Best Coolers of 2022
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There are two types of people in this world — those who need a bear-proof cooler, and those who don’t.
For those who do, there are some very sturdy hard-sided coolers on the market, designed to keep your food cold for days and out of the mouths of hungry bears. They’re durable, well-insulated, and designed for a rugged life of camping or boating. Most are big enough to hold plenty of food, beer, or water, or can be used aboard boats to hold the day's catch and keep it fresh (just don’t use it for both, at the same time).
For those of you who don’t need that much cooler, or whose outdoor activities are limited to picnics and day hikes (in territory without bear sightings), there are soft-sided coolers, designed to be lightweight, easily stored, and carried by a single person. These keep food cold for a much shorter period of time than hard-sided coolers, but are perfect for a single day of insulation.
Hard-sided coolers are usually much bigger and hold more food than their soft-sided counterparts. As many cooler companies suggest a 2:1 ratio of ice to food, that means you can take more food, pack more ice, and keep it fresh for longer. Most hard-sided cooler manufacturers won’t guarantee the number of days the cooler will keep ice frozen, but many average 3-5 days in proper weather conditions.
Most hard-sided ice chests are more expensive than soft-sided ones, but they are made to last, so purchasing one should be considered an investment. The walls of the coolers are thicker, and they are usually made with a solid exterior designed to resist scratching, denting, or breaking under rough conditions. Because of their size, they can get pretty heavy once they are loaded up, but most come with wheels to make moving them easier. They also have drains at the bottom of the cooler, making clean up easy once ice is melted.
Soft-sided coolers are a great choice for daily use. They weigh much less than a hard-sided cooler, and fold down for easy storage when not in use. That light weight means they are easy to carry, even when loaded down with food, and for the most part can be carried by a single person. In fact, some even come with backpack attachments, leaving your hands free. In general, they cost less than a hard-sided cooler, and while traditionally they haven’t lasted as long as hard-sided, new technology is increasing the durability of their fabrics.
The choice between hard- and soft-sided is up to you, but to help we’ve created a list of the most popular coolers, according to reviewers.
Best Hard-Sided Coolers
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler ($325; amazon.com and yeti.com)
One could argue the fact that Yeti coolers are the most well-known brand on the market these days. The Yeti brand name has worked its way into our lexicon, our hearts, and our music, getting a mention in at least five country songs in the last decade alone. There’s a reason for that — they are excellent products, according to reviewers and users. Founded in 2006 by two brothers who were looking for a better cooler for their outdoor adventures, Yeti created the Tundra, and some say it’s the yardstick by which all other hard-sided coolers are measured. Built in the U.S., it comes in a multitude of colors (Aquifer Blue! Coral! Harvest Red!) as well as the original Desert Tan. The Tundra also comes in multiple sizes so you can find one to suit your ice chest needs.
BISON COOLERS 75 Quart Large Double Insulated Rotomolded Ice Chest ($429; amazon.com)
What makes BISON stand out from the crowd? The Rotomolded exterior is one single piece, so it’s designed to be tough. To back that claim up, their warranty program is outstanding and covers latches, drain plugs, gaskets and handles, otherwise known as the things that break most often on a cooler. They come with freezer grade insulation and claim a five-day cooling factor. Also made in the U.S., and their ergonomic grab handles make them easy to transport.
RTIC Ultra-Light 52 Quart Trailblazer (from $199-229.99; amazon.com and rticoutdoors.com)
This cooler is 30% lighter than their counterparts, thanks to its innovative injected molded design, so it weighs less but cools more. According to RTIC, it can be carried by one person, but we’d guess that depends on the person and how much you’ve packed in the cooler. Reviewers love the fact that in addition to its weight, this ice chest also has drains on either end of the cooler, making clean up more convenient no matter how you load the cooler in the back of the truck.
Coleman 24-Can Party-Stacker Cooler ($29.99 each; amazon.com)
While this one isn’t bear proof, it is a solid hard-sided ice chest for the money. The Coleman company has been making outdoor equipment since 1900, and the first hard-sided cooler from Coleman came out in 1954. While they have an Xtreme series that competes with Yeti, Bison, and RTIC, this handy cooler caught our attention for a couple reasons. First, it reminds us of boating and fishing with our dad in the 1970s. Second, so many of the reviewers use this cooler for off-brand reasons — it makes an excellent vessel for sous vide cooking, which is a low-temperature cooking method using a water bath and vacuum-sealed food. Who knew?
Best Soft-Sided Coolers
CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag with Shoulder Strap (starting at $31.73, originally $34.99; amazon.com)
This little cooler might not carry the well-known names of some others, but reviewers love it, with almost 90% of reviews at 4-stars or higher. It carries up to 30 cans, but collapses down to just under three inches, so it’s the ultimate in soft-sided cooler convenience. It’s durable and the insulation liner is leak proof, which is great if you’re carrying the cooler in the car or on a car seat. One reviewer got 30+ hours of cold cans out of this cooler, and at $32, it’s worth every penny.
Maelstrom Collapsible Soft Sided Cooler ($39.99; amazon.com)
This is a large cooler, holding 75 cans of your favorite beverage, but weighs less than two pounds empty, making it a lot of cooler for not a lot of effort. This Maelstrom keeps its cool for about a day or so, which is just enough time for day fishing or hiking trips. It also makes a great addition to your car, to keep frozen and cold groceries fresh on the way home. This cooler also comes in a fun array of colors, including orange, woodland camo, and watermelon.
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze ($62.99; amazon.com)
The Titan Deep Freeze cooler stands out from the rest for one incredibly handy feature - the top is zipperless, which makes it much easier to reach in and grab a cold beverage while driving. This may be why it’s a top choice among long-haul truckers, or people who spend a long time in their truck. The HardBody liner keeps it from collapsing, like some of the other soft-sided coolers, but the Rhino-Tech exterior is water and stain resistant. It comes in bigger sizes, but reviewers say this 30-can size is perfect for an everyday lunch box.
OtterBox Trooper Cooler (starting at $199.95; amazon.com)
The OtterBox both is — and isn’t — a soft-sided cooler. Instead, it’s the best of both worlds. The 20-quart capacity means it’s got room for plenty of food and drink, and the premium grade thermal insulation means you can keep ice frozen for up to three days. The solid base means it’s easy to stand up on its own while you picnic or fish, the solid flip top is zipperless and easy to open, and the additional backpack feature makes it a cinch to carry. It also includes a bottle opener accessory, which could come in handy since that’s the thing we all forget to pack on a picnic. It might cost as much as a hard-sided cooler but will last through kayaking trips and all your outdoor adventures.
Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.