You might not be able to reinvent the wheel, but Oyster has reinvented the cooler. Photo: Steve Andrews/The Inertia
Hot days and ice don’t go together well. No matter how well your cooler insulates, ice melts eventually, leaving you with nothing but tepid water and potentially soggy sandwiches. Cold packs are one solution, but they can be bulky and take up too much space in the already-limited interior compartments of double-walled coolers. Now, with the Oyster Tempo ($605), we have a cooler that was designed with cold packs in mind from the start.
Using aluminum and vacuum sealing, the Oyster folks claim it’s superior to plastic coolers. But we didn’t want to take their word for it. So we tested those claims to see just how well the Oyster Tempo worked.
Related: Best Coolers | Best Beach Coolers | Best Soft Coolers | Best Backpack Coolers
| Pros | Cons |
| Sleek design | Expensive |
| Easy to carry | Exterior not as durable as plastic |
| No ice needed for long-term chill | Only available in one size |
The Oyster Tempo Cooler: First Impressions
Made of high-quality aluminum, the Oyster Tempo has a sleek, almost space-age aesthetic with an undeniable cool factor. It’s not large, so one person can easily carry it with either the metal handle or the included shoulder strap.
The cooler comes with two cold packs, which Oyster says were developed to be slightly less cold than other packs. This is to prevent the Oyster Tempo’s contents from freezing. Yes, you heard that right. Oyster says that traditional cold packs get so cold — and the Oyster is so efficient — that using regular cold packs would freeze your drinks solid.
A few assembly steps are needed, but the included diagram is simple enough that it’s not too difficult to put together.
Another key factor of the Oyster Tempo is that it can open from either end. The lid also comes off entirely which helps for easy cleaning. Once I put the cold packs inside, the temperature dropped pretty quickly.
But performance is the true test — especially as Oyster promotes the Tempo as a “performance” cooler. Did it stand up to the test? Does it really keep things cold for longer?
From what I’ve tested, that’s an unequivocal yes.
Check Price on OysterOyster Tempo Notable Features
Construction: double-walled vacuum-sealed aluminum
Capacity: 24 cans (with cooling packs or ice), 36 cans with no cooling material
Cold Time: 72 hours+
Needed Cooling Material: Oyster proprietary ice packs
The main feature of this cooler is the material. Because it uses vacuum-sealed two-layer aluminum, it has much more interior space than a similarly sized two-layer plastic cooler. I could fit a 24-pack and some lunch containers with room to spare, and yet the whole size was small enough to carry one-handed. If you were using just cans, a 36-pack could work well, no problem.
I tested the cooler’s insulation properties at room temperature, indoors, and out of the sun, so keep that in mind. But still, drinks stayed impressively cold for 72 hours and cool to the touch for at least a week. That is an impressive performance.
Another big feature with the Oyster is the removable lid which allows you to open from either end. This is a huge bonus both when cleaning or if in a tight space (such as a boat) where people need to get in from both sides, but trying to do the ol’ reach across might be awkward. It is one of those features that I didn’t realize I’d use as much as I did, but helps a ton when space is limited.
Oyster Tempo Drawbacks
The big elephant in the room is the price — at over $600, the Oyster Tempo costs a pretty penny compared to a plastic cooler, even the rotomolded ones that are much more durable. It’s a premium price for a new type of design that is part fashion statement, no doubt. But as I noted, it’s also the real deal when it comes to superior cold retention.
So, if you’re on a budget and don’t need something to stay cold for more than, say, a couple of days, this might be a bit too much bang for your hard-earned bucks. But if you really, really need maximum performance, you might find the cost worth it.
The other main drawback comes in the aluminum construction. For those who like a clean, unfettered appearance, you might have some issues with how easily dented and scratched this cooler can get. Oyster does have a lifetime warranty that is worthy of a double take. Since the unit is fully recyclable, they say that if it’s damaged to the point it affects performance, you can send it in to be replaced.
But on the cosmetic side of things, if you don’t want it to look like it’s been around the block and then some after heavy use, a more rigid plastic cooler might be what you’re after. However, others may see the dents as a badge of honor so it really depends on what your style is at the end of the day.
Three days later and the contents are still cold. There were 21 cans inside with plenty of room to spare. Photo: Steve Andrew/The Inertia
Final Thoughts on the Oyster Tempo
The Oyster Tempo Performance Cooler truly lives up to the “performance” in its name. It allows for unparalleled cold retention and the ability to just throw your contents in without having to pre-chill the cooler like the plastic coolers always recommend in the fine print. After testing it, I can safely say that it does the job well, and it’s much easier to carry than coolers of similar capacity that need to be filled with ice.
So, if you have the cash and want to avoid the messes that melting ice can cause, the ice-free design will be a welcome one. Throw ice in, and you’ll have a cooler that keeps its contents cool for at least a week. That’s pretty awesome. The aluminum design will give a bit of a novelty factor at parties and camping excursions, but it’s more than a pretty face. It really does work well — perhaps so well that most people can meet their cooler needs with a less performance-oriented — and cheaper — alternative. But for long trips, fishing excursions, or any other situation where warm and wet cooler contents just won’t cut it, the Oyster Tempo is a true champion.
Check Price on OysterEditor’s Note: A cooler is an essential piece of beach gear. Check out more of our cooler reviews: The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler, the Brumate MagPack Soft Cooler, and Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler are great starting points! For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
The Best Beach Coolers of 2025
