Before checking out, review the warranty information provided with the cooler you’re interested in, or contact Sam’s Club customer support for specific details. We noticed that it was challenging to organize and see everything that was inside because the zipper doesn’t open very wide and the material around the zipper is stiff. This made cleaning the inside a bit troublesome, but removing the insulating igloo soft cooler liner helps with this problem. On the plus side, the zipper is leakproof and closing it is a piece of cake. For the cross-body tote, we like that the strap is thick and has a central buckle, so you can easily disconnect if needed — though, we didn’t totally find it necessary with how long the strap can extend. Two additional streamlined buckles connect each strap end to the cooler body.
REI has a knack for balancing performance and affordability, and their Cool Haul 24 is no exception. Like much of its soft-sided competition, the REI bag also includes daisy-chain webbing for securing extra gear, as well as a handy bottle opener. And because the Cool Haul’s inner insulated box can be separated from the outer shell, cleaning is a snap igloo water cooler (the shell can also be used without the liner as a tote). The Igloo Reactor is a medium-large messenger bag style soft cooler with an adjustable shoulder strap, side handles, and a top handle. It lacks external storage options or additional features but has a watertight zipper and both interior and exterior are made from leak-resistant fabric.
These designs have tough exteriors that feel very confidence-inspiring around sharp gear and have stood up very well to regular use throughout testing with little wear to show for it. RovR’s TravelR 30 is another standout in terms of durability with a burly TPU base and welded seams that give it a very hardwearing feel. The only components of the Reactor 30 that we aren’t stoked on are the D rings holding the shoulder strap. We didn’t have any problems with them (other than their propensity to flip sideways every time we picked up the cooler), but they’re just not quite the same thickness and burly build of so many competitors. Again, we didn’t notice them bending or doing anything alarming during our extensive testing, just observed that they’re not quite the same caliber as many other soft coolers we tested. However, all the handles and the shoulder strap are thick and sturdy, with reinforced stitching.
Some of these designs are actually very rigid, stout, and stackable. Others are fully collapsible and pliable, and we celebrate the space-saving option for storage. Many soft-sided coolers do an incredible job of retaining ice on hot days, sometimes for over 24 hours. This might be necessary in certain instances, igloo water cooler but if you’re using yours for a day trip and only need it to keep pre-chilled items cold for a few hours, you might not even need ice. At roughly 9.5 x 8 x 7 inches and just over a half-pound, it’s conveniently compact and lightweight. We packed it with a one-person meal, including food, a drink, and ice.
Hard coolers are more durable and stout and have a larger size range, given they can hold more weight without collapsing. The compact sizes are great for picnics, day trips, overnight camping, and grocery shopping. Traditional hard-sided coolers lead the charge in ice retention and durability, but for those who don’t need a week’s worth of cold food and drinks, a soft-sided cooler can be a viable alternative. Compared to hard models, soft coolers are considerably lighter, easier to carry, and often save you a good deal of cash. From burly waterproof options to packable designs that collapse down for easy storage, below we break down the top soft coolers of 2024. For more background information, check out our detailed comparison table and buying advice below the picks.