Best Soft Coolers 2023

Coolers have an uncanny ability to put a smile on your face. That’s because they represent a good time that’s about to happen. After all, nothing’s cooler than quickly transporting yourself away from the stress-ridden workaday world to some well-deserved chillaxation time. And when you think of the coolers that’ll help you accomplish that, you probably picture big, thick, hard plastic bins so heavy that you need a second set of hands just to hoist them. But these days you can get a versatile, lightweight soft cooler instead. In fact, you have a ton of great options when it comes to choosing the best soft coolers—from backpack coolers to lunchboxes to voluminous cubes on wheels—so you can escape and celebrate in whatever way’s called for.

This bag from Cotopaxi is made from repurposed materials, making it one of the best soft coolers to ... [+] help you bring ample refreshments to the beach, picnics and other day trips.

As you look at the models we’ve rounded up here, you’ll see that they’re far from being cookie-cutter-clones of one another. Whether you’re heading to the beach or hanging with friends, the materials, weight, capacity and insulative properties of a particular soft cooler will dictate which one is right for you. So check out the features of the ten best-in-class soft coolers below to see which one will best help you get your summer groove on.

Engel Coolers

Materials: 840-denier fibers, Thermal plastic urethane, closed foam insulation | Weight: 5.25 pounds | Capacity: 30 liters

For years, Engel soft-sided coolers have performed well in independent ice-retention tests, maintaining ice for an impressive three to five days. This is thanks in great part to their use of welded (versus sewn) seams, which prevents warm air from getting in and cold air from getting out. The newest version of the HD30 also features a valve through which customers can vacuum out extra air, further optimizing its performance. A comfy, adjustable shoulder strap, bottle opener and water-resistant front pocket round out this strong, durable cooler, which is available in three catchy color combinations.

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CamelBak

Materials: TPU coated 400D nylon, 420D nylon oxford, ether TPU coated liner, molded EVA boot | Weight: 4.5 pounds | Capacity: 30 liters

Leave it to the innovative folks at CamelBak to improve on the soft cooler. Their new ChillBak not only boasts the capacity to chill a case of cans with ice for a few days at a time—thanks to its one-hand operated rolltop—but also integrates their eponymous six-liter reservoir right behind the back pad. Click the hose into place on the outside and you can instantly dispense cool water—or perhaps more rewardingly, a celebratory sangria—right from the spigot. Add a stretchy side pocket to carry your wallet, keys and other small essentials. And there you have our new favorite soft cooler to bring along on hikes, picnics and to outdoor concerts.

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Home Depot

Materials: Polyester, meta-polymer insulation | Weight: 3.6 pounds | Capacity: 43 liters

Fashion-wise, the Walker Tote is lightyears ahead of the declasse white Styrofoam cooler you might’ve impulsively snagged in your younger years. As functional as it is stylish, this easy-to-carry tote can hold up to 20 pounds of ice alone, or 18 cans of your favorite beverage with room left over for ice. So it’s a natural choice for outdoor summer concerts, jaunts to the park and other daytrips. But don’t let its delicate appearance fool you—it’s tough enough that you won’t have to baby it.

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REI

Materials: TPU, closed-cell foam, stainless steel, plastic | Weight: 5 pounds | Capacity: 10 liters

For good reason, we often put a lot of stock—not to mention ice—into how long coolers can keep stuff cool. But sometimes you really just want a tote to serve as more of a modern day picnic basket. Enter the RovR KeepR, a flexible yet rigid tote with movable compartment dividers perfect for organizing snacks and drinks. That might include tall liquor bottles, small bottles, cans, cups and mixers. But you want a cold drink, right? No problem. The vacuum-sealed, double-walled IceR bucket—which purposefully slips perfectly into the center—holds up to three pounds of ice. (Pro tip: In winter, it doubles as a great recepticle for keeping soup or hot chocolate warm.)

Adding even more value to this crafty cocktail caddy, the whole unit slides right into RovR’s 30-liter TravelR soft cooler ($250). So you can take the clever two-part system to the beach or other warm outings, without fear of your provisions spoiling along the way. Or use them separately, as your adventures dictate.

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IceMule Coolers

Materials: MuleSkin exterior, Polar Layer XT insulation | Weight: 7.5 pounds | Capacity: 30 liters

Whether fishing, boating or hiking, when your adventures call for a highly wearable waterproof cooler, the IceMule Boss is your backpack of choice. What it lacks in inherent lightness, it more than makes up for with its dual-zone weight distribution system. Padded mesh shoulder straps and hip pads, combined with its adjustable chest strap, make otherwise unfathomable loads feasible. And if you don’t happen to need the Boss’s ample insulated front and side pockets to keep your electronics and other valuables dry, we also highly recommend the much more affordable Pro model.

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Eastern Mountain Sports

Materials: P600 two tone-PVC, PEVA liner, PE foam insulation | Weight: 13 ounces | Capacity: 7 liters

Though we’re kinda partial to Mountainsmith’s Cooler Tube because of its innovative form factor, it’s hard to get past the universal practicality of the TakeOut soft cooler. It’s not only able to chill a six-pack on the go (once you add an ice pack into its zippered inner mesh pocket), but it also serves as a handy personal lunchbox as well. It doesn’t get much simpler or more affordable than this.

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Cotopaxi

Materials: Repurposed foam insulation, nylon/polyester shell | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Capacity: 12 liters

Repurposing fabric left over by other companies, Cotopaxi creates colorful, one-of-a-kind products. Each 12-liter Hielo (appropriately, Spanish for “ice”) cooler bag isn’t just a unique, sustainable work of art. With a wide rolltop opening and welded, waterproof liner, it’s also a highly functional bag. In fact, it can keep a 12-pack of cans cold for hours, thanks to its (of course) repurposed insulation. Adding to its functionality, you can carry it with either the handle or shoulder strap. It features a thin water bottle side pocket. And it’s nice and svelte, like a messenger bag. So it may be a lot of things, but bulky definitely ain’t one of ‘em.

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Otter Products

Materials: TPU coated nylon, thermal insulation | Weight: 6.5 pounds | Capacity: 19 liters

It’s no surprise that a company whose original product was a thoroughly rugged, waterproof case designed to protect your phone and other small valuables would create such a sturdy “soft” cooler. Although it’s a bit on the smaller side as compared to the other entries on this list, don’t judge the Trooper 20 by its capacity alone. It’s not only tough as nails, but packs such cool features as a zipperless, leakproof lid; respectable three-day ice retention; and an included bottle opener accessory.

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Decathlon

Materials: Polyester cationic, TPU, PES 600 denier fabric, PU insulation | Weight: 2.8 pounds | Capacity: 25 liters

Borrowing a trick from the self-inflating sleeping pads we can’t live without on camping trips, a simple twist of the Decathlon Quechua’s valve allows it to suck in air and spring to life. The company claims this cooler’s insulation can keep your items cool for up to 14 hours—without ice packs. So we certainly like this as a great soft cooler for traveling and day trips. In fact, you could even bring it on vacation, crumpling it into your luggage (and hoping it doesn’t get an inflated sense of itself along the journey). We love the included divider that helps you stack your snacks and beverages inside, along with the cooler’s three storage pockets. Just note that we mentioned ice packs above on purpose, since the inner compartment isn’t waterproof (i.e. for use with actual ice), without an optional liner they sell on the site for $10. Still, it’s a highly functional and affordable soft cooler that’ll do you right on tons of day trips.

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Amazon

Materials: Nylon | Weight: 6.75 pounds | Capacity: 24 liters

Nothing challenges most soft coolers more than a hot, sunny day at the beach. But this is where the Titan Deep Freeze excels. Its all-terrain wheels not only help you trudge across the sand with otherwise backbreaking loads up to 100 pounds. Those same wheels—along with a strategic triple layer of insulation on the cooler’s bottom—help separate its contents from the scorching hot sand that is completely antithetical to the cooler’s mission. Best of all, this cooler is leak-proof and cleans both inside and out with just a damp cloth and some soapy water. Additional features include an insulated front pocket, removable bottle opener and an adjustable shoulder strap, in case you’re looking for more of a workout.

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In many cases, it’s not such a clear-cut decision. For example, not all soft coolers are flimsy and inferior at ice retention; and not all hard coolers are bulkier and better insulated. But generally speaking, you may want to go with a hard-sided cooler if you’re looking for something that’s:

On the other hand, you might prefer a soft-sided cooler if you:

As with hiking backpacks, you’ll often see soft-sided cooler capacities measured in liters. But you may also run into quarts, which are pretty close (32 quarts is just over 30 liters). Where it gets tricky is that, in an attempt to be practical, some companies only describe their cooler volumes in terms of how many 12-ounce beverage cans they can hold. As a rule, you can multiply the number of quarts by 3/4 to roughly estimate the number of cans it can hold.

For example, a 32-quart cooler might be able to fit about 24 cans (as is the case with the IceMule Boss mentioned above). Whereas another cooler of the same capacity (such as the Engel) might be rated to hold 48 cans. The main contributing factors in this wild fluctuation are the cooler’s shape—which plays a role in the amount of space between the cans—along with how much (if any) ice is included in the calculation. Bottom line: double-check the numbers provided on the product page.

One of the big benefits to having a soft-sided cooler is that you may be able to put the whole cooler right into the fridge or freezer before packing it up. If not, you can still pre-chill the inside of it (which is ultimately the goal) with ice before actually loading it full. As with all coolers, it also makes a big difference if you chill the contents before placing them into the cooler—the ice only has to retain cold rather than establish coldness. It’s also worth noting that various manufacturers recommend different ice-to-goods ratios; but they tend to be either 2:1 or 1:1.

No. Never put dry ice in a soft cooler. If it doesn’t permanently damage the cooling chamber—and it very well may—you’ll still need to leave the cooler open enough to let out the resulting sublimated gas, thereby nullifying its potential benefits.

Although block ice is powerful and takes longer than traditional ice cubes to melt—making it a strong option for pre-chilling, as mentioned above—it tends to hog space in your cooler. So you may be better off just sticking with cubes, perhaps used in conjunction with a branded ice pack made specifically for your cooler. Other than the advantage of being able to reuse ice packs, the big benefit of this hybrid solution is that the ice pack(s) may actually freeze below 32 degrees, effectively keeping your cubes in tact longer.

It’s helpful if you happen to know what specific sorts of items you intend to keep cool, because that dictates the cooler’s design to some extent. For instance, if you’re looking to carry wine, you’ll need a cooler that’s tall (or wide) enough to accommodate bottles of that size. For sandwiches and other perishable munchies, a cooler with a simple handle or shoulder strap may work just fine. And if you’ll be lugging dozens of cans at once, you’ll probably need to switch to a backpack style or perhaps even a cooler with wheels.

One big mistake you’ll want to avoid is getting a cooler that’s too big. In terms of ice retention, it’s better to fully pack a smaller cooler than put the same contents into a bigger one (even if it’s hard-sided) that leaves excess air. In that sense, it’d make more sense to invest in two small or medium coolers as opposed to one huge one.

Where and how you’ll be using your cooler will help determine how sturdy you need it to be. For instance, if you’re paddle boarding or hiking, you’ll require a cooler that’s flexible but able to stand up to the elements. Whereas you might want something with a harder shell if it’ll be bouncing around with other gear while boating or off-roading. Then again, super soft might be just the ticket for chilling at an outdoor concert or picnic.

Specifically, how wide the cooler opens (and whether it stays open) determines how easy it’ll be to initially load up. And how it seals plays into both how well it keeps ice and how easy it is to remove items when you’re ready for them. You might want a simple magnetic closure if you plan to frequently partake; a zipper system if not quite as often; and perhaps unfurling a rolltop isn’t so bad if it’s just once or twice, as when preparing a whole meal at a time.

Soft-sided coolers don’t tend to come with a ton of bells and whistles. But you might find webbing and bungees for latching on additional gear. Padded pockets for items you’re hoping to keep dry (such as wallets, keys and electronics), rather than cool. Multiple carrying methods, such as extra handles and straps. And of course, an integrated bottle opener, so nothing stands between you and your frosty beverage of choice.