Here are the Reasons to BUY a Yeti
1. The Quality
Yeti’s biggest selling point is the quality of its product. And there is good reason to believe that Yetis really are built different than the rest of the stainless steel thermal insulated bottles. I’ve done some research, and most bottle companies use the same manufacturers in China to make their bottles. Yeti is actually one of the few companies that make most of their bottles from unique locations (Whether that means they’re better or not is another story). Even though they might not keep drinks colder or warmer for longer than other brands, Yetis are definitely stronger. If you don’t want to take my word for it, check this video out of a guy getting his Yeti tumbler out of his burning truck! If you want to learn more about the material used to make most stainless steel bottles, including Yeti, click here
2. The Products
When it comes to outdoor drink ware, Yeti is second-to-none. A quick glance through their website and you’ll see that they carry everything from bottles and coolers, to backpacks and camping chairs. They even sell dog bowls for your hiking companion! If you go with Yeti for your outdoor products, you will know what to expect every time. Getting coolers, bags and bottles from Yeti means that things will fit into one another much better.
3. The Style
Yeti, in many ways is like Apple, it is the most well known brand in its category and it makes no compromise between form and function. The first time I bought a Yeti was actually because of how clean the design was. I held back from buying a Yeti for a while, knowing I could get similar products for a cheaper price. But after looking at their bottles one too many times in stores, I finally caved in and had to get what is arguably the best looking stainless steel bottle on the market.
4. The Brand
One of the main reasons to buy a Yeti is simply because of the brand recognition that comes with it. Even if you’re not in to showing off your fancy things, products with name recognition can actually make for good conversation starters. People take their bottles so seriously now that it is not unreasonable to talk to a health or fitness nut about why they chose the brand their with, much like people do with phones.
And the Reasons NOT to Buy a Yeti
1. The Price
This is probably the biggest reason not to buy a Yeti. Anything Yeti offers, you can find for a much cheaper price elsewhere. Usually there are well known companies that offer the same products too (not just some random item on Amazon with questionable reviews). For example, just check out the difference in price between this Yeti 20 oz tumbler and this Contigo 20 oz Tumbler. Yeti goes for $30 while Contigo is only $13. The price differences become even more extreme when looking at some of their high-end stuff like the coolers and their bigger bottles.
2. The Functionality
This is not to say that Yeti products do not do what they are made to do, quite the contrary, as mentioned above, they are actually very well made. BUT, they are usually not much better made than most other brands, especially (in my personal experience) when it comes to their bottles and tumblers. When it comes to thermal insulated stainless steel bottles, the main concern is usually a matter of how long the bottles can keep drinks hot and cold for. In this category, Yeti is just not better than the rest. In fact, based on a bunch of comparison tests, Yeti usually performs slightly worse than other bottles. In terms of durability, they are much more durable than most other bottles, but if you don’t mind a dent or a scratch on your bottle, you’ll be fine most of the time.
3. The Variety
Yetis look great (in my opinion). Most Yetis also look the same. Yeti as a brand is very consistent with their designs, for some that is great, for others, not so much. If you like some variety in the stuff you carry, then Yeti might not be the best choice. Changes in aesthetic are a nice way to keep each journey feel different and refreshing. The only way to change up a Yeti bottle, aside from simply choosing a different colored bottle, is to add a custom logo.
So, Should You Buy a Yeti?
It all depends on what you are looking for. If, for example, you love the style and price is not an issue, then a Yeti is probably a great option. If, on the other hand, you do not want to spend twice what you will for a similar bottle for some brand recognition, then you may want to look at other options out there. The same is true if you are just getting in to reusable bottles. You might not be sure what you are looking for in a bottle (there are A LOT of different types of bottles). If you are unsure, then it is best to play it safe. Buy a cheaper bottle for around $15-20 and see what you do and do not like about it, then make your future purchasing choices from there.