Tailgate coolers are a convenience buy, not a performance buy

Tailgate-style coolers with side access are more convenient, but a traditional top-loading chest will generally keep ice longer for the same money.

The physics is simple: cold air sinks, and a top-opening chest acts like a well in cold storage. The lid seals the whole top, and every time you open it, the cold air mostly stays put. Side-access coolers have more gasketed edges, more surface area for heat to sneak through, and every time you swing that vertical door open, you let warm air pour straight into the bottom where the cold air lives. So yes, they’re less efficient. Manufacturers spend a lot of effort on insulation to make up for it, but at the same price point, the chest still wins.

That trade-off is worth it if your use case is actually tailgating, tailgating-adjacent, or anything