Cooler hinges are usually repairable

Cooler lid hinges can almost always be fixed, so before you buy a new cooler, spend ten minutes seeing what you’re dealing with.

Most coolers use a simple hinge pin. If the pin breaks or bends, replace it with a stainless steel bolt and nut, or even a piece of metal rod. That’s a $4 fix. If the plastic hinge tab snapped, you can bolt on a generic replacement hinge from any hardware store. It won’t look factory, but it’ll work. And if you’re in a pinch, a couple of heavy-duty zip ties will hold a lid closed for a whole season.

The hard case is rotomolded coolers like a Yeti. The hinge anchors are molded into the body, and if those crack, you can’t just swap a part. But you can still drill through and mount a metal hinge bracket with rivets or bolts. It’s ugly but solid. The only time