TripSavvy Trip Planning The 6 Best Small Coolers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Nothing beats an ice-cold beverage in the great outdoors By Nathan Allen Nathan Allen Outdoor Gear Editor University of Missouri-Columbia Lindenwood University Nathan Allen is the Outdoor Gear Editor for TripSavvy. Nathan loves many outdoor activities but makes it a priority to run or bike on singletrack every day. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 04/03/24 We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. TripSavvy / Nathan Allen. There’s nothing worse than heading out to the woods or the beach and discovering that the ice-cold beverage you were looking forward to has somehow gone warm. But gone are the days of substandard coolers: The new generation keeps drinks colder—and colder longer—than ever before. However, with new technology comes far more options, and with price tags that seemingly hit the sky, it’s essential to make a well-informed purchase. It’s also critical to think carefully about sizing. After all, you’re not just packing drinks in there, but ice, which can take up considerable space. We researched the top small coolers and tested more than a dozen for durability, portability, performance, and more. The Rundown Best Overall: Yeti Hopper Flip at Amazon ($250) Jump to Review Best Budget: Coleman Soft Backpack Cooler at Amazon ($37) Jump to Review Best Hardside: Orca Cooler at Amazon ($235) Jump to Review Best Backpack: IceMule Pro Cooler 23L at Amazon ($135) Jump to Review Best Tote: Out of the Woods Seagull Cooler at Outofthewoods.com ($40) Jump to Review Best for Road Trips: RTIC Insulated Soft Cooler Bag at Amazon ($99) Jump to Review Table of contents Expand Our Picks Final Verdict Product Selection How We Tested Other Small Coolers We Tested What to Look For FAQ Why Trust TripSavvy Best Overall Yeti Hopper Flip Amazon View On Amazon $250 View On Walmart $250 View On Dick's $250 What We Like Built to last Top-notch ice and cold retention Great size for quick trips What We Don't Like Expensive, but still probably worth it We're not saying that $250 isn't a lot to drop on a little cooler, but this one might be worth the investment if you're outdoors every weekend. The Yeti Hopper Flip comes in three sizes measured by the number of cans it can hold with ice—eight, 12, and 18. We like the 12, which is perfect for an afternoon out at the beach—and they'll stay cold with Yeti's ColdCell closed-cell foam insulation. We also love that the company's proprietary DryHide Shell delivers; it's both waterproof and mildew-resistant and is incredibly durable, thanks to the hazmat suit material. The only thing worse than a cooler that doesn't cool is a cooler that leaks, but worry not—this one is built specifically to protect against that. Yeti's HydroLok zipper claims to be 100 percent leakproof. Although Yetis can be heavy, this one only weighs around 3 pounds. We've been using this cooler for over a year now, and it's definitely our go-to for picnics, beach days, and fishing trips. We once transported ice cream in it during a six-hour drive from Mammoth Lakes to Ventura County, California, and there was basically no melt. We've also had luck with it holding ice for days during camping trips. Is a Yeti an investment? Totally. Has it always been worth it to us? Absolutely. Size: 10 x 11.5 x 12.6 inches | Weight: 3.1 pounds | Capacity: 12 cans with a 2-to-1 ice ratio TripSavvy / Nathan Allen. Best Budget Coleman Soft Backpack Cooler Amazon View On Amazon $37 View On Walmart $37 View On Home Depot $37 What We Like Held up well during our testing Excellent weight-to-capacity ratio A few different storage pockets What We Don't Like Leaking can occur if turned upside-down Coleman's 28-can Soft Backpack Cooler is an excellent budget cooler. We like the convenience of its backpack style and that it has some external pockets and straps for attaching other gear. We tested this cooler in our Brooklyn testing lab with dozens of other soft and backpack coolers, and it performed very well compared to its competitors. Our testers particularly liked how well it maintained cold temperatures and its soft shoulder straps. We see this pack as an ideal budget option for trips to the park with the family, picnics, fishing outings, hiking trips, or even music or other outdoor festivals. Size: 12.2 x 6.3 x 19.29 inches | Weight: 1 pound, 1 ounce | Capacity: 28 cans TripSavvy / Tamara Staples. Best Hardside Orca Cooler Amazon View On Amazon $235 View On Walmart $235 View On Dick's $235 What We Like Excellent temperature control Burly materials and design Drain spout What We Don't Like A bit heavy We love the evolution of soft and backpack coolers. But even the best-insulated soft coolers can't compete with the cold and ice retention of hardside coolers. Our favorite small hardside cooler is the Orca Cooler. With a capacity of 20 quarts (5 gallons), this cooler can hold ice and cold temps for days. Thanks to roto-molded construction and a stainless steel carrying handle, it's also incredibly durable. We found this cooler perfect for weekend camping trips when you don't need as much cooler space but want to keep items cold for multiple days. Size: 21.7 x 13.75 x 14.75 inches | Weight: 18 pounds | Capacity: 20 quarts (5 gallons) TripSavvy / Nathan Allen. Best Backpack IceMule Pro Cooler 23L Walmart View On Amazon $135 View On Walmart $135 View On Dick's $135 What We Like Wearable for extended periods Great temperature control Compressible for easy stowing What We Don't Like Just one large compartment The IceMule Pro backpack cooler impressed us throughout our lab and field testing. Its cold retention is superb. It's comfortable and easy to carry. And an air valve helps compress it to a smaller size for storage, packing, and travel. The Pro is constructed with a slew of proprietary features like the super durable MuleSkin material and PolarLayer foam insulation. The result is a highly functional and practical cooler that has become our go-to all-around cooler for everything from paddleboarding missions to fly fishing sessions to a recent wine hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. Size: 14 x 11 x 18 inches | Weight: Not listed | Capacity: 23 liters (18 cans plus ice) TripSavvy / Nathan Allen. The 8 Best Backpack Coolers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best Tote Out of the Woods Seagull Cooler Out-of-the-woods View On Outofthewoods.com $40 View On Goldune.com What We Like Most sustainable pick Good value for the price Multiple ways to carry What We Don't Like Not ideal for overnight trips The Seagull Cooler from Out of the Woods is a solid—and relatively inexpensive—cooler option for grocery store runs and beach days. It's got a surprisingly large capacity and looks more stylish than the more outdoors-focused coolers on this list. It's also more planet-friendly, with a proprietary "Supernatural Paper" outer material made from tree cellulose. We also like that there are two ways to carry this bag: a shoulder strap and handles. Size: 15.7 x 6.3 x 14 inches | Weight: Not listed | Capacity: 24 cans TripSavvy / Nathan Allen. Best for Road Trips RTIC Insulated Soft Cooler Bag RTIC View On Amazon $99 View On Walmart $99 View On Rticoutdoors.com $120 What We Like Similar performance to Yeti Light Great value for money What We Don't Like Tough zipper RTIC's Soft Pack Cooler is the more affordable alternative to the Yeti Hopper Flip above. And, according to our lab and field tests, you're not sacrificing much in terms of performance compared to the Yeti. During our 24-hour ice test, the Yeti did hold a bit more ice than the RTIC. And the RTIC's internal temperature rose by about 11 degrees compared to just 7 degrees with the Yeti. But considering the RTIC is at least $150 less, those might be slight sacrifices to save quite a bit. RTIC uses similar closed-cell insulation, durable ripstop nylon, and a burly zipper to ensure contents stay inside the cooler. Bonus: This cooler also floats. Size: 13.5 x 9.5 x 13.75 inches | Weight: 3 pounds | Capacity: 20 cans TripSavvy / Tamara Staples. The 8 Best Travel Water Bottles of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Final Verdict Anyone familiar with the outdoor gear industry won't be surprised to find a Yeti product topping our list. The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 is the portable, practical, softside cooler of our dreams thanks to the brand's ColdCell technology and DryHide Shell that keeps your drinks cold for days. From another household name, the Coleman 28-Can Soft Backpack Cooler held its own against more expensive counterparts during our testing and boasts plenty of storage options. TripSavvy / Nathan Allen. Product Selection We selected products based on our previous knowledge and experience with coolers and cooler brands. We also researched online reviews and popularity on sites like Amazon and REI. To narrow the list, we looked for coolers with various functions, styles, and prices. How We Tested The coolers on this list were tested with dozens of others in our Brooklyn testing lab as well as out in the field. We tested for functionality, durability, portability, and cold retention in the lab. Each cooler was filled with ice and the number of cans companies claimed could fit inside. We then took a temperature reading of the inside of each cooler. Our testers took turns pushing coolers off tables and ladders to test their durability. Then they carried them around the lab and up and down steps to test portability. Another internal temperature reading was taken to measure cold and ice retention at the end of the day. TripSavvy / Tamara Staples. Other Small Coolers We Tested Everlasting Comfort Insulated Backpack Cooler: The pros of this backpack include stellar durability—demonstrated by zero visible damage after being dropped several times—and thick, cushioned straps that support the load well without overwhelming the carrier. Unfortunately, its cold retention was not as good as other options, and its zippers leaked right off the bat. The Get Out Cooler Bag: Our tester was impressed with this softside pick. It has a fun, retro style with rounded corners; it was easy to carry fully loaded by the backpack straps and the side handles; and our tester gushed over how leakproof it proved to be. In terms of downsides (and now we are truly splitting hairs), the price is not the lowest for similar items; the front pocket is so slim it approaches uselessness; and while it kept temperatures cold for 24 hours, it was narrowly outperformed in this aspect. Igloo KoolTunes: This adorable and colorful cooler features integrated Bluetooth speakers and survived our drop tests with only a few scratches. We didn't find it very comfortable to carry, and ultimately it was one of the worst performers in the cold-holding tests. Pelican 20 Quart Elite Cooler: You could do a lot worse than the Elite Cooler. It's a hardside model with a large lid and tapered silhouette that makes a great extra seat. Tough and well-insulated, the few disadvantages included a latch design that virtually requires two hands to open and middle-of-the-pack ice retention. Yeti Hopper M20 Backpack Cooler: The M20 cooler sets the standard for softside picks. With attributes like a sleek, attractive design, a leakproof double closure system, and top-notch cold retention, the only real downside is the upfront investment, which will set you back a few hundred dollars. Yeti Roadie 24: Beautifully designed and tall enough to fit wine bottles, the Roadie 24 comes in over 15 different eye-catching hues. Surprisingly for this brand, the surface temperature of the cans inside increased significantly between two and 24 hours, and the rubber latches popped open upon impact with the ground. What to Look For in a Small Cooler Capacity Most coolers are measured by how many cans or bottles they can hold—but keep in mind that you’ll want to save room for some ice and maybe a few snacks. To get an idea of how much you'll really be able to fit, deduct a few cans from the overall capacity. Another way to think about capacity is in terms of how many people will be in your group and how long the trip is. The Yeti Flip 12 is the smallest cooler on our list, and it could function well as a personal cooler for a solo weekend adventure or chill drinks for two or three people for a day at the beach. Weight Coolers filled with drinks are already heavy enough, so you don’t need the cooler itself to be super heavy. Look for lightweight coolers if you’re planning to carry them long distances; softside coolers tend to be among the lightest options, though they don’t protect the contents quite like hardside coolers. Expect the latter to weigh a little more—and consider getting one with wheels if you go that route. Price Coolers are one of those items where, within a specific range, what you pay for is what you get. Price-per-use is always a good metric to start assessing your ideal price point. It breaks down to how often or how frequently you anticipate using it: If you golf or go fishing every weekend, getting a well-built cooler that offers features like easy portability or extended insulation time might be worth the money. If you're only using it to tailgate twice a year, you may want to look into cheaper options. Also, think about what types of trips or excursions you need the cooler for; cheaper coolers might not have some pretty nice-to-have functions—like leakproof zippers—that more expensive models do. Frequently Asked Questions How do I clean my cooler? No matter what you do, a cooler will inevitably pick up some dirt. Always check the instructions provided by the company on how to clean a cooler. Generally, a little wipe-down with dish soap or mild detergent should take care of small jobs. One all-purpose natural solution for when things get a little funkier? Hose the cooler out, clean it with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, scrub it down and rinse it all off. Should I get a softside or hardside cooler? Both types of coolers serve a purpose: Hardside coolers better protect the contents, are more durable, and tend to keep things colder longer than softside coolers. But they’re also far heavier. On the other hand, softside coolers are far lighter and, therefore, easier to tote around—which is handy if you’re bringing it somewhere you can’t easily drive to. Should I get a waterproof cooler? While it might seem like coolers are inherently waterproof, many aren’t. You might do well to look out for waterproof exteriors and zippers in your search. Chances are you won’t just be carrying drinks inside of it—you’ll probably want to bring along some snacks at some point—and in the case of a sudden downpour, it’ll keep water from getting inside. Why Trust TripSavvy Krystin Arneson has been writing for TripSavvy since 2018. Based in Berlin, Germany, she has been published in Conde Nast Traveler, Jetsetter, National Geographic Traveler, and Oyster.com. If she's not working or on the road, you can find her paying yet another visit to one of Berlin's incredible museums, hitting the dance floor, or exploring the city's wonderfully dynamic restaurant scene. Nathan Allen is TripSavvy's Outdoor Gear Editor. He's been using coolers for camping, picnics, fly fishing, beach trips, paddleboarding, road trips, grocery store missions, and bringing back beer from the local brewery via bike. Now, his go-to coolers are IceMule's Pro, Yeti's Hopper Flip, and the Out of the Woods Seagull Cooler. The 10 Best Soft Coolers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 6 below.