Cooler mash tuns vs pot as mash tun?

[JUSTINTIMEBREWING]

what's better and why?

 

[Bobby_M]

Pots/kettle can be heated directly if necessary but don't hold heat well. Plastic beverage coolers hold heat well but can't be directly heated.

I vote for a cooler and once you get past the learning curve of how to go in hot enough to compensate for initial heat absorption, you hold temps very well.