The Best Soft Cooler of 2025

Best value

The AO Coolers Canvas Series 24 Pack Cooler is one of our staff writers' favorite coolers, and for good reason. It is budget-friendly (less than $75 at the time of writing), has two carry methods, and performed incredibly well in our 24-hour temperature test. We took this cooler on a camping trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and it still had ice in it three days after leaving home with multiple stops in between. Our in-house testing reinforces this: the temperature reading after 24 hours was 33.2°F (0.67°C), one of the best we've seen.

The cooler can be carried by the handles, which works well for going to and from the car or other short trips. It also has a crossbody strap for longer treks to a remote beach, across the city after parking the car, or riding public transit. Neither carry method is perfect, but they both get the job done. The cooler is pretty durable, too, but the fabric isn't as strong as hard plastic on a hard-sided cooler.

• It performed better than any other cooler on the initial version of this list
• It's more malleable than hard-sided coolers but retains durability

• Neither carry method is incredibly comfortable
• It doesn't have a waterproof zipper

Best budget

Our favorite thing about the REI Co-op Campwell 8 L Folding Cooler is its compactness. When disengaged, it's flat and easy to stow inside another bag, in the car, or the closet. Once you fold the corners, it has more depth and is easy to use. This makes it an excellent choice for road trips that don't require you to bring food from home, but when you might want to keep something cold later, trips where you're packing checked luggage, or when you're just looking for something to keep in your car for groceries or emergency picnics.

Because of the malleable and thin materials, it doesn't insulate that well. After 24 hours, the water inside was 68.5°F (20.28°C), which isn't very good. The lack of dense padding paired with soft materials makes it less durable than other options on this list, though we haven't had any issues with the fabric. That said, it's incredibly comfortable to carry, whether you're loading up at Costco or walking a bag of popsicles to the beach.

• It's easy to bring in the car or pack for a trip
• It's comfortable to carry

• It doesn't insulate well
• The materials aren't very durable

Best soft cooler with wheels

The Titan by Arctic Zone 60 (50+10) Can Wheeled Cooler is unique for several reasons. First, it's packable. Seriously, it folds up and saves a ton of space when you don't have it engaged. Second, the main compartment has two openings. One opening secures with a hook-and-loop fastener and the other with a zipper. Third, it has two compartments, both of which keep your stuff cold, which isn't common for coolers. Last, it comes with a cart to which you can attach the cooler, making it easier to get it from point A to point B, no matter how rugged the terrain between them is. Plus, it's less than $100, which is a steal for all those features.

The Titan has many extras, though its thin walls make it less insulating than other models we've tested. After 24 hours, the water inside was 56.0°F (13.33°C), which isn't very good. However, it'll perform well for shorter trips, like hanging out on the beach or the boat for a few hours. The telescopic handle is a bit shaky and doesn't lock into place when collapsed, which we don't like. Admittedly, we're used to testing high-end rolling luggage, and the non-locking handle didn't affect usage much. Still, this feature-heavy cooler is a breeze to use; we just wish it kept things cool for longer.

• It has oodles of extra features, including a wheeled cart
• There are two cooling compartments and a secondary pocket for extras, like your phone

• It doesn't keep things cold for very long
• The telescopic handle isn't the most structured and doesn't lock when collapsed

Best small soft cooler

Best soft cooler for travel

The Bellroy Lite Cooler Caddy 6L didn't perform well in our 24-hour temperature test—in fact, it was one of the worst performers at 71.2°F (21.78°C). So, why are we including it on this list? Well, we don't think long-term storage is what this cooler is for. This smaller model works well for stowing a 6-pack with friends to drink at the beach or around the campfire, and it works well for bringing your lunch when working remotely at a coworking space. It's easy to collapse, so you can tote it anywhere you bring your sling or daypack, and the strap has a G-hook on it so you can attach it to anything.

Apart from not insulating things well, this cooler doesn't have much of a downside. It's a bit floppy, but it fills out nicely when you stow stuff inside. The price is high for the size and performance, but it's a cooler we think could be useful for digital nomads and ultralight travelers, so we understand the price point. Plus, thanks to Bellroy's durable fabric choice, it comes in a few fun colorways, so you can get one that matches your vibes.

• It's easy to pack inside a sling, daypack, or travel backpack
• You can attach it to anything because one side of the strap has a clip

• It doesn't insulate very well, leading to poor performance
• The price is high for how well it keeps things cold, and its size

Best soft lunch cooler

The Mountainsmith Sixer Cooler Bag is the perfect model for taking your lunch with you for work or play because of its size, performance, and ease of fitting into your car or a large backpack. In addition to carrying cans with ease, it's large enough to accommodate big containers for salads and other healthy lunch options, making it a versatile piece of travel equipment. Plus, it's malleable enough to fit into a large daypack without disturbing the rest of your gear.

In testing, the water inside was 62.4°F (16.89°C), which illustrates that it isn't a solid long-term option, but it works well for keeping your lunch, a couple of beers, or soda pops cold for a few hours. It's pretty durable, though the external fabric may have a few loose threads from time to time. It's easy to carry, but not the most comfortable if you have it loaded with cans. For most trips, the padding on the handle is more than enough.

• It's budget-friendly
• It's small enough to pack inside your large daypack

• It doesn't insulate very well long-term
• Carrying isn't the most comfortable feature

The Snow Peak Soft Cooler 11 is basic; however, sometimes, that is all you need. It's thick enough to offer more durability than many of the coolers on this list, and the carry comfort is slightly under par, meaning it's a bit more cozy to carry around all day than others on this list. The zipper isn't waterproof, which looks a little off considering the technical materials used on the cooler, but the track and zipper head have held up well and operate smoothly.

In testing, the Snow Peak Soft Cooler 11 performed better than most, with the water a frosty 35.0°F (1.67°C) after 24 hours. Because of its size, this presents a solid middle ground between lunch with beers for the boys and an overnight trip with the family with Lunchables for the kids. Plus, if you want a different size, there are three available!

• It performs incredibly well for its size and weight
• You can use it for small or medium-sized loads, making it more versatile

• The zipper isn't waterproof
• There's no padding or aeration on the strap

The Monti Shasta 23L Cooler is probably the most unique model you'll see today. It's a packable, backpack-style cooler that looks like a puffer jacket. No, seriously, it has all those features, and then some! With a rolltop design and a clip-on harness system with a sternum strap, you can carry this cooler bag on your back to make things more comfortable, or remove the shoulder straps and stow it inside another bag. The rolltop design saves space and keeps things cooler longer, as less air surrounds inside to melt the ice. Done using it for a few days? Pack it away and stow it inside your travel backpack or hotel room.

In testing, the Monti Shasta 23L Cooler performed incredibly well for how lightweight it is, with the water inside measuring 38.0°F (3.33°C) after 24 hours. To boot, there was more air in the cooler than in others we tested because of how much ice we put inside (and how much we could roll the top closure). After unfurling the rolltop and leaving the cooler off to the side while testing other coolers, it slouched, and some water leaked from the zipper. This was a user error, but you might be the same kind of user as we are, and it's worth noting. Still, comfort is top dog here, and though it isn't as durable as the thick plastic coolers we've tested, you can't go wrong with it for the price and performance.

• It packs down very small, so you can bring it on any trip
• You can wear it as a backpack, which is more comfortable than conventional carry methods

• The zipper isn't leak-proof
• It isn't the most durable cooler we've tested

We've tested YETI coolers and backpacks; however, this was our first YETI backpack cooler. It's safe to say that this was a moment when worlds collided for us! Per usual for the brand, the YETI performed incredibly well, with the water at 34.0°F (1.11°C) after 24 hours. The cooler is also quite durable, though not as much as YETI's hard-sided models that we've had on hand at Pack Hacker HQ. The backpack has more of a harness system than other backpack-style coolers we've tested, and it's one of the most comfortable to carry.

There are attachment loops on the front and sides, so you can add modular gear or clip on a Bluetooth speaker to kick out the jams while you're enjoying a cold one on the beach. Multiple colorways are available, including the YETI staples, so you can get one to match your other coolers or the vibe you're trying to achieve. The top has two clips, and the access point into the cooler is stiff, making grabbing larger items challenging, though we appreciate how durable the construction is.

• It performs incredibly well over 24 hours
• The harness system is more capable than other cooler bags that we've tested

• The price is prohibitive for budget-conscious users
• The materials are durable, but so much so that they can be hard to work with

One of the biggest complaints we've seen online about coolers is their look. Luckily, a few options break free from the traditional cooler design that's been popular for decades. Thanks to the materials, the L.L. Bean Insulated Waxed-Canvas Tote has a heritage style, making it look more like a tote bag than a cooler. We've found this material to be more durable than the synthetic materials that most coolers use, and it develops an attractive patina over time.

There's a front pocket to stow your phone, wallet, and sunglasses inside for easy access while on the go. The strap is removable, so you can remove it if you just plan to use the handles with leather accents. Or, replace the strap with something more comfortable for longer treks, as the stock option lacks padding. Inside, it looks and performs like a cooler, with room to stow a picnic lunch, a six-pack (with enough ice to keep them cold all day), or pints of ice cream for the whole family. If you want a cooler that keeps your food and drinks cold all day but looks stylish, this is your best bet!

• It looks more stylish than other coolers that we've tested
• You can remove and replace the strap if you want

• The strap and handles lack padding
• The front pocket is limited due to size restraints