I’m not ashamed to admit that the promotional video for the Vessel Cool Caddy hooked me. It is an engagingly clever video. The video vibes synched right with my vibes.
If you don’t believe me, take a look.
After my fifth (or 10th) time watching that video, I knew I had to see what the Vessel Cool Caddy was all about.
Today, I share my explorations with you.
It’s like a premium golf bag company made a cooler
On the surface, the Vessel Cool Caddy is just a golf bag-shaped ice chest. It feels like something more, though. At least to me, it did.
Your emotional response to the Cool Caddy is likely based upon your relationship with the Vessel brand and how obsessed you are with golf.
In terms of the Vessel brand, I am unapologetically a fan of Vessel bags. The Player V Pro is exceptional, not even just according to me. I’ve gamed the Vessel Player IV for a couple of years and I will be transitioning into the even better Player V this season.
Vessel makes the best premium bags in golf. End of story.
As for buying lots of golf-themed accessories, I’m not that guy. I don’t have BBQ tools shaped like clubs. My license plate frame does not say “I’d rather be driving a Titleist.”
Admittedly, I do have one insulated Sic tumbler with golf ball dimples.
Golf novelty products are not really my bag. No judgement. If you love to practice putting in your bathroom, go make those putts on the pooper. I’d just rather spend that gas on greens fees.
That said, I couldn’t wait to try out the Vessel Cool Caddy.
Spring-ish weather analysis
We’ve had some spring-like weather here in Northern California this month so I decided to put the Vessel Cool Caddy through its paces. I’ve tested a ton of Yeti coolers in the MyGolfSpy Forum through the years so I have some expectations when it comes to coolers cooling.
I have cooling data for the Vessel Cool Caddy but, first, I want to address the cooler’s other coolness.
The Vessel Cool Caddy is cool even without ice
My initial idea was to explore the Vessel Cool Caddy the same way I would a golf bag. Obviously, it is lousy at holding clubs but some of the other characteristics such as build quality and ergonomics are applicable.
In terms of build quality, Vessel branding sets the bar very high. Vessel bags carry premium prices but they are deserved through amazing designs, functionality and quality.
The Vessel Cool Caddy design is simpler than a full-fledged Vessel golf bag but it carries the hallmarks of Vessel quality.
From the materials to the stitching and the branded zipper pulls, the Cool Caddy’s quality lives up to the Vessel name. This thing is well built.
From the video, you know that not only will this keep beverages cold but it will also support your weight when you sit on it.
Like a Vessel golf bag, the Cool Caddy has a bunch of pockets for storing your gear. For a cooler, this could include snacks, mixers, sunscreen or something larger like pickleball paddles. If you are feeling it, throw in a couple of balls and a ball mark repair tool as well.
With the Vessel Cool Caddy, you could be the coolest sports parent.
Imagine how great the Vessel Cool Caddy would be at your next youth soccer match or family picnic. You’ll be the envy of all the other parents and will get more attention than the kids on the field.
If you tend to lean more cynical, it can serve as your silent protest that you would rather be golfing.
Does the Vessel Cool Caddy chill?
The cooling mechanism for the Vessel Cool Caddy is very interesting. Naturally, the bag part is just a modified Vessel den caddy design. To make it into a cooler, Vessel designed a novel internal cylinder system.
The cooler system is a sturdy plastic cylinder with a thick internal plastic bag. An additional internal lid seals the cylinder, sitting flush with the bottom of the zippered lid.
The volume of the internal cylinder is deceptively significant. Vessel says it will hold up to 24 12-ounce cans. I’m not sure if that number is with or without ice but there is ample space inside the Cool Caddy.
Look at how a one-gallon bag of ice almost disappears at the bottom of the cooler sleeve. It’ll hold a wine bottle or two without issue.
To test the cooling qualities of the Cool Caddy. I filled said gallon bag with ice and left the cooler outside for the afternoon. For reference, it was about 65F outside and the cooler was in the shade for the duration of the test.
After five hours or so, the ice had slightly melted. Not so much that there was excessive water in the bag. The ice had melted slightly and refrozen around the cubes, turning the individual cubes into one big frozen cube network.
Naturally, the cooler will face a greater challenge when the weather warms but I think that when packed with ice this summer, it will keep my adult sodas plenty cold as I lounge by someone’s pool.
Things that are not chill
I have two main concerns/cautions with the Vessel Cool Caddy.
First, the cooler may leak from the top if you set it on its side. The internal lid forms a tight seal on the cooling tube but I don’t think it is watertight. If your ice has melted and you pack it on its side in your trunk, water may run out.
I suggest pouring out excess water prior to transport or, better yet, don’t leave while there are still cans in the cooler.
The weak longevity link in the system may be the bag. If the internal compartment was made of rotomolded plastic with an airtight lid, the Cool Caddy would be walking in Yeti cooler pastures.
(Maybe Vessel will make that kind of insert as an additional option.)
As it stands, you need to protect the integrity of that bag. The bag is very thick but packing the cooler with knives, ice picks, corkscrews or lawn darts could prove problematic. Punctures will create leaks so be gentle with your Cool Caddy bag.
If you protect that bag when you pack and access the cooler, I see no reason why the Cool Caddy won’t last multiple summers.
If you should puncture the bag, a raft or tire patch may be enough to reseal the deal.
The Vessel Cool Caddy is a novel way to keep things cool
Do I love the Vessel Cool Caddy as much as my Player V stand bag? Of course not. That golf bag is an elite bag that brings all kinds of functionality to my rounds of golf.
The Vessel Cool Caddy is just a recreational beverage transport system but it is a fun one. In fact, it gets to go more places than my golf bag.
So far, I’ve brought the Cool Caddy to a picnic at a winery and a BBQ at a friend’s house. I’ve also used the shoulder strap to loop it over my back as I scooted off to the park on my e-bike.
In all situations, the Vessel Cool Caddy has proven to be a valuable addition to my beverage transport arsenal and it’s not even spring/summer yet!
At $199, it costs about the same as a medium Yeti soft-sided cooler. Keep an eye out for sales, though, as it was only $150 last Christmas.
The Yeti cooler may seal tighter but the Vessel Cool Caddy will work just as well for day trips and other short outings. Just keep it upright in the car.
On the plus side, the Cool Caddy has way more dry goods storage space than a Yeti Hopper 12 and you can sit on it without crushing it.
The golf panache of the Vessel Cool Caddy is unquantifiable.
If you are like me, you probably don’t need another cooler. However, if you have the compulsion to pick up a Vessel Cool Caddy, I wholeheartedly support that decision. It’s a great blend of fun and functional.
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