Xspec 45 Towable Review

The Xspec 45 is a rotomolded cooler with large wheels and ample capacity. It easily fits a wine bottle stored upright inside, and we were able to pack 69 cans in it, which is 19 more than the manufacturer claims. This cooler includes many convenient features to help make it a no-brainer to include on every trip you take.

Insulation

Given its durable construction and attentive build details, we had high expectations from the Xspec 45 even before testing it. It features an extra-thick three inches of rotomolded insulation and a freezer-grade gasket lining the lid.

The high-performance build details spoke for themselves in our insulation testing, where the Xspec maintained its internal temperature below 40 degrees for 5.9 days and below 50 degrees for an additional 1.3 days. After our testing, which lasted ten days, our tester noted that “the water still felt cool, but not quite ice cold.” Once you're done using the cooler, its recessed drain valve is conveniently placed, keeping it out of the way from hanging up on things or being damaged in transport and use, and it is tethered to the cooler so you don't lose it in the process of draining it out.

Durability

The Xspec 45 proved incredibly durable, scoring higher than almost any other cooler we reviewed.

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The Xspec is one tough cooler. It was so tough, in fact, that during testing, we felt comfortable using the cooler as a seat and the sturdy handle as a backrest. Pulling it around with the burly built-in wheels was confidence-inspiring, and we never felt like we were going too fast or over too rough terrain for the cooler to handle. Despite being wheeled, it feels sturdy enough to stand on. When testing the lid gasket, we filled the cooler up with water and carried it around without spilling a drop. When wheeling it around filled with water, we noticed a few small splashes of water at first, but nothing we felt merited concern. The exterior of the cooler took some scrapes and scratches throughout our testing, but overall, we only noted a few small cosmetic blemishes and nothing that would impact the cooler's performance. Along with all of the good we found in our durability testing, one downside we noted is that it is pretty heavy.

Ease of Use

The Xspec 45 feels thoughtfully designed and incorporates a lot of features to help make it easy and convenient to use.

The Xspec comes equipped with multiple options to transport it, including two different types of carry handles. One set is molded into the body of the cooler, and another set is fixed to the cooler with black straps and nylon handles. It also features a 20-inch telescoping handle for rolling the cooler. When loading it, we found it easiest to load while on the ground since it is pretty heavy to lift. The lid stays open on its own and also has a convenient soft-close feature that can save fingers from getting smushed. The drain plug is tethered to the cooler with a metal ball chain so you don't have to worry about losing it. The latches are made of quality-feeling rubber and are very easy to use. We had no problem opening and closing the cooler with only one hand and minimal effort. When you're done using it and ready to store it until your next outing, its square shape is convenient to roll and park in various places. Due to its substantial construction and weight, we did note that it's less convenient to lift and store than others we tested that are similarly sized.

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Portability

Weighing in at just under 35 pounds, the Xspec 45qt Towable is quite heavy compared to many of the coolers we reviewed. High performance often has a tradeoff, and weight is one of the few shortcomings of this cooler. However, its large wheels quickly help you forget its weight. The wheels are large and burly, making rolling over various terrain styles like sand or bumpy asphalt no big deal. Our tester, Gena Bradshaw, stated, “I felt comfy and in control the whole time I steered this cooler.” When evaluating portability, we perform various tests walking with the cooler over different types of terrain. We also refer back to the leak testing we perform as part of insulation testing to see how well each cooler is sealed when in transport. We pay close attention to how comfortable the different transportation methods for the cooler are for the user and note which offers the best end-user experience.

The Xspec did okay in our leak testing, but is not completely waterproof like some of the others we've tested. With the average amount of water most coolers would see, we didn't feel these results merited any concern. When transporting this cooler, we appreciated the different handle options available. There were several circumstances in which we noted how nice it was to have a choice between the molded handles and the rope handles. It's heavier and harder to lift than most other non-wheeled coolers, but we feel the pros of the wheels far outweigh the cons.

Additional Features

The Xspec 45 has two built-in bottle openers, an integrated easy-to-read ruler molded into the lid, tie-down slats molded into the body of the cooler, and some variations even include a built-in compass.

Although the Xspec 45 includes many additional features upfront, it is pretty bare-bones outside of what you get with your initial purchase of the cooler. The manufacturer had no accessories available at the time of our testing, and there are only two color options. The warranty and return policies of the Xspec leave much to be desired, with no warranty and only a 30-day return policy.

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Should You Buy the Xspec 45qt Towable?

If you're in the market for a durable cooler with high performance and most of your use cases allow you to use the advantage of a rolling cooler, then the Xspec 45qt Towable should be on your shortlist. It can be easily pulled through some pretty rough country thanks to its large wheels and strong rotomolded insulation. If you often find yourself lifting your cooler high up onto a shelf above the ground to store it, or don't often go places where you can roll your cooler along with you, you may want to consider something lighter and without wheels.

What Other Coolers Should You Consider?

Coolers come in many shapes and sizes, and the one you choose could make or break your next adventure. If you're after a wheeled cooler but the Xspec 45qt Towable isn't quite right for you, go check out the Yeti Roadie 60 and the Yeti Roadie 48, which last 6.3 and 6.8 days under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. If you can stomach the price, they last just a little bit longer than the Xspec 45 and even weigh less despite their larger capacity, making them just a little bit more portable. If you're looking for something more traditional and without wheels, the Canyon Outfitter 55 V2 is a killer option worth considering. It's a high-performance rotomolded cooler that lasted 5.2 days below 40 degrees in our testing and is IGBC-certified for when a hungry neighborhood bear happens upon your campsite. Xspec also makes a more traditional cooler called the Xspec 60qt that's available at a more accessible price than most in the same size range, offering superior insulation results, at 6.1 days below 40 degrees.