Each reported time is based on when 100% of the ice was converted to water. But when traveling outdoors, these controlled variables disappear and the ice will likely melt faster. The eco-friendly design features a recycled polyester upper and recycled nylon bottom. These insulated carriers will keep your drinks cold and your perishables fresh. However you’re getting in on the action — playing in the game/match, hitting the gym or tailgating to the stadium lot — we’ve got the coolers for staying hydrated while having fun.
However, it’s not leakproof, so you’ll want to be careful not to drop it when transporting liquids. Wipe interior and exterior surfaces clean before storing and between uses. Light dirt or stains can be cleaned with water or mild detergent.
All three handles and the shoulder strap are fairly comfortable to use, even when we’re fully loaded with refreshments for the party. The handles are made of thick, folded-over webbing that offers a smooth but strong grip for even sweaty hands. The shoulder strap is adjustable and is igloo trailmate cooler long enough for some of our testers to comfortably wear cross-body, though we most often found ourselves with it on just one side. It has a section of padding on it that does a solid job of cushioning our shoulders. Igloo’s small cooler bags are a stylish choice for work or travel.
Our ice retention test concluded that the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler can hold ice for about 3 days. These results were similar to the RTIC 20 Can Soft Pack Cooler, and both of these coolers were among our best performers. Yeti doesn’t claim a specific number of hours for ice retention due to the myriad environmental factors you may encounter.
That said, “cans” is the most commonly used measurement for soft coolers (hard-sided models are generally listed in quarts), and we’ve utilized that spec throughout this article whenever available. That said, there are still some discrepancies to be aware of, the biggest of which is whether or not ice is included in that estimate. We did our best to clarify in the write-ups and comparison table above, but it’s an important distinction to keep in mind when shopping for a soft cooler.
The AO 24 features clips on the ends of the top zipper and a single long external pocket with plenty of space to bring along dry items and your favorite binoculars. The Pack Away adds to this design with four 3-loop daisy chains located igloo trailmate cooler around the body of the bag, and the ability to fold flat — adding capacity and making it easier to store when not in use. Meanwhile, the Maelstrom and the Trail Split have a traditional backpack style that’s easy to get in and out of.
One of our favorite details of this tote is the lengthy shoulder strap, which is removable but has a lean yet cushy, grippy, and soft pad right where you need it most. There are two additional hand straps as an alternative loop to grab, which can slide over your shoulder, too for a close-to-torso carry. Those straps are convenient but barebones and not as comfortable as the longer body strap.
Additionally, pairing your cooler with frozen water bottles and efficient food storage solutions can contribute to overall temperature maintenance. For a variety of conditions, the soft coolers in this guide provide enough cooling power to igloo water cooler serve a range of recreation needs. Soft coolers that are wider or more bucket-style are easier to access, as far as finding a specific item. Coolers with a broad, flat surface that rests against you can help absorb that swing and bounce.
To test the portability of each soft cooler, the team walked around with each of the coolers to see how comfortable they were to carry. The coolers were all tipped upside down to see if they were, in fact, leakproof. Performance wise, this Igloo soft cooler proved itself to be below average—keeping the interior cool for about 38 hours, about 60% behind the Yeti Flip.