Rugged Road High Performance Coolers

Description

Rugged. According to the dictionary, to be rugged is “to have or require toughness and determination.” This definition perfectly summarizes not only our brand and products, but also the community of people on this journey with us.

Rugged Road was founded by Spencer in 2016. A student at the time, he knew that he was being called to do something big, but wasn’t sure exactly what that would be. One day in chemistry class, a chemical engineer demonstrated a spray that he had helped develop for many military applications like coating the walls of government buildings to make them blast proof. Rumor had it that if you coated an egg in this spray and threw it off a building, it would bounce. Spencer knew that there was some potential here, so he quickly got to work brainstorming a way to utilize this spray for consumer goods. When the idea of an ultralight cooler came about, he knew there was no time to waste.

When the first sample arrived, Spencer had to put the durability of the cooler to the test. Being an 18 year old boy living in his parent’s house, there wasn’t much “official” testing equipment available to him at the time, so he had to get creative! He shot the cooler with a bow and arrow, threw it off the roof, parked a jeep on it, and knee boarded on the lid… okay that “test” was just for fun. Needless to say, it passed each test with flying colors. It was time to bring this vision to life.

Throughout college, Spencer washed windows and worked plenty of other odd jobs to financially support his Kickstarter in 2019. His primary goal for the campaign was to gauge the market’s appetite for an ultralight high performance cooler, and there was a clear answer when the fundraising goal was crushed within just 24 hours of launching. The next few weeks were filled with plenty of R&D, sewing, and hours in a U-Haul making deliveries to customers in the greater Atlanta area. The first rendition of a Rugged Road cooler was named the Onitis 45; it was named after a species of beetle that has a higher strength to weight ratio than any other living creature on the planet.

The Onitis 45 coolers began selling faster than we could make them, and just about every cooler we made the first year of production had already pre-sold! Spencer felt it was time to meet with potential new investors and manufacturing partners to keep up the momentum and push the company to the next level. In the weeks and months following the first Kickstarter, Spencer asked for feedback from customers – the good, the bad, and the ugly. From this, he took what he knew was working, and partnered with an engineer to fix what wasn’t. The ultralight structure, reversible lid, and ability to float were fan-favorites, while the harness system, inability to drain meltwater, and lack of security were points to improve moving forward. With this feedback, we spent nearly a year honing in the cooler’s features and functionality. In the summer of 2021, we launched the first rendition of the Rugged Road 65, which was designed with our customers’ suggestions in mind. The RR65 now has a drain plug, marine-grade stainless steel latch, patent pending hinges for the lid, and two types of handles, all while still remaining ultralight with the ability to float upright.

In the months following the launch of the Rugged Road 65, we reached out to our customers for feedback once again. While the cooler had come a long way since the early days, we knew that our customers would provide insight and share their experiences to help us further improve the product. We received an overwhelming amount of support for what we were doing with a huge demand for accessories and more sizes.

This brings us to today. In 2022, we launched the Rugged Road V2 collection. What’s new with V2? Well, we took our customers’ tips to heart; each hard sided RR65 cooler now comes with a basket and divider. We have also increased the thickness of the coating to make the cooler more durable than ever before. The V2 coolers have a unique non-slip coating on the feet, and we extended our warranty from 3 years to a lifetime. Once completed, our V2 collection will feature the RR65, as well as the RR45 and RR85 in 4 different colors.

Rugged Road Coolers offer several advantages that make them a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts. Here are some of the key pros:

1. Durability:
   • Rugged Road Coolers are built to withstand harsh conditions, making them ideal for camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
2. Lightweight Design:
   • These coolers are designed to be lighter than many of their competitors, which makes them easier to transport.
3. Superior Insulation:
   • They provide excellent ice retention, keeping contents cold for extended periods.
4. Ease of Use:
   • Features such as easy-to-open latches and comfortable handles enhance user convenience.
5. Versatility:
   • Available in various sizes to suit different needs, from small personal coolers to large family-sized ones.
6. Aesthetic Appeal:
   • Stylish designs and color options make them visually appealing.
7. Eco-Friendly Materials:
   • Some models are made with eco-friendly materials, reducing environmental impact.
8. Accessories and Customization:
   • Rugged Road Coolers comes with a range of accessories like dividers, baskets, and cushions for added functionality.
9. Robust Warranty:
   • Rugged Road Coolers comes with a strong warranty, providing peace of mind to buyers.

These features make Rugged Road Coolers a solid choice for anyone in need of a reliable and efficient cooler for their outdoor adventures.