The Frigid Rigid Fiberglass Difference
Fiberglass and plastic are two different materials that each have inherent advantages and disadvantages. Plastic's only advantage is cost. Plastic is generally cheaper than fiberglass. Fiberglass, on the other hand, is stronger and, when it comes to coolers, has several other performance advantages! There is a reason it is used to make boats.
The Seven Advantages Of A Frigid Rigid Fiberglass Cooler
No Heat Absorption Or Cool-Down Required
If you've ever brought a plastic cooler indoors after storing it in a hot garage you know it takes forever to cool down. This is because plastic absorbs and radiates heat, which, when you think about it, is absurd for a container designed for the express purpose of retaining cold! Conversely, fiberglass is a far better insulator than plastic because it reflects and dissipates heat with little heat absorption. This means far superior ice retention, less ice needed leaving more space for contents and no more time consuming cool down needed.
No Warping
The lack of structural strength and integrity of a plastic cooler can lead to warping over time which, in turn, will almost certainly affect the all-important seal allowing unwanted air leakage. A Frigid Rigid Ice Chest won't warp.
No Stain, No Stink
Because plastic is porous, it is prone to staining. This can be a problem for a container designed to hold fish, food, meat, etc. all things that can seep into the pores in the cooler causing discoloration and, potentially, an odor that's difficult to remove. Fiberglass is not porous so it won't stain or stink and will look great for a long time!
Easy To Clean
Because fiberglass is not porous, it is extremely easy to clean. This is especially important if your cooler ever gets moldy. With a plastic cooler, removing mold can be a monumental task. But, with a fiberglass cooler, mold simply wipes away.
Customizable Sizing
Because each Frigid Rigid Ice Chest is made by hand, we can make it to fit your space. We have 80 different sizes and unlimited options.
Customizable Colors
The fiberglass on a Frigid Rigid Ice Chest is finished with a durable gel coat finish. The gel coat also allows for custom colors which means we can build an ice chest in the color of your choice to match your boat or favorite team colors.
Sustainable
The primary component of fiberglass is glass, which is made from sand, a natural and abundant resource. This makes fiberglass a highly sustainable option, especially when compared with plastic.
It rides in my boat every tournament. Holds ice longer than anything I've run, and it won't stain or stink.
Key Features
"Back-To-The-Wall" Setback Lid Design
An inherent problem with the design of plastic coolers is that you cannot open the lid with the cooler pushed up against a wall (which means having to constantly slide the cooler out from the wall to open the lid). This is because the cooler lid, when opened, extends beyond the back of the cooler. The unique "Back-To-The-Wall" Setback Lid on a Setback Series Ice Chest moves the lid hinge forward allowing you to open the lid even when the cooler is flush to a wall which is common especially in the tight quarters of a boat, cabin, porch or truck bed.
Premium Rubber "3-D" Gasket Seal
An underrated factor in the ability of a cooler to keep things cold is the effectiveness of the seal. Most plastic coolers employ a simple surface seal which, over time as the seal wears and the plastic warps, loses seal-ability. That's why Frigid Rigid builds a "moat" around the perimeter of the cooler into which the deep, industrial grade rubber 3-D sealing gasket nests when you close the lid. This design provides a much better seal and one that will continue to perform over many years of use.
The "No-Suck" Vacuum Release Hole
How good is the seal on a Frigid Rigid Ice Chest? So good that it frequently results in a vacuum, which is why we build in a tiny vacuum release hole.
The "One-And-Done" T-Latch
Thanks to the high performance seal on a Frigid Rigid Ice Chest, only one T-Latch is required, and it latches into clever stainless steel clasp for a fast and reliable connection.
The "Slam Stopper" Lid Shock
Nobody likes it when the lid on the cooler accidentally slams shut whether inadvertently bumped or caused by gravity, wind or wave. That's why we build in a "Slam Stopper" Lid Shock into our ice chests. Positioned so it's out of the way, this premium gas shock also allows you to use both hands to get what you need out of the cooler.
The "All These Big Boat Brands Can't Be Wrong" Heritage
Frigid Rigid is the OEM ice chest of choice of many of the biggest brands in boating who only outfit their boats with the best gear available. And, we've been doing this since 1980! Now we are making these same high performance Frigid Rigid Ice Chests available to you!
Additional features
- All 316 marine-grade stainless steel hinges (with backplates) and hardware
- Marine-grade rope handles (with foam rubber-coated handle bars) that are comfortable to use and easily replaced
- Four oversized 4-inch "Griptonite" Non-Slip Feet in textured high-performance polymer that keep the cooler from sliding in hard turns or big waves
- Adjustable cam-lock drain plug; recessed drain hole
- Made in USA since 1980
Every Frigid Rigid is built this way.
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