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The 10 Best Soft Coolers to Keep Drinks Cold Anywhere

Need a battle-tested go-to bag for your nosh that doesn’t greenhouse the goods? Start here.

soft coolers Gear Patrol Staff

By Morgan Tilton

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When ranked among the best coolers, soft coolers might be the next great sandbaggers of the outdoors. Seemingly flexible and vulnerable — once the squall, whitewater rapids, tree branches and creatures arrive — these so-called ‘softies’ ride out the proverbial storm while keeping the moveable feast safe, chilled and cushioned. MVPs.

Compared to the hard-shelled coolers of RTIC and Yeti, soft ice chests lack some glacial retention, animal-proofness and stackability but make up for that by being lightweight, cacheable and crushable. And soft cooler is a misnomer, given many are substantial enough to pyramid other gear or tumble off the truck bed. While rigid coolers occasionally have wheels for smooth transport, soft coolers are easier to single-handedly grab over the shoulder versus heavier options.

So whether you are river rafting, SUPing from beach to beach, park BBQ-ing or road tripping to ski volcanoes or trailhead tailgating, these coolers are stout enough to answer the call. Based on our own testing, this guide shares beta on the top choices for soft coolers that keep the goodies cold and portable. Check out all the need-to-know details, from volume and rigidness to ice retention, plus key features to help you pick the best soft cooler for your next adventure.

Products in the Guide

  • RTIC Soft Pack Cooler (30 Can)

    Best Overall

    Read more
  • REI Co-op Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler

    Best on a Budget

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  • Yeti Hopper Flip 18 Soft Cooler

    Best for Yeti Loyalists

    Read more
  • Igloo EcoCool Cube 12-Can Lunch Bag

    Best Eco-Friendly Softside Cooler

    Read more
  • Hydro Flask Day Escape 26L Soft Cooler Tote

    Most Svelte Cooler

    Read more
  • ORCA Walker Tote

    Comfiest Carry Handle

    Read more

Soft Shell vs. Hard Shell Coolers: What’s the Difference?

While both of these types of coolers are designed, in concept, to do the same thing — i.e. keep their contents cold for an extended period — there are some pretty important differences between them. The most obvious, for starters, is that hard shell coolers are far more rigid than their soft shell counterparts. Take, for instance, Yeti’s Roadie 24. This cooler is so rigid and strong that you can actually sit on it without any fear of it collapsing under you, even if you’re a larger person. By contrast, soft shell coolers cannot typically support more than a few pounds atop them.

While that seems like a leg-up for hard shell coolers, it does come with downsides. Hard shell coolers don’t offer any give, meaning they can’t expand or collapse, nor can they shimmy into spaces that might be a little too tight. Soft shell coolers, by contrast, often do offer all of those features. And some – like Carhartt’s Insulated 40 Can Cooler Backpack Tote — have so little structure that they can actually collapse quite easily between uses. That makes them, generally speaking, easier to store and transport. And that’s a pretty great trade-off for anyone limited on space.

It’s also worth noting that hard shell coolers typically offer better insulation overall, but that doesn’t mean that soft coolers are left in the dirt. If they’re made right, they can be nearly as effective at insulating over time. For instance, multiple versions of RTIC’s hard and soft coolers can keep ice frozen for literal days at a time. Typically, soft coolers that have less structure to them also offer lesser insulation, but the space-saving trade-off may still be worth it to many, and hard shell coolers make up for their lack of flexibility by offering the best insulation around.

Finally, while both of these cooler types can work with any kind of ice — be that bulk cubes or ice packs — bulk ice tends to work better with hard shell coolers (which often come with a handy drain to empty the water once you’re done) and soft coolers jive better with ice packs that won’t melt into a sloshy puddle at the end of your adventures.

New and Upcoming Releases

Our recommendations are based on real-world testing. Here’s a snapshot of new and unreleased soft coolers our testers are considering for future updates to this guide.

Otterbox Soft Cooler Collection: This summer, Otterbox launched a series of new soft coolers: the Backpack Cooler, Cube Cooler, Lunch Cooler and Tote Cooler. Known for its ultra-protective and durable phone cases, chargers and other accessories, we anticipate this new launch will continue the brand’s dedication to high-performance, no-nonsense products. Each of the new soft coolers are made with an FDA food-grade, BPA-free liner as well as water-resistant zippers.

How We Tested

Need an easy-to-haul cooler that doesn’t eat huge wads of bills? Plenty of soft coolers sit well below the top-tier tag but not all perform as impressively as this RTIC Soft Pack Cooler that keeps 30 cans of our favorite soda and beer frosty.

The cooler’s lack of attachment points and functional pocket space are made up for by excellent ice retention — our drinks stayed chill past the brand’s 24-hour claim — and the zipper is bombproof (if requiring a bit more oomph to open). If you’re concerned about spillage, very little melted ice escaped these teeth.

Additional sizes: Soft Pack Cooler 12 Can, 20 Can, 40 Can (note: numbers don’t represent quarts)

Sadly, REI appears to have discontinued its largest Pack-Away option, the 24. However, the 12 has just been upgraded — and, put bluntly, makes up for the loss of the larger option in every way except for capacity.

This new version offers better insulation — with the ability to keep its contents ice-cold for up to 32 hours — along with a trio of formats it can transform into (cube, tote and flat-packed), a leakproof liner, abrasion-resistant bottom and recycled materials. There’s also a smaller version, the 6, should you prefer that to the 12.

Additional sizes: REI Co-op Pack-Away 6 Soft Cooler (numbers refer to can capacity)

Much like the brand’s hard-sided gallery, Yeti delivers best-in-class soft designs with the Hopper Flip. It powerfully preserves ice and keeps fare colder for longer, which is key for full-send days and muggy, hot conditions. Not all leakproof, waterproof zippers are easy to open like this one.

It has streamlined hitch points, too, perfect for being snugged down with a utility cord on a paddle trip, or clipping a bottle opener. If you need a cooler that’s super durable and easier to handle than its stubborn-sided clan, snag one of these. It’ll last.

Additional sizes: Hopper Flip 8, Hopper Flip 12 (numbers refer to a ratio of ice and cans that fit in each size, check out each product page to see those details).

ecocool cube 12 can lunch bagIgloo

Best Eco-Friendly Softside Cooler

Igloo EcoCool Cube 12-Can Lunch Bag

Pros

  • Lightweight and easy to clean

Cons

  • Front storage pocket could use a zipper or button closure

When it comes to coolers, Igloo is a classic — but that hasn’t stopped the brand from innovating. This brand-new softside cooler/ lunch bag can fit 12 cans or your favorite meal, and also boasts some impressive eco-friendly features. The exterior is made with Repreve polyester, made with recycled water bottles, and natural hemp trims along with other recycled components. But the most exciting thing about this little cooler bag is the insualtion: it’s made with Bloom Rise material, an innovative material made with algae and recycled EVA. Igloo is one of the first companies to use Bloom Rise as a cooler insulation, taking another step forward in its mission of sustainability.

There’s something reassuring about having a streamlined cooler that perfectly hugs the front passenger seat: All the snacks and beverages are right within reach and can’t get knocked over. Even if they did, the zip closure is completely watertight and the buttery smooth exterior is waterproof with welded seams. A Goldfish stands no chance of escape.

And for extra snack space, Hydro Flask added inconspicuous slits to the cooler’s sides where reusable, sealable Dry Storage bags (sold separately) can be attached. At 3.4 pounds, this tote is also surprisingly lightweight for how rugged it is.

Editor’s note: The Breeze colorway is currently on sale for $116.97, 35 percent off!

Additional Sizes: 18 liter (nearly 16 quarts)

Are your digits sensitive from maxing the bouldering wall? Tired of typing or scraping wax off your skis? You’ll appreciate this cooler’s smooth, ergonomic handle with divots for fingers. The removable shoulder strap is also super plush. There’s ample space in the big waterproof front pocket for a tidy massage tool to nurse sore hands, too, in addition to keys, phone and wallet. Keeping the mood light, the Orca is floatable and a just-right height for stashing several bottles of wine (trust us, we tried).

For simple walks, outdoor lunches and home-prepped meals for the office, sometimes we need just enough room for fruit, chips and sandwiches. At 25 bucks, this scrunchable Carhartt tote delivers in classic style.

With 1200-denier heavy-duty fabric, the exterior is ridiculously strong for that price — like a pair of workhorse farming pants — plus rain resistant and doesn’t leak (though the top zipper does). The interior mesh pocket is useful for utensils and toothpick holders — not so much for a water bottle. But that’s perfectly fine with us, because this is a fine upgrade for a homemade BLT.

We have long admired RovR for the intention that goes into its products, and this recent release is no different. The TravlR is designed so that you can drop the brand’s cleverly segmented KeepR cooler basket right in, upping the cold retention, transportability and ruggedness of an already handy product.

Speaking of cold retention, we were pulling out frosty beverages well past the 36-hour mark. The TravlR features four daisy chains for lashing additional gear, plus two handles and a padded shoulder strap for carrying. The zipper is a little sticky when the lid is all the way shut, but we take that as a sign it’s truly locking arctic climes inside.

A cooler this volume sans rigidity shouldn’t be comfortable to carry, we assumed, but the loaded Snow Peak Soft Cooler 38 hoists like a nice handbag. The malleable walls are actually soft and easy for one person to tote to the tailgate whereas a solid cooler with 10 gallons of fodder and refreshments can be awkward for strolls without wheels. After a day trip, the cooler also squishes down to stash in a lean space. We’re all about more elbow room in the garage. Though the top zipper isn’t leakproof, the ice retention is reliable enough for a car camping getaway.

Additional sizes: Soft Cooler 18 (the equivalent to 19 quarts), Soft Cooler 11 (nearly 12 quarts)

This soft cooler is so sturdy we second-guessed its categorization. Copious rainfall. Sharp hail. Deep puddles and sludge. Whatever the conditions, the Trooper defies abuse and not even nightlong drizzle gets inside its tightly closed quarters. Rather than a zip opening, a clasp clamps down, preventing any leakage. The brand claims the cooler keeps ice for more than 3 days, which we found spot on. Not many coolers offer a streamlined, functional pouch, so we also appreciate the spacious water-resistant front pocket for our wallet, phone and keys:

Additional sizes: 30-quart with backpack straps, a top latch and bomber ice retention that nearly rivals the Icemule Boss

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