East Oak Rotomolded 25 Review

The East Oak 25 is a trendy rotomolded cooler that breaks free of many of the traditional cooler design stereotypes. It features a fully removable lid and a unique cauldron-like shape that catches the eye.

Insulation

Insulation is arguably the most important feature of any cooler, accounting for 50% of each cooler's overall score in our testing. When testing cooler insulation, we're concerned about two key measurements: how long a cooler can keep temperatures at or below 40 degrees and how long it can keep temperatures at or below 50 degrees. Aiming for 40 degrees or lower is what the USDA recommends if you want to keep food stored safely, and 50 degrees or lower is a common range at which most beverages are enjoyed. Starting in a temperature-controlled room with an oscillating fan, we fill each cooler with ice and place two iButton temperature sensors inside a mason jar before closing them up and closely monitoring them.

Once the East Oak 25 was full of ice and our sensor was set up, we monitored the closed cooler closely to see how long it could keep things below 40 degrees. The result was just over four days, with the 50-degree mark surpassed soon thereafter (in less than half a day more). This curious cooler surprised us in our insulation testing, yet compared to the rest of the lineup, it performs slightly below average. Then again, the manufacturer claims that this cooler can keep things cool for four plus days, and our testing corroborates that.

Durability

Coolers see their fair share of abuse during normal use. We put each cooler through the wringer by doing exactly that: standing on them, yanking them around, and pulling on them. During our testing, we pay close attention to any damage caused to the coolers and whether or not that proves to be superficial damage or a legitimate durability concern. We also perform a slosh test, filling each cooler with water and carrying it to see how well sealed they are. Some we find not watertight and prone to giving you an unexpected, cold shower.

Good coolers are durable and built with components supporting a long-lasting lifespan even in adverse conditions. The East Oak is surprisingly robust, with a few caveats. Our tester, Gena Bradshaw, said, “I stood on this cooler, but I was holding my breath from the first moment — it did not feel stable.” Although it handled Gena standing and jumping on top of it without notable damage, we wouldn't recommend such actions for everyday use. However, we found it does make for a comfortable seat or small table in a pinch. This cooler leaks minimally when walking casually and with little water inside. Yet, while it features a gasket in the lid, it is not watertight, and we found that carrying this cooler at an angle resulted in water pouring out like a waterfall. We also noticed that this cooler's white color shows stains and scratches easily. Then again, overall, we saw no big red flags regarding durability.

Ease of Use

How easy a cooler is to use makes all the difference when deciding between bringing it along on every adventure or letting it gather dust in your garage. Speaking of storage, our ease of use testing includes evaluating each cooler's storage footprint and how simple it is to pack each cooler. We review the handles and straps and verify the claimed capacities. We also get a good feel for how the latches work and how well the drain(s) function. We comb through each cooler from floor to lid to get a hands-on feel of how they measure up.

The East Oak quite literally “falls short” when it comes to handles. Our tester say, “Carrying this cooler solo sucks because of how short the handles are, which leave me banging my hands against the hard plastic body of the cooler --this hurts after just a short amount of time.” Instinctively, we often reach for the latches, expecting to find handles molded into the cooler's body, but find none. Packing this cooler is straightforward, and we had no trouble fitting 20 12-ounce cans inside. Its unique lid can be opened from either side or taken off altogether. The lid also features a silicone gasket that we believe aids the cooler's overall insulation performance, even if it is not 100% watertight. The cooler has a leakproof drain with a little bungee cord attached to keep it from getting lost, and it drained well during testing. We found this cooler's shape interesting and aesthetically pleasing, but it's a bit awkward for storage.

Portability

We evaluate cooler portability by performing several tests, including a carrying test, a lift test, a leak test, and an overall comfort evaluation. We also verify the claimed specs of each cooler, verifying the dimensions and weight claimed by each manufacturer. The overall portability score that each cooler receives contributes to 10% of its overall score.

If high portability is paramount in your cooler decision, the East Oak 25 might not be the right choice. Although it's not extremely heavy, weighing in at 16.7 lbs, the rope handles are too short for one person to carry it comfortably. In testing, we found this problem could be circumvented if two people carried it. However, the design choice is still quite inconvenient for a cooler of this size. The East Oak is also shaped like a cauldron, which our tester found quite awkward during the carry test. She notes, “It's wide and round, and it feels like I am attempting to hug it while simultaneously waddling to try and carry it around”. The silicone seal in the lid is also prone to leaking in any orientation other than upright. This cooler checks a lot of boxes, but easy portability is not one of them.

Additional Features

When reviewing the additional features of coolers, we are looking for things included in the box, like dry racks, bottle openers, cup holders, animal-resistant certifications, etc. We also inquire to see if manufacturers are easy to work with in case you need replacement parts, and we investigate which of their parts are covered under warranty. Most reputable cooler companies offer warranties these days, but not all are created equal. We consider accessories available from the manufacturer beyond the initial purchase and any customization available, like additional sizes or colors.

The East Oak is pretty bare bones when it comes to additional features. The manufacturer offers a 3-year warranty, and while researching, we found their website to be not very user-friendly. At the time of review, there are no available accessories for the rotomolded East Oak, and the cooler does not come out of the box with any either. The manufacturer warns against using dry ice in this cooler, and although it's available in two sizes and two colors, not all combinations were in stock when we performed our research.

Should You Buy the East Oak Rotomolded 25?

If you're looking for a cooler that presents well to entertain in your backyard or at an event, and your core need is adequate insulation performance, the East Oak 25 is a great option. We love its chic, unique appearance and fully removable lid. But it's not for everyone. If you're someone who totes their cooler to various outings or likes to customize it with accessories, the East Oak isn't a great fit for you.

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