Finally, we filled each of the soft coolers with soda cans to compare against the claimed carrying capacity. When testing soft coolers, we focused on performance, capacity, and how comfortable each is to carry. In terms of keeping things cold, this Coleman soft cooler fell to the back of the pack of the soft coolers we tested. Our sensors showed us it warmed up to 40°F after just 26 hours, which places the Coleman in the bottom half of the coolers we tested.
We did our best to clarify in the write-ups and comparison table above, but it’s an important distinction to keep in mind when shopping for a soft cooler. REI 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.
However, this Orca soft cooler is a direct and more affordable alternative to our best upgrade pick. The Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze is the best soft cooler we’ve tested. A few factors are holding these coolers back from significantly longer ice life.
These elements made up for the zipper not being leakproof and for the cooler not staying as cold as other options in this guide. The Snow Peak Soft Cooler 38 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. But the flexible walls allowed us to flatten and fold the cooler for easy storage, saving us space in a tight apartment.
It remained waterproof as it floated near the shore after the lake waves dragged it into the water. Wipe interior and exterior surfaces clean before storing and between uses. Light dirt or stains can be cleaned with water or mild detergent. Tougher stains may be cleaned with diluted solution of baking soda and water. Ensure all cleaning agents are thoroughly rinsed and the cooler is dry before storage.
Those choice designs include a range of designs such as the Mountainsmith Takeout ($30), REI Co-op Pack-Away Soft Cooler ($50), and Arctic Zone Titan Bucket Tote ($53). Most soft coolers igloo trailmate have side or top handles, two straps that swing up to secure together above the cooler, or a removable shoulder strap. A bunch of designs have a combination of handles and straps, too.