Senior Editor Morgan Tilton testing soft coolers; (photo/Eric Phillips)
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We¡¯ll always have a spot in our gear closet for a hard cooler, but soft coolers have proven to be just as essential. They weigh less and are easy for one person to grab and quickly transport from the deck to the truck bed.
There¡¯s a broad range of sizes and softness in soft coolers. Some of these designs are actually very rigid, stout, and stackable, such as the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler. Others are fully collapsible and pliable, like the REI Co-op Pack-Away Soft Cooler, and we celebrate the space-saving option for storage.
For day-long roams, weekend adventures, road trips, or running errands, these soft coolers kept our provisions chilled without weighing us down.
Editor¡¯s Note: We updated our Soft Coolers buyer¡¯s guide on April 14, 2025, with the Hydro Flask 20L Insulated Tote, which surprised us with a whopping 65 hours in our ice retention test.
From the get-go, the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler ($250) was reliable and durable. It was reassuring to know it would get the job done and keep our things cold through all the adventures. This cooler also comes in a smaller size 8 ($200) or a larger size 18 ($300).
We took this cooler out on multiple fishing trips and day trips to check out some new lakes, as well as a long drive back to Colorado from Southern Utah. At the lake, the Hopper Flip was the perfect size for our day trip and fit enough drinks and snacks for two or three people.
After sitting in direct sun for a few hours with an ice pack inside, our bubbly waters and snacks were still refreshingly cold and chilled thanks to the closed cell technology. It remained waterproof as it floated near the shore after the lake waves dragged it into the water. In the car, along with being lightweight and easy to carry with lots of different carrying options (like the lid handle, side handles, and the additional adjustable shoulder strap), the box shape of the Yeti Hopper Flip 12 was convenient to store and didn¡¯t collapse when other bags were stacked on top of it. It kept our drinks and produce cool for the whole 9.5-hour drive with varying temperatures and sun exposure.
We loved the additional clip-on shoulder strap. Its material is supportive and soft, almost like a memory foam pad, and it made carrying the cooler along the trail a much better experience. On this build, the exterior material was incredibly durable and withstood scratches and dents after being scraped against branches along the trails and dragged around on the rocky ground.
Once the lake day was over and we were unpacking, cleaning out the inside of the cooler was made easy since we could see all the corners and get to all the crevasses. The rigid construction kept the side walls from caving in and the openness of the insulated liner provided fast, easy cleaning, and also made it painless to organize and see the contents inside.
Our ice retention test concluded that the Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler can hold ice for about 3 days. These results were similar to the RTIC 20 Can Soft Pack Cooler, and both of these coolers were among our best performers. Yeti doesn¡¯t claim a specific number of hours for ice retention due to the myriad environmental factors you may encounter.
The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 can fit 24 cans only or solely 16 pounds, to give you an idea of the capacity. This soft cooler is definitely on the pricier side, but the insulative effectiveness and other design features made it stand apart from the other coolers in this guide and as our top favorite.
Sitting squarely on the economy train, the Arctic Zone Titan Bucket Tote ($53) is a great budget cooler that keeps our ice cold for long durations. A trio took the cooler fly fishing on Colorado¡¯s Gunnison River, carrying along water and various canned beverages. The temps that day hovered around 80 degrees.
Despite being left in the car for a full day following the river outing, the cooler still had ice and felt cold. That well-founded retention is thanks to the brand¡¯s blend of proprietary insulation, interior radiant barrier, and thick base made of three layers of SuperFoam. We also found the water- and stain-resistant exterior very durable. The inside was easy to wipe clean.
This shape and weight felt easy to move around, and the handles were comfortable. We appreciate all of the pockets to help us keep odds and ends organized. There are two zippered pockets, including one that fits a phone, and two huge, broad mesh pockets.
According to our ice retention test, the Titan Bucket Tote is capable of holding ice for up to 70 hours. This cooler could fit two dozen 12-ounce cans. We¡¯re quite confident it¡¯s the best soft cooler for the price.
We used the Orca Wanderer 24 ($250) for tailgating at trailheads after hikes and park BBQs. Ultimately, this is an excellent cooler for single-day adventures. Our team was most impressed by the 840-denier textile exterior, which is tough and doesn¡¯t get banged up.
This design¡¯s 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 two side handles aren¡¯t the most comfortable to grab, and we wish they weren¡¯t adjacent to the shoulder straps¡¯ attachment points. The center magnetic handle is smooth and nice to grab, but when the handgrip is detached into two separate pieces, it¡¯s not comfortable to grasp.
According to our ice retention test, the Wanderer can hold ice for up to 70 hours and it can fit 20 12-ounce cans.