From the best camping stoves to the best camping tents and coziest sleeping bags, we’ve got the scoop on the gear that’s worth your money (and the stuff that isn’t). We tested the top soft coolers side-by-side and scored each one on key performance metrics. For road trips, you can separate daytime beverages and snacks into a soft cooler, which limits opening of the hard cooler and preserves ice.
If proven defective, product returns or exchanges must be handled directly with the manufacturer. Then, when you arrive at the store of your choice, use the Instacart app to notify us. Depending on the store, a shopper or store employee will bring the groceries to your car, or you can pick them up at the designated area. We review a lot of coolers here at TheCoolerZone (in fact we are the largest cooler review site on the internet!) and it can be a bit overwhelming trying to compare all of them. To make things easier, we have compiled this cooler comparison chart. On the bottom, we have a strong compression molded base that provides stability and a firm structure to the whole bag.
When it comes to ice retention we would expect better results with the Yeti Hopper. Our favorite feature, however, has to be the variety of carrying options that you get. It seems the designers at Igloo tried their best to anticipate all the possible preferences users might have, and we think they have largely done a very good job. We’ll talk about that in a bit, but the point is that it is built perfectly to do its job. We personally can’t wait to take this cooler out on an upcoming kayaking trip.
But for lighter loads, wearing the IceMule is like carrying a grade school backpack. Of course, large capacity always comes with a trade-off in how far you’re willing to carry it. Even with a friend to help, this fully-loaded bag isn’t the ideal cooler to cart a mile down the beach. Take your picnic into the woods with the Igloo Trek Cool Fusion 36-Can Wheeled Soft Cooler Bag. Constructed with durable 600-denier ripstop polyester material, this cooler bag uses MaxCold® insulation to keep contents cold, while the antimicrobial and leak-resistant liner keeps contents fresh. The 2 front zip pockets and the 2 side air mesh pockets provide storage space for additional items, and the locking telescoping handles and wheels offer easy transport.
Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in igloo trailmate where some exclusions may apply. Front slip pocket for additional storage, Leak-resistant, easy-to-clean, antimicrobial liner. RTIC makes great products, and their soft-sided cooler is no exception. It’s a great alternative to the Igloo Reactor and comes with 4 size options.
We’ll always have a spot in our gear closet for a hard cooler, but soft coolers have proven to be just as essential. They weigh less and are easy for one person to grab and quickly transport from the deck to the truck bed. All coolers were tested extensively in our Brooklyn testing lab. We then sent the coolers to field testers for additional insights. We packed the coolers with the stated capacity of cans ; we also filled the coolers with ice once the cans were packed.
At the moment, you can buy Coleman’s replacement hinges and replacement igloo water cooler for less than $10 each. It has a thick, waterproof exterior and a fully sealed rubber gasket around a plastic flip-top lid. This model also features a protective layer on its underside to help protect against abrasion. Zipper lubricant included with many models helps those thick, beefy waterproof zippers to slide a bit more easily. However, many of them still require a significant amount of force to operate and can collect greasy-looking lubricant over time. Our expert panel consists of Senior Review Editor, Maggie Nichols, and her crew of adventure-loving friends.
Unfortunately, the seams leaked all over the rig before we even got to the water’s edge and then drained within only a couple of hours of use. We could stuff lots of goods inside or squish the cooler down for storage. The slender shape doesn’t bounce around and feels smooth to carry over the shoulder. But if you view it as your long-term cooler companion, it’s worth its high price.
Yeti officially replaced its infamous Hopper BackFlip 24 with the Hopper M20 this spring, and overall, we’d say it’s an upgrade. First, the M20 has the same insulation bona fides as its predecessor. We placed a small bag of ice in it with a few cold beverages, and the ice didn’t fully melt till 30 hours later in temperatures around 70 degrees. Even with the ice fully melted, our drinks remained cool for about 48 hours.