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Correcting the Many Design Flaws of the Standard Water Cooler

RTIC designers considered multiple human factors

By Rain Noe - August 14, 2023

in Human Factors

The standard rotomolded water cooler is a staple of summer camps, sports practices, barbecues and campsites. A simple and useful object. But: Name the central design flaw.

To me, the central design flaw (at least when using these as a host) is there's no easy way to see how much is left inside. I'll typically tip it to one side, and try to envision how full/empty it is based on the amount of resistance. Unscrewing the top is another option, but time-consuming.

Manufacturer RTIC Outdoors solves the problem with their Halftime Water Cooler. There's a transparent window on the front. Design 101.

But, they didn't stop there, and made more design improvements. The lid doesn't required unscrewing, but is quick-release with two latches.

There are two taps at the bottom rather than one, reducing wait times for the line of thirsty people.

The overall form is cubic rather than cylindrical, which makes a lot more sense for transportation; the RTIC cooler earns its footprint, rather than creating dead space around it in a packed minivan.

It's also 30% lighter than the rotomolded cylindrical incumbents.

Good design costs more, of course. A standard cylindrical 5-gallon water cooler will cost you $30 at the big box stores. RTIC's version holds 6 gallons, but costs five times as much, at $150. You get what you pay for.

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Don Salerno

a year ago

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Just slip your baseball bat through the strap and easy peezy for two people…

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Nick T

a year ago

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Looks like they forgot to make carrying the full container user-friendly.

From the pictures, it looks like if you were carrying it by those long handles the cooler would hang between your legs and you wouldn't be able to pick it up high enough to walk easily, much less set it on a table or counter.

The website says it's to make it easier for 2 people to carry but carrying 50+ lbs between 2 long straps fixed at the same point is not very enjoyable.

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- Scott Carpenter
  
  Nick T
  
  a year ago
  
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  Is it possible the top of the square recess, just above the strap attachment, also functions as a handle?
  
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