# RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler (RTIC) and Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler (Pelican) among hard coolers. RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler is the cheaper of the two at $239.

## Side by side

| Spec | RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler | Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $239 | $310.95 |
| Brand | RTIC | Pelican |
| Capacity qt | 45 | 50 |
| Can capacity | 60 | 38 |
| Ice retention days | 5 | 8 |
| Rotomolded | Yes | Yes |
| Empty weight (lb) | 29.5 | 26.39 |
| Bear resistant certified | No | Yes |
| Drain plug | Yes | Yes |

## Key differences

- Capacity qt: RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler 45 vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 50
- Can capacity: RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler 60 vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 38
- Ice retention days: RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler 5 vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 8
- Empty weight (lb): RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler 29.5 vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler 26.39
- Bear resistant certified: RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard 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

- RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler: https://rticoutdoors.com/45-QT-Hard-Sided-Cooler (rticoutdoors.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/rtic-45-qt-vs-pelican-elite-50qt/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Hard Cooler ($239) vs Pelican Elite 50QT Hard Cooler ($310.95) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/hard-coolers/rtic-45-qt-vs-pelican-elite-50qt/
License: CC BY 4.0.