YETI

Hopper Cooler

Product Design
Concept Prototyping
Development Support
Sourcing Strategy
Manufacturing Transfer

Working with YETI we helped reinvent a cooler category. Known for their ability to keep things cold for days, we were tasked with developing a rugged, soft-sided cooler to pair with the brand's standard-setting hard coolers. Our goal was to leverage our fluency across various material mediums and create a novel product solution with refined simplicity and functionality. Rethinking what a soft cooler could be embodied many of the unique design challenges we love about hybrid projects.

A man sitting on a large fallen log outdoors, in a rocky area with sparse vegetation, wearing outdoor clothing and a hat, petting a white dog, with fishing gear, a water bottle, and coolers nearby under a clear sky.
Fishing gear including a fishing rod, a tackle box, and a fishing reel resting on a white cooler amid tall grass by a calm body of water during daytime.
Person walking in a field with two dogs, carrying a cooler and backpacks, with mountains in the background.

Watch out hard, soft just totally upped its game.

Leveraging best-in-class thermal technology research alongside a robust sourcing audit, we had a great foundation to guide our concept exploration. From there, we developed a series of prototypes looking into various form factors, construction techniques, and key touch points. YETI’s relentless drive to deliver long-lasting and simple-to-use products shaped the final design and set the standard for the Hopper series. Many of our early ideas inspired the continued build-out of a broader soft cooler category for YETI.

Don’t judge a book cooler by its cover.

YETI coolers are known for being indestructible and keeping things really cold. The Hopper is no exception. Don’t let the soft sides fool you. We chose bomber fabrics and a fully bonded construction to lock in almost 2 inches of ColdCell insulation keeping your cans, bottles, and road trip snacks cold for days. It’s also waterproof, airtight, and constructed with the zippers found in survival suits and hazmat gear.

A 3D design of a backpack with separated parts on the left side and a 2D pattern layout with labeled components on the right side, displayed within design software.
A gray YETI soft cooler with black straps and handle, featuring a zippered lid and clip attachments on the sides.
A golf cart with a sleek design featuring a predominantly light gray body, black accents, and a black strap with blue stitching on the front. The cart has a built-in cup holder and a black strap with a hook for securing items. 
"Just returned from a week in Death Valley. Put a bag of ice in our YETI on Monday - returned on Saturday and had over half of the original bag of ice still frozen! Best cooler EVER!."

REI Review

 

Silhouette of three children jumping on a grassy hill at sunset, with a tree near the horizon and a clear sky.

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