This soft cooler is definitely on the pricier side, but the insulative effectiveness and other design features made it stand apart from the other coolers in this guide and as our top favorite. External Attachment Points
Many soft coolers, including Yeti’s Hopper M30 and REI Co-op’s Cool Haul 24, have daisy chain webbing along the outside for securing extra gear. In use, we’ve found this area useful for keeping valuables like keys close at hand (we use a carabiner to attach them). 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. Yeti is the Cadillac of cooler manufacturers and credited with catalyzing the growth of the premium hard-sided market.
While adventuring, this cooler did a noteworthy job of preserving ice in sunny conditions and exceeded the capabilities of other coolers we tested. A two-way zipper provides easy top access, and the cube shape nicely slides into tight spaces on a boat or in the truck bed. 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. The Hydro Flask Day Escape Tote ($150) offers a streamlined, lightweight, and durable design.
Igloo’s small Playmate coolers are also perfect for your everyday needs, keeping everyone’s lunch cold on the worksite for over 45 years. A soft sided cooler that accommodates 12 cans of your favorite drinks, ideal for picnics, family outings or tailgating. 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.
Eddie Bauer states that this cooler tote can hold up to 36 cans plus ice, which we found to be accurate. For the low-cost price, the pros of this cooler make up for the subpar ice retention. If you have limited storage space, consider the REI Co-op Pack-Away Soft Cooler ($50). This origami-inspired design collapses and folds flat when it’s not a cube or a tote. When transformed into a box or bag shape, the cooler is light, nimble, and malleable.
Don’t get us wrong, this Igloo soft cooler has versatile storage. But the lack of the rigid bottom means it flops around when you’re not pulling it. Ice is heavy so the ability to wheel it around rather than carry it is great. However, if you’re looking to spend up on a luxury soft cooler, the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 is a heavy-duty choice for holding ice.
Insulated cooler totes are perfect for family snacks, beverages, and lunch fresh on your next park trip. They’re quick, effective, and even stylish — find the right tote cooler for your lifestyle today. A lot goes into making a cooler, and we’re committed every step of the way. When shopping igloo soft cooler for a soft cooler, always look for leak-resistant or waterproof closure. To test the portability of each soft cooler, the team walked around with each of the coolers to see how comfortable they were to carry. The coolers were all tipped upside down to see if they were, in fact, leakproof.
Instead, you should use freshly frozen cubed ice, ice blocks, or reusable ice packs. Some soft coolers are superior at ice retention, which is generally reflected in the price tag but not always. The price of a soft cooler is reflected by the size, durability, quality of materials, design features, and ice retention. Some soft coolers have materials that are mildew-resistant and antimicrobial like the interior liner of the RTIC Soft Pack Cooler.
For coolers on the larger side (like the RoVR 30) it’s key to have padding on the hand or shoulder straps for comfort while carrying a fully loaded cooler. The price spread among soft coolers is significant, ranging from just $21 for the Coleman 24-Hour 16-Can Cooler all the way up to $350 for Yeti’s top-end Hopper M30. That said, even the cheapest options igloo water cooler on our list are reasonably well built and will get the job done for days at the beach or packing a lunch on the road, which will be enough to sway many. Other coolers such as the RTIC 20 Can Soft Pack Cooler have an additional exterior zip-up pocket that fits small items, like your phone, keys, and wallet, and is waterproof for extra safekeeping.
And we’re a sucker for a comfortable grab handle that’s as ergonomic and strong as this one has. We were pleasantly surprised by how durable, soft, and dense this material feels, especially for such a small pail. This bag really does feel like it’s built with tenacity, much like any bikepacking bag. From the igloo water cooler get-go, the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler ($250) was reliable and durable. It was reassuring to know it would get the job done and keep our things cold through all the adventures. Additionally, as dry ice constantly emits carbon dioxide, store it outdoors or, lacking that, in a well-ventilated area.
According to the ice retention test, this cooler can retain ice for 40 hours. 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.