The Best Soft Coolers of 2024

Sitting squarely on the economy train, 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 temps that day hovered around 80 degrees.

Despite being left in the car for a full day following the river outing, the cooler still had ice and felt cold. That well-founded retention is thanks to the brand’s blend of proprietary insulation, interior radiant barrier, and thick base made of three layers of SuperFoam. We also found the water- and stain-resistant exterior very durable. The inside was easy to wipe clean.

This shape and weight felt easy to move around, and the handles were comfortable. We appreciate all of the pockets to help us keep odds and ends organized. There are two zippered pockets, including one that fits a phone, and two huge, broad mesh pockets.

According to our ice retention test, the Titan Bucket Tote is capable of holding ice for up to 70 hours. This cooler could fit two dozen 12-ounce cans. We’re quite confident it’s the best soft cooler for the price.

We used the Orca Wanderer 24 ($250) for tailgating at trailheads after hikes and park BBQs. Ultimately, this is an excellent cooler for single-day adventures. Our team was most impressed by the 840-denier textile exterior, which is tough and doesn’t get banged up.

This design’s insulation is a metal-coated plastic blend, which did a solid job of preserving the ice and goods. We loved the soft interior liner and the waterproof zipper that prevents any leaks from the top.

The two side handles aren’t the most comfortable to grab, and we wish they weren’t adjacent to the shoulder straps’ attachment points. The center magnetic handle is smooth and nice to grab, but when the handgrip is detached into two separate pieces, it’s not comfortable to grasp.

According to our ice retention test, the Wanderer can hold ice for up to 70 hours and it can fit 20 12-ounce cans.

One of our favorite products overall was the Snow Peak Soft Cooler 38 ($185). Even given its large size, it was still very comfortable to transport, due to the soft, malleable walls. With the simple, wide handles Velcroed together, we could sling the cooler over our shoulders when it was fully loaded.

A hard cooler this size would require two hands to move. But the flexible walls allowed us to flatten and fold the cooler for easy storage, saving us space in a tight apartment. If you’re looking for an easy-to-store soft cooler with a smaller capacity, don’t overlook the REI Co-op Pack-Away Soft Cooler.

The exterior is made of synthetic plastic and nylon, so it’s not resilient for a rugged whitewater trip but is suitable for basecamp. There’s ample space to carry multiple meals for several people. The insulated walls have an interior aluminum coat that helps trap cold air, and the ice retention is adequate for single- and 2-day adventures.

If you want a versatile cooler with a bit more volume than a traditional soft cooler, look no further. This Snow Peak Soft Cooler did well on a weekend road trip to climb in Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains and camp out, but wouldn’t be able to retain ice for longer durations. Our ice retention test corroborated that experience, showing the cooler is capable of holding ice for nearly 2.5 days.

If you have limited storage space, consider the REI Co-op Pack-Away Soft Cooler ($55). This origami-inspired design collapses and folds flat when it’s not a cube or a tote. When transformed into a box or bag shape, the cooler is light, nimble, and malleable. No other cooler would’ve fit into the awkward floor space behind our seats.

We loaded the Pack-Away into our jeep for navigating Colorado’s high-altitude Alpine Loop, a 65-mile route that circumnavigates old mining roads through the San Juan Mountains. The cooler held lunch meats, cheese, veggies, dark chocolate, and seltzer waters.

The eco-friendly design features a recycled polyester upper and recycled nylon bottom. It’s also Bluesign-approved, which we appreciate.

Overall, we found the Pack-Away Soft Cooler durable, given it’s made with a tough polyester shell and abrasion-resistant nylon bottom. It also had decent ice retention. The size and insulation are ideal for a single day out. According to the ice retention test, this cooler can retain ice for 57 hours and fit 24 12-ounce cans.

This soft cooler is a triple-whammy design. Dubbed the ICEMULE Impulse ($100), this lunch cooler adapts with simple straps to become a hand-carry, cross-body tote, or a bike handlebar bag. Inspired by the musette bags that became more known in the U.S. following mega race events, namely the Tour de France, this design is a step up: It’s waterproof for any weather or puddles that might cross your path and of course, it’s insulated to keep your grub or drinks cold.

We were pleasantly surprised by how durable, soft, and dense this material feels, especially for such a small pail. This bag really does feel like it’s built with tenacity, much like any bikepacking bag.

For the cross-body tote, we like that the strap is thick and has a central buckle, so you can easily disconnect if needed — though, we didn’t totally find it necessary with how long the strap can extend. Two additional streamlined buckles connect each strap end to the cooler body.

The two straps that attach the soft cooler to bike handlebars have reflective material, a touch we appreciate. Inside, there’s a sleeve that works great for a slender ice pack. On the backside of the exterior, there’s a small pocket with a zip closure that’s big enough for a spork, ID, or that lean, removable shoulder strap.

Overall, we love that we can cruise to a riverside park with weight on our bike, easily pull off our lunch bag, transition the tote to a cross-body bag, and hike around to find a picnic spot. Of course, that means we need to carry the removable shoulder strap with us, but it isn’t too cumbersome. The Impulse is a cool triple-bargain and well-executed design.

Yeti completely reworked and relaunched the magnetic closures for their soft coolers — and the powerful design is back and better than ever. This time, the brand launched the Hopper collection with magnetic closures, including the Yeti Hopper M15 Tote ($300), which comes in an even larger M30 tote that fits 42 cans of bubbly water over the 32 cans that can stack into the M15. There’s also a shoulder strap version: the Hopper M12 or M20 Backpacks.

To close up this cooler, you snap shut the top of the tote, fold down the rim, and then click two wide buckles over the top for extra security. Either side of the mouth is lined with a strip of super-strong magnets. We’ll be the first to confirm: Despite the shark clamp this magnet offers to hold in cold air or liquid, when the clasp is manually set open, the gap stays.

We never saw the cooler slam shut when propped open. And without a doubt, the ice retention of this soft cooler is among the front runners. The only challenge we had was with closing the two buckles: One of our easiest solutions was to place a knee on the top of the tote to more easily slide the ends together. But the pressure of a palm will also do.

Also, the shape of this cooler means it’s not our choice for grocery store runs — it’s simply not big or boxy enough — but is a classy, top-notch design for day adventures.

A narrow but wide slide-in kangaroo pocket on the side of the cooler is perfect for sliding a phone or wallet while you stroll. And we’re a sucker for a comfortable grab handle that’s as ergonomic and strong as this one has. One of our favorite details of this tote is the lengthy shoulder strap, which is removable but has a lean yet cushy, grippy, and soft pad right where you need it most.

There are two additional hand straps as an alternative loop to grab, which can slide over your shoulder, too for a close-to-torso carry. Those straps are convenient but barebones and not as comfortable as the longer body strap.

We were impressed with how slender this large bag feels, due to the tapered design and sleek crown to this tote. The exterior is buttery smooth, easy to wipe down, and is just as durable as all the other touchpoints from top to bottom.

Overall, despite being large, this Yeti tote is simply comfortable to carry. Yet the base is wide and sturdy, so we don’t need to worry about where we set the load down — gravel and uneven ground isn’t an issue. The Hopper M15 Tote is a premium soft cooler that’ll last through whatever you throw its way.

The Hydro Flask Day Escape Tote ($150) offers a streamlined, lightweight, and durable design. We used this cooler for park BBQs and loved how comfortable it was to slip over our shoulders and carry.

This exterior is made of a 600-denier polyester shell that’s waterproof. The zipper is completely watertight with welded seams, so leaking isn’t on the menu. We noticed the zipper is hard to pull one-handed, and we typically need to counter-pull the side handles to open or close it.

We were surprised to see the cooler’s exterior sweat quite a bit during the ice retention test. The ice melted at a faster rate compared to other coolers, lasting for about 60 hours, but well above the brand’s 36-hour stamp. The 18L Day Escape Tote could fit two dozen 12-ounce cans.

Compared to the Yeti Hopper Flip 12 soft cooler, the RTIC 20 Can Soft Pack Cooler ($99) definitely checks off an equally impressive ice retention and insulative effectiveness. Plus, it’s significantly cheaper. 

We brought this cooler car camping with us in Leadville, Colo., for 3 days. To begin the trip, we kept a large ice pack in it. Once that thawed, we switched to bags of ice. Our food stayed nice and cool for the first couple days before the ice started to melt faster and the air inside the cooler warmed. Considering it was sitting in the sun for most of the day, this RTIC pack was reliable and effective at its job thanks to the thick walls composed of closed-cell foam.

This cooler is leakproof, waterproof, and buoyant. It’s ideal for any activity on the water. The floating capabilities would come in handy after a boat flips on a rapid. 

Unfortunately, the shape and height of the cooler makes the storage space pretty narrow. Looking at it from the outside, the cooler looks like it will fit more than it actually can. The walls are two inches thick and the lid is robust. The shape works well for canned drinks, but other than that, the narrowness of the storage space makes it difficult to organize. 

Our ice retention test for the RTIC 20 ended approximately three days in when all the ice had fully melted — comparable stats to the Yeti Hopper Flip 12. RTIC claims the 20 Can can keep your drinks cool for 24 hours — a claim that our tests more than verified. The RTIC 20 can Soft Pack Cooler did indeed fit 20 cans, just as its name suggests. This is a great overall cooler — especially for watergoers.

A great companion for mellow floats, the Mountainsmith Takeout ($30) accompanied us on a standup paddleboard session down Colorado’s Slate River, a smooth run sans whitewater.

This cute cooler carried and chilled several cans of microbrews and several sparkling waters. We also used it day-to-day on drives to bring along lunch, snacks, and beverages.

Super lightweight, this design felt comfortable to carry around. It was easy to sling over our shoulders with the removable strap. The material dried surprisingly fast after it got wet while paddling. This design is too small for an all-day adventure, but for a lunchbox or outing, it’s great. And the wide shape allows easy access to the grub inside the cooler.

According to the ice retention test, the Takeout can retain ice for 21 hours. To put the size in perspective, this cute cooler could fit six 12-ounce cans.

Doubling on duties, the Booe 30L Waterproof Insulated Tote ($200) is more than just a cooler tote. This cooler doubles as a dry bag when you take the removable liner out. When the insulative liner is in the bag, there is room for extra storage in between the exterior shell and the liner for your dry goods. However, be cautious about any ice melt or liquid that could spill into the dry goods side if the cooler is tipped over. 

We brought this cooler on a car camping trip to Colorado for 5 days and tested it out on the lake, in the car, and on the trail. We used this cooler for our snacks and drinks, and it did well to keep our things cold for a couple of days at a time. We had to switch out the ice every 2 days or so.

Additionally, we noticed that it was challenging to organize and see everything that was inside because the zipper doesn’t open very wide and the material around the zipper is stiff. This made cleaning the inside a bit troublesome, but removing the insulating liner helps with this problem. On the plus side, the zipper is leakproof and closing it is a piece of cake. 

This cooler’s exterior material is super tough and held up against the gritty rocks and dirt around the lake. The exterior is also waterproof and the tote itself floats on the water, making this another great water activity cooler. Being a tote cooler, it doesn’t have completely rigid walls. It can be compressed and be stored efficiently if need be. The additional shoulder strap is a great way to carry this cooler tote around with you. 

The Booe 30L holds ice for about 53 hours. Its 30L capacity can hold 36 cans plus a 5-pound bag of ice. 

For lunch on the go, the Mountainsmith Sixer ($35) was a great cooler. Our tester, a Colorado-based electrician and mountain biker, packed it with a canned drink, sandwich, fruit, and chocolate. The cooler’s shape and size were easy to fit in a messy work truck.

Inside and out, the cooler was easy to clean. It seems durable, and we like the vintage look.

The haul handle is ergonomically sound and comfortable to grab. However, our ice melted fast on hot days, and with minimal room in the cooler, the food can get wet. But, the seamless liner did hold the water and showed no sign of leaks.

According to the ice retention test, this cooler can preserve ice for 25 hours. The Sixer can fit one dozen 12-ounce cans.

Our team loudly applauded the REI Co-op Cool Haul Soft Cooler ($100), which was a dependable tool for whitewater rafting Colorado’s Gunnison River, car camping, and crewing the Hardrock 100. We found the size good for a duo.

Carrying material’s with Bluesign certification, the cooler’s exterior is made with stout recycled nylon that easily wipes down. Inside, the insulated recycled polyester and PEVA (non-chlorinated plastic) liner is durable and removable. It’s also super easy to pull out and clean.

While adventuring, this cooler did a noteworthy job of preserving ice in sunny conditions and exceeded the capabilities of other coolers we tested. The seams are sealed to prevent leaks. A two-way zipper provides easy top access, and the cube shape nicely slides into tight spaces on a boat or in the truck bed.

According to our ice retention test, the Cool Haul Soft Cooler is capable of holding ice for up to 60 hours. To put the size in perspective, this cooler could fit one dozen 12-ounce cans.