-t-latches-and-extra-thick-foam-insulated-walls-rugged-blue/-/A-90608101 (target.com, verified 2026-06-20)
- Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler: https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/coolers/elite/50qt (pelican.com, verified 2026-06-20)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/hard-coolers/igloo-bmx-52-vs-pelican-elite-50qt/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Igloo BMX 52-Quart Heavy-Duty Cooler ($174.99) vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler ($310.95) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/hard-coolers/igloo-bmx-52-vs-pelican-elite-50qt/
License: CC BY 4.0.