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 REI Trail Pack is one of our favorites for fully loaded distance missions, offering all the comfort of a backpacking backpack with its perfectly padded weight-bearing waistbelt. We also looked at the features each came with and evaluated their actual usability.
No two coolers bags are the same — each one is creatively unique. But the flexible walls allowed us to flatten and fold the cooler for easy storage, saving us space in a tight apartment. We were surprised at how well the cooler retained ice despite being out in the elements, due to the premium thermal insulation. The heavy-duty base also increased the chill factor while stabilizing the cooler during transport and beneath items.
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. Speaking of cold retention, we were pulling out frosty beverages well past the 36-hour mark. The TravlR features four daisy chains for lashing additional gear, plus two handles and a padded shoulder strap for carrying.
This rigid cooler doesn’t fold down, and its footprint is rather large. That said, with a full load of groceries, its bulky size can be awkward to carry. Based on its size, we wouldn’t want to carry the TravelR for long distances. However, its overall durability and insulation performance make it an option that can be relied on for years.
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. There are a number of things igloo water cooler to look for when shopping for a soft cooler, including capacity, packability, portability and — perhaps most importantly — ice retention and insulation. To discern the capabilities of these coolers, our testers loaded them with various types of ice (both bulk and packs), beverages, foodstuffs and more.
We put one sensor at the bottom of the cooler, which was enclosed inside of a methylcellulose block. Designed to be taken while fishing, kayaking, or backpacking, everything about this Pelican soft cooler revolves around being lightweight. This soft cooler performs very well, keeping the interior below 40°F for a little over 40 hours. We still think it’d put up impressive numbers during a day at the beach since it has a secondary opening on the top secured by Velcro for quick access. The Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze 60 proved to us that soft coolers can hang with their hard-shelled counterparts. Right off the bat, we liked the fact that the Titan Deep Freeze comes with a detachable rolling cart.
But as long as you don’t drop it off the south rim of the Grand Canyon, you’re likely to have this cooler for a very, very long time. We had no problem filling the cooler with 20 cans and plenty of ice. And not surprisingly, it had some of the best ice retention and coldest temperatures at igloo trailmate the end of our 24-hour test. The Hopper Flip’s inside temperature only raised by about 6 degrees over 24 hours, thanks to Yeti’s closed-cell insulation, for which it’s become infamous. We love that this cooler has handles and backpack straps, making it ideal for different carrying methods.
Rebecca’s STEM background helps her bring an analytical mindset to the table, along with a passion for finding the best gear out there. Together, this team searched far and wide to find the best soft coolers available on the market. Before investing in a soft cooler, it can be helpful and prudent to consider how long it’s covered under warranty. A one-year warranty is pretty standard in the soft cooler market, (like what you get with RTIC), while three to five years is fairly generous. For reference, YETI and ORCA both offer three-year warranties on their soft coolers, while Hydro Flask leads the charge with a five-year policy. Importantly, all of these are limited warranties that solely cover defects in materials or workmanship and exclude damage from typical wear and tear.
We ran these temperature tests until there was no ice inside the cooler. We’d describe the Rtic Soft Pack Cooler as a great middle ground. Overall, we think this Arctic Zone cooler is a generalist crowd pleaser. You can easily roll it from the parking lot to the beach, or detach it and sling it over your shoulder. For retail purchases returned without a receipt, the refund will be issued as a store merchandise
credit at the lowest price within the last 90 days.