RTIC Ultra-Light 22 Review

The RTIC Ultra-Light 22 is a rotomolded cooler built with closed-cell foam insulation and a freezer-style gasket in the lid. It features a 2-in-1 adjustable strap that also functions as a handle. The silicone T-latches that secure the lid are rubbery and a little stretchy, making it easy to open and close.

Insulation

On the outside, all coolers might seem quite similar, but on the inside, they're far from it. Proper insulation is paramount in cooler construction and is responsible for how well each cooler performs when keeping your food and drinks cold. We devised our insulation testing process to help buyers visualize how the performance of any given cooler will apply to their plans for use. We center our testing around two specific temperature readings, 40 and 50 degrees. The USDA considers 40 degrees and lower a safe temperature range for storing food, and most beverages are enjoyed at or below 50 degrees.

The manufacturer claims that the RTIC Ultra-Light 22 can last up to six days if you follow their ice retention tips, which is not part of our insulation performance testing but something to keep in mind. The Ultra-Light 22 maintained 40 degrees or lower for just under three and a half days, and within a few hours, 50 degrees came and went too. This performance is below average compared to all the other coolers we tested.

Durability

We test each cooler's durability by sitting on it, standing on it, and dragging it around by its handles across various surfaces while noting how it holds up and if we notice any potential longevity concerns. We scan through reviews from popular online retailers to find any potential concerns from everyday users and make sure we address them during our inspection of the cooler. We also perform a water slosh test where we carry and walk around with the cooler with water in it to see how water-tight the lid seals to the body, and if you can expect to stay dry or not when carrying them.

The RTIC 22 is quite secure once closed, featuring a freezer-style gasket to lock in the cold and moisture. It didn't leak at all while walking with it in our water slosh test, nor when we bounced it around or tilted it at an angle. The only time we saw a tiny leak come out of the RTIC Ultra-Light was when holding it at a steep angle while walking — and that was negligible. Our lead tester, Gena Bradshaw, calls out its strength, saying, “Even though this is a very small cooler, I was able to stand on it and it remained stable.” The top of the lid is also textured with a nonslippery plastic; this helps provide an added degree of stabilization when standing on it.

Ease of Use

A high-performance cooler that's a pain to use will sit in your garage and collect dust. That's why ease of use accounts for 15% of each cooler's score in our assessment. We look at all available handles, straps, the lid and latch(es), the drain, and spend some time packing the cooler to see if we run into anything awkward. Coolers will score well if they feature multiple options for lifting/carrying them and are user-friendly and comfortable to use.

Although the RTIC Ultra-Light 22 doesn't have any handles molded into the cooler's body, there is enough of a lip on it to grab onto if necessary. We like the 2-in-1 carrying strap, which is made of a durable webbing material and features a neoprene handle for comfort. The strap is fully adjustable and can be shortened into a handle. RTIC claims the capacity of the Ultra-Light 22 can fit 30 cans. We had success fitting 38 12-ounce cans total, though this required a bit of Tetris. Its internal height of 12.5 inches can also accommodate a bottle of wine upright inside. It can fit up to eight wine bottles, making this cooler the life of the party. A nifty silicone net pocket on the lid's backside is great for small items. When the weekend is over and it's time to store the Ultra-Light 22, it keeps things simple with a convenient rectangular shape and small storage footprint.

Portability

Trying to make coolers portable while juggling durability and performance is a tricky balance. Portability makes up 10% of each cooler's overall score. Coolers that score well in this metric will feature comfortable means of transporting them while walking and will be reasonably easy to lift. We also perform a leak test to see how well the lid seals to the cooler's body when latched shut.

At 11.6 lbs, the RTIC Ultra-Light lives up to its name, being one of the lightest coolers that we reviewed. Tester Gena Bradshaw said, “I love the shoulder strap! The padding is comfy and eases the impact on my shoulder, and I could carry it comfortably even when wearing a tank top.” The convenient size of this cooler makes it very manageable for just about anyone to haul around. Although the strap is great, we wish it had molded-in handles as an alternative method for carrying it. This cooler seals quite well when latched shut, showing barely any signs of leaking when tilted side to side or lying on its side.

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Additional Features

Not all the coolers we test offer a wide array of additional features, so this test metric makes up 5% of each cooler's score. We take into account features that come with the initial purchase of the cooler and any accessories available for purchase. This part of our testing also involves reviewing the cooler's warranty and any color customization available.

The RTIC Ultra-Light is available in nine colors and is compatible with many RTIC brand wine bottle holders, baskets, and dividers, allowing you to customize it for your use case. This cooler features a built-in stainless steel bottle opener, which is located right next to where you can lock the cooler. It has tie-down slots to secure it while traveling, and we loved the clever silicone storage pocket on the underside of the lid. RTIC's 3-year warranty covers the Ultra Light as well.

Should You Buy the RTIC Ultra-Light 22?

The RTIC Ultra-Light 22 is a highly portable cooler with some nifty features and solid build quality for a solo-sized lunchbox cooler or a lightweight beverage hauler for your next hangout. The insulation performance is average at best, but if your regular use case is three days or less, the RTIC has you covered. If your outings involve a fair amount of food and drinks, the capacity of the Ultra-Light 22 might not be enough space for you.

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