Longer approaches aren’t as comfy without the weight distribution from waist straps, in particular. Yeti ditched the zipper for a magnetic closure, which is the most prominent and noticeable upgrade. If you’ve used a Yeti cooler—or a similar one from another brand—you probably know how tough it is to open and close the zipper, especially during the first few months of use. Sure, Yeti includes the zipper lube, but it can still be a pain.
A single opening that’s longer than the interior of the bag makes it uncomplicated to load and later locate what you’re seeking. On the outside, there is a large zippered pocket that provides a well-above-average amount of dry storage, and its duffel-style handles can be joined together for easy transportation. Its flexible shape allows you to fold it flat for storage (a unique feature that most of the competition can’t claim) and easily accommodates tall objects, such as 750 ml wine bottles. 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.
The Yeti Flip 12 is one of several coolers we’ve been using regularly for years now. Aside from a few minor cosmetic complaints, it’s holding up exceptionally well. Reminding us of a gym duffel bag, the REI Pack Away has a canvas-like exterior and a convenient two-way zipper. The roll-top design of the IceMule is pretty easy to use – no zipper lubricant is ever required.
But it aptly redeemed itself as an extremely igloo water coolery, dependable, and easy-to-operate soft cooler. For day-long roams, weekend adventures, road trips, or running errands, these soft coolers kept our provisions chilled without weighing us down. For more information about soft coolers, check out our buyer’s guide and FAQ at the end of this article. Most modern soft coolers have watertight zippers and seals, and openings that close with robust mechanisms. Most quality soft coolers also use materials and construction that avoid seams and junctures that could provide opportunities for leakage. Yeti claims the Hopper BackFlip 24 can hold 20 cans at a two to one ice ratio.
Coolers aren’t complicated, which is a good thing to remember in the face of all that advertising. After spending many years evaluating more than 40 cooler models, we’ve chosen eight that are well made, well insulated, and well suited for a range of outings. 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.
We’ve categorized our giant assortment of s 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. Other accessories include a large removable bin that takes up about 1/3 of the cooler to help keep items dry.
The bottle opener on the Otterbox is actually a flat multi-tool, which we found useful occasionally but not enough to be a deal-breaker. The REI Trail Pack has several extra pockets around the outside and top of the bag, aiding in your long-distance adventure. Additionally, the entire cooler component can be removed, converting the entire thing into an uninsulated backpack when you need it. Some soft coolers are superior at ice retention, which is generally reflected in the price tag but not always. Some pricier coolers offer adequate ice retention mixed with other qualities like durability and capacity. The prices of soft coolers in our guide range from the $25 Mountainsmith Takeout, which is the smallest cooler, to the $350YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler with top-shelf ice retention.
So don’t plan on walking far with this igloo water coolerie or make sure your shoulders are covered for a little extra cushion. According to the ice retention test, this cooler can preserve ice for 25 hours. 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 Soft Tote Cooler ($150) offers a streamlined, lightweight, and durable design.