Before checking out, review the warranty information provided with the cooler you’re interested in, or contact Sam’s Club customer support for specific details. We noticed that it was challenging to organize and see everything that was inside because the zipper doesn’t open very wide and the material around the zipper is stiff. This made cleaning the inside a bit troublesome, but removing the insulating liner helps with this problem. On the plus side, the zipper is leakproof and closing it is a piece of cake. For the cross-body tote, we like that the strap is thick and has a central buckle, so you can easily disconnect if needed — though, we didn’t totally find it necessary with how long the strap can extend. Two additional streamlined buckles connect each strap end to the cooler body.
Hard coolers are more durable and stout and have a larger size range, given they can hold more weight without collapsing. The compact sizes are great for picnics, day trips, overnight camping, and grocery shopping. Traditional hard-sided coolers lead the charge in ice retention and durability, but for those who don’t need a week’s worth of cold food and drinks, a soft-sided cooler can be a viable alternative. Compared to hard models, soft coolers are considerably lighter, easier to carry, and often save you a good deal of cash. From burly waterproof options to packable designs that collapse down for easy storage, below we break down the top soft coolers of 2024. For more background information, check out our detailed comparison table and buying advice below the picks.
The zipper pull has a tough rubbery T-grip that helps when using the cooler. These coolers will enable you to transport your food or drinks while keeping them cool, during your boating outings. It was closely followed by the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Bucket Tote and Orca Walker Cooler, which held ice for 70 hours. 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. When you use a cooler outside, many factors influence a pack’s ice retention, including the frequency of opening the cooler, direct sunlight, and ambient temperature.
It was reassuring to know it would get the job done and keep our things cold through all the adventures. The Yeti Hopper Flip has seriously impressive temperature retention. We took it to the beach on a sunny day that hit the upper 80s, and all the ice was still intact when the sun went down. Though it’s relatively compact, the interior is surprisingly spacious.
That said, even the cheapest options on our list are reasonably well built and will get the job done for days at the beach or packing a lunch on the road, which will be enough to sway many. Importantly, not all coolers measure interior capacity in the same way. Some use cans as a unit of measure, while others use liters, quarts, or gallons.
All things considered, we think the price range is more than reasonable. Most soft coolers work best when cooled by ice packs or ice cubes. However, dry ice reaches lower temperatures than regular ice and can be used in igloo trailmate cooler most soft coolers. It’s a good choice if you need extra cold temperatures to keep ice cream or meat not just chilled but frozen. The most durable coolers we tested are the RTIC Soft Pack, RovR TravelR, and Yeti Flip.
With this in mind, soft coolers have limited appeal for multi-day outings. Instead, they’re best-suited for weekend getaways or day trips to the park or beach, tailgates, afternoons on the water, or igloo trailmate cooler quick errands like grocery store runs. They can also be a great supplement to a larger hard-sided model, providing additional space to store extra food or beverages when camping with a larger group.
On the backside of the exterior, there’s a small pocket with a zip closure that’s big enough for a spork, ID, or that lean, removable shoulder strap. The exterior is made of synthetic plastic and nylon, so it’s not resilient for a rugged whitewater trip but is suitable for basecamp. The insulated walls have an interior aluminum coat that helps trap cold air, and the ice retention is adequate for single- and 2-day adventures.