Updated on June 20th, 2023 at 02:29 pm
The Yeti Hopper coolers are a great way to keep drinks cold while you are on the golf course. In fact, if you own a golf cart, this is the ideal cooler to keep on your cart as you head out for a day trip or a round of 18 holes. However, deciding between the Yeti Hopper Flip 12 and the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 can be a bit of a challenge.
We have put together some information that will help you decide which of these soft-sided coolers is the best for your needs. Comparing the price, the features, and functionality, and the durability will make the decision much easier.
Yeti Hopper Flip 18: At A Glance
The Yeti Hopper Flip 18 is a soft cooler that comes in several color options. The Yeti Hopper Flip 18 has a high-density waterproof cover and will not fade over time. One of the things that helps this large cooler stand out from the crowd is its durability and the ability to keep ice cold for long periods of time.
Pros
- Made with waterproof fabric
- It has a bottle opener
- Maximum ice retention
- Great size for golf cart
- Holds 20 cans (16 plus ice)
- Holds 24 pounds of ice
- Made with durable materials
- Durable cooler zipper
Cons
- One of the more expensive coolers on the market in this size
Yeti Hopper Flip 12: At A Glance
The Yeti Hopper 12 is a bit smaller than the Yeti Hopper 18 portable coolers. This particular model can hold 12 cans plus ice, features the HydroLok Zipper, and is more of a personal cooler size. The cooler, when empty, only weighs 3.1 pounds which is considerably lighter than a hard sided cooler of this same size.
Pros
- ColdCell Insulation
- 100% Leakproof Zipper
- High-density fabric
- DryHide Shell
- Compact personal-sized cooler
- It can hold 10 cans plus ice
- Lightweight, more of a larger lunchbox style
- Bottle opener within arm’s reach
Cons
- Capacity can be small for a family
- Yeti Ice coolers tend to be more of the premium-priced coolers on the market
In addition to the detailed information below, you can also read our individual reviews of the Hopper 12 and Hopper 18 below:
Size
The Yeti Hopper 18 is a bit smaller and a more compact cooler than the Yeti Hopper 18. The perfect cooler for your round of golf may be the smaller size. Try to consider how much you will need to have with you on the course and whether or not the Yeti Hopper 12 or Yeti Hopper 18 is a better option.
The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 has a capacity of 12 cans and the Hopper Flip 18 has a capacity of 18 cans depending on the space and amount of ice you add to the products. The Yeti design provides people with everything they need to keep drinks cold so you can throw it over your shoulder and go to the pool, or that party with friends.
The cooler with ice will stay cold the entire time you are on the golf course. With the closed cell rubber foam insulation, the insulation performance is good, but not quite like the superior insulation you get with the hard sided Yeti. Even with some ice melting, the water will still be cold in the hopper flip ensuring your drinks stay cold on hot days in the outdoors, hiking, fishing, picnicking, barbecuing, grilling, cooking, or tailgating with friends.
If you need a large capacity, the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 is a better choice, but the Yeti Hopper 12 is the perfect size for fitting on the golf cart or even attaching to Golf push carts.
Durability
The great thing about any Yeti cooler is that it is a quality cooler. Whether you are looking at a lightweight cooler like these soft sided foam options or a larger size with a thicker hard edge, Yeti does a tremendous job with its overall durability.
Each of these coolers is made with Hoppers high-density fabric that will ensure you will not have issues with the cooler fabric ripping through the years. For a lightweight softshell cooler, this Yeti Hopper Flip does a tremendous job of keeping your beverages cold while also not falling apart for years.
If you happen to be looking for portable camping ice coolers, this can also be a great option. With Yeti pricing being a little high, finding multiple uses for your cooler is a great thing.
In addition to keeping your food safe and cold, the Yeti Hopper coolers will both have plenty of durability.
Price
The Hopper Flip 12 has a retail price of $250 and the Hopper Flip 18 has a retail price of $300 at the time of this writing in September 2022. Both Yeti products have increased in price by $50 in comparison to if you were to purchase a year ago.
The Flip 12 is lower in price than the 18 Flip. This comes down to size. The materials needed to make this day cooler are more expensive for the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 simply because it is larger.
The question then becomes whether or not the higher price is worth it for your investment. Extreme insulation is always going to cost more money. When you look at brands of coolers, you will often see deals or discounts, and chances are they don’t have the same type of insulation that Yeti coolers have.
Both the Yeti Hopper Flip 12 and Yeti Hopper Flip 18 are higher in price than other brands for coolers; the Yeti Hopper 12 tends to be cheaper because it is not the largest version.
Features and Functionality – Yeticoolers
The primary purpose of the Yeti cooler is to keep food cold. We found that these light, cooler options were perfect for a day on the golf course. The extra insulation you get with a premium larger capacity cooler may help you keep ice for days; these will help you keep ice the entire day.
There is also a shoulder strap and a bottle opener included on both the larger cooler and the smaller Yeti Hopper 12. In our cooler review, we tested both of these coolers at the beach, on the golf course, and even camping. Overall, in terms of portability, even when packed with ice, the Yeti coolers are easy to maneuver.
The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 and Yeti Hopper Flip 18 won’t keep ice cold for days, but the thermal performance and unique features make them both an excellent option for the golf course.
Dimensions of Each Yeti
The Hopper Flip 12 weighs 4.5 pounds and the Hopper Flip 18 weighs 5.1 pounds. The Flip 12 has a capacity of 12 cans and the 18 has a capacity of 18 cans.
There is a slight difference in size at the 12 is 9.5 inches tall, and the 18 is 11.5 inches tall. The 12 is 13.5 inches wide and the 18 is 16.5 inches wide.
Conclusion
We hope you now feel as though you can choose between the Yeti Flip 12 or the Hopper 18. As you noticed, these coolers have similar design features, and the most obvious difference is simply the size.
Although we found the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 to be an amazing cooler, the Hopper Flip 12 was better suited for the golf course. This cooler helped keep beverages cold and was light weight enough to carry around the course with ease.
