Review: Canyon Prospector 125 Cooler

In some ways, it feels silly talking about “features” of a cooler. After all, a cooler is a big roto-molded piece of plastic, right? That’s what I thought, at least, until I tested out the Prospector 125 Quart Cooler from Canyon Coolers.

This beast of a cooler can easily fit an entire deer (whole), a quartered cow elk, or a boned-out bull. But what really sets the Prospector apart is its shape and design. With a 41-inch width, the cooler can slide between the wheel wells in the bed of a Tacoma (and most other small trucks), or squeeze into the frame of a 14- to 16-foot raft. In addition, the meaty lip is designed to sit snugly on a raft frame, making for easy access to the cooler’s three latches and lid when on the water. Should you flip, an abundance of tie-down points keep the cooler secure. My favorite feature, though, is the “zero clearance” hinge design. In plain terms, when the cooler is shoved up against the back of your truck bed or the wall of a camper, the lid can still open all the way without having to pull the cooler away from the backstop. It’s pretty nifty, and makes for hassle free loading and unloading in camp.

But most importantly, the cooler does a darn good job of keeping ice cold. I’m yet to find the limit of ice retention, but 5-day trips during the heat of Montana archery season have proven no match to the Prospector’s beefy insulation. With proper packing, I’m sure ice would last well over a week. What more could you ask for in a hunting, fishing, and rafting cooler?

Available at canyoncooler.com; $525.