We also measured for cold and ice retention by taking the inside temperature of each cooler at two hours after filling them with cans and ice and then 24 hours after filling them with cans and ice. Lots of ice chest , cooler bags, rugged hardside coolers, the Party Bar, our entire Retro Collection and more. There’s nothing like traveling with friends and family out on the open road. And it’s even better with the right cooler bag (that you can easily carry and fit between seats) to keep you all refreshed with ice-cold provisions along the way. And we have a huge selection of cooler bags for the beach, perfect for keeping you and your crew refreshed all day long. Cindy Brzostowski is a freelance writer and avid home cook who has previous experience in cookbook publishing.
Lubricant needs to be reapplied to zippers frequently, especially in dry, hot, outdoor environments. Of course, large capacity always comes with a trade-off in how far you’re willing to carry it. Even with a friend to help, this fully-loaded bag isn’t the ideal cooler to cart a mile down the beach. A tough, reliable soft cooler can keep your food and beverages cold while you hike, take a day trip, picnic, or tailgate. Best of all, unlike a hard-sided cooler, many of the best soft coolers can be collapsed down for easy storage when not in use. Being able to store cold and warm food is among the best benefits of Igloo soft coolers.
The robust zipper closure takes some effort and time to open, but the wide T-shaped pull makes the job comfortable. The exterior is made of a 600-denier polyester shell that’s waterproof. The zipper is completely watertight with welded seams, so leaking isn’t on the menu. We noticed the zipper is hard to pull one-handed, and we typically need to counter-pull the side handles to open or close it. The two side handles aren’t the most comfortable to grab, and we wish they weren’t adjacent to the shoulder straps’ attachment points.
Always think about how much you might be moving with the soft cooler (and whether you’re on foot or using a vehicle), so your cooler doesn’t become a burden. Any gear’s durability comes down to a few simple factors—the quality of its materials and components, the method of construction, and the overall design. The coolers we tested feature a wide variety and quality of materials. We assessed igloo water cooler durability over months of use, paying attention to how they handle daily rigors. We threw them around, dropped them on the ground, and filled them to the brim with heavy drinks. We also packed, emptied, repacked, and bounced them around in back seats and truck beds, left them out in the sun for hours, strapped them into water-logged boats, and anything else we could think of.
It kept food and drinks cold over a weekend trip, and it didn’t have any issues with leakage. One thing to note is that due to its watertight design, the zipper can be tricky to open and igloo water cooler close. The low price tag does come at the cost of some durability, though. This is not the model we would expect to last the longest, as its materials and craftsmanship are not top-tier.
With 25% more foam, your items will stay cold for longer periods no matter how quick the ice melts. The soft cooler options on the list below come in handy no matter what you have planned, putting Igloo ahead of the competition. For a variety of conditions, the soft coolers in this guide provide enough cooling power to serve a range of recreation needs. We also performed a controlled in-house ice retention test to verify brand claims.
Carrying a large number of cans is always going to be more challenging than a small load, but, luckily, the sturdy handles and comfortable shoulder strap make trips as smooth as possible. After testing soft coolers in our lab and then at home for six months, we determined our favorites based on factors like insulation, design, capacity, portability, and intended use. Keep scrolling to see which ones made our list and why they are worth the money. Among smaller coolers, those with volumes 20L or less, the REI Co-op Cool Haul 18 is a top performer. Despite lacking a waterproof exterior or leakproof zipper, the Cool Haul kept temperatures below 40° F for a whopping 61 hours, which is just over 2.5 days.
Despite its bulky size, the Engel is more portable than we expected, featuring an easy two-person carry using the end handles. We spent three days testing 48 coolers from top-rated brands like Coleman, Yeti, and RTIC. This included various types of coolers, including backpack coolers, wheeled designs, large hard coolers, and, of course, soft-sided ones.
A removable plastic shelf adds functionality, keeping sensitive items out of melted ice, and numerous pockets adorn the outside for wine corkscrews, napkins, and silverware. At first glance, the AO Coolers 24 Pack Canvas Cooler may not look like much. It doesn’t have the snazzy laminated exterior and waterproof zipper that so many others boast. Yet underneath this unassuming exterior, this is a totally decent soft cooler that’s simple to use and easy to love. Thick foam surrounding the entirety of your contents provides reliable insulation for an above-average amount of time. A single long opening makes it uncomplicated to load and easy to find what you’re looking for.