The Greatest Mushy Coolers of 2024

We’ll all the time have a spot in our gear closet for a tough cooler, however delicate coolers have confirmed to be simply as important. They weigh much less and are straightforward for one individual to seize and shortly transport from the deck to the truck mattress.

There’s a broad vary of sizes and softness in delicate coolers. A few of these designs are literally very inflexible, stout, and stackable. Others are absolutely collapsible and pliable, and we rejoice the space-saving choice for storage.

For day-long roams, weekend adventures, highway journeys, or operating errands, these delicate coolers saved our provisions chilled with out weighing us down. For extra details about delicate coolers, take a look at our purchaser’s information, comparability chart, and FAQ on the finish of this text.

In any other case, scroll by way of to see all of our beneficial buys for 2024.

Editor’s Word: We up to date our Mushy Coolers purchaser’s information on June 14, 2024, to dial within the awards and our choice, which stays the very best accessible.

The Greatest Mushy Coolers of 2024

Mushy Cooler Comparability Chart

Scroll proper to view the entire columns: Value, Dimension, Capability, Weight, Ice Retention Check.

How We Examined Mushy Coolers

Our group has developed cooler guides yr after yr, objectively testing dozens of soppy, arduous, and backpack coolers within the subject, from whitewater raft journeys to fly fishing adventures and music festivals within the mountains.

For this delicate cooler information, we examined the preferred, revolutionary, extremely acclaimed, and bestselling merchandise with numerous storage and carry capacities, ice retention capacity, and throughout a value spectrum.

Lead tester Morgan Tilton, Senior Editor specializing in Snow Sports activities Purchaser’s Guides, coordinated a spread of studious gear testers to journey with and study the delicate coolers on this information from ultrarunners and ski mountaineers to fly fishing and whitewater rafting guides.

Gear tester Makena Gross is the assistant ski patrol director, and a ski and bike patroller, at Brian Head Resort, alongside educating Wilderness Drugs programs. Whereas adventuring all through the Southwest, Groos took these coolers on a mess of actions starting from day journeys to the lake to go fishing and swimming to multiday highway journeys. Gross all the time checks the coolers throughout a spread of situations. 

Our crew took these coolers by way of myriad situations from summertime park BBQs to tenting in Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, guiding fly fishing periods on rivers, and road-tripping to ski mountaineer within the Pacific Northwest.

We additionally carried out a managed in-house ice retention take a look at to confirm model claims. For the experiment, we stuffed every pre-cooled cooler roughly 70% with contemporary, frozen cubed ice and set them in a shaded, dry indoor area at a gentle common of 65 levels.

We periodically checked, making notes concerning soften fee, condensation, and leaks. Every reported time is predicated on when 100% of the ice was transformed to water. This information offers a benchmark. However when touring outside, these managed variables disappear and the ice will probably soften sooner.

Purchaser’s Information: The way to Select a Mushy Cooler

Storage Capability

Select a delicate cooler primarily based on the storage capability and sort of assist you want for the load. An excellent malleable product just like the Snow Peak Mushy Cooler may not be the very best for carrying dozens of heavy cans in comparison with a extra inflexible design just like the RovR TravelR 30.

The bigger the group, the extra cargo area you’ll want. The delicate coolers in our information vary from the Mountainsmith Takeout, which may match six cans, to the 38L Snow Peak Mushy Cooler. Most of our selection delicate coolers are both bigger (30 L to 38 L) for group multiday journeys or extra compact (12 L to 19 L).

Compartments and Pockets

Apart from the primary storage pocket, which generally has an insulated liner inside, there are many different pocket and storage options to think about when selecting a delicate cooler to suit your wants. 

Some coolers just like the Booe 30L Waterproof Insulated Tote solely have the primary storage compartment with no different pockets or mesh liners to place further objects in. Nevertheless, this cooler gives dry facet storage with the power to take out the liner the place you may add gadgets in between the outside shell and the liner.

Different coolers such because the RTIC 20 Can Mushy Pack Cooler have an extra exterior zip-up pocket that matches small gadgets, like your telephone, keys, and pockets, and is waterproof for further safekeeping. Some delicate coolers also have a mesh pocket that will maintain a water bottle properly. 

You might also see coolers with a hitchpoint grid, just like the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Mushy Cooler, which has daisy chain loops that you could clip your keys, different carabiners, or straps to for extra gadgets or perhaps safe your cooler down on the boat.

Weight

The weights of soppy coolers are sometimes mirrored by their dimension and capability. The smallest design in our information is the Mountainsmith Takeout, which weighs lower than a pound. The heaviest delicate cooler is the 4-pound, 7-ounce RovR TravelR, which has a 28L capability and the very best ice retention.

Even the heaviest delicate cooler in our information is lighter than a tough cooler. For comparability, the YETI Tundra 45 Cooler weighs 23 kilos, and the RovR Merchandise RollR 45 weighs greater than 37 kilos.

Form

Mushy cooler totes are lengthy, slender, and streamlined towards your facet. They’re comfy to hold over a shoulder. Nevertheless, taller coolers get trickier with entry to buried gadgets, so you need to be aware when packing the cooler.

Mushy coolers which might be wider or extra bucket-style are simpler to entry, so far as discovering a selected merchandise. However, they’ll really feel extra cumbersome to hold over a shoulder. Coolers with a broad, flat floor that rests towards you may assist soak up that swing and bounce.

Boxier coolers may be simpler to stack — so long as the partitions and base are inflexible — whereas sleeker coolers can extra probably slip behind a seat in your automotive. Shorter, extra compact coolers are simpler to slot in tight areas on a ship.

Supplies

A delicate cooler’s supplies embody the outside, insulation, inside liner, and handles. A spread of high closures exist. The commonest are waterproof and leakproof zippers or non-waterproof and leakproof zippers.

We take note of that variable to know if a cooler must all the time be upright. Some distinctive closures don’t enable leaks. Different coolers have magnetic seams, like fashions made by YETI. Welded seams additionally assist forestall leaks.

Mushy coolers could have shoulder straps — that are sometimes detachable — buckles, attachment factors, and inside or exterior pockets. Some pockets have sturdy, waterproof zipper closures, however many aren’t weather-resistant or secured with a closure.

The standard of supplies influences the waterproofness, sturdiness, insulation worth, and whether or not or not the face cloth produces condensation. The supplies additionally decide the consolation, breathability, assist, and total value.

Straps and Handles

Handles and straps are constructed with quite a lot of supplies. Some are extra ergonomic, comfy, and sturdy than others.

Most delicate coolers have facet or high handles, two straps that swing as much as safe collectively above the cooler, or a detachable shoulder strap. A bunch of designs have a mix of handles and straps, too. For coolers on the bigger facet (just like the RoVR 30), it’s key to have padding on the hand or shoulder straps for consolation whereas carrying a completely loaded cooler.

In our testing, we appreciated the large, delicate materials of the 2 swing-up straps on the Snow Peak Mushy Cooler.

The handles on the Hydro Flask Day Escape Tote had been a terrific size and simple to slip over one shoulder.

Base

The bottom of a delicate cooler can play a major function within the integrity of your cooler. A robust base retains your cooler partitions from collapsing, whereas a flimsy base might end result within the partitions caving in.

One other issue is how well-insulated the bottom is. A thicker, extra insulated base can hold your contents cooler for longer whereas it’s sitting on a scorching truck mattress, dock, or boat.

Each the RTIC 20 Can Mushy Pack Cooler and the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Mushy Cooler are extra box-shaped and have a thick, sturdy base that gives stability and insulation assist.

Tote-style coolers together with the Booe 30L Waterproof Insulated Tote have welded seams on the bottom that forestall leakages and hold the chilly insulation from escaping.

Ice Retention

We accomplished our ice retention take a look at with managed variables. Every delicate cooler was stationed indoors at round 65 levels, shaded, and stuffed with the identical ratio and sort of ice.

Ice Retention Check Outcomes

For quite a lot of situations, the delicate coolers on this information present sufficient cooling energy to serve a spread of recreation wants.

Whenever you use a cooler exterior, many elements affect a pack’s ice retention, together with the frequency of opening the cooler, direct daylight, and ambient temperature. For example, the REI Co-op Cool Haul Mushy Cooler preserved ice for 60 hours throughout our take a look at however just for 18 hours throughout one toasty automotive camp journey.

Extra options on delicate coolers embody arduous clip factors, daisy chains, webbing straps, and bungee cords for carrying further gear. Some packs additionally embody a reflective brand or bottle opener.

Many delicate coolers wouldn’t have tiedown factors, which might be function for river or bike journeys.

The way to Take care of Your Mushy Cooler

Some delicate coolers have supplies which might be mildew-resistant and antimicrobial like the inside liner of the RTIC Mushy Pack Cooler. YETI additionally treats the inside and exterior of its Hopper Flip delicate coolers to be mildew resistant, which helps with retaining your tote sanitary whereas extending the lifetime of the product. 

Between makes use of, you may clear the inside of a delicate cooler with a sponge, lukewarm water, and commonplace dish cleaning soap. You possibly can wipe down the outside and zipper, too — don’t miss the toes and backside, which contact floor surfaces. Let the inside utterly air dry or use a towel to wipe down earlier than zipping shut for storage. 

Probably the most hermetic, temperature-regulated, and waterproof delicate coolers boast burly zippers that take hand grease to open and shut. A handful of manufacturers even ship you house with zipper lubricant, like RTIC and YETI. 

For example, YETI advises making use of the lubricant to the back and front of the zipper together with the enamel and seal. RTIC says so as to add a few drops, after which open and shut the zipper a number of occasions. The moisturizer may be utilized each 6 months to assist shield the zipper enamel — across the time you head in for an oil change. Straightforward. 

Value

Checking the tags, the costs of soppy coolers in our information vary from the $30 Mountainsmith Takeout, which is the smallest cooler, to the Orca Walker Cooler ($220) or $250 with the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler with top-shelf ice retention. You’ll additionally discover the RovR TravelR 30 ($300) on the premium finish. The Booe 30L Waterproof Insulated Tote at $200 is close to that prime tier, too.

The value of a delicate cooler is mirrored by the dimensions, sturdiness, high quality of supplies, design options, and ice retention.

Mushy coolers within the medium value vary embody the Snow Peak Mushy Cooler ($185), Igloo Pursuit Tote ($120), REI Co-op Cool Haul Mushy Cooler ($100), and the RTIC 20 Can Mushy Pack Cooler rounds out this section at $99. The well-constructed, premium Hydro Flask Day Escape Tote is obtainable at a reasonable value ($150).

Loads of delicate coolers are pretty comfy to make use of and dependable (so long as it’s not too sunny or scorching scorching out) within the less-than-$100 class. These selection designs embody a spread of designs such because the Mountainsmith Takeout ($30), REI Co-op Pack-Away Mushy Cooler ($55), and Arctic Zone Titan Bucket Tote ($53). Additionally on the cheaper finish of the spectrum, the Eddie Bauer Recycled Bygone Convertible Cooler Tote ($80) is an inexpensive choice and offers superior storage capability and funky design options, corresponding to an exterior pocket and recycled supplies. 

FAQ

There’s utility for each designs. Laborious coolers are extra sturdy and stout and have a bigger dimension vary, given they’ll maintain extra weight with out collapsing. Laborious coolers can even protect ice for longer durations. In the event you’re happening a weeklong automotive tenting journey with restricted entry to ice, it’s advantageous to have a tough cooler for contemporary meals.

However, a delicate cooler is a most well-liked selection for being light-weight, straightforward to hold — particularly for one individual — and easy to move. The compact sizes are nice for picnics, day journeys, in a single day tenting, and grocery purchasing. One other profit is a few delicate coolers are collapsible, in order that they occupy much less area in storage than a tough cooler.

For highway journeys, you may separate daytime drinks and snacks right into a delicate cooler, which limits opening of the arduous cooler and preserves ice.

If the cooler’s seams aren’t welded and leakproof, they’ll leak. Mushy coolers can even leak by way of the lid closure if the zipper isn’t waterproof or the clasp isn’t leakproof.

Some delicate coolers are superior at ice retention, which is mostly mirrored within the price ticket however not all the time. Some pricier coolers supply enough ice retention combined with different qualities like sturdiness and capability.

In our side-by-side ice retention take a look at, the delicate coolers that retained ice the longest had been the RovR TravelR, YETI Hopper Flip 12 Mushy Cooler, RTIC 20 can Mushy Pack Cooler, that are every able to holding ice for as much as 72 hours, to every model’s declare.

It was intently adopted by the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Bucket Tote and Orca Walker Cooler, which held ice for 70 hours. The bottom ice retention recorded was 21 hours for the small Mountainsmith Takeout.

In day by day adventures, soften velocity barely fluctuates primarily based on the frequency of opening the cooler, how lengthy it’s open, ambient warmth, and direct daylight. A bunch of different variables affect ice retention, too, together with the kind and amount of ice, further area within the compartment (which decreases effectiveness), and if the cooler was prechilled.

For many delicate coolers, dry ice will burn the inside supplies. As a substitute, it’s best to use freshly frozen cubed ice, ice blocks, or reusable ice packs.

For the longest-lasting ice retention and cooling functionality, purpose to make use of a 2:1 ratio of ice to contents. You possibly can shortly prechill your cooler with a sacrificial bag of ice a number of hours earlier than loading it up, particularly if the cooler was saved in a scorching place. Or, deliver the cooler inside a cool room to decrease the temperature the night time earlier than use.

The kind of ice makes a distinction. Block ice and contemporary cubed ice from freezers are denser than chipped ice or crushed ice from ice machines. In the event you get tremendous strategic, you need to use a mixture of block ice — which melts slowly — and cubed ice — which cools down the container shortly.
Because the ice melts, it’s preferrred to retain the ice water, which helps the opposite ice keep chilly. Restrict your entry to the cooler as a result of opening it up releases the chilly air.

Maintain your cooler within the shade to lengthen that low temperature. In the event you’re beneath direct solar, toss a towel or blanket over the cooler to assist alleviate a warmth spike.

Each delicate coolers and arduous coolers have their strengths and weaknesses. Laborious coolers are usually higher for longer journeys or catering to bigger group sizes, whereas delicate coolers are nice for shorter journeys for fewer individuals. 

The advantages of arduous coolers are that they sometimes are extra sturdy, sturdier, and hold ice longer than delicate coolers. Some downsides to arduous coolers are that they’re harder to maneuver and carry, and they are often more durable to retailer since they don’t compact like delicate coolers do.

However, the advantages of soppy coolers are that they’re extra compact, retailer effectively, are extra light-weight and simpler to hold. Though they don’t protect ice for so long as arduous coolers, there are a number of neat design options, like further pockets, hitchpoints, and extra carrying strategies. 

It actually is right to have choices to select from relying on what journey you’re planning. Having a tough cooler designated for meals for the journey and having a delicate cooler to get your drinks separated could be a useful strategy to manage and hold your issues chilly and contemporary.