For those that want a cooler that does more than just sitting around and holding ice, the CUDDY Crawler Cooler may be for you. I got to test out this innovative product, an item I didn’t even know existed two months ago. But, one curious Amazon search brought me to the GoSports Outdoors page where I found it, the CUDDY Crawler.
Now, I want to start this article out with full transparency. There are product links in this article. I will not make a penny from them, these are not affiliate links, but they are links to the product to make it easier for you to find. I was provided this cooler, for free, by the P&P Imports Team at my request to do a review. That being said, this is an honest review, not an ad. You will see the positives and the negatives of this product below.
Discovering the crawling, floating cooler, the CUDDY Crawler
This article and product review exists because of Clearwater Beach, FL. On a visit earlier this summer I went to this gorgeous west coast Florida location with the basic supplies: suntan lotion, an insulated cup, a UV resistant hat and a camping fold-out chair. While we had a blast, it felt that a better prepared day could have enhanced the visit. Being in Florida midsummer, it was hot (as expected), so a lot of the time was spent in the waves.
With a day in the high 80’s, I was mostly in the water. That is when I had the thought, “I wish there was a floating cooler I could take out here.” One Amazon search later and I found some options. There are smaller buoy looking models and a lot of inflatables. But the vibrant, orange CUDDY stood out to me.
It had wheels (essential to me for the car to beach transport), it promised to stay afloat easily and stated it could hold a lot of drinks and ice. I decided to reach out to the P&P Imports Team and see if I could put this model to the test. A few weeks later I was back at that same beach with a neon orange cooler.
CUDDY Crawler – car to beach test
The CUDDY Crawler is described as a 24.7 pound, High Density Polyethylene cooler with four cup holders, detachable wheels and dual walled insulation. Be aware, you can buy the CUDDY as is without the Crawler attachment (the wheels). There is also a version built to stick to the deck of a boat. Take note of these differences when buying your product.
It’s hard to enjoy a cooler at the beach if you can’t fit it. With wheels and straps attached, it easily fit in the trunk of the standard size Tesla Model Y. Outside of very small trunks, this cooler should fit in most vehicles. The exact dimensions are: 39″D x 10″W x 23″H. There are two thick and padded handle straps, one on each end, that made it possible for me to grab the cooler out of the trunk, by myself, while the cooler was mostly filled with ice and drinks.
Sandy wheels and weight distribution
The “crawler” part of the CUDDY Crawler are the high density polyethylene, strap on wheels. These slot into the cooler then velcro strap onto each side. It took me less than 3 minutes to install them and that was first-time orientation with the product. These wheels make pulling the CUDDY Crawler very easy and only gave me some difficulty when I reached deep, soft sand. They had no issues with compact sand, dirt, sidewalk or even floating around in the ocean for an hour. It is recommended that you wash them off after time in the salt water.
I used the CUDDY Crawler as my cooler and my transportation device for the day. I put numerous bags and towels on top of it. Most of it stayed put, but I did have a moment when items slipped off and I had to fix it. I am going to purchase the Cargo Net Kit for my next trip so I can stack more on top. It’s a cooler with wheels, not a U-Haul, so it isn’t advertised as being built for external transport. But even still, I managed to stack a fair amount of items on top with little issue.
My biggest issue was dragging the cooler through the last bit of sand into the water. The fine, powdery sand did cause a bit of dragging before we came to the compact sand near the water’s edge. The CUDDY Crawler Amazon listing states, “Use on dirt, concrete, packed sand, and more (works best on hard surfaces); Leave the wheels on the cooler during stationary floating, or remove in seconds for kayak towing.” It isn’t advertised as being built for soft sand, but I wanted to mention that anyway.
CUDDY Crawler – beach into water test
Next came the important moment, dragging a cooler into the ocean. I won’t lie, you will get a lot of stares doing this. I imagine half of the crowd is confused, the other half is jealous. Seen above, I put a large, insulated cup in the cup holder and went right in. While the CUDDY rocked through the waves it never lost the cup nor capsized.
The “Flow Tow” Hull design did help with cutting through the waves and made pulling it really easy. While I did not test this function, it is also advertised as being pulled behind a kayak. With the included straps and carabiners, I do believe this would be fairly easy to use. While not recommended as a safety floatation device, I did fully grasp onto it as a float test. Even as a 225 pound guy holding on to float, I did not sink the device and I barely seemed to disturb it.
The waves on Florida’s Gulf Coast are smaller than those you would expect in the Atlantic or Pacific. But, I wouldn’t recommend any type of similar device for large waves. For the calmer water, the CUDDY Crawler had no problem. I waded out into the water and used the 6′ Tow Strap to keep it nearby. You could also use this strap to attach to a boat, a kayak or a log on a river. The strap and carabiners are high quality and felt very sturdy.
Ease of use | Pros & Cons
My favorite part of the CUDDY Crawler is that it is just simple. Two big lids, held on by t-latches, a set of wheels that velcro and lock in and four cup holders. This isn’t a complex device, which made it easy to understand and clean.
Pros:
- Very easy to use: the design is easy to use, understand and clean
- Sturdy, high-quality design: this product looks and feels really high quality, it felt secure even when tethered and floating in the waves
- Very easy to assemble: after first-use I was able to detach and reattach the wheels in under 60 seconds
- Works well in water: the hull design easily cuts through water and floats well
Cons:
- Price: for the CUDDY with the Crawler wheel attachment, the product is $300, which puts it in the higher range of pricing for cooler
- Storage compared to size: the hull design helps with floating, but it also cuts down on extra room that cube-shaped coolers could use
Ice cold drinks for hours and hours
If you are someone who is trying to keep your drinks ice cold for 3+ days on end, the CUDDY Crawler may not be for you. The Amazon listing states that ice will be retained for 12-48 hours. As seen above, we had lots of ice, even after a 13 hour day consisting of 95º Fahrenheit temperatures, direct sunlight, pulling the CUDDY Crawler though warm water, opening it numerous times for tests and leaving it in a hot car for over 2 hours.
As a day trip cooler, I am confident this product can meet your needs. The wheel design and the ability to put it in water was the winning aspect to me. Being able to wade out in the water and pop-open a cooler full of crisp, cold sodas, waters and oranges (a perfect beach snack) was fantastic. While this cooler might not fit every need, I think it excels at the situations you would purchase it for.
During a future trip I plan to use the CUDDY Crawler as a “command post,” a place to keep items cold and even bring a dry bag to place phones in. With the netting on top and cold air inside, this one product could carry items for me, keep my devices cool, offer up fresh beverages and be a vibrant orange marker for those looking to find our party at the beach. There are different color options, but for my usage I think the orange is the best option. If you want to get your own, you can head to the Amazon listing.
