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15 The Best Soft Coolers in 2024

Elizabeth Hayes
  May 11, 2024 6:40 AM

It might still be sufficient to rely on those old-fashioned glorified bags' functionality to keep you cool for a few hours. Since then, cooling technology has greatly improved.

The industry standard for cold retention continues to be hard coolers, despite the fact that Soft Coolers have unique advantages including portability made possible by their lighter weights and flexibility.


Overview

Soft coolers offer a lightweight, easy-to-transport solution for preserving food and keeping drinks cold when you’re on the go. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best soft coolers for your next outdoor adventure.

We’ll always have a spot in our gear closet for a hard cooler, but soft coolers have proven to be just as essential. Others are fully collapsible and pliable, and we celebrate the space-saving option for storage.

For day-long roams, weekend adventures, road trips, or running errands, these soft coolers kept our provisions chilled without weighing us down.

Otherwise, scroll through to see all of our recommended buys or jump to the category you’re looking for:


Top picks

We have compiled a list of our top options based on our thorough analysis of the various:


Top Reviews

1. Best Overall: OtterBox Trooper Cooler 20 Quart 

Specs:

  • Size: 14.3″ x 17.5″ x 10.25″
  • Capacity: 19 L
  • Weight: 3,175 g (6.5 lbs.)
  • Ice retention test: ~3+ days

The OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler first let us down because it lacks the comfier lid handle of its smaller, rejected sibling. Although the top handle is absent, the two side grip handles are strong and cozy.

We were amazed at how well the ice was retained within despite being exposed to the weather thanks to the cooler's outstanding thermal insulation. Because of the strong base—which was also easy to clean—we could set the cooler on various surfaces.

According to the manufacturer, this cooler can maintain ice for up to 78 hours, and our ice retention test confirms this claim.

Pros

  • Consistently cooler in the rain or sun
  • Waterproof lid
  • Easy to transport
  • Retains ice well

Cons

  • We want a sleek top-of-lid handle
  • Make sure the lid's clasp is fully secured before closing it

2. Best Basic: YETI Hopper M30 2.0 Portable Soft Cooler 

Specs:

  • Size: 25″ x 12″ x 17.5″
  • Capacity: 30 L
  • Weight: 3,175 g (7 lbs.)
  • Ice retention test: ~4 days

We traveled to the Hardrock 100 race in Southwest Colorado with the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler in order to volunteer and car camp. We also had picnics in the park using the cooler.

The shoulder strap secures the cooler close to your side to reduce bouncing and is pleasant to slide over the shoulder. It also doesn't budge. We can't close them if the cooler is completely filled.

The magnetic closure of the cooler has recently been improved by YETI so that it remains open while you pack food inside (previously, it would snap shut mid-task).

Pros

  • The magnetic closure stops leaks
  • Highly robust material
  • A solid base and the ability to sit up straight
  • Vast amounts

Cons

  • While loading, the magnet closure remains open, and closing it requires some elbow grease

3. Best Professional: Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze 24 Can Insulated Bucket 

Specs:

  • Size: 15″ x 10″ x 13.5″
  • Capacity: 33 L
  • Weight: 816 g (1.8 lbs.)
  • Ice retention test: ~3 days

Thanks to the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Bucket Tote, a great low-cost cooler, our ice keeps ice cold for extended periods of time. A group of three people went fly fishing on the Gunnison River in Colorado while carrying water and numerous cans of beverages. The high for the day was close to 80 degrees.

The cooler was left in the car for a whole day after the river trip and was still chilled and packed with ice. Along with two zippered pockets, one of which can hold a phone, there are two sizable open mesh pockets.

According to the results of our ice retention test, the Titan Deep Freeze can hold ice for up to 70 hours.

Pros

  • Excellent ice retention
  • Two over-the-shoulder straps connect by Velcro
  • Including a bottle opener

Cons

  • Some of us don't like the appearance
  • The zipper on the lid is not watertight

4. Best Budget: Snow Peak Soft Cooler 38 - Keeps Drinks Cold

Specs:

  • Size: 19″ x 12.5″ x 12.5″
  • Capacity: 38 L
  • Weight: 1,724 g (3.8 lbs.)
  • Ice retention test: ~2.5 days

The Snow Peak Soft Cooler was one of our top picks overall. For one- and two-day expeditions, the insulated walls' inside aluminum coating helps retain cold air, and the ice retention is sufficient.

On a weekend road trip to climb in Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Mountains and camp there, the cooler performed admirably, but it wouldn't be able to hold ice for prolonged periods of time. Our ice retention test verified that knowledge, demonstrating that the cooler can store ice for over 2.5 days.

Look no further if you want a multipurpose cooler with a little bit more volume than a conventional soft cooler.

Pros

  • Large capacity
  • Flexible and easy to transport

Cons

  • The zipper on the lid is not watertight.
  • A little expensive given the poor ice retention, but worth it given its collapsibility

5. Best Large Capacity: ORCA Walker 20 Cooler Tan : Sports & Outdoors

Specs:

  • Size: 18″ x 14″ x 5.5″
  • Capacity: 12 L
  • Weight: 708 g (1.6 lbs.)
  • Ice retention test: Unavailable

Each Hielo bag from Cotopaxi's (Re)Purpose Collection is constructed from excess, high-quality nylon and polyester fabric left over from other companies' manufacturing runs, preventing the waste of those leftovers.

Each box is made from a range of fabrics chosen by the designers and sewers at the brand's partner factory in the Philippines. A side water bottle pocket with a maximum diameter of 3 inches is also included.

For simple grab-and-go, there is a handle on the back and a strap resembling a carry tote.

Pros

  • Prevents rubbish from being dumped in landfills
  • Every cooler bag is different
  • Each cooler pack worker is empowered by the creative process

Cons

  • Because each bag's buckles, thread, and zippers are customized, it's difficult to predict what to anticipate

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Last update on 2024-05-11 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Soft Cooler

Storage Capacity

Choose a soft cooler based on the amount of storage you need and the type of load support you need. A product with high malleability like the Snow Peak Soft Cooler might not be the best option for hauling numerous heavy cans in comparison to a more durable design like  YETI Hopper M30 2.0 Portable Soft Cooler.

The larger the gathering, the more cargo space you'll need. Our guide's selection of soft coolers includes the 38L Snow Peak Soft Cooler and the Mountainsmith Takeout, which has a six-can capacity.

Compartments & Pockets

Most soft coolers are straightforward, with a single insulated compartment in the center for food and drinks. A few have a cover with an internal zipped compartment.

Some designs come with a variety of outside pockets, including streamlined fabric and mesh pockets without a zipper or bungee cord.

Weight

The 7-pound YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler, which has a 30L capacity and the highest ice retention, is the heaviest soft cooler.

A soft cooler is lighter than a hard cooler, even the heaviest soft cooler in our guide. For example, the RovR Products RollR 45 weighs more than 37 pounds, whereas the YETI Tundra 45 Cooler weighs just 23 pounds.

Shape

Coolers with a wide, flat surface that sits against you, like the OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler, can help dampen the swing and bounce.

While sleeker coolers are more likely to slide behind a seat in your car, boxier coolers may be easier to stack if the walls and base are firm. Leaks are also avoided by using welded seams.

Shoulder straps, usually detachable, buckles, attachment points, and inside or exterior pockets may all be present on soft coolers.

Straps & Handles

It's important to have padding on the hand or shoulder straps for coolers that are on the larger side (like the RoVR 30 against the Fishpond Blizzard Soft Cooler) for comfort while carrying a fully-loaded cooler.

During our testing, we discovered that the Fishpond Blizzard Soft Cooler and OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler have sturdy, cozy side handles. The two swing-up straps on the Snow Peak Soft Cooler were made of a wide, soft material that we appreciated.

The Hydro Flask Day Escape Soft Tote Cooler included great-length handles that were simple to slide over the shoulder.

Price

The cheapest soft cooler in our guide is the Mountainsmith Takeout, while the most expensive soft cooler with the best ice retention is the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler.

The size, robustness, material quality, design elements, and ice retention of a soft cooler all affect its cost.

The OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler and the Orca Walker Cooler are also included in that higher price range. The Snow Peak Soft Cooler, Igloo Pursuit Tote, and REI Co-op Cool Haul Soft Cooler are three soft coolers in the medium price range.

There are many soft coolers around $100 that are reasonably durable and comfortable to use (as long as the weather isn't oppressively hot or sunny).


Conclusion

We made a special effort to consider all the potential uses for these products as we reviewed them. Then we put them to the test by taking them on desert excursions in the summer, hot-day treks, park picnics, beach days, wet camping weekends, and last-minute BBQs and dinner parties.

 


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