Going the Distance: How AO Coolers is Tackling Tariffs While Championing American-Made

Hey AO Crew – we want to talk directly to you about something affecting our gear and your adventures.

If you've been following the news, you know those import tariffs have been hitting the outdoor industry hard. For our imported soft-sided coolers, we're now facing a massive 177% duty rate – and while we patiently waited for this situation to be resolved, it doesn't appear to be coming to a close anytime soon.

What does this mean for your summer shopping spree? Our 24-pack Carbon Cooler's current price of $122.91 already includes the previous 45% tariff rate. However, we've temporarily halted importing these coolers due to the  new 125% tariff increase. If we were to import them now, the price would need to jump to $172.07. Trust us when we say we're shouldering a good chunk of these tariffs ourselves because we know great gear shouldn't break the bank.

Here's our promise: When these tariffs drop, our prices will too – immediately.

Now for the good stuff – our Tennessee-made coolers. Every day in Kingsport, our crew of 12 dedicated craftspeople are building coolers right here on American soil. While we're proud of our USA manufacturing, it's important to note that we do import some of  the raw materials for these bags, which means they've also been affected by the tariff increases. We're currently evaluating our options for these products as we navigate the coming weeks and months, and will hold increasing these prices as long as we can. 

We know our community is built of adventure-ready enthusiasts who demand equipment that keeps you moving, pushing, and living like you mean it. That's why, tariffs or not, we remain committed to being your most reliable adventure partner – guaranteed.

Thanks for rolling with these changes. We're proud to keep you in GO MODE, no matter what challenges come our way.

AO & GO!

Brian Hatch

CEO, AO Coolers