Compact, Excellent Ice Saver: Yeti Hopper M12 Soft Backpack Cooler Review

The Yeti Hopper M12 Soft Backpack Cooler might seem like a simple, no-frills cooler. It’s sleek and streamlined and isn’t dressed with accessories. But don’t be fooled by its minimalistic design. This Yeti does exactly what it’s supposed to do and does it ridiculously well: Its ability to keep things cold is one of the best on the market. While it has a limited number of built-in bonus features, plenty of additional accessories are available for purchase separately. 

In short: There’s no denying that the Yeti Hopper M12 Soft Backpack Cooler ($275) comes with a hefty price tag: a serious investment. For that cost, you get a cooler that only holds up to 20 cans — without any ice. But at this price, you can expect exceptional performance, which the M12 delivers. It keeps things cold for 4 days and is built to last. The construction is tough. And you’d be hard-pressed to puncture, tear, or break it — this cooler is designed for serious durability.

See how this backpack cooler stacks up in The Best Backpack Coolers buyer’s guide.

Yeti Hopper M12 Soft Backpack Cooler Review

First Impressions

My first impression of the Yeti Hopper M12 is that it’s a sleek, compact powerhouse built for the outdoors. The material feels incredibly tough, and you can tell it’s designed to withstand rough conditions. The size is perfect for day trips and has enough room to hold food and drinks for our family of three.

The straps are surprisingly comfortable, especially with the adjustable chest strap that helps balance the load. The magnetic closure is a clear upgrade from the previous zippered design that liked to bite me if I got too close. While I would have enjoyed additional storage on the exterior, you can purchase attachments like the Sidekick Dry Gear Case that attaches to the hitchpoint grid as a solution.

Durability

As I expected from Yeti, the Hopper M12 Soft Backpack Cooler is built with durability in mind. Throughout my field tests, this design seemed bombproof and engineered to handle a range of outdoor conditions, as well as tough user handling — which I was guilty of doing.

When I was fishing and moving from hole to hole, I didn’t always stop to sling the M12 over my shoulder. Instead, I hooked my foot through one of the straps and dragged it along the bank while my line floated.

I strapped this cooler down to the back of an ATV, tossed it in and out of my truck bed, and left it baking in the sun during camping trips. But the Yeti held strong. There were no popped seams, no tears, and just a few light cosmetic scratches.

Comfort & Ergonomics

While the design might not scream comfort at first glance, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfortable straps. The chest strap is highly adjustable, making a noticeable difference in how well the cooler backpack fits, even when it’s packed full. A detail that could be improved is the back panel. It’s stiff and lacks padding.

However, the Yeti M12 is generally comfortable, in addition to being reliable and keeping things cold for a long time.

Magnetic Closure

The Yeti Hopper M12 has a magnetic closure system that significantly upgrades the zipper design found in older models. This magnetic top is quicker and safer and creates a reliable, airtight seal that keeps your contents cold and secure.

The closure snaps shut with ease, and the pull tab provides a simple, effortless way to break the seal when you’re ready to dig in. To ensure the cooler stays sealed and watertight, roll down the top and secure it with the two sturdy clips.

I found the clip attachments to be a little short, so it was tough to clip. I ended up kneeling on the top once I rolled it over, and that seemed to give me just enough extra space to connect the clips. I understand why the clips need to be tight; much like a dry bag, the seal won’t hold on its own if the cooler is flipped upside down, and so the clips are essential for keeping it waterproof.

Shoulder Straps & Back Panel

The Yeti Hopper M12 also has a comfortable, customizable chest strap system. The chest strap can be slid out of the hitchpoint and adjusted to match the person carrying it. It’s a bit of a tight fit to get the fabric into the flat hook, so be sure the material is laid flat, and you may have to wiggle it to hook it in tightly.

Once you have it adjusted, it won’t budge. The padded straps are stiff yet comfortable enough to help relieve the pressure. Though, the back panel padding is not really much padding as much as it is a neoprene-feeling board. It is stiff, to say the least, and could do with a little actual cushion. 

Between the two shoulder straps is a lightly padded (more than the back panel) handle that makes it easy to pick the pack up and go. It is double-stitched into the back and is sturdy! I’ve been lifting up the fully loaded pack from the handle and swinging it into my truck for months now and haven’t noticed any popped seams or looseness. Yeti knows how to make things to last. 

Ice Retention: In-House Test

I tested the ice retention by filling the cooler two-thirds full of store-bought cubed ice and then kept it in a room at 67 degrees Fahrenheit. I checked the cooler every 12 hours.

After 24 hours, nearly half of the ice had melted. By the 48-hour mark, three-quarters of the ice was gone. At 84 hours, a few ice cubes remained; and by 96 hours, the final ice cubes had finally melted.

That’s one of the strongest ice retention results we’ve seen among all of the backpack coolers our team has tested here at GearJunkie.

Attachments

A pro and con are the additional attachments you can buy for the cooler. For the price of the cooler, I’d hope they would have come already attached. But they don’t.

You can buy a Rambler Bottle Sling that attaches to the side of the cooler and can hold your water bottle or bottle of wine. You can also buy the Sidekick Dry Gear Case to store items you don’t want to carry by hand.

TSA-Compatible

A convenient aspect of the Yeti Hopper M12 Soft Backpack Cooler is its compatibility with TSA. Always double-check with your airline first, but it should fit in the overhead bin of the majority of airlines.

I have a mom friend who bought this cooler specifically for flying, as it keeps things consistently cold. She is still breastfeeding and was looking for the gold standard of coolers to store her breast milk while traveling. If moms can trust this cooler with their liquid gold, you know you can trust it to keep anything cold.

A Few Minor Downsides

Of course, no product is perfect, and there are a few minor things to consider. The narrow opening of the Hopper M12 can make it a little tricky to pack larger items or to access everything inside quickly. I found the best way to pack and unpack it is to put a bottle (or two cans) horizontally between the two sides to keep the top open as wide as it can be.

It also has one kangaroo pocket that is slender. And by slender, I mean just wide enough to hold your phone. I’d prefer to have a little more wiggle room with that pocket and maybe a place to put water bottles. But again, that is where purchasing the additional attachments is a possible solution. The price tag is already on the higher end, and dishing out more money to buy additional storage feels like a lot.

Conclusion

This backpack cooler is a solid choice if you’re looking for a tough, reliable cooler that can handle everything from beach days to camping trips. It’s compact, has excellent ice retention, and is built to last, making it a great option for outdoor activities. Sure, it comes with a hefty price tag, but you’re paying for the kind of quality and performance that Yeti is known for.

The magnetic closure is a big upgrade, making it super easy to open and close while ensuring everything stays sealed tight. The adjustable chest strap and reinforced handle add extra convenience, even when the cooler is packed full.

While the back panel could use a little more cushioning, it’s still comfortable enough for short treks. The cooler is built to take a beating and keep performing. And if you need more storage, there are options to add attachments like the Sidekick Gear Case.

Of course, no cooler is perfect, and there are a few things to think about. The opening is a bit narrow, making it tricky to load and unload larger items. Plus, the slim pocket is great for utensils but not much else. And while you can buy extra storage accessories, it can feel like you’re spending even more on top of the already steep price of $275.

But when it comes down to it, the Yeti Hopper M12 is a reliable, durable cooler that will keep your food and drinks cold and has earned its place as a top choice.