Is The Oyster Tempo Cooler Worth It?

If you’ve used a hard cooler, you’re no stranger to filling one up halfway with ice before you can actually add the things that you want to keep cool. I was thrilled to find out that you can simply skip the ice with Oyster’s Tempo cooler, which gets fridge-cold with just two Oyster ice packs (or several of your own) and maintains its low temperature for days. I tested it for over a month to see how it performs — even leaving it on a porch for three days in July and keeping it in a hot car during a multi-day road trip — and each time, it impressed me with how cool it stayed. Despite the high temperatures, I never once had to put ice in it.

Oyster Tempo Cooler

While coolers have come a long way since the days of styrofoam chests, even more advanced rotomolded models like Yeti, suggest “pre-chilling” with a sacrificial bag of ice to, well, cool the cooler. The Oyster Tempo is designed with what the brand calls a patented “DTLA thermal technology” that leverages vacuum insulation to limit heat transfer and encourage thermal circulation inside. Basically, this means that less heat sneaks in and cool air is distributed more evenly throughout the cooler.

If you’re not a hardcore camper or road-tripper, a soft-sided cooler might be all you need. But if you’re looking for an exceedingly efficient hard cooler that can keep food and drinks cool for days without having to pre-chill or add ice, the Oyster Tempo might just be the solution you’ve been looking for. During my review, I used the cooler with the brand’s ice packs (sold separately) and also tested it with my own ramshackle collection I had in my freezer. The cooler performed well either way, though I enjoyed how perfectly Oyster’s ice packs fit into the bottom of the cooler. 

Over the Fourth of July weekend, I kept the Oyster Tempo on a porch without air conditioning and was surprised to return each day to find my beverages ice-cold. During our multi-day road trip, I used it to store drinks and perishable foods (I’m a sucker for cheese shops) and it kept cool despite staying in my hot car overnight. At 20 inches by 11.8 inches by 12.6 inches, it’s about the size of a countertop toaster oven. As far as weight goes, it’s quite hefty at about 12 pounds when empty, and when filled to capacity, it does take some muscle to move it from one location to another.

There’s no denying that the Oyster Tempo cooler is exceptionally well-designed, with a smooth cast aluminum exterior that’s sleek and simple. Due to its ability to get cool (and stay cool) with just its ice packs, the Tempo stays true to its stated capacity. I was able to nestle 36 cans of seltzer and the ice packs inside the cooler, while another rotomolded cooler with a similar capacity might actually hold less with the addition of ice. While $395 seems steep for a cooler of this size, the iceless performance alone makes it a valuable asset for multi-day chilling needs, whether you’re on the road, in the woods, or at the beach house.

Shop Other Oyster Accessories

Oyster Tempo Ice Packs, Set of 2

Oyster Tempo Cooler Bundle

Oyster Aluminum Handle

Oyster Side Strap

Oyster Tote Bag