They also went through a durability test, which involved slamming them onto the ground, throwing them down a flight of stairs, and flipping them upside down to check for leaks. We also tested 23 backpack coolers in our lab, and included the best in this roundup. Each soft cooler was rated for size, insulation, design, and value, and those with the highest overall scores are featured here.
Rebecca’s STEM background helps her bring an analytical mindset to the table, along with a passion for finding the best gear out there. Together, this team searched far and wide to find the best soft coolers available on the market. Most soft coolers have smooth liners, which makes cleaning a breeze. After each trip, simply use a clean towel with a mixture of warm water and mild soap to wipe everything down. For tough stains, apply a solution of baking soda and water and let it sit for about 20 minutes before washing it off.
While adventuring throughout the Southwest, Groos took these coolers on a multitude of activities ranging from day trips to the lake to go fishing and swimming to multiday road trips. 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.
However, it’s not the most durable, and its insulation performance is lacking. Though we didn’t see any major issues throughout our tests, we found the attachment points and zippers to be on the weaker side. With this in mind, the bag isn’t waterproof, and the zipper tends to leak. During our cleaning test, we had a bit of trouble with this backpack. The soft internal material tends to get soggy and needs extra time to dry out.
Despite these minor complaints, the RTIC did an excellent job throughout all of our tests, and its comfortable backpack straps are hard to beat. If you’re looking for a less expensive backpack style cooler, the Maelstrom Backpack 35 is nearly half the price of the RTIC. The AO loses some points since its exterior and zipper are not waterproof, though the regular zipper is much easier to use than waterproof ones, which typically require a lot more tugging. And though its hull isn’t as stiff and impenetrable as some of the others we tested, it’s still pretty strong and well-constructed. Lastly, this model lacks the high-end look of the more premium models in our test, but that may not matter to you.
There’s just one big main compartment, but it has the brand’s HitchPoint Grid, allowing you to attach other things to the outside. For the weekend warrior, the rugged adventurer, the daily luncher, the boater, the weekday commuter, the beach-goer, the Sunday hiker, the park picnicker, the snack provider (aka MOM)…the list goes on. So, if you were chilling a gallon of milk, you’d use two gallons of ice to keep it cool. 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.
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 igloo soft cooler 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. For more on the topic, check out our article on the best backpack coolers.
Igloo hard lined coolers are built to give you the light weight construction of a bag and the rigidness of a hard cooler. With excellent cold insulation and maximum portability, these coolers are a great choice for your day-to-day food and drink needs. We have a huge variety of insulated bags all at igloo soft cooler different prices. Whether you’re going the super affordable route or looking for coolers with the most high-end design features, you can find the perfect Igloo cooler bag right here. When ordering your new custom soft cooler, our usual turnaround time is 8-10 business days from checkout to shipping.
The Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze is the best soft cooler we’ve tested. AAA Innovations offers better, more imaginative, and higher quality goods at all price points. Our goal is to offer unique, exclusive, technologically superior products that your clients agree have greater value. Our passion is to make sure your experience with AAA is the best it can be…every time…from 1909 through today.
The Booe 30L Waterproof Insulated Tote holds ice for about 53 hours. With a unique spin, the cooler is compatible with a removable insert called the KeepR igloo soft cooler ($150), which organizes fare into different compartments like a golf bag. The dividers are secured via Velcro, so the compartments are adjustable.