This cute cooler carried and chilled several cans of microbrews and several sparkling waters. We also used it day-to-day on drives to bring along lunch, snacks, and beverages. When we picked up the cooler with the detachable shoulder igloo trailmate strap — which is padded — the attachment point completely broke within 20 seconds — thankfully, the cooler didn’t land on our toes. So we used a different shoulder strap to carry the cooler on our 15-minute walk to our picnic spot.
The opening style and closure system of a soft-sided cooler may not seem all that important, but we can tell you firsthand that it will have a sizable impact on both convenience and overall performance. The Yeti Hopper M30, for instance, has a rigid magnet-equipped opening that requires considerable effort to keep open while loading and unloading food and drinks. Most cooler manufacturers provide a “claimed ice retention” spec in their product listings (Yeti is one major brand who does not). From our list above, times range from 24 hours (which is pretty standard) to three or four days for Engel’s premium HD30. That said, we always take manufacturer-provided specs with a grain of salt, and there isn’t an established, standardized test here. In practice, most of the claimed ice retention times feel quite inflated to us, perhaps due to extremely favorable testing conditions (storing the cooler inside with the lid closed in cool temperatures, for example).
Unlike the M30, however, the Hopper Flip 12 is very easy to load and unload with a well-executed, zipper-equipped opening that’s wide, fully leakproof, and provides nearly uncompromised access to food and beverages. RovR Products’ RollR collection put them on the map in the wheeled cooler category with a competitive mix of durability and ice retention. Their latest TravelR 30 takes aim at the soft-sided market but retains much of what we love about the RollR, including a sturdy build and high attention to detail. The two coolers also share key features like waterproof zippers and shoulder straps that are both nicely padded and removable. Added up, the TravelR is another premium and thoughtfully built design from the Boulder-based brand. Plenty of soft coolers are fairly comfortable to use and reliable (as long as it’s not too sunny or scorching hot out) in the less-than-$100 category.
The Bygone Cooler Tote joined us on a long cross-country road trip, holding our travel snacks for us. When we got hungry, it was easy to grab whatever we wanted to munch on. When the cooler was fully unhinged, the mouth opened up extra wide and it was easy to see all the goods. The Eddie Bauer Recycled Bygone Convertible Cooler Tote ($80) surprised us with its ease of use, affordability, and sustainable design features.
The Icemule Impulse is a cool triple-bargain and well-executed design. Despite being left in the car for a full day following the river outing, the cooler still had ice and felt cold. That well-founded retention is thanks to the brand’s blend of proprietary insulation, interior radiant barrier, and thick base made of three layers of SuperFoam. We also found the water- and stain-resistant exterior very durable. The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 can fit 24 cans only or solely 16 pounds, to give you an idea of the capacity.
Take this soft insulated cooler bag along camping, hiking, fishing, relaxing on the beach, or to a family picnic thanks to rolling wheels, a height adjustable pull handle, and side carry handles. Once you get to your destination, grip the T-bar zipper pull and easily unzip and unload your zippered cooler. Pack several igloo trailmate lunches or up to ounce cans in the cooler’s 2 spacious interior compartments. Overall, this cooler bag measures measures 13.5 inches long, 12.75 inches wide, and 13.5 inches tall. This portable insulated cooler features advanced insulation that keeps drinks and food cold for a full day at the beach or lake.
According to the ice retention test, the Mountainsmith Takeout can retain ice for 21 hours. To put the size in perspective, this cute cooler could fit six 12-ounce cans. At the brand’s partner factory in the Philippines, the designers and sewers choose mixed-and-matched fabric for each pack. We took this cooler out on multiple fishing trips and day trips to check out some new lakes, as well as a long drive back to Colorado from Southern Utah. At the lake, the Hopper Flip was the perfect size for our day trip and fit enough drinks and snacks for two or three people.
Additionally, unlike hard coolers, the difference in ice retention between soft-sided models isn’t all that sizable, which can make it harder to justify spending up for such a premium and expensive model. To be sure, these top-end designs have their appeal for those who want the easier portability of a soft cooler without compromising on build quality, but they’re not worth the investment for most. If you’ve got the budget, it’s almost certainly worth opting for a hard-sided model instead. You’ll incur a sizable weight penalty, but the boost in cooling capabilities and overall performance will be well worth that tradeoff for many. Yeti’s Hopper M30 above is the crème de la crème of soft coolers, but it’s overbuilt and overpriced for many. Enter their Hopper Flip 12, which retains much of what we love about the M30 in a lighter, cheaper, and more approachable package.