Xspec 45 Towable Review

The Xspec 45 is a roto-molded 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.

Performance Comparison

Insulation

Within a temperature-controlled room, we evaluate each cooler's insulative properties by filling them up with ice and placing multiple sensors inside a sealed mason jar to monitor and record how well the insulation of each cooler can maintain food-safe and ideal beverage temperatures. The USDA recommends storing food at or below 40 degrees for food safety, and most beverages are enjoyed at or below 50 degrees. Those two temperatures play a large part in how we assess each cooler's insulation performance. 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 roto-molded 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

Coolers get slammed, dropped, bounced around, and everything in between when you bring them along to your favorite camping spot or a killer spot on the beach. A good cooler is very durable and will stand up to the sometimes harsh circumstances it'll have to endure to stay in one piece and keep your food and drinks cold for this trip and many to come. We put each cooler through a series of tests we've devised to find out just how durable they really are. The Xspec 45 proved incredibly durable, scoring higher than almost any other cooler we reviewed.

The Xspec is one tough cooler. 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 of 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

We evaluate the ease of use for all the coolers we test by meticulously reviewing the manufacturers' claimed specs and then verifying them ourselves. How many cans actually fit inside of each cooler? Is the internal capacity what they claim? We also scour over every detail that users will interact with, including the handles, lids, latches, and drain plugs to get a good feel of their quality and how easy they are to 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 soft close feature that is convenient and 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.

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 merit 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 or 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

Coolers seem simple enough, but we are often surprised at how versatile and creative many of the designs we review are. The Xspec 45 is a good example of that, sporting 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. As well as reviewing the coolers themselves, we delve into the optional accessories manufacturers provide to see how customizable they can be for your specific use case. We take into account how many size and color options are available as well as review their warranty and return policies.

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.

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 pulled through some pretty rough country with relative ease thanks to its large wheels and strong roto-molded 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 which 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 Orca 58 is a killer option worth considering. It's a high-performance rotomolded cooler that lasted 6.7 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 a great bang for your buck, but does not feature IGBC certification like the Orca. This cooler lasted 6.1 days below 40 degrees in our insulation test.