We’ve tested several of these styles, and the RTIC Backpack 30 is hands down our favorite for sheer carrying comfort. It features padded carry handles and a comfy over-the-shoulder sling. Some other models are easy to use because of their excellent design or features. The Hydro Flask Insulated 20 is one of our favorites thanks to its simple tote-style design and quick internal cleaning. Additionally, it packs down flat, not taking up much space when not in use.
The most durable coolers we tested are the RTIC Soft Pack and Yeti Flip. These models feature incredibly tough, wear-resistant outer fabric, durable components, sturdy zippers, reinforced stitching, and a design made to be used and abused. Even after several years of regular use, they work just as well as when they were new and still look nearly as nice. When it comes to performance in soft coolers, you often get what you pay for in terms of durability and insulation value.
In an interesting twist, the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze has neither a zipper nor a roll-top — it’s not even fully sealed. It closes like an old-school hard cooler, with a plastic lid that nestles snugly into the top of its plastic body. Despite not being airtight or leakproof, it managed to hold ice for 40 hours during our testing. Other coolers have more traditional zippers that aren’t watertight yet still provide effective insulation, like the RTIC Backpack, REI Pack Away, and AO 24 Pack. This Mac Sports wagon folds up to about the same size as the beach-wagon version of the Mac Sports.
A removable plastic shelf adds functionality, keeping sensitive items out of melted ice, and numerous pockets adorn the outside for wine corkscrews, napkins, and silverware. After six months of regularly using the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair, we think it’s the best choice for most people who are seeking an upright chair for car camping, tailgating, and outdoor gatherings. We noticed during the first of our three camping trips—a weekend in California’s Joshua Tree National Park, with a total of seven families—that, given the choice, campers prefer to take the biggest seat. When we set up a dozen chairs around the campfire without comment, people consistently claimed them from largest to smallest.
All in all, this cooler performs well above its price tag and offers a strong value. If you’re looking for a model with a waterproof zipper, check out the Yeti Hopper Flip 18. The top half of the bag ozark trail chair is a normal non-insulated pocket that can be used for hiking layers or cutlery. The cooler itself can hold 16 cans and can even pack in a wine bottle, though it does cause the pack to bend a bit.
The soft internal material tends to get soggy and needs extra time to dry out. All things considered, the bag is fairly inexpensive, so if you’re only needing the occasional soft cooler, this will do the trick. The RTIC Backpack has a large internal capacity, and as a result, makes the rest of the bag rather large. The footprint of the pack can feel rather bulky, especially if you’re packing only a few snacks.
The Soft Pack features a wide lid that stays wide open for easy packing of all those refrigerated goodies. 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 and waterproof exterior indicated solid insulation. Now, various closure solutions continue to impress us with their ability to keep things chilled.
Wagons can be helpful for all kinds of jaunts, including trips to the beach and the farmers market. Folding wagons can be useful tools for families, beachgoers, or really anybody who needs to tote a lot of gear from one place to another. The eclipse ozark trail backpack bundle comes with five solar eclipse glasses so you can safely observe the event alongside friends and family. It also comes with a phone lens designed specifically for taking photos of the eclipse that aren’t completely washed out or overexposed.
“This is the Platonic ideal of your camp chair,” one of our campers gushed. Though robust and watertight, its zipper is much easier to use and comes with zipper lubricant, helping it remain explicative-free. The Yeti Flip and the RTIC SoftPak also come standard with zipper lubricant that helps their zippers glide more easily, though they aren’t as smooth as the Engel.
Even after over a year of use, the wagon didn’t lose any ability to fold or unfold smoothly. The Everywhere Chair keeps your bottom about 4 inches off the ground. The strap that supports the back (and doubles as a carry strap) allows adjustments to control your angle of recline, from upright to a stargazing-appropriate angle. Unlike other portable chairs, the Everywhere Chair is designed to sit on uneven slopes; this can be handy when space is limited at a fireworks show or an outdoor theater performance. Our panel of testers at the Wheeler Gorge Campground deemed the Everywhere Chair to be the most comfortable of the three low-to-the-ground chairs we tested.