Outdoors

Rovr cooler rolls and tows to camp on all-terrain tires

Rovr cooler rolls and tows to camp on all-terrain tires
Rovr calls its cooler the first bike-compatible model, but we are aware of at least one other design (multipurpose cooler/grill box) that can be towed this way
Rovr calls its cooler the first bike-compatible model, but we are aware of at least one other design (multipurpose cooler/grill box) that can be towed this way
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Rovr is expanding its cooler lineup with the Rollr 60
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Rovr is expanding its cooler lineup with the Rollr 60
The Rollr has rotomolded construction, foam insulation and an airtight gasket
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The Rollr has rotomolded construction, foam insulation and an airtight gasket
The dry box keeps dry items separate from the ice while promising sub 40 F (sub 4.4 C) temperatures for up to 10 days
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The dry box keeps dry items separate from the ice while promising sub 40 F (sub 4.4 C) temperatures for up to 10 days
With its pneumatic tires and available bike hitch, the Rollr 60 is designed to be more portable than other coolers
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With its pneumatic tires and available bike hitch, the Rollr 60 is designed to be more portable than other coolers
Rovr calls its cooler the first bike-compatible model, but we are aware of at least one other design (multipurpose cooler/grill box) that can be towed this way
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Rovr calls its cooler the first bike-compatible model, but we are aware of at least one other design (multipurpose cooler/grill box) that can be towed this way
The collapsible bucket lets you pile other gear atop the Rollr 60 and pull it all to your destination
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The collapsible bucket lets you pile other gear atop the Rollr 60 and pull it all to your destination
The Rollr 60 is available on Kickstarter, and the Rollr 80 is available directly through Rovr and retailers
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The Rollr 60 is available on Kickstarter, and the Rollr 80 is available directly through Rovr and retailers
Towing a full beach day to the sand
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Towing a full beach day to the sand
The puncture-resistant tires mean the Rollr can tackle terrain that other coolers can't
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The puncture-resistant tires mean the Rollr can tackle terrain that other coolers can't
The cupholder and cutting board are standard accessories that attach to the sides
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The cupholder and cutting board are standard accessories that attach to the sides
Rovr's coolers include attachment points all around for securing the included prep board and cupholder, along with other things - lanterns, hats, mugs or whatever you need
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Rovr's coolers include attachment points all around for securing the included prep board and cupholder, along with other things - lanterns, hats, mugs or whatever you need
Rovr's coolers hitch up to your bike and ride along
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Rovr's coolers hitch up to your bike and ride along
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Colorado's Rovr has reimagined the cooler, going well beyond the tough, bear-proof roto-molded construction so common on the market these days. It calls its cooler an "all-terrain attacking, gear-hauling beast of burden that can go anywhere you can," and follows through on that promise with pneumatic tires, a cargo bin and an available bike hitch. Rovr is now expanding its lineup by adding a 60-quart (57-L) model next to its 80-quart (76-L) version.

We had just a day to cover every corner of this year's Outdoor Retailer Summer Market show, a four-day outdoor gear and apparel extravaganza that long ago spilled out of the confines of a single convention center and into a temporary pavilion across the street. Needless to say, we didn't spend a lot of time chatting at individual booths but kept things moving, roaming around to capture the show's best of the best.

One booth we did spend more than a couple minutes at was Rovr. Yes, that was partly because they had a cooler full of icy cold, full-strength Colorado beer at the Utah-based show (Utah's better known for its 3.2-percent "near beer"). But it was mainly because our attention was held by the company's high-quality, multifunctional Rollr coolers.

Rovr's coolers include attachment points all around for securing the included prep board and cupholder, along with other things - lanterns, hats, mugs or whatever you need
Rovr's coolers include attachment points all around for securing the included prep board and cupholder, along with other things - lanterns, hats, mugs or whatever you need

Instead of flashy, fairly gimmicky features like Bluetooth audio, built-in air conditioning or solar panels, the Rollr 80 is loaded with simple but useful features. Its pneumatic tires are all but guaranteed to outperform the more common, rickety plastic cooler wheels, a sturdy, two-person handle provides a solid, comfortable pull, and a collapsible cargo bin holds other gear on the ride. There's even an available bike hitch so you can pedal the whole thing around.

Rovr is now packing all those features into a smaller 60-quart model, good news because the only complaint we could really muster when looking the Rollr 80 over was that it looked like it would devour an awfully large chunk of trunk space. The Rollr 60 isn't all that much sleeker, saving about 2.5 in (64 mm) of width and just under 1 in (25 mm) of height, based on Rovr's dimension diagrams. Every little bit can help when packing a campsite or tailgate into the back of a crossover, though.

Like the Rollr 80, the Rollr 60 gets to camp more easily than other coolers thanks to the pneumatic tires, dual-person pull handle and optional bike hitch. Once there, it becomes a centerpiece of camp. The included cutting/prepping board secures to the side to provide a place to prep food and make drinks without blocking cooler entry. Attachment points around the sides also hold the dual cupholder and other gear and accessories, such as lanterns or Bluetooth speakers.

The dry box keeps dry items separate from the ice while promising sub 40 F (sub 4.4 C) temperatures for up to 10 days
The dry box keeps dry items separate from the ice while promising sub 40 F (sub 4.4 C) temperatures for up to 10 days

Another handy Rollr feature is the internal dry bin that lets you separate food and other items you don't want totally submerged in ice – think that deli paper-wrapped sandwich that starts becoming a soggy mess the second it hits the ice. This bin features three compartments and can also be used to stand wine bottles upright and separate beverage ice from the cubes everyone will be sticking their hands in.

As far as basic cooler duties go, Rovr says the Rollr 60 will retain ice for between seven and 10 days. It also promises that the rugged construction can stand up to bears. Weight is listed at 35 lb (16 kg).

Rovr launched a Kickstarter campaign on August 15 to get the new Rollr 60 off the ground and has already doubled its US$50,000 goal. That means that the very lowest pledge levels are no longer available, but the cooler, with collapsible cargo bin, prepping board, dual cupholder and dry bin, is still available at the $269 level (estimated retail: $399). That cooler package with bike attachment is available at the $299 pledge level (estimated retail: $454). If all goes as hoped, deliveries will begin in January 2018.

Source: Rovr

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