The eco-friendly design features a recycled polyester upper and recycled nylon bottom. 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. Beckett Dubay is a product tester at Reviewed, regularly using science-based igloo soft cooler protocol to test refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry large appliances, and photographing the process in the lab from start to finish. Edibles that only need to be chilled should be placed closer to the top of the cooler. We’re the testing team at Reviewed, which means we designed and implemented the experiments involved in this article.
RTIC’s Soft Pack also falls into this category, and although it’s technically not fully waterproof, the tough shell and leakproof design should stand up well if it ends up taking a dip. Carefully designed with premium details and longer ice retention for extended adventures, our high-quality cooler bags are still more affordable than others out there with similar performance. We have a huge variety of insulated bags all at different prices.
According to our ice retention test, the Arctic Zone Titan Bucket Tote is capable of holding ice for up to 70 hours. Some of these designs are actually very rigid, stout, and stackable. Others are fully collapsible and pliable, and we celebrate the space-saving option for storage.
The soft coolers in our guide range from the Mountainsmith Takeout, which can fit six cans, to the 38L Snow Peak Soft Cooler. Most of our choice soft coolers are either larger (30 L to 38 L) for group multiday trips or more compact (12 L to 19 L). Durability varies considerably between soft coolers, and a good way to differentiate between models is to look at denier (D), which is a measurement of fabric thickness. Rigid designs like Yeti’s Hopper M30 and Engel’s HD30 (both 840D) sit at the top of the pack. These designs have tough exteriors that feel very confidence-inspiring around sharp gear and have stood up very well to regular use throughout testing with little wear to show for it. RovR’s TravelR 30 is another standout in terms of durability with a burly TPU base and welded seams that give it a very hardwearing feel.
According to our ice retention test, the Orca Walker 20 is capable of holding ice for up to 70 hours. The two side handles aren’t the most comfortable to grab, and we wish they weren’t adjacent to the shoulder straps’ attachment points. But when the handgrip is detached into two separate pieces, they’re not comfortable to grasp. The insulation is a metal-coated plastic blend, which did a solid job of preserving the ice and goods. We loved the soft interior liner and the waterproof zipper that prevents any leaks from the top.
No other cooler would’ve fit into the awkward floor space behind our seats. One of our favorite products overall was the Snow Peak Soft Cooler 38 ($185). Even given its large size, it was still igloo trailmate very comfortable to transport, due to the soft, malleable walls. With the simple, wide handles Velcroed together, we could sling the cooler over our shoulders when it was fully loaded.
It really is ideal to have options to choose from depending on what adventure you’re planning. Having a hard cooler designated for food for the trip and having a soft cooler to get your drinks separated can be a helpful way to organize and keep your things cold and fresh. Between uses, you can clean the interior of a soft cooler with a sponge, lukewarm water, and standard dish soap. You can wipe down the exterior and zipper, too — don’t miss the feet and bottom, which touch ground surfaces.
One exception is REI Co-op, which offers a full refund or replacement within one year of purchase for members (90 days for non-members). Finally, it’s worth noting that many companies provide different warranties for their hard-sided versus soft-sided offerings. For example, Yeti’s hard-sided Tundra series is covered with a five-year warranty compared to three for the Hopper collection. If you want a soft cooler for under $25, check out the Ozark Trail Soft Sided Cooler. When it comes to cold storage, the Ozark Trail did decently, keeping its interior cool for 38 hours. However, the quality of its webbing feels on the thin side and the straps are less comfortable than others on this list.