And where the Yeti still had about half of its ice frozen, our testers reported only about 20 percent of the ice placed in the Icemule stayed frozen. Instead, you should use freshly frozen cubed ice, ice blocks, or reusable ice packs. The prices of soft coolers in our guide range from the $30 Mountainsmith Takeout, which is the smallest cooler, to the OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler ($250) with top-shelf ice retention.
If you’re looking for a collapsible and durable option at a more affordable cost, we highly recommend the Icemule Classic. And it didn’t hold the cold as well (the temperature inside the cooler rose about 18 degrees between two hours and 24 hours after putting ice in it compared to just 7 degrees for the Yeti). But our testers appreciated how comfortable the Classic is to carry on one shoulder, how light it was, and its durability. According to our ice retention test, the REI Co-op Cool Haul is capable of holding ice for up to 60 hours.
As soft-sided coolers have become increasingly popular, the market has become more and more innovative. At one time, the presence of an airtight zipper igloo trailmate and waterproof exterior indicated solid insulation. Now, various closure solutions continue to impress us with their ability to keep things chilled.
Overall, this cooler bag measures measures 13.5 inches long, 12.75 inches wide, and 13.5 inches tall. This portable insulated cooler features advanced insulation that keeps drinks and food cold for a full day at the beach or lake. No need to worry about bringing this waterproof cooler close to the surf or onto your boat.
It’ll keep your perishables reliably cold, even on the hottest days. However, it’s not leakproof, so you’ll want to be careful not to drop it when transporting liquids. A lifelong user of coolers, he appreciates the innovation of soft backpack coolers. For a few years now, Nathan has loved his Yeti Hopper BackFlip and Yeti Hopper Flip, but the Icemule cooler packs mentioned in this roundup are quickly becoming his new go-to’s in certain situations. Capacities in a soft cooler are often stated in sheer storage capacity listed in various volume measures such as gallons, quarts, or liters.
On the outside, a large zippered pocket provides a good 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 igloo trailmate accommodates tall objects, such as 750 ml wine bottles. We’ve vetted, purchased, and tested over 30 soft coolers since 2017. Our most recent test compares 17 of the best models available today. Soft coolers offer portability and versatility that traditional hard coolers can’t.
Igloo’s Outdoor Pro Snapdown Backpack has a deep, wide main compartment with insulated walls, plus various pockets and even a handy built-in bottle opener. After a few hours, most of the ice was still intact, the cans were chilled, and the bag didn’t leak at all when we flipped it over. We then sent the coolers to field testers for additional insights. We packed the coolers with the stated capacity of cans (when possible); we also filled the coolers with ice once the cans were packed. Once the coolers were full, we began testing for portability and durability by carrying the coolers around the lab and up and down steps and pushing them off tables onto a concrete floor. Yeti claims the Hopper BackFlip 24 can hold 20 cans at a two to one ice ratio.