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.
Justin Park is a Breckenridge, Colorado-based writer and videographer covering action sports, health & fitness, and the outdoors. From multi-day backpacking and hunting trips to simple road trips to weeks on Lake Powell in 100+ degree temperatures, he’s dependent on quality coolers in the field. He currently likes the Hydro Flask Day Escape 20L for quick road-tripping and the Yeti BackFlip for more serious cooling on the go. High-performance igloo soft cooler coolers from brands such as Yeti have raised the bar for what consumers expect from coolers—and what they expect to pay. Yes, it’s easy to get caught up in wanting the best, but being realistic about using your soft cooler can help you choose one that works for your intended uses. Coolers have come a long way since glorified bags that offer a few hours of chilling, but that now-quaint level of performance may be all you need.
While the IceMule is our favorite for smaller and medium loads because of its comfortable straps and flexible body, the Trail Pack is our go-to choice for heavy cargo. It’s comfortable like a daypack and saves your shoulders over the long haul. If you’re planning to bring a handful of snacks and beverages for you and a few buddies, the comfort of the IceMule is top-notch. If you’re hoping to supply an afternoon picnic full of refreshments for everyone in your party, the Trail Pack will handle the extra weight better. For instance, a heavy, bulky option might be awkward (or simply too hard) to carry over one shoulder.
Each soft cooler was rated for size, insulation, design, and value, and those with the highest overall scores are featured here. This carrier has a 30-can capacity, though when we filled it with 30 cans and ice, it was extremely heavy and a struggle to carry. If you’re using it for drinks only, we suggest 20 cans, maximum, especially if you’re walking more than a couple of blocks. You can also remove the straps to convert it into a tote-style cooler and carry it with the grab handles.
◊Pricing, selection, and availability of store clearance items are determined by each store. Items may be display models or not exactly as shown and may not be available in all stores. A soft cooler on wheels can be easier to transport than one with only handles. It isn’t good for all- or multi-day use, but type type of cooler is sufficient enough for a half-day trip. Don’t get us wrong, this Igloo soft cooler has versatile storage.
Among backpack models, the RTIC Backpack 30 and the Engel Roll Top BP25 Backpack reign supreme. Much like other RTIC models, the Backpack Cooler 30 is made from heavy-duty materials, including a watertight zipper. This handy pack stayed under 40 degrees for 60 hours and 67 hours under 50 degrees.
For coolers on the larger side (like the RoVR 30 versus the Fishpond Blizzard Soft Cooler) it’s key to have padding on the hand or shoulder straps for comfort while carrying a fully-loaded cooler. Soft igloo water cooler coolers are ideal for shorter trips or when you don’t want to lug a heavy hard-sided cooler. Often much lighter, soft-sided coolers still promise to keep food and drinks cool for days, if needed.
This cute cooler carried and chilled several cans of microbrews and several sparkling waters. We also used it day-to-day on drives to bring along lunch, snacks, and beverages. We also wanted to pick a diverse list is prices, functions, and specialties. From there, we purchased the best 30 coolers we could find to take to our lab in Brooklyn for testing. It’s tall enough for wine bottles and can carry about 18 cans with ice, but it’s not so big you hate to carry it, and it only weighs 3.6 pounds empty.
Adjustable pockets not meant for cold retention encircle the IceR. However, we recommend buying the sold-separately ChillR ice pack inserts, which slide into the compartments to keep bottles cold for shorter periods. However, it’s not the most durable, and its insulation performance is lacking.
Though we didn’t see any major issues throughout our tests, we found the attachment points and zippers to be on the weaker side. With this in mind, the bag isn’t waterproof, and the zipper tends to leak. During our cleaning test, we had a bit of trouble with this backpack. The soft internal material tends to get soggy and needs extra time to dry out. All things considered, the bag is fairly inexpensive, so if you’re only needing the occasional soft cooler, this will do the trick.