We’ve been fans of Oyster’s Tempo Cooler ever since it debuted in 2023. We immediately noted the similarities of Rimowa’s luggage, with its grooved aluminum shell bringing a fresh new design to the mostly-stagnate ice chest category. It was only a matter of time before the Norwegian brand gave us a follow-up.
From Oslo, Without Ice
Founded by CEO Ole Christian Sandberg and Chief Design Officer Ian Sandmæl, Oyster spent six years in R&D before the original Tempo ever hit the market. The brand’s core breakthrough was adapting 19th-century Dewar flask vacuum technology to a flat-walled rectangular cooler, something that sounds simple until you realize that flat vacuum panels want to collapse inward. Their solution was the patented DLTA system, a proprietary aluminum-silica sandwich wall construction that delivers roughly 600% better insulation than the foam- and polyurethane-lined coolers that still dominate the category. During our own testing, we were shocked at how much this was true.
The result is a cooler that doesn’t need ice at all and holds three times the internal volume of a comparably-sized traditional chest. The Tempo earned a nod from Popular Science’s 2023 “50 Greatest Innovations,” an iF Design Award, and a Core77 recognition.
The Pro Upgrade
For the upgraded Tempo Pro, the headline addition is an integrated lid display that shows you real-time internal temperature and ambient outside temperature simultaneously, readable in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. For everyday beach or camping use, that’s useful information to see if your food has still held up. It also serves as a sort of accountability for Oyster’s cold retention claims. And for the medical and scientific transport applications Oyster has quietly been eyeing since launch, it’s essential.
The display runs on a two-year battery life and flips into auto-sleep mode after 24 hours of inactivity to protect that longevity. There’s also a new IPX5 water-resistance rating. The lid itself is still fully removable.
The bones remain the same: wrought and cast aluminum construction, 23L/24-quart capacity, 36-can storage with two ice packs, and a 12.3-pound weight — which continues to be one of the more impressive stats in the premium cooler space when you factor in what you’re getting for it.
Spec Sheet
Model: Oyster Tempo Pro
External Dimensions: 20.1″ x 11.8″ x 12.6″
Internal Capacity: 23L; 36 cans + 2 ice packs
Weight: 12.3 lbs
Materials: Wrought & cast aluminum, fumed silica, foamed EVA, nylon
Display: Integrated lid; real-time internal + ambient temp (°F/°C)
Battery Life: 2 years; auto-sleep after 24 hours
Water Resistance: IPX5
Included: Cooler, carry strap, cotton canvas tote
Price: $550
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $550 ($75 more than the non-Pro model), the Oyster Tempo Pro is available now, though current stock is limited. Pre-orders are being accepted for a March delivery. Ice packs and the aluminum carry handle are sold separately.
Recap
Oyster Tempo Pro Cooler
Oyster finally gave its award-winning Tempo Cooler a proper follow-up with the Tempo Pro, and the big addition is a lid-mounted display that shows you real-time internal and external temperatures.
