Any gear’s durability comes down to a few simple factors—the quality of its materials and components, the method of construction, and the overall design. The coolers we tested feature a wide variety and quality of materials. We assessed durability over months of use, paying attention to how they handle daily rigors. We threw them around, dropped them on the ground, and filled them to the brim with heavy drinks. We also packed, emptied, repacked, and bounced them around in back seats and truck beds, left them out in the sun for hours, strapped them into water-logged boats, and anything else we could think of. The clear winners in this class are the backpack-style coolers, as the weight distribution across both shoulders and resting behind you will almost always beat out a unilateral carry.
The REI chair’s polyester seat material feels both more forgiving and more durable than the thinner material on the Ozark Trail Kids’ Folding Camp Chair from Walmart. The box-shaped cupholder is a little roomier than the round cupholders on the Coleman and the L.L.Bean Base Camp chairs—better for stubby water bottles or mugs of hot chocolate around the campfire. We found that the cheaply constructed Walmart chair had a cupholder that was too small for a soda can, or any of the hard-plastic or metal water bottles that the kids we know brought on a camping trip.
Maggie is the GearLab cooler guru and has been testing coolers and other gear since 2017, personally having tested over 60 different coolers, from traditional ice boxes to the latest and best powered coolers. Whether it be setting off on a trip in her van or hanging out by the crag, she always has a cooler full of goodies to keep her company. 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. This is not the model we would expect to last the longest, as its materials and craftsmanship are not top-tier. The additional features also ride the line between being handy and excessive.
The softer canvas exteriors and flexible insulated walls of the AO 24 Pack and REI Pack Away are much more comfortable bouncing against our sides and feel like a duffel bag. One of the most frustrating qualities of many models we tested is their challenging zippers. So far, manufacturers haven’t been able to produce a zipper that’s waterproof and easy to use. Many soft cooler zippers not only require two hands to open and close but also quite a bit of straining and muttering through clenched teeth. Among backpack models, the RTIC Backpack 30 and the Engel Roll Top BP25 Backpack reign supreme. Much like other RTIC models, the Backpack Cooler 30 is made from heavy-duty materials, including a watertight zipper.
The Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze 30 offers great utility for a steal. Despite having some of the thinnest insulation of any model we tested, it maintained recommended food temperatures for a little over two days, which was right around the group average. The zipperless design for the main compartment makes it completely painless to use, and the hard plastic interior makes it simple to pack.
No matter your budget or needs, our exhaustive testing will help you identify the perfect cooler for you. We were able to fix the problem, but a year of use has also led to scratches on the wheels and the plastic looking pretty shorn. One staffer who also owns the Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Cart has also noticed scratches on the wheels. But the Seina offers just half the internal space, and its 4-inch wheels were more prone to tipping when packed with the same beach gear.
This handy pack stayed under 40 degrees for 60 hours and 67 hours under 50 degrees. The Engel BP25 follows close behind, only differing in the 50 degree test, lasting 64 hours. Rather than a zip top, the BP25 has a roll top, resembling a dry bag. Our expert panel consists of Maggie Nichols, Genaveve Bradshaw, and Becca Glades.
The Renetto Original Canopy Chair, a cleverly designed specialty seat, is ideal for anyone who wants sun protection and doesn’t mind a heavier, bulkier chair. Despite the Renetto’s weight, our testers found it easy to carry and ozark trail backpack simple to set up and adjust. We discovered that even though most testers had not previously considered a shade-equipped camp chair, once they used one they appreciated the comfort and convenience of built-in sun blocking.
The Trail Split, Pack Away, AO 24 Pack, and the Maelstrom Backpack 35 all have traditional, user-friendly zippers and just the right amount of handy design elements and features. The AO 24 features clips on the ends of the top zipper and a single long external pocket with plenty of space to bring along dry items and your favorite binoculars. The Pack Away adds to this design with four 3-loop daisy chains located around the body of the bag, and the ability to fold flat — adding capacity and making it easier to store when not in use. Meanwhile, the Maelstrom and the Trail Split have a traditional backpack style that’s easy to get in and out of.