You can go to any beach, campsite or worksite and you’re sure to find Pelican products of some type. Pelican has been around forever and has built a following due to their dependable product line that spans from coolers to hard cases and flashlights, bags, gun cases and even drinkware. In fact, you can fully supply your camping trip or beach vacation with Pelican products.
Pelican stands out above their competition because they stand behind their products. They guarantee their craftsmanship and will work with you if one happens to break. Community involvement is high on the company’s list and they’ve done a terrific job at building, providing resources to communities and fostering positive relationships with local communities. You could also say that Pelican believes in sustainability due to their efforts to eliminate and reduce waste at their facilities and by developing products that last forever and reduce the need for replacements. You’ve probably heard people say that Pelican is on equal footing with Yeti and costs less – we agree with that statement.
Our team has used Pelican Products for years and have taken them into some of the harshest environments to test their durability and efficiency. We’ve used them extensively in the field for both fun and work and have come to the conclusion that Pelican Products are some of the toughest and hardest working outdoor items that you will find. Plus, you can get them at a great price that won’t drain your bank account.
Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make your purchase decision and save money while doing it. We are giving you access to our extensive field testing and review protocols so you can buy the best product for your needs. We’ve included a wide range of Pelican Products in every category that will keep your wallet full and improve your outdoor adventures.
Coolers (Hard and Soft)
Pelican Elite Coolers with Wheels (45L/80L) – Pelican.com
If you’re looking for an indestructible camp cooler that has tons of features – the Pelican Elite Cooler with Wheels is right up your alley. Talk about durability, the Pelican Elite line of coolers have earned a nod from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee stating they are in fact bear resistant. Huge relief if you encounter bears often, and if not, it is still a testament to the toughness of this hard cooler. Ruggedness aside, the Pelican Elite coolers have amazing ice retention and will keep ice for up to 10 days in hot weather which is plenty for most uses. To this day I’ve never needed that much ice retention, but it’s great to know that it’s there if needed. You could say this is a survival camp cooler due to the specs and maneuverability thanks to the wheels and handle.
The wheels on this thing are huge and have plenty of ground clearance. I know I’ve strained plenty of muscles dragging a hard cooler full to the brim across sandy beaches – big wheels such as those on the Pelican Elite Cooler would have made a huge difference, but you live and learn and young men don’t worry as much about weight, but you change your outlook as you get older. If you’re curious about the whole Pelican vs. Yeti debate, simply look at the stats on this cooler and do a comparison. I would be willing to bet that a side-by-side test would show that each cooler is relatively on the same level in most categories and the Pelican costs less. Just our two cents.
Pelican 50 Quart Elite Cooler – Pelican.com
The best camping cooler is one that fits all of your needs such as ample room, great ice retention, sturdy latches, and overall toughness. The Pelican 50 Quart Elite Coolers ticks all the boxes and is a great choice for a family cooler that can feed and keep everyone hydrated at the beach, camp or backyard gathering. As a side-note, you can use the top of the cooler as a table with four self-draining cup holders, but it’s also tough enough to cut on, sit on, stand on and can a hungry bear attack.
While no cooler is perfect, the Pelican Elite Cooler is pretty close, especially at this price range. If you’re like me and like to have an assortment of colors, you’re in luck. The two and three-tone color configurations make these cooler more interesting and fun. I personally like the gray/green and cool blue/gray models, but they’re all attractive. Put a wire basket inside and you’ve got yourself an organized hard cooler that’s perfect for any outing or adventure. We chose the 50 QT cooler because it’s the right size for a family, but they also come in 20, 30 and 70-quart sizes.
Pelican 20 Quart Elite Cooler – Pelican.com
Sometimes all you need is a personal-sized cooler to get the job done. 20 Quarts is the right size for a lunch date or a morning on the beach. Large coolers take up too much space on a road trip, but the Pelican 20QT Elite cooler can hold plenty of food and drinks while you put miles under the wheels. The tall and thin design is not only perfect for carrying your car, but can also accommodate 3 wine bottles which is a great feature for wine drinkers.
Often compared to the Yeti Roadie, this Pelican cooler gives you plenty of bang for your buck and doesn’t cost a fortune. Made to last and extremely durable, the Pelican Elite 20QT is our pick for road trips, lunch breaks and unplanned trips to the beach. I like the fact that you can choose from an assortment of colors, I’m partial to the Cool Blue/Gray and the Seafoam Blue, but they all look amazing!
Pelican Dayventure Backpack Soft Cooler – Pelican.com
If you haven’t tried a backpack cooler you are missing out! The Pelican Dayventure combines the ease of carrying a backpack with the ruggedness of a Pelican cooler. There’s nothing better than being able to carry your food and drink hands-free while using your arms for other tasks. Backpack soft coolers are especially useful at the beach or campsite. I usually end up walking half a mile across the beach before my family chooses the perfect spot and a backpack cooler allows me to carry the chairs and umbrella at the same time. Call it a timesaver and soft cooler all rolled into one. It’s also highly effective on a hiking trip, especially when one person carries the Pelican Dayventure while the others carry tents, sleeping bags and other camping gear. The Dayventure backpack cooler holds 19 quarts which is plenty for most outings.
Pelican Cooler Sling – Pelican.com
Similar to the full-size Dayventure, the Pelican Cooler Sling offers an easy way to carry ice on your back while freeing up your hands. Simply load it up with your favorite drinks and sling it over your shoulder. If you’re like me and live in an area where everything is an hour away, a soft cooler such as this one really comes in handy. In fact, I use soft cooler in my vehicle to keep from buying drinks and food while on the road. It’s all too tempting to spend money on sodas everytime you stop for gas and the Pelican Sling soft cooler can actually save you money by loading up on drinks you purchased in a store rather than the gas station. We all know the markup on road trip food is astronomical and you can save a ton of money by brown-bagging it, or in this case, loading up a travel soft cooler before you hit the road. Pelican fully stands behind their products and offers a Lifetime warranty on its items. The Pelican Dayventure Sling Cooler holds 9 quarts and makes the perfect road trip buddy.
Pelican Hard Cases (Protective)
Camera Cases
These Pelican camera cases have been tested extensively in the field and are some of the toughest you will find and offer considerable customization options. Pro Tip: You can use Pelican camera cases for other professions and hobbies and you can fly with them.
Pelican Air 1615 Camera Case with (Foam, No Foam, Trekpack Dividers) – Pelican.com
While we chose the Pelican Air Case 1615, the brand line comes in multiple sizes and color configurations depending no what you need to protect your gear. Personal customization is key when choosing the best hard case for your tools of the trade and Pelican Air Cases give you what you want. No matter your profession or camera configuration, there’s an Air Case with your name on it. Choose from No Foam, Pick N Pluck Foam, Padded Dividers and TrekPak Dividers to organize your gear exactly how you want it. Personally, I like the TrekPak Divider option because it allows you to fully kit out your hard case and have everything in its own space. Technical gear is expensive and you have to do what you can to protect it and extend it’s life cycle. The Pelican Air Case does a superb job at protecting your expensive gear from drops, bumps and scrapes to protect your investment. Did we mention you can fly with the Pelican Air Case? Many people use this case for airline travel and utilize the foam dividers to protect camera equipment or other instruments.
Pelican Hard Gun Cases
Pelican hard gun cases have proven themselves through years of heavy-duty use all over the world. These are the best of the best to protect your rifles and handguns.
Pelican Protector 1700 Series Rifle Cases – Pelican.com
Whether you’re a hunter or just enjoy shooting guns, you need a dependable hard case to secure your guns while traveling. It only makes sense to buy a rifle hard case that can take a beating and keep protecting your rifles. In fact, the Pelican Protector Series hard cases are crushproof, dustproof and watertight because you honestly have no idea what you will encounter on a hunting trip or while traveling with your rifles. If you’re going to splurge on a hard rifle case, we recommend the Pelican Protector 1700 Series Rifle Cases.
Pelican Backpacks
Whether you’re hiking, attending college or just need a weatherproof daily bag, Pelican has what you need.
Pelican MPB 35 Mobile Protect Backpack – Pelican.com
If you’re the type that spends a lot of time walking around outdoors, you need a weatherproof backpack. I could have used the Pelican Mobile Protect Backpack when I attended college and regularly got myself and my supplies drenched while walking back and forth to class. If you’re looking for the perfect in-between backpack for hiking or commuting to work or school – this is the one.
Pelican S130 Sport Elite Camera Backpack – Amazon.com
Protecting your camera equipment should always be your top concern, especially when choosing a camera pack. The Pelican S130 Sport Elite was designed with your needs in mind. When protection is your priority, you can rest knowing Pelican has your back. At first glance you can tell this is a tough backpack that will protect your goods from the elements. It literally has a rigid front plate that protects from bumps and impact that could destroy your electronics. The padded dividers are perfect for organizing your camera gear, but the cool part is you can remove the divider to gain access to 25L of storage space. Versatility is key when choosing a backpack and you want to have as many options as possbile. It also features a built-in laptop case which is essential for any photographer, student or other professions.
Pelican Drinkware
Pelican makes a wide assortment of drinkware such as insulated bottles and tumblers that are perfect for outdoor use and compare to Yeti.
Pelican Insulated Bottle (18, 32, 64oz.) – Pelican.com
Insulated bottles are the way to go if you spend time outside or on the road commuting back and forth to work. The last thing you want is for your cold drink to warm up too quickly while you’re on the road or your coffee to cool down before you’ve had a chance to drink it. The Pelican Insulated Bottle is comparable to Yeti’s lineup of bottles and costs a few dollars less per ounce. Nothing wrong with saving a few bucks, especially when both items are comparable in quality.
Pelican Dayventure Tumbler (10, 16 and 22oz.) – Pelican.com
Hot days outside require double-wall insulated tumblers to keep your favorite drinks hot or cold all day. The Pelican Dayventure Tumbler is the perfect addition to your daily carry and excels at keeping your drinks fresh and ready to drink no matter the temperature outside. This is a no-nonsense stainless-steel, vacuum insulated, cup that features a locking lid and sweat-proof finish that will keep your hands dry. This tumbler is built to last.
Pelican Flashlights
Whether you need an EDC flashlight, tactical flashlight, spotlight, headlamp or penlight – Pelican has a flashlight for you.
Pelican 7610 Tactical Flashlight – Pelican.com
If you’re a fan of the ruggedness of Pelican cases, the Pelican 7060 flashlight is tailor-made for you. I know that’s a bold claim for a flashlight, but the 7060 goes above and beyond what most people require in a flashlight. Not only does it produce an incredibly bright light, but it also features rear and side buttons to give you plenty of options to turn it on. You can even program the illumination pattern to fit the task at hand and the charger is made with quality materials. If you’re in the market for a great patrol flashlight with dual switch technology – this is what you need.
Pelican 7600 Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight – Pelican.com
If you’re looking for a robust flashlight that can handle the day-to-day – the Pelican 7600 tactical flashlight checks all the boxes. This is what you get when a company combines the latest technology with an incredibly powerful and compact design. In fact, this tactical flashlight hits 944 Lumens with 3 LED colors to make one of the most versatile flashlights by Pelican. Featuring the ability to choose multiple modes such as low, medium, high and strobe is a great feature that you should always look for when choosing a tactical flashlight. It even has 5 personalized programs that you can use for even more customization. Not only is the Pelican 7600 tough as nails, but it’s also IPX8 submersible which makes this an even easier choice.
Pelican 2785 Headlamp – Pelican.com
If you often find yourself trying to balance your flashlight so you can see – it’s time to get yourself a headlamp. Hands-free is the name of the game when it comes to illumination when you also need to use both hands. Slip a headlamp on and you’re ready to rock and roll. The Pelican 2785 Headlamp features an extra strap that goes over the top of your head that keeps it stabilized. I’ve used countless headlamps that simply wrapped around my head and it was always a challenge to keep the light pointed where I needed it, especially if the light part was heavy. You don’t want your headlamp to droop into your face and this headlamp alleviates that issue. On top of the awesome fit, the 2785 features a bright light with up to 215 Lumens in high mode and throws a beam up to 108 meters. That’s plenty for most jobs in the middle of the night.
Pelican 9415 Safety Flashlight – Pelican.com
We call this one the “Boss” because it takes care of business. The Pelican 9415 will knock your socks off with a super bright LED beam that produces 588 Lumens. It’s a beast of a safety flashlight with a multi-movement lamp to help you see into tight spots. In fact, the 9415 is Safety Certified at Class 1, Division 1 which makes it the perfect choice for the workshop or jobsite. It’s rechargeable and comes with a carrying strap.
Jerome is an avid outdoorsman who moonlights as an attorney when he’s not creating the world’s greatest online content.