The best camping trips and cookouts take place outside. Finding a durable yet compact camping cooler is crucial if you’re planning a trip to the backcountry or just looking for the best cooler for your next company picnic. We’ve researched many of the best coolers for camping options and assembled them here so you can easily make an informed purchase decision in one place.
Before you move to Amazon’s site, let us help you understand how to choose the best coolers from the market.
How To Choose The Best Cooler?
Price:
Quality coolers can be expensive, but with food safety in mind, spending a little extra on something that keeps your catch fresh and cold is always best. Here are some of our favourite coolers to try.
Insulation:
Modern coolers, with their thick insulation and quality components, can provide excellent durability for various trips. If your upcoming excursion doesn’t require you to need the ice to last all week long, less insulated coolers are typically lighter and more portable while still being reliable enough to keep your food and drinks fresh!
Durability:
If you regularly put your gear through the wringer, investing in a rugged cooler that will last a long time is probably worth investing in.
Our top durable picks are sturdy enough to withstand being taken out into the woods by an avid outdoorsman or traveller, even if they’re not made from Kevlar.
Portability:
Soft coolers are the easiest to tote around if you’re on the go. They’re lightweight, comfortable to carry, and versatile. If you want to be prepared for your next trip away from home, consider getting a sizeable soft-sided cooler that’s also lightweight and easy to carry but still big enough to hold all of your provisions, especially ones that require refrigeration, like food items, if possible! It also helps if it comes with wheels so you can move it more easily or even attach a cart if it doesn’t come with one.
Volume:
Coolers with thick walls keep contents cold for a long time. But the thicker the walls, the less stuff you can fit inside. So, if you want to fit in as much ice, food, and beverages as possible without having to size up your cooler, a more lightweight option with average insulation may be your best bet when selecting which cooler works best for you.
Tips for Maximizing Cooler Performance:
- Pre-cool your cooler before use
- Use block ice or frozen water bottles instead of cubed ice
- Keep the cooler in the shade and minimize opening
- Fill empty space with towels or newspaper
- Consider using two coolers – one for food and one for drinks
How long does dry ice typically last in a cooler?
Dry ice can last anywhere from 3 to 5 days in a cooler, with some users reporting it lasting up to a week under optimal conditions
Best Coolers 2024
1. Coleman Cooler 54-Quart Cooler for Camping, BBQs, Tailgating & Outdoor Activities
The Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler 54 Quart is a classic piece of outdoor history with its retro design. The exterior is constructed from classic metal and looks like an old hiking table you can use when set up around camp. This is one of the Best Coolers For Camping and boating as well.
Use its sturdy classic frame as a convenient step stool or side table to hold your cup of coffee without worrying about spilling it all over when sitting at the picnic table! This is undoubtedly a must-have for those who love to go camping.
It’s the perfect size for a 3-4 day weekend trip and large enough for your dog to lay beside you in their travel carrier. With plenty of room to fit plenty of ice, food, and drinks, it’s not overly bulky or difficult to carry around, unlike other models today.
2. RTIC Hard Cooler 145-Quart
If you’re looking for a great new cooler and want something super durable and long-lasting but cannot justify spending half of your paycheck on one, the RTIC 145 is here to save the day.
For less than a hundred bucks, you get an exceptionally well-made, high-quality cooler that can hold ice in the hot sun far longer than several other brands that are much more expensive.
It keeps your food at just the right temperature, even during multi-day outings, so you can relax, knowing your chicken won’t start to smell like something found in a dumpster when you return home from vacation.
3. Coleman 70-Quart Xtreme
Coleman Xtreme coolers offer plenty of storage space and keep your food nice and cold for days, even in the hot summer heat! They are lightweight and easy to handle, although they might not be as rigid or solid as other brands.
Deciding between a more heavy-duty cooler may be prudent depending on your trip, but with Coleman Xtreme coolers, you won’t get into too much trouble. The good news is that they are available in black now, too!
4. YETI Hopper Backflip 24 Soft-Sided Cooler/Backpack
If you like to live an active lifestyle and love the outdoors, a portable cooler like the Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 could quickly become one of your favourite gear for endless day trips. It is on our list of best coolers for camping and trips.
Sturdy and streamlined, this cooler is up for any task and holds ice-cold drinks throughout the day.
Especially if you’re looking to go long distances through challenging conditions, this soft cooler is an excellent choice made out of high-quality material that helps retain ice just as it’s supposed to.
5. IceMule Boss 30 Liter Cooler Bag
The IceMule BOSS is a boss for activities on the water, like rafting, kayaking, fishing, or paddle boarding. It’s comfortable to carry thanks to the well-padded straps and hip belt that acts as a seat when you want to take a break. Since the BOSS is 100% waterproof and insulated with both foam and air chambers, it floats if it is in the water, too.
It can also be used as a dry bag for your phone, keys, wallet, or a dry change of clothes on your hike or adventure. The BOSS is a super durable, high-quality backpack cooler that will stand the test of time while keeping your gear safe from harm during your adventures!
6. REI Co-op Pack-Away 24 Soft Cooler
The REI Packaway 24 Soft Cooler is our go-to cooler bag for everything from travelling to season picnics and BBQs. The pack has enough room to fit everything you need, including various snacks, lunches, and drinks, while remaining lightweight and easy to carry.
Unlike other bags designed as soft-side coolers, the REI Packaway 24 won’t get in the way or take up too much room when stored because it folds flat between uses. This is one of our favourite coolers since it’s versatile, safe to use and affordable!
7. YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
The Yeti Tundra 65 cooler is one of the best coolers on the market, for good reason. Its eco-friendly design and excellent insulation ensure that you can keep ice frozen no matter how long you plan to be out and about hiking.
The Tundra is also made entirely of food-grade polyethene, so there are no dents or breaking parts that could otherwise damage your food in any way. This is a larger cooler than most, so lugging it around is not easy. That said, it’s hard to find anything wrong to say about the Yeti brand and its line of high-quality coolers.
8. Hydro Flask Unbound Soft-Sided Cooler
For those who need to keep food and drinks cool but want to do so with style and elegance, the Hydro Flask Unbound 22L Soft Cooler Pack is the perfect match. This attractive backpack not only has a stylish design, but it’s also comfortable to carry thanks to its lightweight nature.
Additionally, the Unbound features quality insulation that keeps food and drinks cold for hours, thanks to its innovative design. Thanks to its convenient storage pockets, this backpack makes it easy to take lunches or snacks on road trips or throughout your day with these best coolers.
9. Pelican 50 Quart Elite Cooler
The Pelican Elite can withstand some of the most extreme conditions imaginable. To achieve this, Pelican lined the Elite’s walls with a patented wave-shaped pattern for ultimate internal strength.
Even with this ingenious design, the Elite is among the roomiest on our list – it’s 5.2 inches high and made to handle over 500 pounds of payload. It’s ideal for extended work days, weekend trips, and serious off-road fun!
10. RovR Products RollR 60 Cooler
When rolling a cooler, nothing works quite as well as the Rovr. The Rovr’s inflatable tyres make it a breeze to pull over anything in your way, including sand and stones, and there are plenty of extra features for your camp chef or party bartenders out there, too! There’s room for storage within the cooler itself and on top of it in the form of an organizer.
Simply slip away when all is said and done with this ingenious little item to make cleaning up after Labour Day all the easier! Yes, at $300, this picnic cooler is expensive. But when you consider how innovative it is and how well made it is, we think that it is an excellent product worth every penny!
11. Igloo Maxcold 40 Qt Insulated Coolers
The Igloo Max cold cooler offers ultimate cold retention with insulation technology. This advanced silver reflective material retains cold, while the strong polypropylene shell offers superior durability and long-lasting usage.
If you like to take your drinks on an adventure but hate how warm they get after only a short trip, look no further than Igloo Max because it is unique in terms of its ability to maximize cold retention and efficiency!
12. Orca ORCT040 40qt Tan Cooler
The Orc coolers come with a moulded root construction. This allows the coolers to hold up to 40 Quarts or 10 Bags of Ice without showing signs of wear and tear.
Aside from being 100% UV-protected, they are durable and easy to carry due to their ergonomic handles. They are firmly sealed using a whale tail latch, providing optimal ice retention for up to 10 days when stored correctly in the shade. They are sold with a lifetime warranty against manufacturers’ defects.
13. Igloo Passive Cooling Cooler 15 litres
This is the world’s first eco cooler, RECOOL, made from recycled paper pulp and a bio-based polymer, AKD. The goal was to offer an alternative to polystyrene foam coolers. This cooler is reusable and compostable after its lifetime!
Let the melt water drain away and allow it to air dry for a while, and the cooler will be ready for use again. It keeps ice cold for up to 12 hours and is water resistant for up to five days. The lid has four moulded cup holders, easily gripped by hand.
14. Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Hardbody Cooler
Arctic Zone proves that the best coolers don’t have to break the bank. The Titan Deep Freeze cooler is a great companion for budget-conscious adventurers, available in four different sizes and three earthy colours.
The flip-up lid is ideal for easy access to food and drinks, and the FDA-compliant HardBody liner has a removable shelf. It’s perfect for city dwellers and food couriers–or when cleanliness needs to be top of mind.
15. Otterbox Trooper LT 30 Cooler
The Trooper LT30 is a well-equipped rucksack, making it easy to carry stuff on your back. The main compartment is spacious, so you can quickly put all the gear in this backpack. There’s a raincoat which keeps the rest of your gear dry even when exposed to the rain.
Additionally, two pockets outside provide quick access to items you might need at any given time, like energy bars or water bottles.
Tips To Pack Your Cooler For Best Performance
Below are some of the valuable tips on how to pack coolers effectively.
- Keep food items refrigerated or frozen when transporting them to the picnic area.
- Unless the weather is very hot, you might want to put some ice in the cooler ahead of time.
- Fruits and vegetables should go in the bottom of the bag. Don’t forget to store bread at the top.
- Freeze water bottles to have a readily available source of alternative ice.
- Freezer burn occurs when cold air gets in and sits next to your frozen items, making them lose all their moisture and beginning to decay.
- Keep coolers out of direct sunlight; your ice will last twice as long. You can do this by wrapping the cooler in something that insulates it, like a sleeping bag or clothing. Laying coolers on a blanket at night is a great way to keep coolers insulated!
- You should periodically check whether the fireplace doors are closed when needed and open only when you allow heat to get in.
- It’s best to refresh the cold water in your cooler in melting ice.
While going through this list initially might seem like a lot, getting in the swing of it can be easy. And once you see how it helps you – especially if your to-do list usually consists of things requiring last-minute effort and coordination – you’ll never go back to doing things the old way.