Think about what you plan to put inside and where you’ll be going. Smaller options are ideal for hiking and two-person picnics, but you’ll need something larger if you’re bringing lunch for a whole family or juice boxes and oranges for a soccer team. If you prefer a tote-style carrier, we highly recommend the Hydro Flask Day Escape Cooler. We tested the 26-liter one, which is big enough to hold 42 cans. The wide base helps it stay upright without support — and it allowed us to fit a veggie tray horizontally at the bottom.
The exterior pockets provide ample space for cutlery, keys, a wallet, and a phone. Additionally, a bungee can hold onto a beach towel or jacket, and the daisy igloo water cooler chains can clip on extra gear. Even when packed to the brim with drinks, food, and ice, this cooler backpack was easy to lift and comfortable to carry.
This is not the model we would expect to last the longest, as its materials and craftsmanship are not top-tier. The additional features also ride the line between being handy and excessive. The shelf is easy to knock loose and fall into the main chamber, and the bottle opener is not the best.
We also appreciate when these pockets are water-resistant, which provides a little extra assurance against splashes or precipitation. A few models that include functional stash pockets include the RTIC Soft Pack Cooler, ORCA Walker Tote, and Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze. Some insulated cooler bags are ideal for one-day excursions and short-term activities. Before making a purchase, make sure the cooler igloo water cooler you choose will keep your food and beverages cold for as long as you need. The prices of soft coolers in our guide range from the $30 Mountainsmith Takeout, which is the smallest cooler, to the OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler ($250) with top-shelf ice retention. Various exterior pockets are available in some designs, including streamlined fabric and mesh pockets with no closure or bungee straps.
Brand new to the soft cooler scene, RovR just bridged their long-standing hard cooler craftsmanship into their sister category. The brand recently launched the 28L TravelR 30 ($250), a tall-standing and oval-shaped soft cooler with generous space. The Mountainsmith Sixer ($35) was a great cooler for lunch on the go. Our tester, a Colorado-based electrician and mountain biker, packed it with a canned drink, sandwich, fruit, and chocolate. The cooler’s shape and size were easy to fit in a messy work truck. For grab-and-go, there’s a handle on the back and a carry tote-style strap.
But we got about 10 cans in the insulated section, with enough ice to keep them cold. Whether you’re planning a day at the beach, a picnic at the park, fishing at the dock, or a solo hike, you’ll be glad to have a soft cooler on hand. Available in a range of sizes, these flexible, lightweight, easy-to-pack carriers can be filled with drinks, snacks, or even a full meal to enjoy on your outing. And unlike their hard-sided counterparts, they can often be slung over your shoulder or carried like a backpack. Chillin’ out is easy with genuine s and lunch coolers!
Some soft coolers are superior at ice retention, which is generally reflected in the price tag but not always. A bunch of other variables influence ice retention, too, including the type and quantity of ice, extra space in the compartment (which decreases effectiveness), and if the cooler was prechilled. We love that this cooler has handles and backpack straps, making it ideal for different carrying methods.
We loved the soft interior liner and the waterproof zipper that prevents any leaks from the top. One of our favorite products overall was the Snow Peak Soft Cooler 38 ($170). Even given its large size, it was still very comfortable to transport, due to the soft, malleable walls. With the simple, wide handles Velcroed together, we could sling the cooler over our shoulders when it was fully loaded.
For the ultimate in portability, soft-sided backpack-style coolers are the way to go. The designs borrow heavily from hiking daypacks, sharing features like shoulder straps, padded backpanels, and exterior pockets for added gear storage. Additionally, backpack coolers are fairly expensive considering their modest storage capacity and all-around performance (the Day Escape is pretty average in this category at $200). But if the approach to your favorite picnic spot or fishing hole involves walking more than a half mile or so, it may be worth the investment.