Coolest Cooler shut down in December 2019 before fulfilling every Kickstarter reward. GeekWire reported that more than 20,000 backers never received a cooler; creator and CEO Ryan Grepper said the company had delivered 40,000. The project had raised $13,285,226 from 62,642 backers in 2014, making its collapse a stark example of how a crowdfunding pledge can fail to deliver the promised product.
What happened to the Coolest Cooler Kickstarter?
Coolest Cooler was a Kickstarter project led by creator Ryan Grepper. The campaign raised $13,285,226 from 62,642 backers in 2014. It promised a portable cooler packed with party features, including a blender and Bluetooth speaker; the campaign FAQ also listed a rechargeable battery, USB charging, a lid light, plates and utensils. Those were campaign descriptions, not independent performance findings. The campaign page said shipping would begin at the end of February 2015, with fulfillment potentially staggered.
Production and delivery stretched on for years. Coolest announced in December 2019 that it was winding down, leaving thousands of backers without the reward they had funded. GeekWire’s shutdown report quoted Kickstarter saying that one third of backers would not receive the promised reward.
How many backers received a cooler—and how many did not?
GeekWire reported that more than 20,000 backers did not receive a reward. In his shutdown email, Grepper said 40,000 coolers had been delivered to backers. Those figures come from separate statements in the 2019 report; they are not an independently audited final accounting.
#1 Best Overall
- Tackle sand & other challenging terrain with the superior traction & ground clearance of 10-inch, never-flat, smooth-ride wheels
- Pull your load 50% easier thanks to the comfort & leverage of our horizontal dual-trigger steel Glide handle that has locking & telescoping functions
- Cool Riser Technology improves cooling performance by elevating cooler body away from hot surfaces
- Removable butler tray placed on the telescoping handle provides an ideal space for serving food & drinks (& stores away under the lid when not in use)
- Spacious 70-quart capacity fits up to 112 cans
The figures show the scale of the shortfall against the campaign’s 62,642 backers, but they should not be treated as a precise reconciliation of every pledge and delivery. The campaign’s total backer count is from Kickstarter, while the delivery and non-delivery counts were reported by GeekWire from the creator and its reporting.
Why did Coolest Cooler shut down?
Grepper attributed the closure to a combination of manufacturing and cost problems, debt, and US tariffs on goods imported from China. In the shutdown email, he said tariffs on many such imports had risen from 10% to 25% and affected the Coolest product line. He also cited manufacturing strikes abroad, recalls, costs exceeding Kickstarter pledges, debt, and attempts to sell additional products.
Rank #2
- FROSTVAULT TECHNOLOGY: Cold transfers into FrostVault Dry Zone to keep food cool, dry and separate at food-safe temperatures (under 40° F) for days
- PREMIUM ICE RETENTION: Holds ice for days to keep up with any adventure
- HIGH CAPACITY: 45-quart capacity fits up to 68 cans (no ice) or 40 cans + ice.
- ALL-TERRAIN WHEELS: All-terrain wheels are ultra durable, puncture resistant, and all-weather capable
- SMARTER PACKING: Easily pack food without transferring to secondary watertight containers and keep drinks and food completely separate
That is the company’s stated explanation, reproduced by GeekWire, not an independently audited account of Coolest’s finances. The report does not establish how much each factor contributed to the failure.
How did the timeline diverge from the promise?
| Milestone | What was reported |
|---|---|
| 2014 campaign | Kickstarter recorded $13,285,226 pledged by 62,642 backers. Kickstarter also described it at the time as the most-funded project, with $13.3 million raised over 52 days. Campaign page; Kickstarter’s 2014 account. |
| Target shipping | The campaign FAQ said shipping would begin at the end of February 2015, potentially in stages. Campaign page. |
| November 2015 status | GeekWire reported that Coolest said it had shipped 35,000 coolers to Kickstarter backers and had about 25,000 remaining, while arranging Amazon sales for a set quantity. These were contemporaneous company-reported figures, not a final audited count. GeekWire, November 2015. |
| December 2019 shutdown | Coolest announced it was winding down. Grepper said it could not keep operating or fulfill outstanding orders. GeekWire reported more than 20,000 backers without rewards. GeekWire, December 2019. |
What recourse did backers have?
The shutdown report said remaining inventory would be liquidated to pay creditors. Some eligible backers might qualify for up to $20 under a 2017 agreement with the Oregon Department of Justice. GeekWire described an affected reward tier as costing $185 plus $15 shipping and handling. The reported payment was limited, was not a full refund, and the report did not establish whether all eligible backers ultimately received it.
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- 【Extra Large Capacity】 Size: 14.6” x 11” x 8.5”. Expanded size: 14.6” x 11” x 11.8”. Different foods can be placed on the upper and lower layers to prevent food from being piled up and squeezed. This cooler bag is large enough to store 60 cans of 330ml beverages, meeting all storage needs of a team under 12. Includes a bottle opener attached to this bag
- 【Three Ways to Carry】 Comes with side handles and a removable shoulder strap, this cooler bag can be carried by two people together, worn over the shoulder, or hand-carried by one person
- 【Collapsible Design】This portable cooler is suitable for beach, camping, hiking, travel, shopping, kayaking and road trips. You can fold this leak-proof cooler to save space
- 【100% Leak-proof & Insulated】Stay cold for 24 hours. This cooler bag consists of 5 layers, such as waterproof coating on the surface, oxford material, waterproof PVC layer, insulated foam and food-grade PEVA material. 5 layers design keeps drinks cold or warm longer. Adopts seamless hot pressing technology, ensuring 100% leakproof performance
- 【Not Easy to Deform】 Features a hard pad at the bottom and thickened insulated foam on all sides to keep the cooler bag upright. No deformation occurs even when fully loaded
GeekWire also reported that Coolest coolers appeared on eBay and other resale sites. That does not establish current availability, and a resale listing would not fulfill a Kickstarter reward or provide a general remedy to backers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Kickstarter say about the failure?
Kickstarter told GeekWire that “Kickstarter is a home for creative projects” and that “there’s always a risk in creating something new.” It said one third of backers would not receive their promised reward, described efforts to improve creator transparency and planning, and acknowledged that risk could not be fully eliminated. The platform’s statement framed the project as a reminder that crowdfunding is not the same as buying an in-stock product.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- ICE RETENTION: TempLock insulation keeps drinks ice cold or keep hot drinks hot.48 Hours Ice Retention. Enough for a whole day Outdoor activities.
- PORTABLE: Protable handle makes the cooler easy to carry with one hand to outdoor places such as the wilderness, mountains, plains, lakes, and beaches. ALso could be use in your home garden for Party.
- QUICK-CLEAN TOP: The beautiful and atmospheric exterior design perfectly caters to fashionistas, while dynamic music enhances the atmosphere of outdoor activities and parties..Smoother surface wipes down easily.
- DRINKS FOR ALL: 22 Quarts for drinks, fruits an ice. The large capacity is sufficient to hold the beer, beverages, etc. needed by 3-5 people.
- Bluetooth Speaker： link with your cellphone for music， for Party，for camping. Fully charged, it can work for 2-4 hours.Then You can recharge it.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
