Think about what you plan to put inside and where you’ll be going. Smaller options are ideal for hiking and two-person picnics, but you’ll need something larger if you’re bringing lunch for a whole family or juice boxes and oranges for a soccer team. If you prefer a tote-style carrier, we highly recommend the Hydro Flask Day Escape Cooler. We tested the 26-liter one, which is big enough to hold 42 cans. The wide base helps it stay upright without support — and it allowed us to fit a veggie tray horizontally at the bottom.
And we particularly like the stretchy bungee system on the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze, which makes it easy to secure a lightweight jacket or small towel on top. Waterproof Soft Coolers
Many of the coolers above utilize highly water-resistant zippers or openings, but very few have fully waterproof constructions. One exception is the ICEMULE Classic, which has a dry bag-like shape and exterior with a roll-top closure that can igloo trailmate be fully submerged in water. This makes it particularly great for activities like kayaking or paddle boarding when it might be exposed to a lot of water. It also floats, which provides added assurance should conditions get rougher than expected. RTIC’s Soft Pack also falls into this category, and although it’s technically not fully waterproof, the tough shell and leakproof design should stand up well if it ends up taking a dip.
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.
Packing the cooler is simple and easy, just unzip by using the dual zippers located at the top. The main compartment is spacious, the interior is designed with an enhanced insulation and antimicrobial liner. On the front is a zippered pocket for holding your smartphone, keys or other essentials. The side has a mesh water bottle pocket and storage loops for napkins, magazines and so on. It’s complete with an adjustable shoulder strap for easily transporting from one outdoor event to the next.
Brand new to the soft cooler scene, RovR just bridged their long-standing hard cooler craftsmanship into their sister category. The brand recently launched the 28L TravelR 30 ($250), a tall-standing and oval-shaped soft cooler with generous space. The Mountainsmith Sixer ($35) was a great cooler for lunch on the go. Our tester, a Colorado-based electrician and mountain biker, packed it with a canned drink, sandwich, fruit, and chocolate. The cooler’s shape and size were easy to fit in a messy work truck. For grab-and-go, there’s a handle on the back and a carry tote-style strap.