# Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler vs Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler (Pelican) and Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler (Lifetime) among hard coolers. Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler is the cheaper of the two at $189.

## Side by side

| Spec | Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler | Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $310.95 | $189 |
| Brand | Pelican | Lifetime |
| Capacity qt | 50 | 55 |
| Can capacity | 38 | 60 |
| Ice retention days | 8 | 7 |
| Rotomolded | Yes | No |
| Empty weight (lb) | 26.39 | 23.4 |
| Bear resistant certified | Yes | Yes |
| Drain plug | Yes | Yes |

## Key differences

- Capacity qt: Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 50 vs Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler 55
- Can capacity: Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 38 vs Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler 60
- Ice retention days: Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 8 vs Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler 7
- Rotomolded: Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler Yes vs Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler No
- Empty weight (lb): Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 26.39 vs Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler 23.4

## 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)
- Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler: https://www.lifetime.com/lifetime-90949g-55-quart-high-performance-cooler (lifetime.com, verified 2026-06-20)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/hard-coolers/pelican-elite-50qt-vs-lifetime-55-qt/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler ($310.95) vs Lifetime 55-Quart High Performance Cooler ($189) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/hard-coolers/pelican-elite-50qt-vs-lifetime-55-qt/
License: CC BY 4.0.