In this case, the Collapse & Cool soft cooler has the tough exterior and spacious interior to carry what you need and keep it safe. This is another type of soft cooler that you can trust to keep items cold for longer periods. The insulation lets your ice last for at least one day, making it perfect for camping by the lake or quick fishing trips with friends and family. This Igloo soft side cooler is another option with an adjustable shoulder strap so that you can carry it in whatever way feels comfortable.
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.
YETI recently upgraded the cooler so the magnetic closure stays open when you’re loading up foodstuff (previously, it would snap shut mid-task).
But in the 24- to 48-hour range, we haven’t seen a huge difference between using ¾ inch of closed-cell or open-cell foam in a cooler. In contrast, open-cell foam is permeable to air and water like a sponge (which is why it frequently appears in foam pillows, as it’s squishier and it breathes). But open-cell foam’s ability to insulate greatly diminishes when it’s wet because water permeates all of the open space and acts as a conductor of heat. In open-cell foam, most bubbles (more than 50%) share walls with one another. These foams, which weigh around 0.5 pound per cubic foot, are light and easy to compress. Closed-cell foam is considered a better insulator than open-cell foam because the tiny bubbles of gas in closed-cell foam remain independent from one another.
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. While it’s easy to get caught up in wanting the best, being realistic about using your soft cooler can help you choose one that works for your intended uses. Coolers have come a long way since glorified bags that offer a few hours of chilling, but that now-quaint level of performance may be all you need. From YETI and Kanga to Igloo and Orca, Ace carries a selection of soft-sided coolers from leading brands.
Coolers like the OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler with a broad, flat surface that rests against you can help absorb that swing and bounce. With a unique spin, the cooler is compatible with a removable insert called the KeepR ($150), which organizes fare into different compartments like a golf bag. The dividers are secured via Velcro, so the compartments are adjustable. The center of the basket has a circular sleeve for the 3L Icer ($50), a double-wall vacuum-sealed ice holder with a 3.5-pound capacity. Both the KeepR and Icer are sold separate alongside the stackable SnackR ($30) containers for food. For grab-and-go, there’s a handle on the back and a carry tote-style strap.
Some unique closures include the powerful magnetic seam of the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler and clasp of the OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler, which don’t allow leaks. The eco-friendly design features a recycled polyester upper and recycled nylon bottom. We took the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler ($350) on a Southwest Colorado road trip to the Hardrock 100 race to volunteer and car camp. We took this cooler on a two-person, 3,400-mile road trip from Colorado to Washington for ski mountaineering followed by ocean surfing.