The expression "if its stupid but it works then its not stupid" applies here. Also reminds me from racing "no man ever regretting buying the absolute best quality parts for his car that he could afford.". Same goes for boats, kayaks, and any other hobby we enjoy. Some people can't understand paying extra for quality, and then there's those of us that understand how much nicer it makes life. Well-built products are a joy to use. Sure, being out on the water is enjoyable, but being out on the water with a quality paddle, after hauling your gear with a quality bucket, in a boat you spent a few extra hundred on so that it tracks well, that is living life.
Clearly I agree. But if you read the comments I think we are in the minority. At least when it comes to buckets. And I noticed yesterday one of my hardware store buckets has a broken handle.....
You are absolutely right about the bucket. Like you, I thought it was stupid too but man, it is a great bucket! From an environmental perspective, the Yeti is the only way to go.
You are as amuzed and excited about that bucket as I was when I found out about the zippered IKEA bags. Thanks for sharing, I very much enjoyed your review of a bucket !
The kind of plastic used for buckets (and anything else made of plastic that is for outdoor use) is important for durability and longevity. Polypropylene vs. polyethylene vs. polyurethane, and the plastic formula, etc. Box store buckets often crack within the first year, and have no UV resistance (in addition to the handle problems). If wonder what Yeti uses for theirs.
I dont know, I haven’t had a hardware store bucket crack, but that wouldn’t surprise me. I am also not a contractor seriously abusing my buckets, and they don’t live in the back of a truck exposed to the sun all day. If I had to guess - because they use the same process to build their coolers as plastic kayaks, rotomolding, I would bet they are polyethylene. But that’s a guess.
I have 4 cheap 6 gallon white plastic buckets filled with cement at the bottom of a deer stand, in a swamp for 15 years. Exposed to the extremes of MN. They're just now showing signs of falling apart. No idea what formula. Don't care. By the time it really falls apart, the structure will need to be replaced. It did it's job. Better than we hoped.
I have bought numerous blue and orange buckets from the big box hardware chain stores, never get more than a year or 2 out of them, they crack just sitting in the garden shed all winter, empty, never been in the sun. Also, reason why I brought it up, several customers posted reviews on the Yeti web site saying theirs cracked, hope that it doesn’t happen to yours. I do want one of these, maybe the % problems are still small (or, from abuse).
What may be worse cost wise is the Shipping from the US to the UK which would no doubt cost more than the bucket and not to forget the Custom and Excise fee, that would may paying $40 for a bucket seem very reasonable. You could probably buy three for what it would cost me for just one bucket. They look pretty smart all the same.
Train Hobo 'Shoestring' has been using a Yeti bucket on his train adventures for years now. He loves it. Has space for all the gear that a hobo would need.
So. I am going to buy a Yeti bucket, but not for myself. It will be as a gift for someone else. I'm going to spend $40 on a bucket and hope that one day I have a $40 bucket. But that's the way it's got to be, because I could never look someone in the eye and say, "Yeah, I bought myself a $40 bucket." Well I could, but the people in my circle would laugh at me because it's difficult to differentiate that there are buckets, and then there are quality buckets. To be clear, I do use buckets all the time, too. And I hate the handles on those $5 ones. I recently bought a new bucket for washing my cars and trucks and I paid more just to have a better handle.
I hear ya, on all the facets of this. An I love sort of putting it out into the stream to see if one comes back to you as a gift. Karma is a boomerang.
Im okay with that, because it is a throwback to something the founder did (apparently with the label at an angle you can use a larger font so it is easier to see across the bar. ) and it was on purpose…. But this… like you would think it’s put on by a machine, but obviously not.
Lol. I can get 5, 6 & even 7 gallon buckets. Mostly free. Been modifying them for our needs for years. And...my family or friends would fall over in laughter if I asked for one for my birthday or Christmas.
of course you're going to use it, it's a $40 bucket. You have to use it so you can feel good about getting it, whether you paid for it or not. They make lids that have a screw on inner lid to make it easy to open. A 5 min DIY webbing handle is stupid easy to make. You can buy bucket inserts for normal buckets as well. And btw, the yeti bucket isn't a $40 bucket, it's a $70 bucket, as when you buy a regular bucket, you likely get a lid with it.
I agree with everything you said. Except I have never gotten a lid with a $5 bucket, but they are just a few bucks. And I have used the screw on lid adapter for regular buckets, the NOLS sailing program uses them. But the regular buckets aren’t made as well. But you’re right. Like I said 3 or 4 times. It’s stupid.
