Backpack cooler bags are fabulous when you travel with kids, as you can be hands free. The Arctic soft cooler has an inner hardbody liner with a shelf – the best of both worlds. There’s no zipper to battle to get it open, just un-click the lid and open it up.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right . This roto-molded cooler costs far less than the Yeti Tundra 65 but performs just as well in nearly every way. It’s almost indestructible, it has two drainage ports and replaceable parts, and it kept our ice frozen for 10 days.
The IceMule Pro is relatively durable and resistant to our abuse, though the straps’ attachment points seemed perhaps not quite as reliable or as robust as we’d like them to be. Not surprisingly, some of the coolers that performed the lowest in this category also have the weakest material. The AO 24 Pack has a padded shoulder strap and igloo trailmate malleable exterior that make it more comfortable to carry. The REI Co-op Cool Trail Pack outlasted it when it comes to refreshing beverage temps, holding below 50° F for 59 hours. However, the Cool Trail Pack failed to stay below 40° F after just 9 hours, making us not excited to entrust it to keep any sensitive food items fresh.
Even with the ice fully melted, our drinks remained cool for about 48 hours. The design makes the Collapse & Cool offerings for Igloo’s soft bags easy to clean. Storage is easy thanks to the collapsible setup, and being leak-resistant allows the right amount of water to stay inside. Whatever drinks and snacks your soft cooler holds will be able to stay in prime consuming condition thanks to the insulation. Whether it’s beer for game night or desserts for a follow up to pizza, the night will end with delicious meals.
Some soft coolers are collapsible, making them ideal for constrained journeys where space is at a premium and can be conserved by compressing the cooler when not in use. The Yeti Hopper Flip series is a classic line of soft coolers. But as long as you don’t drop it off the south rim of the Grand Canyon, you’re likely to have this cooler for a very, very long time. We had no problem filling the cooler with 20 cans and plenty of ice. And not surprisingly, it had some of the best ice retention and coldest temperatures at the end of our 24-hour test. The Hopper Flip’s inside temperature only raised by about 6 degrees over 24 hours, thanks to Yeti’s closed-cell insulation, for which it’s become infamous.
We’ve categorized our giant assortment of products in practically every way possible. From price to color and cooler features to even what’s on sale right now. Compact, easy to carry and keeps your food and drinks cold all day. There’s nothing like traveling with friends and family out on the open road. And it’s even better with the right cooler bag to keep you all refreshed with ice-cold provisions along the way. Then a soft cooler is better, as it’s not so heavy, or as difficult to carry.
Keep your cooler in the shade to prolong that low temperature. If you’re under direct sun, toss a towel or blanket over the cooler to help alleviate a heat spike. We periodically checked, making notes regarding melt rate, condensation, and leaks. Each reported time is based on when 100% of the ice is converted to water. We also tested the Orca Walker Tote ($197), which is equally well-made but in a slightly different style.