Brandwave

Pelican vs YETI:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, YETI had more branded searches than Pelican among backpack cooler brands worldwide. YETI had about 33,100 branded searches, while Pelican had 18,400. YETI made up 2.3% of all backpack cooler brand searches we track, and Pelican accounted for 1.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about backpack cooler brands, YETI appeared in four of the five answers and Pelican in none.

Among backpack cooler brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

YETI, about 80% more searches than Pelican

YETI 33.1K searchesPelican 18.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

YETI, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Pelican in 0

YETI in 4 of 5Pelican in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

YETI, the only one of the two named

YETI first in 4Pelican never named

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Top backpack cooler brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, YETI was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Pelican did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. YETI1st
  2. Hydro Flask2nd
  3. RTIC3rd
  4. Igloo4th
  5. Columbia–
  6. Coleman–
  7. Corkcicle–
  8. Pelican–
  9. Carhartt–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Hydro Flask4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • YETI4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • RTIC3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Igloo1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Columbia0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Coleman0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Corkcicle0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Pelican0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Carhartt0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about backpack cooler brands

5 answers
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which backpack cooler brand should I buy?”

    1. 1YETI
    2. 2RTIC
    3. 3Hydro Flask
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best backpack cooler brands?”

    1. 1YETI
    2. 2Hydro Flask
    3. 3RTIC
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best backpack cooler brand for day trips?”

    1. 1Hydro Flask
    2. 2YETI
    3. 3RTIC
    4. 4Igloo
  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “best backpack cooler”

    1. 1YETI
    2. 2Hydro Flask
  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “insulated backpack cooler”

    Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

    Is Pelican or YETI more popular in search?

    This chart shows how often people search Google for Pelican and YETI by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine backpack cooler brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

    Pelican and YETI among backpack cooler brands worldwide, by month

    Share of searches by month for YETI, Pelican. The figures are in the table below the chart.

    View monthly share of searches table
    MonthHydro FlaskColumbiaRTICColemanIglooCorkcicleYETIPelicanCarhartt
    Oct 202533.7%22.4%12.3%15.1%6%8.3%1.4%0.75%0.04%
    Nov 202530%33.5%12.3%11%3.6%7.4%1.5%0.67%0.04%
    Dec 202530.7%31.8%12.6%11.2%3.7%7.5%1.8%0.56%0.06%
    Jan 202634%28.8%9.2%15.2%4.1%6.8%1.1%0.62%0.05%
    Feb 202635%23.3%11.5%15.6%5.2%7%1.4%0.79%0.07%
    Mar 202632.9%16.1%14.7%18%8.9%6.6%1.6%1.1%0.06%
    Apr 202630.2%13.5%15.1%16.5%14.2%7.4%1.8%1.2%0.06%
    May 202628%11.4%20.9%15.3%13.6%6.8%2.5%1.4%0.05%
    Jun 202626.5%10%24.2%14.5%13.1%6.5%3.6%1.6%0.06%
    Jul 202631.3%9.7%20.8%14%12.8%6.3%3.4%1.6%0.06%
    Aug 202637.5%11.6%16.7%13.7%10.2%6.1%2.8%1.3%0.06%
    Sep 202631.6%17.2%15.4%14.1%10.3%7.7%2.3%1.3%0.06%

    How has the Pelican and YETI comparison changed over the last 12 months?

    3 findings
    • YETI was ahead of Pelican in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pelican’s share of searches among backpack cooler brands worldwide moved from 0.75% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.3K to 18.4K.
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, YETI’s share of searches among backpack cooler brands worldwide moved from 1.4% to 2.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 33.1K.

    How did search popularity change for backpack cooler brands worldwide in September 2026?

    2 changes
    1. YETI’s share of searches among backpack cooler brands worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 3.6% to 2.3% in September 2026.

    2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Pelican worldwide rose 49.1% over 12 measured months, from 12.3K to 18.4K in September 2026.

    How are branded searches counted?

    4 search terms

    Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pelican’s and YETI’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

    Pelican

    3 branded search terms

    • pelican backpack cooler
    • pelican cooler
    • pelican cooler box

    YETI

    1 branded search term

    • yeti backpack cooler

    How the Brand Demand Index is measured

    Other head-to-heads among backpack cooler brands

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