Our ice retention test corroborated that experience, showing the cooler is capable of holding ice for nearly 2.5 days. But the flexible walls allowed us to flatten and fold the cooler for easy storage, saving us space in a tight apartment. The Arctic Zone Titan Bucket Tote ($53) is a great budget cooler that keeps our ice cold for long durations. A trio took the cooler fly fishing on Colorado’s Gunnison River, carrying along water and various canned beverages. The OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler ($250) bummed us out at first because it lacks a comfortable handle on the lid like its smaller, discontinued version.
From the office to the gym, on lunch break in between classes or weekend adventures, there is always a time and place for an Igloo insulated cooler bag. Our cooler bags come in a wide variety of silhouettes colors and patterns – it’s time to travel in style. Our cooler backpacks, totes and bags are great for day trips and picnics to keep your food cold during the day.
The Igloo Reactor offers 5 different capacities while the Yeti Hopper offers the same (6 if you count the M30). So how does the Igloo Reactor stack up against the Industry heavyweight? In terms of construction and materials, I would say Igloo have really outdone themselves and you wouldn’t be necessarily getting better quality with a Yeti Hopper. Well this zipper is also leakproof, and the liner inside is too, giving multiple layers of protection. In stock expedited shipments will ship the same day, or the next business day for orders placed on a weekend, if the order is placed before 12 PM Central Time.
While we tested during cooler fall temperatures, the Walker delivered days of ice retention versus the hours we got from flimsier bag-style soft coolers. Those times would be shortened in direct sun and high temps, but the thick walls of the Walker are more than enough for a day at the beach. In our lab, the temperature inside the tote actually dropped 8 degrees between two hours and 24 hours after filling it with ice.
igloo soft coolerREI has a knack for balancing performance and affordability, and their Cool Haul 24 is no exception. Like much of its soft-sided competition, the REI bag also includes daisy-chain webbing for securing extra gear, as well as a handy bottle opener. And because the Cool Haul’s inner insulated box can be separated from the outer shell, cleaning is a snap (the shell can also be used without the liner as a tote). YETI is the Cadillac of cooler manufacturers and credited with catalyzing the growth of the premium rotomolded market.
igloo soft coolerThe 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. If your budget is tight or you aren’t sure you need the best soft cooler around, consider some of our lower-cost recommendations. 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 softer coolers meant to retain ice for multiple days—an important feature when conserving space in a boat or on a pack.
igloo soft coolerIn addition to its rubber-foam insulated body, it also has exterior grid straps where you can attach hiking gear. The shell is made from a puncture- and UV-resistant fabric, and both the exterior and interior are treated to resist mildew, according to the brand. The wide-mouth opening is leakproof and zips almost all the way open for easy access, plus it can fit up to 11 cans, according to Yeti. Many soft-sided coolers do an incredible job of retaining ice on hot days, sometimes for over 24 hours. This might be necessary in certain instances, but if you’re using yours for a day trip and only need it to keep pre-chilled items cold for a few hours, you might not even need ice.
Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company’s efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. In the pursuit of data, he’s plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. In most situations, the best way to utilize dry ice is to place it at the bottom of your cooler, wrapped in newspaper. Place the items you’d like to stay frozen or colder on top of dry ice.
But it aptly redeemed itself as an extremely hardy, dependable, and easy-to-operate soft cooler. Whatever drinks and snacks your soft cooler holds will be able to stay in prime consuming condition thanks to the insulation. Whether it’s beer for game night or desserts for a follow up to pizza, the night will end with delicious meals.
Many hard coolers also boast helpful features like drainage systems to help you empty out water once your ice has melted and lockable lids to bear-proof your cooler when camping in bear country. For the ultimate in portability, backpack-style coolers are the clear winners. And many of these bags, including Hydro Flask’s 20 L Day Escape, share a lot in common with regular daypacks. Other highlights include a waterproof exterior that stands up well to rough use and outer lash points for strapping to a kayak or boat. Finally, we love the smooth-operating zipper that requires minimal force to open (not always the case with watertight designs), provides a reliable seal, and is easy to realign if it separates. All told, the Day Escape’s sleek but well-rounded design was quick to win us over, earning it our endorsement as the best backpack cooler of the year.