Yeti Tumblers Losing Their Insulating Ability Over Time?

[fzxdoc]

I have two Yeti Rambler tumblers, used daily for about 2 years. Both have lost most of their insulating ability.

I checked on the website and googled the problem; apparently Yeti offers replacement tumblers for defects, but I'm thinking this is not a defect, it may be how the product ages.

They've been mostly washed by hand all this time, with only a couple of trips to the dishwasher (Bosch with no heating unit). The Yeti website says putting tumblers in the dishwasher is OK.

Anyone else have this problem?

Kathryn

[Steve R.]

I don't use mine every day, and I haven't had this problem. I'm going to guess that they have somehow lost their insulating vacuum and air has gotten in.

They should last for more than two years, so I would get them replaced.

[Frozen Smoke]

I think Yeti has been exposed as overpriced and not any better than the Wal Mart brand Ozark Mountain line of tumblers. My son has a soft side Yeti cooler he dropped $250 on and I have a $39 Coleman that will hold ice longer. I agree with Steve R. that they somehow lost the vacuum. It sure can't hurt to email Yeti and tell them your unsatisfied they may send you replacements.

[Nate]

I agree. I doubt I will ever buy a yeti again as Ozark, Rtic, and others offer the same at a much reduced price.

[RichieB]

I am in this court. I see the price of their products. I don't commute and haven't since late 90s so no need for tumbler. I have a couple of Coleman coolers that I've had forever. Keeps stuff cold and hot as needed. Has handles and covers, all of the bells and whistles I need.

[Troutman]

I’ve had a large tumbler for coffee and use it daily for the past 3 years. I have noticed a little bit of degrading but generally speaking my coffee stays hot until the end, so no real complaint here.

[FireMan]

Ya mean old Yetis melt, they don’t wrinkle up?

[fzxdoc]

As opposed to us, you mean, FireMan?

K.

[FireMan]

Yes ma’am!

[Huskee]

This is interesting to me, I thought the insulating ability was just simply the fact that they're double layer, and there's an air space in between the two layers.

[Steve R.]

The lack of air in that space (no air to heat up or cool down) is what makes it work. Very similar to those old school, indestructible, green Aladdin Stanley vacuum bottles that would keep coffee hot all day long. Spring a leak somewhere in the seal, and you have no real insulation. The coolers have a foam insulation that is wrapped in a plastic layer and the air is suctioned out of it.

[Troutman]

Believe it or not Steve R. I still have my Aladdin Stanley thermos. Made from 100% stainless (except for the plastic drinking cap) that thing is built like a tank. And you're right, it is the same technology, "void" insulation.

[Mr. Bones]

Troutman I heared that, Brother!

Still have my Da's Aladdin Stanley, from ~c. 1960; it still keeps coffee lip scaldin, mouth searin hot all day, at any temp, even buried in a snowdrift, all day!!!!
(Yes, I've done it, upon bein bet, on th jobsite, years ago. Won, too! )

[Troutman]

Yeti has generally introduced yet way overpriced the "extreme" cooler systems. There are now several knock offs, including Artic here in Houston, that sell the same thing at much more reasonable price points. I don’t think I’d buy another Yeti product unless or until they get real on price.

[Potkettleblack]

Wife has an R-TIC vacuum tumbler that she uses pretty much daily and has seen no degradation in insulation. She has never run it though the dishwasher, only hand wash.

[Sweaty Paul]

Never had a problem with my Yeti or RTIC tumblers. Will say on soft sided coolers I prefer the zipper on the Yeti over the RTIC, however, not enough to get another soft side (confession: I may have a little problem with coolers call it MCS squared - multiple cooler syndrome).

[xaugievike]

interesting -

im slightly guilty of being a yeti fan-boy....so I've got rambler, tumblers, coffee mugs, wife has wine tumblers, a soft side, and a tundra......

does the outside get hot/cold/and or sweat with ice water in it?

[fzxdoc]

Nope. The outside stays the same temp as always and never shows condensation, xaugievike .

K.

[barelfly]

I have multiple types of yeti. Tumbler, low ball and the big tumbler. I haven’t noticed a difference, especially the lowball mugs. I’ve used these for some wonderful old fashioned’s with the cubed ice cubes and when I wake up in the morning to do dishes, there is still ice leftover. I’ve had these for about 2 years. If you can get them exchanged for warranty, I’d look into It!

[Spinaker]

I have never had this problem with any of my Yetis', but I bet if you contact Yeti, they will send you a replacement.

[Bighorn Dave]

I have an RTIC chest cooler and a couple of their tumblers. All have been flawless. I took my RTIC and my SIL's Yeti chest coolers, both the same capacity on an Elk hunt a couple years ago. Both held ice very well with a very slight and I mean slight edge to the RTIC. The difference very well could have been the number of times each was opened so IMHO they are as equal as they can be. The main difference is price. I'm not sure how the tumblers are made but if the same as the coolers then they are hard foam molded so no air pockets to break down. Now it's got me wondering so will need to do a little research just for the heck of it.

[fzxdoc]

I googled the problem, Bighorn Dave and found several folks with exactly the same problem: that their Yeti tumblers died after a couple of years. Made no difference if they were handwashed only or placed in a dishwasher.

Couldn't find any solutions, though. One suggestion was to shake the empty tumbler like we used to shake Polaroid photos to reactivate it. I hope they were kidding.

Kathryn

[fzxdoc]

I checked with the Yeti folks; they have a 5 year warranty on Ramblers. However, I didn't keep my original receipt, which they require, so I'm spit-outta-luck on that score.

K.

[RonB]

That's a common way to get out of replacing a product. When we built our house, the silicon caulking we used had a 30 year warranty. BUT - to make a claim, they required both the empty tube and the receipt. Who keeps empty caulking tubes...