The 8 Best Soft Coolers of 2023 Tested by GearLab

Each month during an equal payments plan you are required to pay in full by the due date that month’s equal payments plan instalment. Aside from being colder than ice, the biggest advantage to dry ice is that, as it warms up, it evaporates, instead of melting. To preserve food for more than 24 hours, you will need to use a combination of ice chunks igloo water cooler and ice chips. The chips help with immediate cooling, and the chunks keep your food fresh over a longer period of time. However, this Orca soft cooler is a direct and more affordable alternative to our best upgrade pick. During our cold retention tests, the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 maintained an internal temperature of below 40°F for over 46 hours.

That said, using more ice allows for better food preservation over a longer period of time. Additionally, give priority to coolers with closed-cell foam insulation over ones that employ other cooling methods. The sensor at the top of the cooler was removed daily to record its findings and simulate the temperature gains that occur when a cooler is opened during normal use. We ran these temperature tests until there was no ice inside the cooler. We’d describe the Rtic Soft Pack Cooler as a great middle ground. And, with the variety of storage compartments, you’ll be able to carry everything you need.

Many soft cooler manufacturers also sell compatible accessories that can attach directly to the outside of their coolers. For instance, Hydro Flask’s 20 L Day Escape has thread-through points on the outside for securing one of their Dry Storage Bags (offered in small, medium, and large sizes). Pockets and Organization

Soft coolers come in a range of shapes and designs, but many include at least one exterior pocket for stashing small valuables like a phone, wallet, or keys. In use, we’ve found these to be incredibly useful and helpful for keeping track of our belongings whether we’re spending a day at a local state park or enjoying an afternoon at the beach.

Also, we loved that the top entry opened wide and had a two-way zipper, though the wide rim made drying out the cooler a challenge. According to the ice retention test, this cooler can preserve ice for 25 hours. 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.

The eco-friendly design features a recycled polyester upper and recycled nylon bottom. A team of editors and testers from TripSavvy and Dotdash Meredith’s food group sites like Simply Recipes, Serious Eats, The Spruce Eats, and Liquor conducted testing in our Brooklyn lab. Delivery cutoff times and shipping fees vary based on delivery postal code. Customers will be notified when the order has shipped, and provided an estimated delivery time & date. In order to serve you products that fit, we need some information about your vehicle.

After a few hours, most of the ice was still intact, the cans were chilled, and the bag didn’t leak at all when we flipped it over. If you want the most bang for your buck, the Titan Deep Freeze might be your best bet. We tried the 16-can size (which means it can fit up to 16 cans without ice) and were able to fit 13 cans plus enough ice to keep them chilled. After a 10-hour car ride, all our drinks were still fridge-cold. Though wine bottles are likely too tall, you could also fill it with a picnic lunch, sandwiches, or snacks and juice pouches for a kids’ sports game.