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.
This handy pack stayed under 40 degrees for 60 hours and 67 hours under 50 degrees. The Engel BP25 follows close behind, only differing in the 50 degree test, lasting 64 hours. Rather than a zip top, the BP25 has a roll top, resembling a dry bag. The low price tag does come at the cost of some durability, though.
The 1-inch closed-cell high-density foam worked well to keep our food and beverages chilled while baking under the sun during a mid-summer music festival. We’re not surprised, given RovR makes one of the best hard-side coolers, hands down. The robust zipper closure takes some effort and time to open, but the wide T-shaped pull igloo soft cooler makes the job comfortable. Overall, we love that we can cruise to a riverside park with weight on our bike, easily pull off our lunch bag, transition the tote to a cross-body bag, and hike around to find a picnic spot. Of course, that means we need to carry the removable shoulder strap with us, but it isn’t too cumbersome.
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.
Additionally, a handful of these float in water, so you can tug them along on your next river day. These include the RTIC models, IceMule drybags, and the Yeti Flip. Among the smaller coolers, the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 and RovR KeepR are top performers. Boasting a waterproof exterior and leakproof zipper, the Flip kept temperatures below 40 degrees F for two and a half days.
Our designer tool gives you complete control of how your custom design comes to life. Color print your name or a funny design, your igloo soft cooler favorite sport, or your own artwork. When shopping for a soft cooler, always look for leak-resistant or waterproof closure.
Soft coolers may have shoulder straps — which are typically removable — buckles, attachment points, and interior or exterior pockets. Some pockets have durable, waterproof zipper closures, but many are not weather-resistant or secured with a closure. It kept our drinks and produce cool for the whole 9.5-hour drive with varying temperatures and sun exposure. While we like the large size, the bulky design can be somewhat awkward to carry in that you might accidentally knock into someone if you bring it inside a store. It’s not necessarily difficult or uncomfortable, though, thanks to the cushioned shoulder strap.
Soft coolers are generally smaller than their hard-sided counterparts, but they come in a range of sizes. 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. 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.
We were able to fit 24 cans in this soft-sided cooler and enough ice to keep them cold all day. After four hours on a hot, sunny afternoon, the ice had hardly melted, and the drinks were still nice and cold. It’s also leakproof, letting no water drip through the zipper or moisture penetrate the sides.
The higher-end models feature heavy rubber or treated nylon, have heavy-duty zippers and components, reinforced and welded seams, and more robust designs and construction. All of these aspects affect the overall durability and lasting power. The top half of the bag is a normal non-insulated pocket that can be used for hiking layers or cutlery. The cooler itself can hold 16 cans and can even pack in a wine bottle, though it does cause the pack to bend a bit. It’s worth noting that all coolers in our lineup can hold a wine bottle. Though not completely waterproof, we still find ourselves reaching for its straightforward functionality and above-average insulation time and time again.