Additional features on soft coolers include hard clip points, daisy chains, webbing straps, and bungee cords for carrying extra gear. Most soft coolers have side or top igloo water cooler handles, two straps that swing up to secure together above the cooler, or a removable shoulder strap. A bunch of designs have a combination of handles and straps, too.
And the price is reasonable for such a high-quality, likely long-lasting cooler. Additionally, unlike hard coolers, the difference in ice retention between soft-sided models isn’t all that sizable, which can make it harder to justify spending up for such a premium and expensive model. To be sure, these top-end designs have their appeal for those who want the easier portability of a soft cooler without compromising on build quality, but they’re not worth the investment for most. If you’ve got the budget, it’s almost certainly worth opting for a hard-sided model instead. You’ll incur a sizable weight penalty, but the boost in cooling capabilities and overall performance will be well worth that tradeoff for many. The price spread among soft coolers is significant, ranging from just $25 for the Coleman 24-Hour 16-Can Cooler all the way up to $300 for RovR’s premium TravelR 30.
And like the premium Day Escape, the Carry Out boasts a thick (600D) exterior that’s highly durable and water-resistant, along with welded seams to keep spills and splashes at bay. Tack on a handy stash pocket at the front and webbing loops to attach Hydro Flask’s Dry Storage accessories, and the Carry Out stands out as an excellent value for what you get. At first glance, the AO Coolers 24 Pack Canvas Cooler may not look like much. It doesn’t have the snazzy laminated exterior and waterproof zipper that so many others boast. Yet underneath this unassuming exterior is a great soft cooler that’s simple to use and easy to love.
The shape and weight feel easy to move around, and the handles are comfortable. We appreciate all of the pockets to help us keep igloo soft cooler odds and ends organized. There are two zippered pockets, including one that fits a phone, and two huge, broad mesh pockets.
After packing it in a checked suitcase, swimming with it in the ocean (it floats, by the way), and throwing it on rocks, the quality wasn’t compromised whatsoever. What’s more, the impenetrable design passed our leakproof test with flying colors. But it’s backed by a three-year warranty and will likely last much longer. Before investing in a soft cooler, it can be helpful and prudent to consider how long it’s covered under warranty.
It’s also handily collapsible, so you can pack it in a suitcase or stuff it in a backpack and easily store it when it’s not in use. After throwing it on the ground during our tests, there were no scuff marks or visible damage. Though the Dolphin Mini is billed as leakproof, water seeped through the zippers once the ice had melted. But if you skip the ice and just fill it with food and a drink, this won’t be an issue.
Our sensors showed us it warmed up to 40°F after just 26 hours, which places the Coleman in the bottom half of the coolers we tested. Carrying 22 cans, the Arctic Zone Deep Freeze 24 Backpack is a smaller cooler that still manages to pack a ton. This is thanks to its stretchy side pockets, top flap zipper pocket, and bungee. It’s also able to fit a wine bottle inside or within one of the external side pockets. The Engel HD30 and RTIC Soft Pack include small low-profile pockets great for keys or a phone. The HD30 is the largest in our lineup and will fit just about any odd-shaped food item you could take on your picnic.
Field use takes place in various environments, from hot desert hikes to road trips from muggy Minnesota to sunny California, for a well-rounded set of conditions. All this adds up to a comprehensive review, which will thoroughly equip you to make a well-suited soft cooler purchase. Carhartt’s take on the soft cooler is this dual-compartment backpack. The lower section is insulated for keeping drinks and perishable items cold, the upper portion is meant to hold anything else you want to bring along, and there’s a front zipper pocket for small items. You could technically fit 24 cans if you put them in both compartments and didn’t add any ice.
The RTIC Soft Pack Cooler has a similar feel and look to a Yeti cooler but comes at a more accessible cost. To test the best soft coolers, we filled each one with ice to see how long it took for the ice to melt. 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.