The 10 Best Soft Coolers

If you want ice to last through a long weekend, the Engel HD20 is the soft cooler to beat. In America's Test Kitchen's timed ice test it kept things cold for about three days, the best result in that group. The shell is heat-welded, so there are no stitched seams to seep, and a small valve lets trapped air out so the lid seals tight. The airtight zipper is stiff, so use the lube Engel packs in the box.

Made for long days in a boat or a hunting blind, the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 is a tough, boxy bag whose wide lid flips back out of the way. Thick closed-cell foam kept ice for about two and a half days in one independent test. The shell shrugs off punctures and sun, and rows of loops let you clip on gear. Its waterproof zipper takes two hands and stays stiff for the first few weeks.

For a family beach day or an overnight trip, the RTIC Ultra-Tough 30 gives you a big, rugged bag for a lot less than the premium names. RTIC says its closed-cell foam keeps things cold for up to two days if you pre-chill the bag and pack plenty of ice. It floats if it goes over the side of a boat, too. The waterproof zipper takes real effort to pull, so it's not a quick grab-a-soda bag.

Anglers and hikers who walk to their spot will like the Yeti Hopper M20, which carries cold drinks on padded backpack straps instead of one sore shoulder. Strong magnets snap the top shut, so there's no zipper to fight, and the thick foam holds ice well for a pack. It's heavy before you load it, and the top can be stiff to open. Yeti recalled older M20s in 2023 over loose magnets, and this version has a redesigned closure.

Picnics, pool days and farmers market runs suit the Hydro Flask Carryout, a lighter bag with a molded base that keeps its shape when you set it down. Its straps unclip, so you can switch from a shoulder strap to hand carry, and the welded liner wipes clean. Hydro Flask only promises a day of cold with an ice pack, so it's not for a weekend away. It's covered by Hydro Flask's lifetime warranty.

Low and wide instead of tall, the AO Coolers Stow-N-Go slides under a boat seat, a truck's back bench or into an RV cabinet. Its soft canvas skin won't scuff gel coat or upholstery, and two zipper pulls let you open it from either end. AO rates it for a full day of ice even in desert heat, and it fits most airline carry-on limits. The shallow shape means tall bottles have to lie down.

Short on closet space? The CleverMade Pacifica folds nearly flat when it's empty, then opens into a big, boxy tote that holds about 50 cans with ice. A leak-resistant liner, a tough base with rubber bumpers, a bottle opener and webbing loops for keys round it out. CleverMade's own claim is about a day and a half of cold, which makes it a cookout cooler more than a camping one.

For a cheap, no-fuss bag to take to the ballfield or the office, the Coleman Chiller does the job. Its hard plastic liner lifts out for washing, which beats scrubbing a sewn-in lining, and welded seams keep spills inside. A zippered front pocket and a mesh side pocket hold napkins and a phone. The foam is basic, so count on cold drinks for an afternoon, and add a frozen pack for anything longer.

The Sparter Backpack Cooler is a light, low-cost way to carry drinks to the beach or a game on your back. Two insulated sections keep food dry above the cans, and there's a big front pocket plus mesh side pockets. The liner is sealed against leaks, but Sparter says the zipper isn't, so don't lay it down full of meltwater. Plan on cold drinks through the day, not overnight.

Built for lunch on a job site, the Carhartt Worksite Cooler splits into two zones: a top section for a sandwich and a deeper insulated bottom for cans or food containers. The heavy fabric stands up to dirt and sawdust, and it carries by a top handle or a shoulder strap. It's sized for one person's lunch and drinks, so it won't feed a group or hold ice for a weekend.