According to the ice retention test, this cooler can preserve ice for 25 hours. According to our ice retention test, the Walker 20 is capable of holding ice for up to 70 hours. The flat backside wall alleviates bounce when we were using the shoulder strap.
Do you have a vacation in the outdoors coming up and have plans for afternoons on the lake? This ice chest is designed to be easy to carry over your shoulders or under your arm. Soft coolers can also leak through the lid closure if the zipper isn’t waterproof or the clasp isn’t leakproof. Even the heaviest soft cooler in our guide is lighter than a hard cooler.
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.
If you’re searching for a backpack soft cooler, we recommend the Hydro Flask Escape Backpack Cooler for its thoughtful, stylish design and top-notch functionality. By adding a fully supportive, weight-bearing waist belt, this cooler is ideal for relieving your shoulders when you need your cooler filled to the brim with delicious picnic provisions. 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 really 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.
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 igloo water cooler 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.