In addition to testing soft coolers on their own, we also compared their performance with those of insulated shopping totes and hard coolers. On the whole, we found that the soft-sided coolers we tested kept things colder longer than an insulated shopping tote, but not quite as long as a large hard-sided cooler. This makes them ideal for a day at the beach or a few days of camping, but not for longer trips or when just running a few errands (where insulated shopping totes really excel). The best models were extremely portable and kept ice frozen for three days—impressive for a soft-sided cooler. For the ultimate in portability, backpack-style coolers are the clear winners.
Polar Bear’s Original Nylon Soft Cooler was one of the most portable and best at cold retention among all coolers we tested. Our testers loved the short handles on top of the bag and the included shoulder strap. “It feels like a large tote bag and carries like one,” is how one tester put it.
If your local store is not open, you will be required at this time to complete the final assembly. Some specialized tools may be required depending on the specific bike. Shipping Fees are calculated based on your shipping address, and the size and weight of the item(s) being shipped. Edibles that only need to be chilled should be placed closer to the top of the cooler.
One potential issue, especially when transporting for lunch, is the cooler leaked a bit from the zipper. Four tie-down points on the cooler will help with that during transport in a vehicle. Some clearance product and price points may not be available at all locations.
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The Icemule Pro doesn’t deliver multiple days of extreme ice retention, but it’s enough to get you through a hot day. When emptied, it’s much more collapsible than stiffer soft coolers meant to retain ice for multiple days—an important feature when conserving space in a boat or on a pack. Stiffer soft coolers are not collapsible and take up the same amount of space regardless of whether they’re in use. We tested the extra-large 33-liter size and the 23-liter large size, which is probably plenty for most people’s day trips.
This rugged piece is manufactured from 420D diamond weave polyester material. As we’ve covered above, soft coolers are far easier to haul around than their hard-sided counterparts. In addition to weighing less, most come with padded igloo trailmate straps and thick grab handles for carrying solo over your shoulder or by hand. Premium models tend to have great cushioning along the straps, as evidenced by RovR’s TravelR 30, RTIC’s Soft Pack Cooler, and Engel’s HD30.
Insulated duffel and tote bags with features like integrated cup holders and reinforced handles and carry straps. With Realtree® camo or Igloo’s UV resistant marine line, these extra large sized insulated soft coolers have all the cooling power you need for your next hunting trip or a weekend on the boat. The price tags on modern soft coolers may be shocking if you haven’t shopped for one before. Most higher-end offerings are well over $100, and the top-of-the-line options are as much as $300 or more.
For instance, the REI Co-op Cool Haul Soft Cooler preserved ice for 60 hours during our test but only for 18 hours during one toasty car camp trip. Each soft cooler was stationed indoors at around 65 degrees, shaded, and filled with the same ratio and type of ice. The materials are high-quality with closed-cell foam insulation, a vinyl-coated polyester exterior, and snazzy YKK zippers. But without a shoulder strap, it wasn’t ideal to transport the Hobie Cooler more than short distances. But even with a pad, the strap was not comfortable for the weight-to-weight ratio of this tall cooler.