Still, if you’re looking for a cooler that has the aesthetics, design, and toughness of a Yeti but don’t want to spend quite the amount (we don’t blame you), the Orca is a solid alternative. The Yeti Hopper Flip 18’s steep price tag—over $250—knocked it out of first place for best soft cooler. For being so small, it is expensive for the average consumer, despite its quality construction.
All things considered, we think the price range is more than reasonable. There’s also a 20-liter version of the Carry Out, but even that one is on the smaller side. So it’s best for lunches, picnics, hanging out at the dock, and shorter day trips. This soft cooler was a breeze to carry, thanks to the grab handles and padded shoulder strap. Importantly, not all coolers measure interior capacity in the same way.
The robust zipper closure takes some effort and time to open, but the wide T-shaped pull makes the job comfortable. The two side handles aren’t the most comfortable to grab, and we wish they weren’t adjacent to the shoulder straps’ attachment points. But when the handgrip is detached into two separate pieces, they’re not comfortable to grasp. If you have limited storage space, consider the REI Co-op Pack-Away Soft Cooler ($50).
The RTIC Backpack has a large internal capacity, and as a result, makes the rest of the bag rather large. The footprint of the pack can feel rather bulky, especially if you’re packing only a few snacks. Additionally, the backpack caused some minor discomfort on the hips. When packed full of heavy goodies, it creates a pressure point on the bottom. Despite these minor complaints, the RTIC did an excellent job throughout all of our tests, and its comfortable backpack straps are hard to beat.
The coolers were all tipped upside down to see if they were, in fact, leakproof. We placed two sensors designed to track temperature changes over time inside each soft cooler. We put one sensor at the bottom of the cooler, which was enclosed igloo water cooler inside of a methylcellulose block. The other sensor was placed on the ice at the top of the cooler. Designed to be taken while fishing, kayaking, or backpacking, everything about this Pelican soft cooler revolves around being lightweight.
So far, manufacturers haven’t been able to produce a zipper that’s waterproof and easy to use. Many soft cooler zippers not only require two hands to open and close but also quite a bit of straining and muttering through clenched teeth. However, some are easier than others, like the Engel HD and RovR TravlR. The low price tag does come at the cost of some durability, though.
The zipper is supremely leak-proof and the DryHide exterior resisted scratches and punctures. Even when it’s chock-full of ice and cans, this Arctic Zone cooler is easy to maneuver. Plus, cargo nets on the side and a zippered flap on the front allow you to roll out all the essentials like wipes and additional snacks. Depending on the amount of perishables you plan to take with you and how far you’re going, you may have already put some limitations on your adventures. Without considering overall capacity, the most portable coolers will be more comfortable to carry for longer distances. Because it has no top, the KeepR is limited in what you can do with it.
The REI Trail Pack is one of our favorites for fully loaded distance missions, offering all the comfort of a backpacking backpack with its perfectly padded weight-bearing waistbelt. Though not completely waterproof, we still find ourselves reaching for its straightforward functionality and above-average insulation time and igloo soft cooler time again. The most inexpensive cooler we generally recommend is the Arctic Zone Titan. It’s surprisingly easy to use and handy for infrequent use at a bargain price. This rigid cooler doesn’t fold down, and its footprint is rather large. That said, with a full load of groceries, its bulky size can be awkward to carry.