Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Ninja - FrostVault 30qt Hard Cooler with Dry Zone is a very nice, advanced cooler with a truly unique design. It is very sturdy and has great ice retention but is a little bit on the heavy side even when completely empty. This is the only slight drawback I have noticed and it is something that I suppose should be expected given how well-built it is and how great of a job it does keeping things cool. One of the most unique and cool things about the Ninja FrostVault cooler is its FrostVault Technology and Dry Zone. The FrostVault Technology takes the cold generated from the ice in the main compartment and transfers it to keep items cold and dry in the Dry Zone. This is a very clever design and really comes in handy when you have items like food that you don’t want to get wet from the ice but which still need to remain cool to stay fresh. Given the size and weight of the cooler, I expected the main compartment to be a little bit bigger than it is and the addition of wheels and a collapsible handle like a suitcase has would have been a nice addition, but I still think the Ninja - FrostVault 30qt Hard Cooler with Dry Zone is a very nice cooler and I do recommend it.

This thing feels solid and has that ‘built like a tank’ feel to it. The lid latching mechanism is easy to engage and disengage, and you can clearly feel when it’s properly latched. It creates a better than average seal, at least compared to other coolers I have. The lid isn’t intended to be leak proof, but it’s pretty darn close. It will leak water from the hinge side IF you tilt it back that far, but it isn’t going to leak water on you if you have it tilted towards the front. As long as you don’t tilt it too far backwards, you’re not going to get a cold surprise while carrying it somewhere. The Dry-Zone drawer finally solves a problem we’ve frequently encountered when you have those one or two smaller items that you just don’t want to get wet - sliced cheese immediately comes to mind for me. We usually just put something like that in a zip-lock freezer bag, which works 99% of the time, but then there’s that one time where the bag doesn’t get sealed and you end up with soggy cheese. Nobody in their right mind should enjoy soggy cheese. The FrostVault solves this problem with a decently sized drawer that’s located directly beneath the main compartment. I questioned how cold it would actually be, but it has maintained a temperature that’s just a couple of degrees below that of the main compartment. And it’s 100% dry! For those times when you don’t need the dry storage, you can still just put a few beers in there and they’ll stay nice and chill. The drawer is also pretty easy to remove for cleaning - just extend it, tilt up, and remove. The drain plug screws in, rather than just relying on friction, so you shouldn’t accidentally jar it open and end up with a wet floor. That said, it will leak if you don’t have it screwed all the way in, so you still have to check it. It also lives up to its claims of keeping ice, as well as sub 40 degree temps in the Dry Zone, for days. I loaded it with 12 pounds of ice, which is slightly less than the recommended 15 pounds, and it still kept temperature for a solid 5 days. Nice.

The Ninja FrostVault Hard Cooler with dry zone is a great alternative for anyone looking to get a well insulated and rugged hard cooler. The Ninja FrostVault is an excellent competitor to pricier "fad" coolers that are out there. While Ninja may not have the full ecosystem of accessories for their cooler, if all you need is a well built, well insulated, and rugged cooler then this is the right choice for you. I appreciate the built in dry zone featured in this cooler that allows you to put items that you need cooled, but would prefer not to get wet from the ice, in a latchable drawer that keeps them cool and dry. This is great for sauces, sandwiches, and many other items that may not be able to deal with getting wet. This is a very well insulated cooler that will keep your items cold for a very long time without melting your ice daily. I recently went on a 3 day trip and didn't even have to add more ice after the initial fill-up. The only downside of the increased insulation in this cooler is that it is particularly large due to the amount of insulation within the cooler, this makes it bulkier than cheaper coolers at this same size, but you will definitely be able to appreciate the extra cooling that the insulation provides. Ninja puts the additional bulk to good use with locking points and tie-down points included on the cooler allowing you to safely secure this cooler just about anywhere.

We didn't need another cooler, but I was intrigued by the cooling drawer in this one. One thing that has always bugged me on camping trips was items such as American cheese slices getting wet and soggy in the melting ice. I had tried putting it in gallon sized bags, but eventually they all leak. This is the perfect solution for that. We placed 14lbs of ice in the cooler on Sunday afternoon; come Friday evening, there was still about 3lbs of ice left. I have many of the other name brand coolers of a similar style; most of those say they hold ice that long, but never last more than 2-3 days. So to say I was impressed is an understatement. The drawer is also as neat as it sounds. It really did stay nice and cold and dry for days also! The color of this cooler is also appealing. I also really like the style of latches on this cooler. Most coolers in this style have the hook and ball rubber latches you have to pull down into a grove. This can be difficult l, especially one handed. This cooler has plastic breakover latches. These you can latch one handed. The handle style is super comfortable for carying.

I'm loving this cooler. Weighing in at about 20lbs dry and empty, it's extremely portable and easy to carry. The cold drawer is so handy and keeps stuff form getting wet and soggy. I tested it a couple of ways. 20 cans and 15lbs of ice as stated. Cold drawer held between 40 and 43 degrees F. Ambient temp between 65 and 80F. Ice was still in main compartment after 3 days. Drain did leak a little until I re-set the gasket and tightened down. Be aware of this. Main compartment held at 39 degrees. Thermometers are generic and not calibrated, your results may vary. On hot 90deg+ days I would not expect this cooler to hold quite as well or long, especially if not shaded. Used the way I like to- Frozen 16oz water bottles plus 20 pre chilled cans of soda did slightly better on the cooling factor. Main compartment held between 36-37 degrees. Drawer held at 39-43 degrees. Bottles on the bottom of tha mian compartment were still mostly frozen after 3 days. Bottles on top were about 80% thawed out. This is definitely a full weekend cooler for keeping drinks and other things cold.

Coolers have come a long way from the days of simple design and construction with a single hinge for the lid. This new cooler from Ninja takes a unique approach to cooler design. Their frost vault design is a new take on new cooler manufacturing. I was able to use it a few times and found it to have a lot more pros than cons. Historically, roto-molded coolers get a bad wrap because of their inherent weight. This model from Ninja sits right in the middle when you consider dry or empty weight. Not the lightest model but also not the heaviest. We do have a few coolers and some even have wheels to make moving them around easier. But this style of cooler while the weight is a trade off, temperature retention is the gain. Immediate observations is build quality is aligned with the price and the closure design will function long term. Factoring in both the main compartment and closure for the drawer. Pros: Ice retentions and temperature regulation were spot on with advertised. I even left it on purpose in the direct sunlight while at home just to try and accelerate the cooler temperatures. It held its own against other brands I own like Rtic and Canyon. High five for design and construction that maintains temperature. I did pre-cool each cooler and keep them all similarly packed to compare performance. All the coolers were similar sized. This should be the single biggest factor in purchasing and this cooler delivers. One thing to consider is the design with the top primary compartment and the drawer design does force the dimensions to be different than most coolers in the the 30qt space. This design is more tall and skinny vs. the traditional rectangle design. One concern I had was fitting under the tonneau cover of my truck bed, this passed with a few inches to spare. The grab handles are robust and super handy when you have a fully loaded cooler and need to carry it either by yourself or with another person. These handles double as great tie down or anchor points to ensure where ever you store this during transport that it says in one spot. This also has rubber foot pads to help keep it from sliding around. Also the main compartment has a drain plug for easy removal of melted ice. Another pro is that the frost vault drawer does remove completely from the cooler for proper cleaning. Cons: Sizing of the drawer was just small enough to make you constantly play cooler Tetris to make items fit in and still allow the drawer to slide in and close. I will say that while the challenge of maximizing the drawer was a minor inconvenience the fact it is a completely separate section that stays 100% dry while retaining temperatures is super handy. This design is unlike any other cooler on the market and gives you additional options when loading. Ninja also compliments this cooler with a ton of accessories to make sure your adventures are fully supported and food and drink stays cold for the duration. I would consider the 50qt if space isn’t an issue for some additional flexibility with additional storage space, for a family of 4 the 30qt was just a tad bit too small.