YETI vs BrüMate Review

About YETI

Before YETI was created in 2006, the insulated coolers on the market weren’t exactly durable—that, or they didn’t keep items as cool as their names suggested. Founded by Roy and Ryan Seiders, the brothers were determined to make a cooler so good they’d use it daily.

Revered for its durability, smart features, and unmatched function, the Texas-based brand has branched out to include a wide range of insulated products in its collection, including drinkware, bags, and outdoor gear.

Today, YETI is no longer a mythical creature stalking through the woods, it’s a company synonymous with the outdoors.

About BrüMate

The story of BrüMate is a little different and involves Dylan Jacob’s desire to create something useful for his generation. He was only 21 at the time, but he always knew he wanted to invent something useful. The budding engineer had a lightbulb moment after finding out how much he disliked warm alcohol.

Founded in 2016 in Indiana, BrüMate was nicknamed The Dehydration Company, separating itself from popular insulated bottle brands on the market.

Opting for production in China, the company offers a range of other drinkware too, including non-alcohol-friendly designs for water and coffee, outfitted in trendy patterns and shades.

Ready for your next adventure? This YETI vs BrüMate review will certainly take you on one. My first excursion will be through important elements to consider as you browse, then I’ll move to a few comparable products.

After that, I’ll get into the nitty-gritty of it, diving into the value, quality, feedback, and policies offered by each brand to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. Let’s get this thing moving.

What To Consider

Consumer base

When browsing through each brand’s selection, ask yourself who the products are geared towards. Are they fit for a family camping trip? Or a wild adventure with friends?

After landing on BrüMate’s website and reading about its products, I couldn’t help but get a more youthful vibe from it.

After finding phrases like “week-long rager,” I definitely felt that its products were aimed at college kids and those who spend a lot of partying time outdoors or away from their homes.

YETI has a more mature feel to it. But more so, the brand is for people who like to get outdoors and enjoy adventure or the simple feeling of sunshine.

Product range

YETI’s product range is massive. It’s an older brand so it’s had a lot of time to expand. Offering everything from drinkware to coolers to backpacks and apparel, the brand looks to have a bulkier selection of styles for each of its categories as well.

But BrüMate doesn’t skimp on selection either. Though it offers less, it has a good range of drinkware for liquor, coffee, and water.

Features

Though some of these products might look similar at first glance, both brands have fitted them with unique features. Think about what features would best benefit your usage.

YETI has incredibly helpful tools like its Magslider lid, whereas BrüMate’s lids are leak-proof. The main differences between the collections are designs and colors. BrüMate is a more modern brand with trendier styles.

Customization

Want to make your drinkware as unique as possible? YETI offers customized products from drinkware to dog bowls, with the option to add a monogram, custom design, or logo. From what I found, BrüMate doesn’t offer this option.

Production

Where and how a brand’s products are made might be important to you, especially if you’re concerned about sustainable or ethical practices. I’ll cover these details later in my YETI vs BrüMate review.

Neither of the brands goes into depth about where they source materials, but I do know that the bulk of production for both is done in China. Some YETI products are made in the USA.

Accessibility

For a product to be truly accessible, it needs to be priced appropriately. I’m happy to report that both of these brands have similar, affordable pricing, as well as excellent value.

Though both YETI and BrüMate ship around the world, you can also find their products in a range of stores from Amazon to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

If you’re reading this YETI vs BrüMate review, there’s a good chance you’ve got an inkling about what each of these brands is like and what they offer.

Up ahead, I’ll lay out the details of each brand as you’ve never seen them, pointing out contrasts, and connecting similarities so you know for sure what these companies have to offer.

YETI 24 Hard Cooler vs BrüMate Backtap™ Backpack Cooler Review:

Coolers are supposed to be convenient…but they’re not. That’s why YETI and BrüMate stepped up to the plate to create ones that truly are. The YETI 24 Hard Cooler is a rough and tough companion for all your adventures, whether that’s on the road, down to the creek, or in a blow-up pool in your backyard.

What I love most about the YETI 24 Hard Cooler (and don’t judge me here) is that it’s wine bottle compatible. 13” in interior height, this puppy helps you pack picnic-perfect meals that don’t involve compromise yet still fits behind the front seat of your car for easy travel.

Using Permafrost insulation, the cooler keeps ice cold for days and has YETI’s signature strength just in case it gets in trouble. Durable too, it’s fitted with a Neverfail Hinge System and Heftyhauler handle for painless carrying and opening.

Available in six colors, this hardy cooler is $200.

YETI 24 Hard Cooler

• Holds 24 beer cans
• Fits wine bottles
• Keeps ice cold for days
• Durable
• 5-year warranty
• Free shipping & returns

If you’re a (wo)man of convenience who likes to knock back a few while outdoors, the BrüMate BackTap Backpack Cooler is a super-cool choice. Lined with removable stainless steel, this cooler comes with a tap that you can use to pour your favorite ice-cold beverages—genius!

Like those large coolers you see on football fields, this one holds 3 gallons of liquid, is leak-resistant, and comes in a sleek black color. It also fits conveniently and securely on your back with comfortable straps.

Take this cooler to the party for $260.

BrüMate BackTap Backpack Cooler

• 5-year warranty
• Ships for free
• Fits 3 gallons of liquid (with tap)
• Comfortable straps
• Removable stainless steel interior

These two coolers are very different creatures. One is made to hold wine bottles, the other three bottles of wine (if you see what I mean). I love BrüMate’s concept, but I see the YETI cooler’s benefits. In a perfect world, I would buy both.

YETI Rambler 20oz Tumbler With Magslider Lid vs BrüMate Uncork’d XL 14oz Müv Wine Tumbler Review:

With normal cups, it doesn’t take long for your ice-cold drink to turn lukewarm, and depending on what you’re sipping, it can totally ruin your drinking experience.

The YETI Rambler 20oz Tumbler with Magslider Lid was designed to keep your favorite bevies at the temperature you like them.

Double-wall vacuum insulated, the tumbler is made from 18/80 stainless steel, is dishwasher safe, and comes in 14 classic and trendy colors. With a Magslider lid, reattachment goes smoothly without the hassle that comes with finding the right thread with traditional screw-on caps.

Get this tumbler for $30.

YETI Rambler 20oz Tumbler with Magslider Lid

• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable 18/80 stainless steel
• Ships for free
• 5-year warranty
• Free returns

You probably know this by now, but just in case you’re joining me here in my YETI vs BrüMate review, BrüMate’s insulated products are designed for alcohol.

That’s not to say you couldn’t put juice in your Uncork’d XL 14 oz Muv Wine Tumbler, but I’m reviewing it here for its intended purpose: wine.

Leakproof with the capacity to hold ½ a bottle of wine, this design comes in a trendy, subtle camo print. It keeps your wine cold for up to 24 hours and is super travel-friendly, ideal for laying out under the stars or sipping on your back porch.

Grab one up for $26.

BrüMate Uncork’d XL 14 oz Muv Wine Tumbler

• Lifetime warranty
• Looks cool
• Hold 1/2 bottle of wine

With YETI, your cup is going to hold more. I like smart features like the Magslider lid because, to be honest, getting the lid onto cups is sometimes harder than it should be.

Though you can’t beat YETI’s reputation and convenience, BrüMate’s tumbler is a good contender and an attractive option for wine-os.

YETI 16 oz Stackable Pint with Magslider Lid vs BrüMate Winesulator 25 oz Wine Canteen – Glitter Mermaid Review:

Heading out for a night of adventure? Uninvite warm beer or wine and bring along your insulated containers. The YETI 16 oz Stackable Pint with Magslider Lid combines the durable security the brand is known for, along with superior cold retention and user-friendly features.

With a magnetic lid, you can enjoy your beverage to the last drop. Meanwhile, the DuraCoat color coating will keep your vessel looking pretty for as long as you take care of it.

Made with kitchen-grade 18/80 stainless steel, nothing is getting through this pint glass, the same way its double-wall insulation will stop the heat from seeping in.

Stackable and dishwasher safe, it’s an outdoor party essential wherever your night takes you. Pick this vessel up in one of seven colors for $25.

YETI 16 oz Stackable Pint with Magslider Lid

• Stackable
• Dishwasher safe
• Comes in 7 colors
• Made from 18/80 stainless steel 
• Won’t rust
• Magnetic lid
• Ships for free

A lover of pretty things and wine? Who isn’t? The BrüMate Winesulator 25 oz Wine Canteen – Glitter Mermaid is shaped like a wine bottle and is ready to party. It fits an entire bottle of wine and will keep it cold for 24+ hours.

Made from 18/80 stainless steel with a leak-proof cap, get ready to enjoy your night out without lugging around a cooler or slurping back hot white wine on a sticky summer’s night. This one’s $35.

BrüMate Winesulator 25 oz Wine Canteen – Glitter Mermaid

• Beautiful design
• Glass-free
• Leak-proof cap
• Made from 18/80 stainless steel
• Fits an entire bottle of wine
• Keeps cold for 24+ hours

If you’re into looks, the BrüMate Winesulator can’t be ignored. It’s such a cool concept and makes life easier for those who like wine—which traditionally happens to come in awkwardly-shaped and breakable bottles.

YETI’s design isn’t for wine, but it is great for drinking. Plus, it doubles as a glass for any other beverage you’ve got going on. Both designs are durable and look great, so your choice is one of what you happen to enjoy sipping back on.

YETI vs BrüMate: Quality

Aside from hearing from customers, this section of my YETI vs BrüMate review is perhaps the most important for brands that stake their reputation on quality construction and materials.

Ahead, you’ll find details on their manufacturing processes, including what kinds of materials they use and where their products are made.

If there’s one thing YETI is, it’s transparent, and that’s something I truly value in a company. It doesn’t hide that most of its products are made in China, though some larger items, like its coolers, are made in the USA. Its line is designed in the US, and all custom items are made in Texas or Mexico.

Every item is stamped with its manufacturing location, so if you’re not sure, simply check the label.

You’re probably wondering how they’re actually made. Well, it depends on which product you’re looking at. Coolers are made by roto-molding. It’s a process that softens the plastic and rotates it inside of a mold to take shape and is comparable to how kayaks are made.

The result is super durable and sturdy, a material that can take a real beating, and this process is exactly why YETI has made such a name for itself. That and its insulated cups.

They’re made from double-walled 18/80 stainless steel with a vacuum layer in between. This layer prevents heat conduction and convection, leaving your drink to be its chilly (or hot) self for longer than normal.

As for BrüMate, it offers both coolers and cups, but since it’s a relatively new brand, I was only able to track down how its cups are made. First of all, like YETI, it uses Chinese manufacturing facilities to create its products.

Despite wanting to manufacture in the US (businesses usually do), the brand’s founder chose China because US-made products cost 4x more and take a lot longer to produce.

Its bottles are made from double-walled stainless steel with a vacuum insulation layer in the middle as well as a copper shield. This shield is the biggest difference I saw between the two brands, but it’s used in BrüMate’s Hopsulator beer cozy only.

In terms of construction and quality, both of these brands use high-caliber materials and care about results. They each do an excellent job according to customers and are designed similarly and made in the same place.

YETI vs BrüMate: Price & Value

It’s not hard to see the value in an insulated drink container. Holding your favorite beverages and keeping them cold or hot for hours or days on end, they’re worth high prices if they actually perform the way they’re supposed to.

Since I’ve gotten to know the brands’ comparable products, I’ll now spend a little time on their value in this section of my YETI vs BrüMate review. I’ll suss out what’s included when you buy a single product from each company.

Let’s look at the YETI Rambler 20 oz Tumbler with Magslider first. A simple cup with a complex design, it’s made from 18/80 stainless steel and promises 24+ hours of cold retention. This cool cup is $30, and with proper care can last a really long time.

So what aren’t you seeing about this cup that comes with it? Everything that YETI is built upon. Durability, convenience, and an indestructible design that can handle some abuse. Then there’s the sustainability factor.

All of these things bump up the value of YETI’s products and make a cup more than a cup, it’s something with a mission.

I found the same kind of value in BrüMate’s products, helping to make the earth a greener place by providing a drinking container that will last for years.

Its Uncork’d XL 14 oz Muv Wine Tumbler is $33, made from 18/80 stainless steel as well, and double-wall vacuum-sealed just like YETI’s option.

Of course, BrüMate cups don’t have to be used for just alcohol. That’s what they’re made for, but you could throw some water in there just like you could put a margarita in a YETI. At their base, these two brands are very similar, the difference is perhaps simply a concept.

YETI vs BrüMate: What do Customers Think?

I love a good challenge. This section of my YETI vs BrüMate review will put the two brands head-to-head to see how they stack up with customers. Ahead, you’ll find a variety of feedback and ratings I collected from around the web.

Let’s kick things off with some ratings for the more seasoned brand, YETI.

• Roadie 24 Hard Cooler on YETI.com: 4.6/5 stars from 3,402
• Rambler 20 oz Tumbler with Magslider Lid on YETI.com: 4.7/5 stars from 44,905
• Influenster: 4.8/5 stars from 1,772 reviews
• Outdoor Gear Lab: 4.8/5 stars

This company is tough to beat. Customers really love the way it performs and it’s kind of the shining star in the outdoor gear world, thanks to its superior cold and heat retention and handy features.

After combing through reviews, I compiled a list of common bits of the feedback mentioned online:

• Outperforms other brands (keeps drinks cold for longer, more durable)
• Gear is easy to clean
• People love the features (Magslider lids, easy-grip handles, etc.)

So how about the new kid on the block? Here’s a list of BrüMate’s stats:

• BackTap™ 3 Gallon Backpack Cooler on BrüMate.com: 5/5 stars from 60 reviews
• Winesulator 25 oz Canteen Glitter Mermaid V2.0 on BrüMate.com: 5/5 stars from 81 reviews
• Trustpilot: 4.7/5 stars from 664 reviews
• Hopsulater Trio on Amazon: 4.8/5 stars from 12,934 reviews

Adult beverage lovers flock to the brand for a few reasons, mostly a combination of the way its products look and how they perform. You’ll see the most common feedback I found from across the web below:

• People love the aesthetic and design
• Drinkware is durable & reliable
• Has helpful customer service

Overall, BrüMate customers say the brand’s drinkware is super durable and high quality. I found a lot of comments about great customer service as well, reporting they’re responsive, kind, and transparent.

In contrast with YETI, I didn’t find a ton of feedback about its customer service. More so, customers appreciate the performance of its products and choose the brand for its reputation.

Both companies have stellar feedback across the web—I think they’re pretty matched in this regard. The main difference is in the number of reviews since YETI has been around for an extra 10 years.

YETI vs BrüMate: Promotions & Discounts

Now you know what customers think about these two brands, it’s promotion time. In this section of my YETI vs BrüMate review, I’ve scoped out both websites to find every last deal they have to offer. This is what I discovered:

YETI

• Free US shipping
• Free US returns

BrüMate

• VIP Rewards Program: Earn Bru Points
• Refer a friend: You get 1k points, your friend gets a 15% discount
• VIP lifetime discount code
• Military discount
• Free shipping on orders over $50

I probably don’t need to point this out, but BrüMate definitely offers more discounts. With that said, unconditional free shipping and returns for US customers is a pretty big perk you’ll get with YETI, which is something its competitor doesn’t offer.

It doesn’t appear that YETI offers yearly sales (its newsletter box doesn’t mention them), but I think it’s safe to assume that BrüMate does as it’s something mentioned in the prompt to sign up for its mailing list.

I won’t say that one brand’s promotions are more appealing than the other’s since some customers won’t apply for the military discount and may only be interested in buying one thing (thus the rewards program won’t matter).

YETI vs BrüMate: Shipping & Returns

Before you can even take a sip out of your perfectly chilled glass of wine or an ice-cold beer, your cup and coolers have to make it to your door.

In this part of my YETI vs BrüMate review, I’ve rounded up all of the details for each brand’s shipping policies and threw in some extras about returns and warranties should you ever need them.

You’ll find it all summed up in point form below to make your life a little less stressful, which is exactly what YETI and BrüMate aim to do as well. Here’s what I have:

YETI:

Shipping:

• Free shipping to the contiguous US
• Offers expedited shipping
• Ships to APO FPO addresses
• Ships internationally to select locations
• All delivery times are calculated at checkout and vary by location

Returns & Warranty:

• Offers a 30-day return policy (all items must be unused and with original packaging)
• Returns are free for US customers
• All products have a 5-year warranty

BrüMate:

Shipping:

• Ships within the continental US for free on orders over $50
• Offers international shipping (free for orders over $150)
• Ships to the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK
• International shipping can take about 10-30 business days

Returns & Warranty:

• 30-day return policy (all items must be in new condition with original packaging)
• Lifetime warranty

YETI ships to more locations and has free US shipping and returns, but BrüMate offers free shipping for international customers—plus, its warranty beats out its competitor.

Both are appealing for different reasons, so your choice may be a matter of where you live or how much your order totals.

Who Will You Shop With?

YETI has dominated the insulated cooler and water bottle market pretty much since its inception, with many brands following suit. BrüMate is just 5 years old and has a very similar concept to its competitor, the only main difference being the selection of products offered and its overarching theme: alcohol.

The truth is that you could put alcohol in YETI containers just as you could but a sandwich is BrüMate’s backpack beer cooler. It’s not what it was technically designed for, but most of the brand’s products are versatile enough to cross over onto each other.

All things considered, it’s a tough decision. That’s why it was important that I examine every last detail about both brands in this YETI vs BrüMate review.

YETI has a great reputation, its products are out there and highly visible—there’s a good chance you may have just heard about BrüMate.

But that’s not to say the newer company won’t build just as strong of a reputation. In its last year of sales, the brand pulled in $37 million, a number that speaks of its high-performing products and sleek design.

So who will you shop with? Well, are you looking for something fun to amp up beers with the boys or wine in the park? Do you want the opportunity for discounts in the future and are a sucker for bold prints? If so, BrüMate is your guy.

If you like a solid, durable product with a sterling reputation, then YETI is a great choice. With this brand, you’ll also get free US shipping and returns, smart features, and a broader product selection.

In the end, it’s about your preferences as these two brands are pretty well matched in terms of quality.

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