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. If you don’t need multiple days of cooling performance, cheaper coolers are less of a budget ding, and they’re often more comfortable to use and carry due to their more flexible structure and lighter weights. The IceMule Pro doesn’t deliver multiple days of extreme ice retention, but it’s enough to get you through a hot day.
We also measured for cold and ice retention by taking the inside temperature of each cooler at two hours after filling them with cans and ice and then 24 hours after filling them with cans and ice. Lots of ice chest , cooler bags, rugged hardside coolers, the Party Bar, our entire Retro Collection and more. There’s nothing like traveling with friends and family out on the open road. And it’s even better with the right cooler bag (that you can easily carry and fit between seats) to keep you all refreshed with ice-cold provisions along the way. And we have a huge selection of cooler bags for the beach, perfect for keeping you and your crew refreshed all day long. Cindy Brzostowski is a freelance writer and avid home cook who has previous experience in cookbook publishing.
If you’re hoping to supply an afternoon picnic full of refreshments for everyone in your party, the Trail Pack will handle the extra weight better. But where do you want to go with your cooler, and how do you want to get there? Depending on the size and type you’re planning to take with you, you may have already put some limitations on your adventures. Without considering igloo water cooler overall capacity, the most portable coolers will be more comfortable to carry for longer distances and amounts of time. The REI models (the Cool Haul, Trail Pack, and Pack Away) and the AO 24 Pack all have traditional, user-friendly zippers and just the right amount of handy design elements and features. The AO and REI Pack Away are as easy to use as a simple duffel bag.
The 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 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.
According to the ice retention test, this cooler can preserve ice for 25 hours. According to our ice retention test, the Walker 20 igloo water cooler is capable of holding ice for up to 70 hours. The flat backside wall alleviates bounce when we were using the shoulder strap.