# Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler vs Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler (Pelican) and Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler (Engel) among hard coolers. Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler is the cheaper of the two at $310.95.

## Side by side

| Spec | Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler | Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $310.95 | $349.99 |
| Brand | Pelican | Engel |
| Capacity qt | 50 | 58 |
| Can capacity | 38 | 70 |
| Ice retention days | 8 | 10 |
| Rotomolded | Yes | Yes |
| Empty weight (lb) | 26.39 | 24 |
| Bear resistant certified | Yes | Yes |
| Drain plug | Yes | Yes |

## Key differences

- Capacity qt: Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 50 vs Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler 58
- Can capacity: Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 38 vs Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler 70
- Ice retention days: Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 8 vs Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler 10
- Empty weight (lb): Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 26.39 vs Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler 24

## 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

- Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler: https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/coolers/elite/50qt (pelican.com, verified 2026-06-20)
- Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler: https://engelcoolers.com/products/engel-65-high-performance-hard-cooler-and-ice-box-mbg (engelcoolers.com, verified 2026-06-20)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/hard-coolers/pelican-elite-50qt-vs-engel-65-high-performance/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler ($310.95) vs Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler ($349.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/hard-coolers/pelican-elite-50qt-vs-engel-65-high-performance/
License: CC BY 4.0.