6 Best Coolers of 2024

Hard and soft options for camping, entertaining and chilling out.

6 best coolers you can buy in 2023, according to testing

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The best coolers will keep your food and drinks cold for hours, whether you're entertaining friends in the backyard , spending a day by the water in your beach chair or enjoying the great outdoors with your favorite camping gear in tow.

Some coolers hold ice or ice packs to cool food and beverages down, some provide insulation to help retain the temperature of chilled items — and some do both. They come in an assortment of styles, including hard coolers and soft coolers, with both small and large capacities, and can be narrowed down even further into more specific categories. For example, there are coolers with wheels for transporting lots of snacks and beverages to the beach, backpack-style versions for going on outdoor hikes and small soft versions with a strap attached for day trips in the car.

Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab have tested more than 85 coolers in the past decade . In our most recent side-by-side cooler test, we assessed the coolers' ice and temperature retention, how well they resisted odors and how easy they were to use and clean . Here's what we found.

Our top picks:

ECOCOOL Trailmate 70 Qt Cooler

Best Overall Cooler

Igloo ecocool trailmate 70 qt cooler.

Titan Deep Freeze 48-Can Zipperless HardBody Cooler

Best Value Cooler

Arctic zone titan deep freeze 48-can zipperless hardbody cooler.

Topper 20

Best Small Soft Cooler

Polar bear coolers topper 20.

Tundra Haul

Best Cooler for Summer Barbecues

Yeti tundra haul.

65-Quart Hard Cooler

Best Cooler for Camping

Rtic 65-quart hard cooler.

Pro Large Collapsible Backpack Cooler

Best Backpack Cooler

Icemule pro large collapsible backpack cooler.

At the end of this guide, you can read more about how we test and choose the best coolers, plus everything you need to know about when shopping for the perfect cooler for your needs. Looking for more ways to keep your food and beverages insulated? Check out our guides to the best water bottles and the best adult lunch boxes .

The Igloo ECOCOOL Trailmate scored highest overall in our most recent cooler testing. It steadily maintained the temperature of soda cans for 36 hours — and even kept most of the ice intact . It was easy to move around when full and is designed to handle all kinds of terrain with its oversize wheels. It has a sturdy base and remains steady when parked. The company states that the cooler is made with postconsumer recycled materials — specifically, 98% of the lid and body plastic and 48% of the liner — one of the first coolers to use recycled materials.

This hard cooler is packed with useful features, such as a telescoping handle and a removable container for storing dry goods. It also includes a ridged tray — with two built-in drink holders — that stores inside the lid and is designed to be placed directly on top of the cooler's sturdy handle after it's been extended outward. The lid comes equipped with four built-in drink cups, and it even has detachable umbrella holders. In addition to all of these handy features, it opens easily (and to the right, versus up and to the back like most coolers) and seals without any pesky latches. The one downside is the location of the cooler's drain plug, which makes it tricky to empty and clean. Instead of the drain plug being positioned on the very bottom of the cooler, it's located just above it, so fully emptying the cooler was a challenge. It's also a little more expensive than the regular Igloo Trailmate Journey 70-Quart Cooler .

This small soft cooler with a hard interior — yes, you read that right; it's a combo that's lightweight but still holds its shape — had extremely good temperature control. After 36 hours, the soda cans dropped only 6 degrees from when they were first placed inside the cooler. However, 90% of the ice had melted when testing was complete. It can hold up to 48 cans without ice, and it weighs about 44 pounds when fully packed with just cans. The hard liner is removable for easy cleaning.

It has a zipper-free design for easy access and opens and closes with the help of a Velcro-style hook-and-loop connection. It's equipped with a strap, which makes it easier to carry, as well as two handles on either side — helpful if you want two people to carry it when it's full. There's no user manual included, but additional features include a perforated tray that spans the length of the cooler to keep some goods separated, several pockets on the outside and bungees on top to help control loose items like napkins.

Of all the soft coolers we tested, this one, from Polar Bear Coolers, performed the best. It even performed just as well as some of the hard coolers we tested , which typically do better than soft coolers . The soda cans got seven degrees colder over 36 hours and maintained a temperature of 33˚F. It's easy to pack and can fit 30 soda cans without ice. When filled with cans and no ice, its maximum weight is less than 30 pounds. The handle on top (hence the name Topper) makes it relatively easy to carry; plus, it comes with a detachable shoulder strap, though we didn't find it that comfortable.

We appreciate the included instructions that describe how to prep the cooler and subsequently care for it. And the zipper comes with zipper lubricant that you apply to help maintain smooth opening and closing. It's radio frequency–welded (a.k.a. the plastic pieces are essentially melted together to create a better seal), which helps prevent leaks inside and out and it even floats if you need it to. Even though we noticed a slight odor after cleaning, we found the cleanup process to be simple.

The Tundra Haul is YETI's first cooler with wheels, which many will appreciate, since it can exceed 100 pounds when full. You can pack it up to its capacity and still be able to move it around your backyard or your favorite park for a family barbecue.

It boasts 65 quarts and can fit 83 cans without ice . In our tests, it had excellent temperature control and was able to maintain a temperature of 33˚F for 36 hours. (The cans were put in the cooler at a starting temperature of around 40˚F.) That's pretty much perfect for ensuring that your drinks and burger toppings stay cool on a hot summer day.

The Tundra Haul is rotomolded, which means it's made from one piece of material, a design that contributes to high quality and durability. It's easy to open, thanks to its rubber latches, versus traditional plastic ones or buckles. Plus, it has a food crate to help keep the inside organized. The handle is oversize, and it can be operated with one hand or two. When it's not extended and ready for use, it folds flat against the cooler.

The cooler is a breeze to clean, partly because the drain plug is located in between the wheels. Just tip the cooler up and pour out excess liquids. It comes with a user maintenance manual that provides instructions on first use and includes directions for cleaning and care.

This rotomolded cooler (made from one piece of material), is strong and durable. It can hold up to 64 cans with ice and comes with a food bin that latches with rubber hooks , which is key when you're camping and cooking in the wilderness so you can keep your dry goods out of the ice in the bottom of the cooler.

It's thick and durable with large handles for carrying, though we recommend that two people carry it together when moving it on your campsite — or that you opt to leave it in your car, since it doesn't have wheels and can weigh around 110 pounds when filled with the maximum capacity of cans, according to testing.

In our tests, it had great temperature retention, and plenty of ice was left over after 36 hours. Our testers also liked that it has two drains that allow you to release melted ice from either side, depending on how the cooler is sloped and where it's placed.

Pro Large Collapsible Backpack Cooler

IceMule's Pro Large Collapsible Backpack Cooler is comfortable to wear and can fit up to 18 cans of soda with ice. This backpack is uniquely designed: There isn't a zipper; you just fold down the opening and use a buckle to keep it fastened. There's also an air valve that you breathe into, which creates extra insulation . In fact, in our Lab tests, the interior temperature went up only 1.98 degrees and stayed under 40˚F during the entire 14-hour testing period.

When you're ready to store this backpack cooler, you simply reverse the bag to empty out the air and fold up the bag. According to the brand, it's 100% waterproof and can even float, but we haven't tested that claim yet. There are also bungee cords on the front to help control loose items, such as a water bottle.

How we test coolers

best coolers tested by the good housekeeping institute april 2022 photographed in the lab

The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab tests coolers by recording how long each model stays cold in a controlled setting that mimics real-life use:

  • In our most recent side-by-side cooler test, we evaluated 22 coolers and Lab-tested 15 of them . For each cooler, we assessed ease of loading and unloading, cleaning and transporting. We also evaluated the helpfulness of the user guide, if one was included.

a variety of coolers with thermocouples inside to measure temperature

  • To test this batch of 15, we filled each cooler with a comparable ice-to-can ratio of one third cans to two-thirds ice . We then placed a thermocouple (a highly sensitive scientific thermometer) inside one soda can in each cooler and connected the cans to a data logger to record the temperature every 15 minutes over a total of 36 hours .

documenting temperatures of coolers

  • From there, we assessed each cooler's ability to maintain temperature at 12 hours and 36 hours. We also used this test to determine how easy the coolers were to pack.
  • Once every cooler was completely loaded, we carried the coolers around to see which were the easiest to travel with.

a cooler being weighed during testing

  • We also weighed the coolers to determine how heavy they were after being filled up to their capacity with cans and ice.
  • After unpacking the coolers and assessing their drain spouts, we tested their cleanability and ability to resist odor by making a mess: W e spilled soda in each cooler, tossed in half an onion and let the mixture sit for a day. Then we washed the coolers with soap and water to see how well they cleaned up and if they still smelled like onion.
  • Overall, we collected more than 1,800 data points to determine which coolers would best withstand a typical day of use (and longer).

Which cooler holds ice the longest?

a rtic cooler filled with ice and soda cans during testing

According to our testing, the RTIC 65-Quart Hard Cooler held the largest amount of ice after two days of testing . It had some water, but ice probably could have lasted another day or two with the amount that was left.

However, most of our picks, like the Igloo ECOCOOL Trailmate and the YETI Tundra Haul , retained a good amount of ice. If this is important to you, we recommend purchasing a hard cooler, which retained ice the best in our tests. We did find that the Polar Bear Coolers Topper 20 retained ice better than any other soft cooler we tested.

What to look for when shopping for the best coolers

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Keep these pointers in mind as you start to narrow down your search for the best cooler for your needs:

✔️ Style and temperature retention: Take note of the differences between these two options:

  • Hard coolers are the better choice for campers, outdoor adventure trips that last more than one day and holding a lot of goods. They're generally made of durable double-walled plastic and/or foam insulation and are designed to keep contents cold for days.
  • Soft coolers are great options for picnics, work lunches or day hikes. Most models are made of easy-to-clean shells and lined with insulating nylon for food safety. They're designed to keep food cold for up to one day.

✔️ Capacity: Coolers are available in a range of sizes, from a five-quart cooler to carry your lunch to a 125-quart cooler that's large enough to hold more than 200 cans. Because a large-capacity cooler can get quite heavy, consider buying one on wheels — or even two smaller coolers (one for drinks and one for food) for easier transport.

✔️ Portability: These days, cooler companies are starting to attach wheels to their hard coolers. This allows individuals to take these big, heavy coolers and maneuver and manipulate them easily and safely. Look for soft coolers with padded shoulder straps or backpack-style attachments, both of which can make carrying easier.

✔️ Construction: If you're a more experienced cooler shopper or someone who's really done their homework, you've likely seen the term "rotomolded," which means a hard cooler has been built from one continuous piece of plastic. This type of construction makes it more durable, with fewer places for the cooler to potentially leak over time. When shopping for soft coolers, look for watertight seals around the zippers.

✔️ Accessories: Many large hard coolers come equipped with dry bins for keeping goods dry and away from ice. Other features to look for include dividers that work within the ice to create individual sections, drink holders on the lid, umbrella holders and can openers. For soft coolers, we like to have at least a couple of carrying options: short handles and a long strap, plus pockets.

What type of cooler should I buy?

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It depends on which activities you'd like to use your cooler for . Here's a quick guide:

  • Soft cooler: These are ideal for day trips, like having a small, leisurely picnic in a beautiful locale or spending a sunny day at the beach. Soft coolers are good to have on long drives as well. Most come with handles for easy carrying. In general, though, soft coolers don't hold ice as well as hard coolers.
  • Backpack cooler: If you're going on a long hike or kayak ride, backpack coolers are handy. They help ensure that your hands are free to hold a walking stick or paddle, and they can usually hold other equipment as needed, such as water bottles or sunscreen. These coolers aren't intended to hold a large number of items, but they're great for keeping your drinks and a sandwich or two cold.
  • Hard cooler: Ideal for storing in your car or trailer while camping or setting out on your deck for easy access while you barbecue, hard coolers have good ice retention capabilities and varying capacities. Keep in mind that a large model will be very heavy once filled and will need to stay in place or be moved by two people.
  • Hard cooler with wheels: A cooler with wheels makes transportation easy. Whether you're walking down to the beach or going on a camping trip, you don't have to worry about hurting your back or finding a friend to help you carry it. Since coolers with wheels are often made out of a hard material, they retain ice and temperature well. One downside is that some designs can take up storage room inside the cooler and make them a little harder to pack.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Alec Scherma is the test engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where he tests products across categories, including home and tech. He has conducted evaluation and testing for more than 35 coolers, buying and packing hundreds of cans of soda and weighing and carrying each cooler.

Nicole Papantoniou runs the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab, where she oversees all content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear, including this cooler test. Nicole is constantly testing new coolers in real-life situations, whether she's at the beach or in her backyard (and also probably testing grills at the same time).

Headshot of Alec Scherma

Alec Scherma (he/him) is the Good Housekeeping Institute ’s test engineer, where he helps to create and implement new product testing methodology across home, cooking and cleaning appliances, wellness, tech products and more. He graduated from Drexel University’s College of Engineering with a B.A. in mechanical engineering.

Headshot of Nicole Papantoniou

Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute 's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal .

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The 22 Best Travel Coolers and Ice Packs [Hard and Soft Options]

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Amar Hussain

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The 22 Best Travel Coolers and Ice Packs [Hard and Soft Options]

Why Buy a Travel Cooler

Things to consider with travel coolers, soft vs. hard coolers, how to pack your cooler, 1. great storage space options and hardwearing, 2. retro-chic and perfect cooling, with an 85-can capacity, 3. best for “xtreme” adventures on any terrain, 4. best for big parties or large families, 5. best for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, 6. best for compact cooling on the go, 7. a top contender by pelican, 8. best for family fun and flexible capacity, 9. best for rolling over rough terrain, 10. so tough it’s even bear-resistant, 1. best for carrying extra accessories with you, 2. great option for beach trips, 3. looks just like a regular backpack, 4. best for commuters and short trips for 1, 5. best for hiking and backpacking, 6. best for every occasion, 7. best for yeti lovers who want to try a backpack, 8. best for parties on the go, things to consider with cooler ice packs, 1. long-lasting ice packs for everyday use, 2. hardshell ice pack for use with coolers, 3. slimline coolers for everyday snack packing, 4. super-slim little ice packs, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

If you are heading out on a road trip, a travel cooler will keep your food and drinks chilled along the way. Whether you choose a basic model that will keep your lunch cool or a cooler that’s big enough to get the party started, mobile refrigeration is the way forward for great days out and long nights spent under the stars.

Travel Cooler

Being able to keep your food cold, and therefore safe to eat, on the go is the biggest benefit to buying a travel cooler, but there are other great reasons to consider getting one, too:

  • Upgrading from a traditional insulated picnic basket or lunch pack will reduce the risk of you having to deal with messy containers , melted ice packs, and other inconveniences along the way.
  • Never buy ice again — simply make your own and take it with you instead. A good quality cooler will help you chill enough drinks and snacks to keep all the family well-fed and refreshed when the temperature rises.
  • Save money by stocking up on snacks when you leave home. This also helps with special dietary requirements, calorie counting, or other preferences you may have as you will know exactly what is in your food at all times.
  • As an additional bonus, your new travel cooler can also be used to keep medicines cool , meaning that your insulin or other temperature-controlled medication won’t be at risk on the road.

Travel Cooler Capacity

The capacity of a cooler is often measured by the number of drink cans it can hold, as well as the extra ice needed to keep them cool. The internal capacity is, in many ways, much more important than the exterior dimensions, unless you have a very specific space to fill while transporting your cooler.

Smaller personal coolers may only have the capacity to hold between 6 to 8 cans, while huge party coolers can hold 50, 60, or sometimes more, plus ice. Keep in mind that the number of cans they can hold often relates to cans packed tightly together, and if you max out on beverages, you may not have the extra space needed to carry snacks or other essentials.

Hot Tip: Remember that the volume of the storage size can relate to both the insulated and non-insulated areas of the cooler, meaning that 50 quarts of storage may not mean that the entire internal space is available to be used for cooled items.

Travel Cooler Insulation

Depending on your budget and individual requirements, there are different types of insulation that will keep your food and drinks cool on the go. The 2 main types are:

  • Polystyrene — The most effective insulation that money can buy, this cheap, plastic lightweight material is very bad at transferring heat, meaning that your gear stays cooler for longer. As a general rule of thumb, the thicker the walls of polystyrene are, the better the insulation will be. This kind of insulation can keep stuff cold for days on end, making high-end hard coolers more suitable for trips away and longer stays.
  • Foam — Usually found in soft-sided coolers, a foam lining can work well if you need to chill your items for just a few hours at a time. Perfect for lunch packs and days out, foam is effective for short-term chilling, but not as effective as the far superior polystyrene.

Portability

Travel Cooler Portability

It goes without saying that hard coolers will be heavier to carry and bulkier to store than their soft-sided counterparts. Many of the larger coolers on the market will come with superstrong handles, often on both sides, making them easier to carry as a team effort.

With smaller coolers and soft-sided models, portability is easier as they come complete with shoulder straps, backpack straps, or grab handles, and their lightweight design means that they can be easily transported, even when full.

Materials and Durability

Travel Cooler Material

Rotomolded hard coolers are incredibly sought after by those who like to enjoy a bit of camping, fishing, and other outdoor pursuits. Made to be virtually indestructible, these types of coolers can last for many years and easily cope with the bumps and knocks of constant traveling.

Soft coolers, on the other hand, don’t need to be quite as indestructible, but should still offer tear-proof, waterproof exteriors, as well as washable and leakproof interiors that feature FDA-approved lining material.

Travel Cooler Features

Some of the coolers on our list come with delightfully useful additional features that you may never even know you needed. These could include clip-on tables that transform your cooler into an instant bar, handy little cup holders, lids that double up as seating areas, and even fish-measuring rulers for all you anglers out there.

Some of the bigger travel cooler brands offer extended warranties with their coolers. Expensive to buy and often manufactured using the very best materials, it is a safe bet that these types of coolers will last many years if used respectfully. As a rough guide:

  • Coleman  — up to 6 years, depending on the exact model purchased
  • Igloo — 1- to 5-year warranty, depending on the exact model purchased
  • ORCA — 5 years from the date of purchase
  • RovR — 1- to 5-year warranty, depending on the model purchased
  • YETI — 3- to 5-year warranty, depending on the model purchased

With the soft alternatives, most will offer a warranty of around 12 months only.

Hot Tip: Ensure that your cooler purchase is protected from theft, damage, or accidental loss with coverage provided by the best credit cards for purchase protection . If getting the most out of your warranty is important to you, check out the best credit cards for extended warranty coverage .

YETI Hardside and Softside Coolers

Soft Coolers

A soft-sided cooler is perfect for keeping your beverages chilled and will be able to hold enough for all of the family, without weighing you down. Unlike a regular soft-sided lunch bag, many modern-day coolers are “super” coolers with the ability to keep your food and drink much cooler for far longer.

Often insulated using high-density foam, soft-sided coolers are also incredibly portable and can be carried using a shoulder strap or even worn like a backpack. With a fabric or vinyl exterior and a lined interior, they are also easy to wipe clean or wash when needed. More expensive models come with thermally-efficient zippers to keep the cool in.

Although most soft-sided coolers may have a smaller capacity than their hard-sided counterparts, they are lightweight and easy to use daily.

Bottom Line: Soft-sided coolers can collapse down and fold up, making them easy to keep at home or in the car when not in use.

Hard Coolers

By contrast, hard-sided coolers have increased capacity and the ability to keep a wide range of food and drink cool and safely contained on the go. With additional features including freezer-grade lids, easy-to-clean interiors, and drains to quickly empty melted ice, these types of coolers are designed for more hardcore adventures and really thirsty adventurers.

Hard-sided coolers also offer better ice retention and are usually made from hard, rotomolded plastic, making them incredibly resistant to bumps and knocks along the way. While the increased capacity is also useful, the downside to these types of coolers is obviously the weight and restrictions in portability.

Bottom Line: You will need to carry your hard cooler in your car or another vehicle. If you are going all out for a group activity or celebration, you may need 2 people to carry it or even consider one that has its very own wheels.

To make the most of your new cooler, you will need to know how to load it properly. Here are some top tips to maximizing the efficiency of your cooler:

Pre-Cool Your Cooler

It goes without saying that a warm or room temperature cooler will be less efficient than a cold one. If you are using a hard cooler, fill it with ice the night before you plan to pack it.

Pre-Chill Your Contents

It is much more efficient to try and keep cold or frozen contents chilled than it is to cool room temperature ones. With this in mind, refrigerate or freeze your items before you pack them .

Add More Ice

The preferred ice-to-contents ratio is 2:1 , so anticipate that you will need more ice than you originally thought you would. Sprinkling a bit of ice on the top of the cooler will not keep your items cold, so add more.

Also, not all ice is equal. The ice from your refrigerator, for example, is not as cold as ice from a commercial ice maker. Dry ice mixed with regular cubed ice is the very best combination, if you can buy it.

Avoid air gaps by filling your cooler to capacity where possible. If you run out of food and drink items, use more ice instead, or fill the space with towels or paper to prevent the melting process from speeding up.

The 10 Best Hard Travel Coolers

Whether you opt for a hard party cooler or a single soft lunch pack, there are really effective, affordable, and super “cool” travel coolers out there for you to choose from.

BEST OVERALL: Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Hardbody Coolers

Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Hardbody Cooler

Dimensions: 12.75 x 11 x 16.5 inches

Weight: 3.7 pounds

Large enough to hold 30 cans with ease, this incredibly useful travel cooler also comes in 9-, 16-, and 48-can capacities to suit every situation. Made from Rhino-Tech exterior material that is tough, water- and stain-resistant, and easy to wipe clean, this particular model is also designed to be abrasion- and puncture-resistant to withstand almost any adventure.

The interior will keep your beverages cool with deep-freeze high-performance insulation that features a radiant heat barrier and a removable HardBody liner with SmartShelf. The lining is waterproof and incredibly leakproof, and the patented “flip-open” zipperless lid makes it super easy to access your food and drinks at all times.

For added convenience, this little cooler also has a zippered accessory pocket that works well for keeping your napkins and cutlery or even your cell phone. It also has padded shoulder straps that make it comfy to carry over long distances.

What We Like

  • Zipperless lid for quick access

What We Don’t Like

  • Gets condensation on the outside

Coleman Cooler | Steel-Belted Cooler

Dimensions: 26 x 17 x 17 inches

Weight: 2.25 pounds

A modern take on a classic design, the Coleman 54-Quart Steel-Belted Cooler is as iconic now as when it was first released back in 1954. Offering an incredible 85-can capacity, this supercool cooler is also tall enough to hold a 2-liter bottle upright, making it much more spacious than many of its competitors.

Useful modern-day features include comfort-grip steel handles and a stainless steel latch. It also has a leak-resistant channel drain, which means you don’t have to tilt the cooler to drain excess water.

Offering 4-day ice retention at temperatures up to 90 degrees , as well as low CO₂ insulation for reduced carbon emissions from foam manufacturing, this is an intelligent choice for adventurers who want to keep their beverages cool while remaining eco-friendly.

Finally, the Have-A-Seat lid can hold up to 250 pounds of weight, making this an ideal cooler for campouts, picnics, tailgate parties, and so much more.

  • Has a channel drain to easily empty water
  • Exterior dents easily

Coleman Rolling Cooler | 50 Quart Xtreme 5 Day Cooler

Dimensions: 22.6 x 17.6 x 17.7 inches

Weight: 14.15 pounds

This high-capacity cooler can hold up to 84 cans and keep them cool for a really long time. From beaches to ball games and everything in between, the Coleman Rolling Cooler comes complete with heavy-duty wheels that can handle almost any terrain , and the tall telescoping handle makes it easy to pull, even when it is completely full.

With a wipe-clean interior and an EZ-Clean lid, this cooler is incredibly hygienic, and the insulated lid and extra wall insulation can keep ice frozen for up to 5 days in temperatures as high as 90 degrees. For impromptu parties or picnics on the go, the Have-a-Seat Lid can hold up to 250 pounds of weight, and there are even super-useful drink cup holders molded into the lid to prevent them from spilling.

  • Can be easily wheeled around
  • The telescopic handle could be longer

Igloo Polar Cooler

Dimensions: 38.2 x 17.3 x 17.7 inches

Weight: 19.9 pounds

This monster of a travel cooler is one of the biggest and best on the market, with a whopping 188-can capacity. Perfect for use as an ice chest for parties, family gatherings, and other big occasions, the Igloo brand is known for its superior quality and incredible cooling capabilities.

Made with Ultratherm insulation, this model can keep ice frozen for up to 5 days, and the threaded drain plug enables an easy hose connection for draining. The 2 snap-fit latches keep the cooler box lid completely airtight and secure, and the lid can also be used as a seat.

While this baby is on the heavier side when it comes to carrying, it does have reinforced handles that you and a friend can use to lift, load, and carry.

  • Stores a lot and stays cold for days
  • Front latches are not that durable

Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology

Dimensions: 19.6 x 15.7 x 13.2 inches

Weight: 10.34 pounds

If you are looking for a heavy-duty cool box, they don’t come with much heavier duty than this. Offering a whopping 49 liters of cool space, and looking awesome with reinforced blow-molded construction and steel kick plates, this cooler will see you through the toughest of environments.

With extra-thick Ultratherm insulated walls and Igloo CoolRiser technology, this beauty can retain ice for up to 5 days, and the superstrong blow-molded construction makes it a popular choice for outdoor adventurers, especially anglers and fishermen.

With rubber skid pads for extra shock resistance, durable T-latches, steel-enforced swing-up rubber grip handles, and even a fish-measuring ruler molded into the lid, this is a big cooler that is just right for taking with you for a few days away at the lake, by the ocean, or even out on a boat.

  • Has tie-down loops to be secured when transporting
  • No drainage spout

YETI Roadie 24 Cooler

Dimensions: 17.1 x 14.3 x 18 inches

Weight: 12 pounds

The YETI Roadie is a compact but incredibly capable member of the YETI range. It can hold up to 18 cans and keep them ice-cold on the go. With 2 inches of legendary PermaFrost insulation, the ice stays cold, even in the hottest of weather, and the extra-thick FatWall design will protect your snacks and beverages from hungry bears and anything else the outdoors throws at it.

The rotomolded construction gives the cooler its very own suit of armor . The additional features, such as the interlocking hinge system, ensure that this compact cooler is built to last you through many trips, and the quick latches are quick and easy to open, even one-handed. Parties, picnics, campouts, boat trips, hunting, fishing, and a whole lot more will be even better with a YETI.

  • Available in a range of colors
  • Quite expensive for a cooler

Pelican Elite 30 Quart Cooler

Dimensions: 25.3 x 19 x 18.5 inches

Weight: 21.67 pounds

Offering extreme ice retention, this 30-quart cooler can keep your food and drinks colder for longer. With 2 inches of polyurethane insulation and a 360-degree freezer-grade gasket, this cooler delivers on long journeys and raised temperatures.

With an over-molded carry handle, 3-inch locking latches, reinforced lockable clasp, stainless steel bottle opener, anti-shear hinge system, and molded-in tie-down slots, this cooler offers a lot of features for active adventurers.

The 4 self-draining cup holders keep it easy to clean, and the non-skid rubber feet mean you can take it virtually anywhere. With a 23-can capacity, you and your friends and family can stay hydrated and cool on any trip.

  • Sturdy latches for secure closure
  • No wheels for easy transportation

ORCA BW0260ORCORCA Cooler in White

Dimensions: 24.49 x 19.02 x 15.51 inches

Weight: 25 pounds

This is a great family-size cooler, perfect for road trips, campouts, and all kinds of outdoor adventures. Made from rotomolded materials, it is perfect for keeping your food and drink cold with ice for up to 10 days in a row. 

With integrated insulation and a wipe-clean interior, you can keep this durable ice trunk clean and hygienic on the move. The lid gasket ensures a perfect seal to prevent the chill from sneaking out, and the extendable flex-grip handles make it easy to carry with you to your picnic spot.

There is also a cargo net attachment for added storage and an easy-flow drainage spout to help drain away defrosted ice and water after use. This particular model is also available in 20-, 40-, 58-, 75-, and 140-quart capacity units, so you’re covered for whatever size you need.

  • Keeps food and drink cool for up to 10 days
  • A bit on the small side

RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler

Dimensions: 24 x 21 x 22 inches

Weight: 44 pounds

This heavy-duty rolling cool box is made from top-quality materials and offers an impressive 7- to 10-day cooling capacity. Designed to travel anywhere with you, you can pull your drinks behind you over almost any terrain on the high-performance, 9-inch, puncture-resistant tires.

The rotomolded, elevated body keeps cool with the help of the airtight gasket and thick foam insulation that comes standard with this model. The removable Deepfreeze dry bin sits at the coolest part of the chest and is perfect for keeping meats, veggies, and large bottles separated and below FDA food-safe temperatures for as many as 10 days.

With more than enough space to hold up to 60 cans and 10 pounds of ice, the impressive cooling capabilities combined with excellent design features make this award-winning cooler one of the best for extreme adventurers a long way from home.

  • Puncture-resistant tires for rolling over any terrain
  • Prepping board attachment is sold separately

The YETI Tundra 45

Dimensions: 26 x 15.5 x 16 inches

Weight: 18 pounds

Combining the versatility, durability, and delicious design that YETI is so famous for, the Tundra 45 is a rotomolded cooler that is infused with 2 inches of YETI’s patented PermaFrost Insulation. This means that it will keep all the contents of your cooler ice-cold, even on the hottest of days.

With space for up to 26 cans, this is a manageable size cooler for taking out on the road with you. Marine-grade polyester rope handles with textured grips make it easy to carry, and the T-Rex heavy-duty rubber lid latches will keep your food protected from the elements while out on the road.

For super-exciting adventures, this cooler even has an extra-thick FatWall design that makes it certified bear-resistant ! Offering virtually indestructible cooling, the Tundra range from YETI comes in a variety of other sizes and capacities, too.

  • Keeps food cool and safe from animals
  • Pretty heavy when empty

The 8 Best Soft Travel Coolers

Coleman 16-can soft cooler with removable liner.

Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.8 x 6.7 inches

Weight: 1 pound

Perfect for taking with you to picnics, BBQs, campouts, sporting events, tailgates, and much more, this soft yet durable cooler can hold up to 16 cans for all to share. With extra storage space in the front zippered pocket, the side mesh pockets, and the separate mesh pocket in the lid, you can sneak in extra snacks, cups, and cutlery, too. There are even bungees on the lid for stowing even more extras!

The FDA-approved lining material is safe for food contact. This liner can be removed for easy cleaning between uses and provides antimicrobial protection to resist odors, mold, and mildew. Lightweight and portable, this compact cooler is perfect for a large lunch for 2 or a round of drinks to share with friends.

  • Has an easy-to-clean interior lining
  • No short handle to grab

CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag: Insulated Leakproof 50 Can  

Dimensions: 18.2 x 12.2 x 12 inches

Weight: 2 pounds

Offering better insulation and more snack space than the average lunch pack, this snap basket cooler can hold up to 50 drink cans and ice, too. Perfect for use on the beach, at a picnic, or even on a campout or sporting event, this is a good-sized, incredibly portable soft-sided cooler that is more stylish than the average ice pack.

With a patented snap hinge on both sides of the cooler, you are guaranteed structured support when the tote is open , yet still offered compact storage when you fold it flat.

Versatile and perfect for plenty of uses, including trips to the market to keep your groceries cool on the way home, this is a good-size cooler that won’t eat into your trunk space. It looks stylish and a little bit different from the average cooler.

  • Collapsible when not in use
  • No shoulder strap for carrying

Coleman C003 Soft Backpack Cooler

Dimensions: 12.2 x 6.3 x 19.3 inches

Weight: 1.4 pounds

Offering a flexible plastic inner liner that has been treated with antimicrobials to prevent the forming of mold, mildew, and odors, this little backpack cooler will keep your food and drinks cool and hygienic on the go.

Spacious enough to hold up to 28 cans, this backpack has multiple pockets for you to stash your snacks and gear, as well as a bungee cord on the front that provides quick access to other items. In the main compartment, the BPA- and phthalate-free, heat-welded design makes this backpack perfect for use with ice on the go.

Easy to clean between uses, this portable cooler has comfortable padded straps and can be worn just as easily as any other backpack, even when full.

  • The inner lining is not that durable
  • Backpack straps are too wide for smaller people

MOJECTO Large Cooler Bag

Dimensions: 9 x 15 x 12 inches

Weight: 2 pounds

Compact, but incredibly useful, this soft-sided cooler is more spacious than a regular lunch box, with the added benefit of offering superior chilling capabilities. Head on out to the beach or join friends for a picnic with enough food and drink. Made from a twisted poly fabric with a PVC-free PEVA liner , this is a great little bag for keeping your snacks and drinks cool.

The multi-compartment design has a removable shoulder strap and a rear pass-thru pocket. There is a dry top compartment that will keep your non-perishable items safe and dry, while the insulated bottom cooler compartment will keep your food and beverages completely cool. There is also an elasticized mesh pocket, 3 front zipper pockets, and drop-bottom water bottle carriers.

  • Lots of pockets for small items
  • Zippers are a bit fragile

TOURIT Cooler 30 Can Backpack

Dimensions: 13 x 7.5 x 15.8 inches

Weight: 1.1 pounds

The perfect cooler to take on your next hiking trip, this sleek-looking backpack can keep up to 30 cans cool. Compact and discreet enough to be used as a lunch pack for your daily commute, while also being sizable enough to take on days out with friends and family, this is an affordable and practical alternative to a hard-sided travel cooler.

High-quality thickened PEVA hot-pressed material will keep your snacks and drinks cool for up to 16 hours (with freeze packs), while the inner insulation thickening foam and lining will prevent leaks and spillages.

The backpacks also come with ventilated material on the back to prevent your clothes from getting wet from condensation , and the padded, adjustable straps are comfortable to carry. As well as the good-size main compartment, there are also 2 front zippered pockets, 2 bottle holders, and a mesh pocket on the strap to keep your phone safe.

  • Great for picnics with compartments for plates and cutlery
  • Can leak if used with ice

YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler

Dimensions: 15.3 x 10.2 x 12.6 inches

Weight: 5.1 pounds

The soft-sided personal cooler is brought to you by the experts at YETI and is built to its usual rigorous standards with the same keen design elements. With YETI’s patented Dryhide Shell, the high-density fabric is waterproof and resistant to mildew, punctures, and UV rays . On the inside, the FDA-approved food-grade material will keep your food hygienic and safe.

The closed-cell rubber foam offers excellent cold-holding capabilities, and the Hydrolok zipper is one of the toughest leakproof cooler zippers in the world.

With a wide-mouth opening for easy loading and access, this compact cooler is far superior to a regular cool bag, and the Hopper is the perfect companion for going off-road, off-grid, and a million other places in between. Lightweight, portable, and with extreme insulation, this is an impressive travel cooler.

  • Large lid opening for easy access to items
  • The zipper is a little rigid

YETI Hopper Backflip 24 Soft-Sided Backpack Cooler

Dimensions: 13 × 19 × 8.5 inches

Weight: 5.3 pounds

Beautifully designed to function as both a personal cooler and a practical backpack, this cooler combines the very best elements of the very popular Hopper with convenient design traits.

Being taller and slightly wider than the square box version, the BackFlip has been carefully designed to efficiently distribute the weight of your wares on your back . It also comes with a removable chest strap and waist belt for additional comfort and a customized fit.

As with the rest of the Hopper range, this cooler offers superior cold-holding and comes complete with the patented Hydrolok leakproof zipper and the tough DryHide Shell. With more than enough space to fit a full day’s worth of food and drinks for you and your crew, this bag is part cooler, part rucksack, and every bit as awesome as the rest of the YETI Hopper range.

  • Waist and chest strap for easy carrying
  • Doesn’t stay as cold as other Yeti coolers

Personal Cooler with Speakers

Dimensions: 12.2 x 13.8 x 15 inches

Weight: 1.7 pounds

Combine the very best of both worlds as you enjoy an ice-cold beverage while listening to your favorite tunes, even out on the road. Offering something a little different, this quirky cooler works on all devices, including iPhones, Android phones, iPads, and other tablets, and uses Bluetooth to connect with your media. However, there is an optional 3.5-millimeter jack included, too.

With a rechargeable speaker battery that lasts around 8 hours , you can enjoy cold food and drinks while turning up the tunes to get the party started. You can play music from your own playlist or through any radio station, and the speaker sound quality is pretty darn awesome.

When it comes to cooling, the water-resistant material and top-loading design make this a very practical, portable, and great fun alternative to traditional personal coolers.

  • Built-in power bank and speakers
  • No grab handle

Ice packs are lightweight, convenient, easy to use, and perfect for keeping your food and snacks cool.

While all ice packs are pretty much designed to do the same thing, there are a few differences in the way in which they keep your food cold.

Water-Based Ice Packs

Some icepacks contain water mixed with propylene glycol, thickening agents, silica gel, and a non-toxic coloring. This heady mix of liquids has been specially blended to allow for faster freezing and slower melting to keep your perishables icy cold for longer.

Gel-Based Ice Packs

Filled with easy-to-freeze gel, these types of cooling packs are covered in heavy-duty, puncture-proof plastic that won’t leak, even in extreme temperatures.

Flexible and easy to mold to the shape of your lunch bag or backpack, these types of ice packs take up very little room in your freezer and can provide many hours of icy-cold freshness for your food and drinks.

The very best ice packs can be used time and time again and can be wiped clean between uses. Both hard, solid ice packs and flexible gel packs can be frozen and refrozen time and time again.

Freeze Time

Most ice packs will need between 2 to 6 hours to become fully frozen . If you pop your ice pack in the freezer overnight, it should be frozen solid for your daytime adventures. While certain types of ice packs may freeze quicker than others, your ice pack will need to be fully frozen to allow for a slower release to keep your perishables cold on the go.

The specially formulated fillings in both gel and water ice packs are both designed to stay colder for longer than regular ice would. Most packs can stay frozen for an impressive 24 to 36 hours in an insulated cooler container and work best when paired with thermally-insulated coolers.

Ice packs used in an environment that aren’t fully sealed and insulated (like a lunch pack, for example) may only stay cold for between 6 to 8 hours, and ice packs left out in the open may only be effective for as little as 3 or 4 hours at a time.

The 4 Best Cooler Ice Packs

Cooler shock reusable ice pack.

These brilliant little ice packs can freeze to a super chilly 18 degrees, and they have been designed to keep your drinks and snacks cool for up to 48 hours at a time . Easy to use, you only need to fill the pack with water, shake, and freeze until solid, then pack them in your lunch bag, cooler, or other type of food storage container.

The compact dimensions and slim design offer incredible cooling without the need for bulky ice cubes and messy leaks. The flexible design of these super useful, little ice packs means that they can even be used to help soothe pain from injury.

  • Excellent value for money
  • They freeze into odd shapes

YETI ICE Refreezable Reusable Cooler Ice Pack

Keep your perishable items cooler for longer with this solid ice pack from the cooling giants at YETI. Made from the same puncture-resistant DryHide fabric as its famous Hopper cooler, this cooling pack is also resistant to breaks and falls along the way.

The custom shape helps to reduce freezing time, and with 1-, 2- and 4-pound sizes available , this excellent range of reusable ice packs can be used in everything from your Hopper Flip 12 to your Tundra 350.

Designed to be frozen at home before you leave, this brilliant solid ice pack has been designed to keep your food and drinks supercool for many hours at a time.

  • Stays cold for up to 48 hours
  • Bulkier than soft-sided gel packs

TOURIT Long Lasting Ice Packs

Available in a choice of 4-, 8-, or 12-packs in a selection of colors, these supercool, slimline gel packs are designed to keep your cooler bag or backpack icy cold for longer.

The powerful freezing gel has been formulated to stay colder for far longer than regular water can, and once fully frozen, they will stay that way for many hours at a time. The long thin design can be neatly fitted into lunch backs and backpacks , and these supercute ice packs are perfect for use at home, school, in the office, and on days out, too.

  • Easy to fit in any type of bag or cooler
  • Can be prone to leaks

Original Cool Packs

This set of 4 slim and reusable hard gel ice packs has been designed to keep your cool bag feeling colder for longer. Perfect for use in lunchboxes, breast milk containers, and regular coolers, these ice packs measure 7 x 4.7 x 0.5 inches, making them compact enough to take anywhere with you.

Despite their super-small dimensions, they are still plenty powerful enough to keep your items cool, and made from 100% non-toxic and BPA-free materials , they are safe to use with your food.

These handy little ice packs are perfect for everyday use at home, at school, on vacation, and anywhere you want to keep your food and drinks cold away from home.

  • The compact dimensions
  • They don’t stay cold for longer than a couple of hours

Wherever you are headed, and however much food and drinks you need to take with you, there will be a travel cooler to suit. From oversized ice chests that can double up as a portable bar, to soft-sided coolers that will keep your lunch cool during your commute, modern-day coolers offer impressive cooling capabilities across the board.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hard or soft coolers better.

The decision to buy a hard or soft cooler comes down to budget, use, and capacity. Soft coolers are cheaper and more portable but do not keep contents cool as long as hard coolers. On the other hand, hard coolers are generally more expensive and less mobile but have superior cooling capabilities.

What is the best travel cooler?

The travel cooler market is quite competitive and there are many that may be considered the best travel cooler. Some of the best coolers are made by brands such as Coleman, Igloo, ORCA, RovR, and YETI.

How long does a cooler keep food cold?

How long a cooler keeps food and drinks cold for depends on various factors such as the type of cooler, the insulation used, and how often you open it up. Cheaper, soft coolers may only keep food and drink cool for a few hours, whereas some heavy-duty hard coolers can keep food and drinks cool for 7 days or even longer.

What is the best cooler for the beach?

The CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag: Insulated Leakproof 50 Can is great to use on the beach as it’s a good size and incredibly portable. There are no wheels to contend with, and it has a solid structure that keeps it upright, even on uneven surfaces such as sand.

Which is the best cooler backpack for hiking?

The TOURIT Cooler 30 Can Backpack is an excellent backpack for keeping drinks and snacks cold for up to 16 hours with freeze packs. The bag also comes with ventilated material on the back to prevent your clothes from getting wet from condensation, and the padded, adjustable straps are comfortable to carry. 

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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The 12 Best Small Coolers of 2024

For top-notch insulation and sleek designs, look to these small coolers.

food cooler for travel

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Courtesy of Amazon

A small cooler is one that’s easy for a single person to carry but still has the capacity to fit up to 24 quarts. Do you need one that’s hard or soft? Zip or flip-lid? Backpack or tote? It’s all about preference and finding a cooler that fits your lifestyle. While a backpack cooler makes sense for hikers, a handheld personal ice-chest might be a better match for a day-long road trip. 

For an overall solid portable cooler that’s suited for almost any excursion, our favorite is the Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler. It’s durable, leakproof, and comes in 13 sleek colors to suit a variety of tastes. You’d be hard-pressed to find a cooler that keeps your provisions cold (or hot) for longer. But since each adventure requires an array of different features within our personal ice chests, we’ve rounded up more of the best small coolers on the market that are tailored to specific needs.

Best Overall

Yeti hopper flip.

It’s designed for rough and tumble use but isn’t too bulky.

It comes in three sizes, so you’ll need to pick the one that’s fitting for your ventures.

The definition of a “cool companion,” the Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler ticks all the boxes we crave in a small ice chest, and does it quite well. After testing this cooler, we love the sturdy, 100-percent leakproof design and light weight for portability. The heavy-duty zipper keeps everything tucked in nicely, while the insulation technology keeps your items exceptionally cold using closed-cell rubber foam. After more than two hours in the hot sun, all of the ice was still intact with minimal melting. The DryHide shell repels UV rays, and the whole cooler is treated to resist mildew, so you’ll have the Yeti Hopper for the long-haul. 

Featuring the coveted attributes and durability of a hard cooler while still being a flexible soft cooler, the Yeti Hopper is the best of both worlds. Although it comes in three sizes (8-liter, 12-liter, and 18-liter), we like the 12-liter for its capacity of up to 13 cans — or perhaps lunch and 6 cans — including ice. This is a small cooler that can pack in a decent amount while managing to also be totable for your endeavors. The wide mouth opening and quick, grabbable top handle make the Hopper very user-friendly as well. Bring it along on a beach day, road trip, or boat cruise — this cooler is up for almost any adventure. 

The Details: 3.1 pounds | 15.8 liters | 14 x 14 x 11 inches

Best Budget

Mountainsmith the sixer cooler bag.

It’s the perfect size for a six-pack of bottles or 12 cans.

If using the full 12-can capacity, there’s little room left for an additional ice pack.

Stylish, affordable, and compact, the Sixer 12L is an easy choice when shopping for a soft cooler. Tall enough to transport bottles as well as cans, this personal-sized ice chest is as portable and comfortable as it gets thanks to an easy-to-grab top handle and a removable shoulder strap. But this small cooler isn’t all about looks; the PE foam insulation and waterproof seams keep that six-pack cold for when you’re ready to refresh. 

Whether you’re going on an impromptu picnic of wine and cheese or need to keep your lunch cool on the job, this handy soft cooler has your back. Keep smaller items organized with the interior mesh pocket and exterior pockets, which are perfect for holding a corkscrew, napkins, keys, or anything else that you don't want to lose. To give you even more peace of mind, Mountainsmith backs this budget cooler with a lifetime warranty.

The Details: 1.1 pounds | 12 liters | 16 x 11 x 5 inches

Best Backpack

Igloo pursuit 24-can backpack.

There are plenty of pockets for keeping dry items protected.

It leaks fairly easily as the ice melts.

With the ability to keep food and drink cool in a comfortable-to-carry pack that’s perfect for hiking and other outdoor endeavors, the Igloo Pursuit Backpack is just what you need. A backpack cooler is an ideal blend in the cooler world that allows you to enjoy a hands-free adventure. The top dry pocket is great for safekeeping utensils and dry snacks, and, as a major bonus, the side pockets are great for bottle storage. Whether you’re hiking, canoeing, or paddleboarding, this small, soft-sided cooler keeps your refreshments secure and your focus on the activity at hand. 

When tested, the bag fit a full 24 cans plus ice, so you can be sure to have a full day of cold food and drinks. The bag also features comfortable straps for longterm carrying, a padded back panel, and a chest strap for extra support.

The Details: 2.09 pounds | 12 ounces | 18.9 x 7.5 x 12.6 inches

Hydro Flask 20L Insulated Tote

The lined interior is easy to clean in case of spills.  

The bag’s insulation is considered lightweight, making the longevity for keeping items cool only around four hours.

We love that the practical Hydro Flask 20L Insulated Tote can be quickly slung over your shoulder to transport food and drink wherever needed. Whether you have to keep things like milk or ice cream cold after getting groceries or need refreshments for your kid’s soccer games, the Hydro Flask is up for the challenge. 

Although it’s not designed for longer day or camping trips, this soft tote is ideal for an afternoon at the beach, transporting dishes to a pot-luck event, or shorter scenic drives. Any dirt or spillage is easily wiped off the coated, waterproof fabric. The durable design means it won’t leak either — a huge perk for the backseat of your car. The Hydro Flask is also collapsable, so when it’s not in use, you can just fold it up and tuck it away in storage. 

The Details: 1.32 pounds | 20 liters | 17 x 14 x 7.3 inches

Igloo Playmate Elite Ultra 16 Qt. Comfort Grip Cooler

The price point is extremely fair given the capabilities of this small cooler.

The hard, boxy design makes it more equipped for casual camping or fishing trips than hiking exploits.

We love the classic, rugged design of the Igloo Playmate Cooler. The 6-liter capacity and latched closure put this cooler at the top of its class. Although hard coolers have a reputation of being bulkier and heavier, they often surpass soft coolers in their temperature-maintaining longevity as well as their durability. This Igloo is the perfect example of that heavy-duty power. The Igloo's swivel lid make it easy to access all of your items without issue and the comfortable handle makes for happy hands, too.

Constructed to withstand the elements inside and out, the Igloo Playmate is a can’t-go-wrong pick. You can choose from three fun and timeless colors, and since adventure coolers are bound to get dirty, we appreciate that the polyurethane exterior can be cleaned easily. 

The Details: 2.2 pounds | 6.6 liters | 11.75 x 8.25 x 12 inches

Hydro Flask Carry Out Soft Cooler

It's the perfect mid-size cooler for a day out.

The lighter colors show dirt faster than other options.

Perfect for a boat day on the lake, river tubing expeditions , or catching waves at the beach, the Hydro Flask Carry Out Soft Cooler is our favorite tote for its versatility and so much more. Pack in plenty of goodies in the soft but durable bag for up to 24 hours of insulation. We love its tough construction, compact size, and impressive ability to keep ice from fully melting even after long beach days. While testing, we were even able to pack this inside checked luggage for easy use on arrival.

Load up to 6 cans or a combination of your favorite cans and snacks through the easy-to-open top and feel confident that whatever is left will still be cold the next morning. You can also carry it using the padded shoulder strap for optimal comfort. The strong zipper closure will keep leaks out and everything secure, no matter what your adventure is for the day. Perfect for day trips, picnics, and other events, this versatile cooler will be your favorite outdoor accessory.

The Details: 1.77 pounds | 12 liters | 9.95 x 14.5 x 12.7 inches

Most Packable

Igloo packable puffer cooler.

Igloo Coolers

So packable that it can fit in your pocket, this small cooler was made with recycled materials.

Since it’s so compact, the insulation doesn’t have as much longevity as other coolers.

The Igloo Packable Puffer Cooler is the definition of compact; it can scrunch up so tiny that it fits in most pockets. Perfect for travel or hike-in camping trips, this tear-resistant cooler fits up to 20 cans and comes with a storage pouch. Made from Repreve polyester and PrimaLoft using recycled materials such as plastic water bottles and post consumer fibers, this is a cooler that Mother Nature can put her stamp of approval on. 

The leakproof liner keeps liquids in the cooler, and if something spills on the interior, it’s easy to clean. A front zip pocket is great for storing additional items like keys and change. Although the melt-time for ice isn’t as long as other coolers, it's effective for transporting foods that need to be kept cold for quick trips. 

The Details: 8.8 ounces | 14.4 liters | 12 x 9 x 5.5 inches

Best Waterproof

Icemule classic soft cooler.

This cooler is perfect for water-based activities.

Designed more like a water bag, the carry straps aren’t the most comfortable.

You can hit the water with icy cold beverages when the IceMule Classic Collapsible Backpack Cooler tags along. Built for activities like stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and river-tubing, this waterproof cooler is a top pick for outdoor enthusiasts. No need to fret if it ends up in the water either; this cooler will float, even when it’s filled to the brim. 

The classic TriFold DriTop roll-top design is great for keeping the water out and ice in. The IceMule will keep up to 12 cans cold for 24 hours with its PolarLayer insulation, which is known to be thicker than the insulation in most soft-sided coolers. When your adventure is done and the cooler is dry, the handy air valve allows the bag to be compressed and stored with ease until your next adventure. 

The Details: 2.5 pounds | 15 liters | 14 x 7 x 7.5 inches

Best Lunch Cooler

Yeti lunch bag.

It folds down to a compact size when not filled.

There aren’t any extra pockets or pouches on the exterior.

Bagged lunches are back. The Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag is a soft cooler perfect for keeping a meal or two at an optimal temperature, whether you’re on the job or enjoying a paddle picnic from your canoe . A nifty magnetic closure helps to keep your hot food hot and your cold food cold. The lightweight design makes this personal cooler bag portable and packable, and once you’ve indulged in the contents, it folds up even smaller for storing. The adjustable grid style allows you to change the inside size of the bag by simply altering the hook closure. Choose from a wide array of fun, vibrant colors so your personal cooler matches your lunchtime mood. 

The Details: 1.37 pounds | 3.1 liters | 8.75 x 5.75 x 8.75 inches

Best for Road Trips

Yeti roadie 24 cooler.

The super-thick walls of insulation keep things at their ideal temperature for hours and hours.

here’s no drain plug to empty out melted ice.

We love the upgrades to the already amazing original Yeti Roadie design: the insulating and holding power have received a big boost, and somehow the latest model is also lighter than its predecessor. Built specifically for the needs that a road trip demands, this hard cooler is rugged and roomy, with a height to accommodate most wine or soda bottles. It fits nicely behind the seat, and the quick latch release opening allows you to access your snacks fast — before hanger sets in. No room in the backseat? No problem: the Anchorpoint™ tie down slots can attach this little cooler to a truck bed, trailer, or boat in no time. 

The comfortable handle makes carrying the Roadie cooler an easy feat. Constructed to be tough as nails, it’s designed to withstand the elements and keep up with you and your outdoor endeavors. Whether you’re transporting warm burritos or sandwiches and brews, your items will be kept as close to their original temperature as possible in the Yeti Roadie.

The Details: 12.8 pounds | 24 liter | 17 x 16 x 14 inches

Best Fanny Pack

Igloo fanny pack cooler.

It features a fun, retro style while keeping items cool.

It only holds up to three cans.

The '90s are back with this super fun and functional fanny pack. Take Igloo cooler quality and add it to this bright technicolor design, and you're bound to have a great day whether you're heading to the beach or your local park. This fanny pack has an adjustable waist strap and can carry up to three cans for easy access to your favorite beverage. It also has a front zipper for storing money, keys, or other small items. While this may not be the most insulated bag on our list, it does have room for an added ice pack or loose ice to keep items cool for a few hours of fun.

The Details: 0.28 pounds | 1 liter | 12.6 x 6.2 x 4.8 inches

Most Lightweight

Tourit cooler backpack.

This cooler looks like an every day backpack but will keep your items cold for hours.

During tests, the bag leaked as the ice began to melt.

When you want to travel with cold drinks or snacks without a bulky, plastic cooler, this stylish backpack is a perfect option. Made of durable waterproof fabric on the outside and foam insulation on the inside, this cooler will be your new favorite picnic companion. The backpack features one large compartment than can fit up to 30 cans, plus two mesh water bottle pockets, a zipped pocket on the lid, and a mesh zip pocket on the inside of the bag so you can keep all of your items organized and cold. It also has a bottle opener attached to one of the arm straps for your convenience. There aren't sternum or hip belts, so you may not want to stuff this bag completely full if you're walking long distances, however, when tested, we found the straps to be comfortably padded and totally adjustable.

The Details: 1.1 pounds | 10.6 liters | 16.6 x 12.4 x 3.9 inches

Tips For Buying a Small Cooler

Think carefully about shape and weight.

We love a small cooler for easily toting around food and drink, but you don’t want to go too small when choosing a cooler. The shape and weight of a cooler will determine how much you can carry, so it's important to find a cooler that balances portability with durability and effectiveness. With lighter bags or even backpacks, you may also sacrifice quality insulation.

When selecting a cooler, consider the capacity and what contents you will be keeping at temperature most of the time. Are you looking for something to transport a few groceries for longer distances, or are you interested in keeping a slew of drinks cold while spending an entire day at the beach? Typically, the capacity of a cooler is measured in liters or cans (with a 2-1 ice-to-can ratio), and you should be looking for one that can fit between 5 and 20 liters or approximately 6-20 cans with ice.

It’s better to pay more for quality insulation

Don’t skimp too much on price either. Your cooler will have a much longer ice-retention rating and overall lifespan if you pay more for quality insulation. Look for a cooler that uses closed-cell

foam for inner and outer insulation. A good soft-sided cooler will use polyethylene (PE) foam, while a hard cooler will likely have polyurethane foam, which makes it heftier but stronger in the ice-retention arena. Try to steer clear of coolers with styrofoam insulation, as that’s an indication that they’re designed for short-term use.

If a small cooler is something you use frequently, it makes sense to spend a little more for one that will go the distance and can hack the adventure life you live. The higher-end models usually have handy features like leakproof seams, rugged zippers, and even the ability to float, too. 

Look at the water resistance

Surprisingly enough, not all coolers are completely waterproof. Many coolers, especially those made of nylon or other fabrics, are water-resistant, which means they can be susceptible to water damage and leakage. If you're opting for a water-resistant cooler, we recommend using reusable ice packs instead of actual ice to cut down on potential drips as the ice melts.

When purchasing a small cooler, it’s key to assess what situations you will be using it in most of the time. First, you need to prioritize portability. Since a hard cooler is less portable than a soft cooler , narrowing that aspect down is a good jumping-off point. If you plan on putting your cooler through the gauntlet on outdoor exploits and need something tough to handle the unpredictable environment, then a hard cooler might be the better option. That being said, there are soft coolers that are constructed to handle more rigorous ventures with watertight fabric, heavy-duty zippers, extra tough bottom layers, and supreme insulation.

Some soft coolers are built in the backpack style, making them hands-free and durable, which is perfect for hiking. Because they’re more portable and packable, they also make sense for a day on the golf course or traveling. Boaters might gravitate towards a hard cooler since they tend to be grippy and rugged enough to withstand water and anything else that’s thrown at it on the open seas (or lakes, rivers, etc.).

Both hard and soft coolers have their purpose and place, depending on the situation and use. It’s up to you to choose what fits your lifestyle best.

When packing a cooler, the ideal rule to follow is having a 2:1 ice to content ratio. You’ll need twice as much ice for your food and beverages, but to maximize the space of a small cooler, you can add frozen foods to aid in keeping things cold. When filling your cooler, try to steer clear of air gaps and do your best to layer the ice between items. Ice packs are great for keeping things cold while avoiding pesky water melt, though it’s still best to use a combination of the two methods for optimal cooling.

Yes, you can bring a cooler to Disney World , provided it fits within the measurement limitations and does not contain alcoholic beverages or glass containers. Snacks, sodas, water, and more can be plucked out of a cooler that isn’t bigger than 24 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 18 inches tall. A small soft-sided cooler is your best option for exploring the park while staying hydrated and keeping snacks at hand. It’s also best to pack it with prepped food, as nothing is allowed to be refrigerated or heated up while visiting the park. With a small cooler in tow, you won’t have to worry about meltdowns — both in your group, and your cooler — while waiting in line for your favorite rides.

If your cooler is fitted with insulation or ice packs, remove them before deep cleaning. Rinse away any debris, and then use boiling or hot water with a bit of dish washing soap to soak away any set stains and bacteria. You can scrub any additional grime with a sponge or brush if necessary. Drain the water and rinse if there's any soap residue. Thoroughly dry before replacing cool packs or insulation.

To clean removable cool packs or insulation, follow all manufacturer instructions on dish-washer safety. If your products are not dish-washer safe, hand wash them with dish washing soap and air dry completely before putting back in the cooler.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

An outdoor and road-trip enthusiast, Lauren Breedlove used her personal experience with finding the right portable adventure cooler to curate this list. Taylor Fox is a Travel + Leisure writer who used her product expertise and vast travels to help find the best small coolers for everyone. She also scoured the internet, researching and selecting the best small coolers for any situation, whether it be a day on the trail, a scenic road trip, or a grocery run for ice cream. 

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The Best Coolers Maintain Their Chill in the Great Outdoors 

food cooler for travel

By Tyler Chin

13 Best Coolers of 2023 for Keeping Your Food and Drinks Chilled

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Nothing concludes an outdoor adventure better than a cold drink at the journey's end. But that icy-cold bev won't be so chilled without one of the best coolers around. And these coolers aren't just about keeping your beers, sodas, and orange wines cold—they'll keep your sandwiches, potato salad, and fruit from spoiling despite the the mid-July heat and humidity. 

It's getting hot as hell out there, and the only thing separating you and a warm can of beer is one of these coolers. You're going to need something that can take a beating, won't leave you in a puddle of lukewarm melted ice (i.e. water), and won't break your bag mid-way to your camp site. Good thing we found all the best options available. Whether you're looking for something to take on your next tailgate or you have a beach day planned every day this summer, grab one of these coolers and relax outside (potentially on your new outdoor furniture ).

The Best Coolers, at a Glance

Chill out: You can shop our top pick coolers right here without digging through all that ice.

  • The Best Cooler, Overall : Yeti Tundra , $325
  • The Best Backpack Cooler : CamelBak ChillBak , $300
  • The Best Soft Cooler : RTIC , $100
  • The Best Cooler Tote Bag : Hydro Flask , $65
  • The Best Rolling Cooler : Igloo ECOCOOL Roller Cooler , $140

What to look for in a cooler

Obviously you need your cooler to keep things cold, right? Besides that obvious factor, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind to help you determine which cooler will be right for your next adventure.

Capacity : Have a huge party on the cal that's in need of bev storage? A personal-sized cooler won't do, and you'll need something with a larger capacity—say 45 quarts—to make sure everyone stays properly hydrated at your next shindig. Just know that the bigger the cooler, the harder it'll be to tote around. If all you're looking for is something to take on a cute little picnic date or to bring to the supermarket, something small, like a soft-side cooler will do the trick.

Insulation : All brands seem to have their own proprietary insulation to make sure the interior of its cooler retains the chill and doesn't get affected by the outside temperature. Coolers, like the Yeti Tundra , will have a gusset around the lid to further protect from loss of temperature, while some coolers will only have a zipper, which isn't so great at keeping things inside cold for as long. 

Portability : An unfilled cooler might be light and easy to carry, but once you throw in pounds of ice and a football team's worth of Gatorade, then you're just asking for a trip to the chiropractor. Some of the best portable coolers are those that come on wheels, which make it easy to haul a hundred pound's worth of ice, food, and drink. You can also opt for cooler backpacks or tote bags, both of which free your hands, essentially turning you into a pack mule for the refreshments.

The Best Cooler, Overall: Yeti Tundra

food cooler for travel

Yeti Tundra 45

Yeti has become the go-to brand for its exceptional coolers—whether we’re talking chest coolers or koozies for your bottles and cans. Why? They just work so damn well. Available in sizes between 33 liters all the way up to a massive 311 liters, the Tundra is arguably the coolest cooler around. The Tundra’s super-thick walls are pressure injected with trademarked insulation, which protect your goods from the effects of the outside temperature, i.e. your ice-cold drinks stay cold even in a hell-like landscape. Essentially, the Tundra is built like a refrigerator—a freezer-quality gasket around the lid minimizes temperature changes and provides a super-secure seal that’d keep Indy safe from a bomb blast. The whole thing is designed to take a beating thanks to its rotomolded construction, which means the whole thing is made from a single, hollow piece of plastic, so it’s durable and ready to take a fall or two. 

The Tundra, especially the larger models, are frustrating to carry because of their massive size. They have handles on either side of the chest, but it's best designed for a party of two to carry. If you're looking for portability, you can opt for the Yeti Roadie or any other rollable cooler option (more on that below.) And sure, this thing is way more expensive than that lunch box-sized cooler your dad used to bring on those family camping trips, but this thing is guaranteed to last way longer and you won’t be left with lukewarm drinks at the end of the day.

The Best Backpack Cooler: CamelBak ChillBak

food cooler for travel

CamelBak ChillBak

Backcountry

CamelBak's recently released ChillBak is the Inspector Gadget of backpacks. It has enough space to carry up to 24 cans and 15 pounds of ice, but for those hoping to nix a trip to the water fountain, the pack includes a six-liter water pack that connects to a spigot for quick and easy hydration. The rolltop offers ease of use when you're trying to grab something with one hand, and it closes on its own to reduce the amount of cool lost—plus, that rolltop offers an extra six liters of storage, while the exterior side pocket stretches to store another can or bottle. No, that extra beverage won't be impacted by the interior cooling, but that's why you bought that insulated water bottle .

The Best Soft Cooler: RTIC

food cooler for travel

RTIC soft pack cooler

Since RTIC was founded in 2014, it felt like it's been chasing Yeti's coolers, koozies, and insulated bottles, touting itself as a comparable option at a fraction of the price. We'll give it to the folks over at RTIC: They make some really cool products. Its soft pack cooler is a lightweight and durable option for those looking to tote just a handful of cold ones. Its zipper enclosure doesn't keep things cold for as long as a hard cooler, but the brand says it'll stay chilled for up to 24 hours. The two-inch nylon body helps with insulation, while the whole body is tear- and puncture-resistant. And if you find yourself by a body of water, the cooler floats so you have yourself a swim-up bar, bartender not included.

The Best Cooler Tote Bag: Hydro Flask

food cooler for travel

Hydro Flask 20L Insulated Tote

We love Hydro Flask and its insulated water bottles, and it brought its chill technology to a tote bag. The surprisingly stylish cooler is easy to clean and despite its room 20-liter capacity, folds down for travel and storage. Its fully lined interior, which keeps things cold for up to four hours, is easy to clean, and the whole thing is kitted out with a surplus of storage for your bits and bobs.

The Best Rolling Cooler: Igloo ECOCOOL Roller Cooler

food cooler for travel

Igloo ECOCOOL Roller Cooler

Don't carry it, backpack it, or tote it—roll it! Igloo's massive (85-liter) roller cooler is an easy way to schlep your goods without breaking your back. It's good for keeping ice chilled for a whopping five whole days, and its oversized wheels can make light work out of the roughest, bumpiest terrains. Basically any cooler top acts as a side table, but this Igloo model included four dedicated coasters to keep your beverages just a little more secure from slipping and sliding. 

Plus, 8 More Coolers We Like

food cooler for travel

Coleman 316 Series Insulated Portable Cooler

From air mattresses to camping tents, Coleman knows a thing or two about outdoor gear. So it makes sense that its portable cooler is worthy of being on this list. It's built almost exactly like the Igloo roller cooler, but reviewers say its five-day ice retention is a stretch from how long the Coleman can actually keep cool. Also, unlike the Igloo, the lid of the Coleman cooler doesn't stay open so you have to keep one hand on the cover while you're digging through the ice, bottles, and cans to find exactly what you're looking for.

food cooler for travel

REI Co-op Cool Trail Pack Cooler

REI's cooler backpack looks a little nicer than Camelbak's in that that the Cool Trail looks more gorpcore than Silicon Valley. Unfortunately, it's not as good at keeping things cold and it's only leakproof if you remember to pack in the actual cooler insert, a removable accessory that allows the Cool Trail to function as a regular old hiking pack. It's filled with additional pockets, though none of them actually add to the cooling functionality. 

food cooler for travel

L.L.Bean Insulated Tote

We'll never quit raving about L.L.Bean and its ludicrously capacious bags , so of course we're going to included the insulated take on its much-loved baggage when we're talking about coolers. It's about twice the price of our typical favorite canvas tote, adding in leak-proof insulation that's as good for keeping drinks cold as it is for trips to the grocery store to make sure your ice cream doesn't melt, your beef doesn't spoil, and your milk doesn't curdle. Hold it how you please—whether by the shoulder or short straps—and yes, you can also get this bag monogrammed with practically anything you want.

food cooler for travel

Snow Peak soft cooler 38

Snow Peak is essentially the cool kid brand of outdoor gear and workwear. Its soft cooler has a generous 38-liter capacity, clocking in at a light 38 pounds. It's built like a soft version of the Yeti Tundra but won't keep cool as long though that's not to say its insulation isn't top of the line. We like that you can use the carry strap or tag-team cooler-carrying duties thanks to the hand straps on either side of the bag.

food cooler for travel

Igloo Playmate Pal

It's fun, it's cute, and it's fashion's favorite outdoor accessory to collab with other than a Nalgene water bottle. This is good for acting as a personal-use cooler (it only holds six cans), but it's easy to use and makes for a nice canvas for some personalization. 

food cooler for travel

Bellroy cooler tote

Australian accessory brand Bellroy made an inconspicuous cooler tote that's as much a fashion accessory as it is a practical way for keeping cold things, well, cold. It's made of recycled insulation, and the interior is easy to clean and waterproof. It's not the most spacious bag but could surely be your grocery store companion for years to come.

food cooler for travel

RTIC hard cooler

RTIC maybe doesn't have the brand name recognition as Yeti, but we whole heartedly think it gives the Abominable Snowman's eponymous brand a run for its money. It's not quite half the price but performs spectacularly well and built to be just as durable and road ready as the competition.  

food cooler for travel

Brümate BrüTank rolling cooler

Brümate is a fairly new cooler and drinkware company, and its latest product is this beast of a cooler, the BrüTank. Its 55-quart capacity can hold up to 48 cans with 40 pounds of ice, and it'll keep all that chilled for seven days. There's also a built-in drink dispenser and an included dry goods rack so you can keep items like food away from the ice.

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  • Storage & Organization

We Tested 73 Coolers and These 9 Will Keep Everything Cold For Days

These workhorses will guard your food and drink, and give you peace of mind

food cooler for travel

The Spruce Eats / Henry Wortock

When the warmer months approach, everyone starts planning their outdoor travels. Whether that looks like camping, beach time, park picnics , pool days, or even just hanging in the yard, a cooler is essential for spring and summer hangouts. Coolers also come in handy when entertaining year-round or on long road trips. From lightweight options great for hiking to large rolling models designed to hold beverages for large gatherings, there are coolers of every shape, size, and design to fit your budget and lifestyle.

To help you narrow down the choice that's right for you from all the options on the market, we tested some of the top coolers and compared them side-by-side. We gathered extensive testing insights by loading each cooler with ice and cans to assess capacity and then recording temperature after intervals of time in order to assess their efficacy. And of course, each cooler was rated on its design, insulation, durability, portability, capacity, and value.

None of the Yeti products on this roundup are part of the March 2023 recall . We will continue to monitor and update our recommendations accordingly.

How We Tested

Other options we tested.

  • What to Look for

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Best overall, yeti tundra 65 cooler.

  • Design 4.5 /5
  • Insulation 4 /5
  • Durability 5 /5

Certified bear-proof

Perishables will stay cold for days

Easy drainage system

Yeti is probably the most famous name in cooler-dom, and it's for good reason. The company's Tundra line of hard-sided coolers are incredibly durable, well-designed, and well-built. They are able to keep all the food and drinks cold for an entire weekend camping trip while also serving as a chair for someone to sit on around the fire. And all models are indeed certified bear-proof by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee —as long as they're padlocked closed. Tundra coolers come in a wide range of sizes, from the day-at-the-beach 35 model to the bathtub-sized 350 , but we think that the 65 offers the best balance of size and cost.

Cost is the big downside: Yeti is also probably the most expensive name in cooler-dom. This cooler is a big investment that'll last a long time, but it might only be worth it if you're going to use a cooler a lot. The Tundra 65 is also fairly heavy, especially when filled up, but the heavy-duty polyester handles let two people share the load and move it around more easily. After testing, we came to the conclusion that this cooler would be a good investment, especially if you go tailgating or camping often. As one of our testers stated, "it will keep your beverages and food cold for days. It's well designed, doubles as a table, and holds a ton of drinks."

Overall Dimensions: 30.6 x 17.3 x 16 inches | Carrying Capacity: About 55 quarts, 52 pounds of ice, or 42 cans with a 2:1 ice-to-can ratio | Material: Polyurethane foam insulation, UV-resistant polyethylene exterior

Best Budget

Igloo retro picnic basket cooler.

  • Insulation 4.2 /5
  • Durability 3.7 /5

Insulates well

Easy to carry

Smaller capacity

Not for heavy-duty use

With an old-school picnic basket shape in neon colors straight out of the '90s , this cooler looks super fun. It might not be sized to feed a group for a full camping trip, but it is perfect for a day at the beach or a music festival. And for a small, cheap cooler, it performed amazingly well: a cooler full of ice and 11 cans stayed at 33 degrees for a full 24 hours.

That insulation performance is extra surprising considering how light the cooler is. It's just made of hard plastic, which cracked when dropped. That didn't render the cooler useless, but a few more dings and cracks would; it's not a great choice for heavy use.

Overall Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 13.1 inches | Carrying Capacity: 25 quarts, 23 pounds of ice, or 11 cans with a 2:1 ice-to-can ratio | Material: Plastic exterior

Best Wheeled

Yeti tundra haul cooler.

  • Design 4 /5

Keeps contents cold for days

Easy to roll and steer

Extremely durable

No lifting handles

Yeti makes fantastic coolers. They're durable, well-constructed, and insulate their contents amazingly well. They are, however, priced accordingly. Like the Tundra 65, our overall winner, the Tundra Haul was able to keep nearly two dozen cans ice-cold for a full 24 hours without any trouble, but it's got a folding handle and set of wheels for easier transport. The one-piece plastic "Neverflat" tires are designed to be impact- and puncture-resistant and can handle rocky trails, grassy parks, potholed tailgate parking lots, and bumpy docks with ease. (Yeti states that sand won't damage the wheels but admits that they might not roll well on the beach.)

This cooler is made with the same insulation, lid design, and cold-lock gasket as the rest of the Yeti Tundra line, and performed equally well in our tests. It’s virtually indestructible—absolutely strong enough to use as a chair with no damage—and the handle is a durable welded-aluminum arm with comfortable grips that tucks flat into indentations in the side. We found that the curved design tracks left or right for easy steering and the turn radius is excellent. Besides the sky-high price tag, the only real downside is that it doesn't have any carrying handles: It's easy to wheel into place, but lifting a full cooler onto a table or tailgate is a bit of a pain.

Overall Dimensions: 28.3 x 18.6 x 19.5 inches | Carrying Capacity: About 58 quarts, 55 pounds of ice, or 45 cans with a 2:1 ice-to-can ratio | Material: Polyurethane foam insulation, UV-resistant polyethylene exterior

RTIC Insulated Soft Cooler Bag

  • Design 5 /5
  • Insulation 5 /5

Excellent cold longevity

Floats in rivers and lakes

Heavy when full

The RTIC Insulated Soft Cooler Bag looks like a Yeti cooler, but comes at a lower price. We tested the 30-can version in our Lab (there are also options for 12, 20, and 40 cans), but to make more room for ice, we scaled down to 20 cans instead. Considering the contents, this cooler is fairly large and does get heavy, so it isn't the easiest to tote around. We just wouldn't suggest taking it on long excursions, as it comes with just two handle carrying straps and one shoulder strap. That said, there is a 20- and 30-can backpack version with a padded and ventilated back panel, shoulder straps, and waist straps that we also tested and rated highly.

As far as insulation goes, the RTIC features 2-inch closed-cell foam with a puncture- and tear-resistant liner to keep drinks nice and cold. After filling it with soda cans and ice, we left it to sit in our 70-degree Lab. After 24 hours, the temperature had only risen 11 degrees from our original temperature reading the day prior (compared to about 7 degrees for the similar Yeti we tested). About 20 percent of the ice remained, as well. And while you likely won't be getting rough and rowdy with this cooler, we did toss it off a tabletop to test its durability. Not only did it survive the fall with flying colors, but it also didn't leak a single drop.

Like most zippered coolers with excellent insulation and a leakproof design, the zipper on this cooler can be a little difficult to open and close at first, though it does come with lubricant. The super-tight seal and heavy-duty nylon shell even allow you to take this into water, such as lakes, rivers, and pools—every RTIC Soft Pack Cooler is designed to float. It's a wonderful option for boating, camping, beach days, backyard barbecues, and more.

Overall Dimensions: 12 x 10 x 8 inches | Carrying Capacity: About 20 quarts, 18 pounds of ice, or 30 cans with no ice | Empty Weight: 4 pounds | Material: Nylon

Tamara Staples / The Spruce Eats

Best Backpack

Rtic backpack soft cooler.

  • Insulation 4.5 /5

Large capacity

Comfortable to wear

Amazing cold retention

Water bottle holders can become worn and rip

Taking your things with you on the go? RTIC has a backpack for that. The company’s soft-sided cooler backpack can hold 30 cans and a bag of ice. Designed to keep your perishables cold for days, it features an easy-access zipper on the front, allowing you to grab a drink or snack without having to stop and dig around. Additionally, it floats, so you can take it along with you on pool and lake days.

We found that the zipper was hard to open (this is because of its top-notch insulation and leakproof design), but the included lubricant made the process slightly smoother. The zipper has a durable, T-shaped plastic piece instead of a traditional metal slider, which makes it easier for you to get a good grip and pull the teeth open and shut.

Although this bag can hold 30 cans and ice, we used 20 cans and ice. After filling and leaving it for 24 hours, we were pleasantly surprised to find that just 50 percent of the ice had melted and the temperature had only risen 11 degrees. Plus, the wide rectangular opening made for an easy fit of Tupperware or other oddly shaped containers. Despite its large size, it's also really comfortable to carry, as there is a lot of padding for your shoulders and back on both the straps and the actual cooler. There's also ventilation on the back panel to ward off moisture and a waist strap to help with weight distribution. You won't feel like you have a giant backpack on filled with ice and cans despite, well, having a giant backpack on filled with ice and cans.

There are multiple places where you can attach a carabiner, and the stretchy straps at the front offer additional real estate for storing soft items, such as a small tent, towel, rain jacket, or compact sleeping bag. If you’re someone who loves the outdoors, then this cooler backpack is pretty much right up your alley. You can take it with you from the mountains to the lake—hands-free, at that.

Overall Dimensions: 20.25 x 15 x 10 inches | Carrying Capacity: 30 cans and a bag of ice | Material: 100 percent waterproof fabric shell

The Spruce Eats / Tamara Staples

Best Portable

Engel heavy-duty soft sided cooler bag.

  • Durability 4.5 /5

Spacious capacity

Multiple handles

For a large and easy-to-transport cooler, look no further than this Engel 32-quart bag. It's equipped with not only an over-the-shoulder strap, but top and side handles as well for added convenience. Plus, our tests proved that this bag is capable of holding up to 60 cans, which is great for large gatherings.

Made with foam-like insulation in the interior, this cooler also has a drainage plug and bottle opener. We also appreciate the waterproof material and zipper, which ensures no leakage. In fact, it is such a sturdy zipper that they include lubrication with the cooler to help it budge.

One thing to note is that this cooler can get rather heavy when filled up completely. Although the spacious size of the bag is ideal for holding a mini bar fit for a party, it also means the weight can get uncomfortable when carrying for long periods of time.

Overall Dimensions: 20.5 x 9.5 x 17 inches | Carrying Capacity: 30 quarts | Material: Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Best for Quick Meals

Polar bear coolers original nylon soft cooler.

Well-insulated

Heavy-duty construction

Small capacity for price

Leaks from zipper

A cooler's insulation can just as easily keep hot food hot as it can cold food cold. This highly portable soft bag is ideal for bringing a meal to a potluck or anybody in need of hot sustenance, whether it be a new parent or a sick relative. The cooler can also keep food and drinks cold for a day hike, be used if you want to prep ingredients ahead and cook later elsewhere, or it can just keep your beer refreshingly cold for a day of fishing.

Polar Bear's soft cooler is well-constructed, using the same kind of nylon and stitching as you'd find in fancy soft-sided luggage, and it's got both a pair of handles and an adjustable shoulder strap to make carrying easy. It's also one of the rare coolers that actually held the number of cans advertised—ice included. The bag was able to keep cans cold (44 degrees) for 24 hours, though not quite under the USDA's recommended food-safe temperature of 40 degrees. It also leaks through the zipper if turned upside down or sideways, so you have to make sure it stays upright.

We found that the design was reminiscent of an oversized tote handbag (with the bonus of thick and effective insulation). The Polar Bear brand makes this cooler in a bunch of different colors and sizes—including a backpack model —so you can also customize your pick to your particular needs.

Overall Dimensions: 14 x 7 x 12 inches | Carrying Capacity: 12 cans with ice | Material: Nylon, high-density foam insulation

Best for Parties

Brümate 55-quart rolling cooler.

Dick's Sporting Goods

Rugged wheels for portability

Retains ice and keeps drinks cold for more than a week

Has an array of features and fun colors

Cheaper than YETI wheeled coolers

Heavy and bulky

More expensive than some YETI hard coolers

For entertaining, you really can’t go wrong with the BrüTank 55-Quart Rolling Cooler. For starters, it comes in a whole host of fun colors, including bright pink and aqua as well as swirly tie dye-like options, that look great sitting in your backyard. 

Where this cooler really stands out, though, is in functionality. Like other high-quality coolers of this caliber, the BrüTank has excellent ice retention. Our tester said there were still cubes of ice in her cooler a week later. More than two weeks later, drinks inside were still relatively cold. The cooler also comes equipped with a built-in tap, so you can serve up a mixed drink like a margarita in addition to whatever beer, wine, and soft drinks you might be housing in the cooler. There’s a built-in bottle opener for convenience, too. 

We also love that this cooler has a slip-proof top that’s great for picnicking. And although it’s on the heavy side—it weighs a staggering 50 pounds without anything inside—the cooler is equipped with a fold-down handle and rugged wheels that make it easy to pull across a variety of terrain, including crushed stone and soft sand. If you're looking for something a bit smaller, BrüMate did come out with a 35-quart version .

Overall Dimensions: 19.5 x 32 x 19.5 inches | Carrying Capacity: About 55 quarts, 40 pounds of ice, or 48 cans | Material: Rotomolded polyethylene

The Spruce Eats / Brigitt Earley

The Spruce Eats/Brigitt Earley

Best Bucket

Yeti rambler beverage bucket.

Double-walled insulation

Multiple color options

Lid won't fit with tall bottles

Whether it's bottles of chilled Champagne to celebrate a beach wedding, a sixer of cheap beer to bring on the fishing boat, or scoops of crushed ice for fancy cocktails, the Rambler Beverage Bucket puts Yeti's serious insulation power into a very simple bucket. It has a capacity of two gallons, which is enough to hold a 6-pack of beer or three bottles of wine with ice to keep them cold for hours.

The padded handle and secure plastic lid make it easy to bring your beverages from kitchen to backyard to campsite, though the lid won't fit if you have wine bottles (or even tallboy beer cans) inside. Thankfully, the double-insulated sides keep drinks cold and ice frozen more than the lid, so it doesn't affect performance much to leave it off. As with other Yeti products, this one is fairly pricey, though it looks fancy and is available in many colors. It's also fairly heavy for its size.

Overall Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.8 inches | Carrying Capacity: 256 ounces | Empty Weight: 6.7 pounds

The Spruce Eats / Rob Karol

The Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler is our winner because it's leakproof, has an awesome drainage system, will keep food cold for days, and is impervious even to hungry bears. On a budget? We recommend the Igloo Retro Picnic Basket Cooler instead.

To date, we've tested 50 hard coolers and 23 backpack coolers on their capacity and ability to keep drinks cool, as well as several other factors. We measured each cooler's capacity in standard 12-ounce cans, ice, and cans mixed with ice in the recommended one-third-cans to two-thirds-ice ratio, comparing all of those numbers to the manufacturer's stated capacity. After filling the coolers with ice and cans, we measured the cans' surface temperature after two hours and again after 24 hours to test their ability to keep things cool.

We also tested the coolers' durability and construction in a bunch of ways. We turned them upside down and on their sides to check for leaks and poor-fitting hinges. We picked up the coolers and carried them around to assess portability, also testing how wheeled coolers moved and steered with both pushing and pulling motions. We dropped each cooler—fully loaded—off a table onto concrete and checked for damage. And for coolers large enough to serve as a chair, we even sat on them to make sure they didn't buckle or crack.

  • Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler : This is a solid cooler with bear-resistant construction and a hefty capacity. And its UV-resistant colors are a plus. However, it lacks wheels, making transport a bit more of a challenge.
  • Cotopaxi Helio Cooler Bag : We love the colorful design of this soft cooler, and the padded shoulder strap makes carrying it a snap. It also did a great job on our insulation test. But there are some issues with construction: The fabric and zipper leaked liquid, and both were heavily damaged in a drop from only table height.
  • Igloo Ecocool Latitude 52-Quart Cooler : This capacious cooler holds a huge amount for its price. We weren't quite able to cram in the 85 cans it claims, but we did manage five dozen. The main problem is that its lid doesn't have a latch or any way of sealing closed. If the cooler gets tipped over, the lid pops right open and spills the entire contents.
  • Polarbox Pop 21 Quart Cooler : This cooler's retro style and pastel color options are attractive, but we found that the top doesn't seal perfectly and leaks liquid, which also made it not perform very well on the insulation test.

What to Look for in a Cooler

Construction and insulation.

Coolers have either hard (metal or plastic) or soft (fabric or vinyl) shells containing insulation. Look for closed-cell foam insulation, as it’s more efficient than open-cell foam, and check that the lid is sufficiently insulated and that it seals tightly when shut.

Hard-shell coolers are typically better insulated, more durable, and keep food colder longer than soft-shell ones. Some are even built certified bear-proof, meaning they are designed to protect your food or hunting-trip hauls from bears and other animals you might encounter in the wilderness. However, hard-shell coolers don't collapse, so they’re harder to store (but sometimes get recruited to serve as extra seating).

Soft-shell coolers are more lightweight. They often feature non-insulated storage on the exterior and can collapse. They usually don't retain cold as long as hard-shell coolers.

Size and Capacity

You'll want to take two things into account: storage capacity and the footprint of the cooler itself. If you're going on a quick day trip or to the grocery store, a capacity of 25 quarts or less will likely suffice—and for soft coolers, that’s about all you’ll be able to comfortably carry. But if you're embarking on a seven-day hiking journey, a hunting trip, or even a tailgating party, a hard-sided option that can hold 50 to 100 quarts or more is a better bet. 

In terms of footprint, consider the following questions: Is the cooler able to fit in your vehicle? And when you're not using it, can you stow it in the garage or the trunk of your car? If soft, does it collapse for easy storage?

Portability

A metal cooler might suffice for a large backyard barbecue, but it could take a beating bouncing around the back of your truck or getting lugged around to various campsites. Think about how you’ll transport your cooler. Look for design elements such as wheels, handles, and shoulder straps.

Should you get a hard or soft-sided cooler?

It all comes down to how you're going to use the cooler. Soft-sided coolers work for those everyday events and are easy to store. Hard-sided coolers are better for camping and road trips, tailgating events , or large gatherings and parties.

How long do soft-sided coolers stay cold?

These lightweight coolers are great for day trips to the beach, hiking, or car trips. Some will keep food and drink items cold for as long as three days.

How long do coolers last?

Coolers can last five years or longer. It depends on how well they're taken care of and how much use they've had. 

This roundup was written by Taylor Rock , Commerce Editor for The Spruce Eats. She knows how important it is to keep food and drinks chilled for an extended period of time, especially at the beach on a hot summer day when refreshments are vital. Taylor and other editors personally tested soft coolers on this roundup at the Dotdash Meredith Lab.

The Spruce Eats Commerce Writer Jason Horn updated this roundup with further testing insights. He's not really one for camping and hiking, but he did once cram an entire full punchbowl (it was sealed with plastic wrap!) with glasses into a cooler for a holiday party.

Brigitt Earley  is a freelance lifestyle writer who covers food and kitchen-related content for The Spruce Eats. She really loves her BrüTank rolling cooler, even after years of having a YETI.

food cooler for travel

CDC. Game day food safety tips. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The 13 Best Coolers You Can Buy, According to Thousands of Reviews

Keep cool and carry on with these top-rated ice chests, coolers, and insulated totes.

Coolers and ice chests seem a little bit like smartphones these days: they keep getting more expensive, and it's not entirely clear why. Thankfully, some of the best coolers on the market also happen to be less than the cost of dinner at a cloth-napkin restaurant.

Yes, there are some benefits for the coolers that cost a few hundred dollars, but depending on what you need from them — tailgating , spending a day at the beach , or just keeping picnic foods chilled — you can easily find coolers as good as Yeti (the undisputed cooler king) and far more adaptable to your budget and lifestyle.

We scoured dozens of the best coolers available today to create this definitive list of the top-rated coolers. We read thousands of customer reviews. We read dozens of studies and temperature-based reviews. We compiled our own personal experiences.

Keep reading to see which coolers came out on top so you can know the best cooler to buy if you're shopping for one. We also have a recommendation for the best ice packs for coolers, too.

Best Coolers at a Glance

  • Best Cooler: YETI Tundra 65 Cooler

Best Hard Cooler: RTIC 65

Best soft-sided cooler: coleman 30-can soft cooler, best budget cooler: coleman xtreme 5 cooler, best portable cooler: arctic zone titan deep freeze zipperless hardbody cooler, best cooler tote bag: clevermade collapsible cooler bag.

  • Best Cooler With Wheels: RovR Rollr 45 Cooler
  • Best Small Cooler: Igloo BMX 25-Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology

Best Personal Cooler: Carhartt Deluxe Insulated Lunch Box

  • Best Disposable Cooler: Igloo Recool 16-Quart Cooler
  • Most Durable Cooler: ORCA Classic Cooler

Best Backpack Cooler: TOURIT Insulated Backpack Cooler

Best cooler for outdoor parties: sunjoy 80-quart wood grain cooler, best ice packs for coolers: cooler shock mid-size cooler freeze packs, what to consider when buying a new cooler.

The best cooler for you will depend on several factors, such as your intended use, how much you need to hold, and how much you have to spend. Most larger coolers will be filled with ice and used to hold drinks and food.

Smaller coolers may only need to hold a few bottles of water or a picnic lunch. Ice packs will be preferable in those circumstances. But coolers can also be used to hold hot dishes before a meal, chill food quickly for long-term storage, or hold fish fresh from the water.

Here we'll break down the difference between some of the most popular coolers so you can decide which one is a fit for you. The right cooler for your needs may not be the most expensive, so consider some of these tips to make sure you're not overspending — and to make sure you're not getting one that won't fit your needs.

Price: Some of the best coolers on the market can set you back $400 or more. These coolers are designed for days of use in rugged environments (camping, hunting, etc.), and they back up their price point with high-quality materials like steel hinges and latches. But some of the most highly-reviewed coolers cost less than $100. Don't assume you have to sink some savings into your next cooler. Based on your needs, the best cooler for you may very well be only $50 to $100.

Capacity: Coolers range in size from small five-quart lunch coolers to extra-large totes that can conceal 125 quarts, or about 200 cans. The bigger the cooler, the more you can put in it. But the more you put in it, the more it will weigh.

Material: Hard-sided coolers are typically made from double-walled plastic. Some are insulated with foam. As a result, they tend to be more durable and stand up to use, impact, and transportation well. Soft-sided coolers may be made from neoprene, flexible plastics, canvas, and other easy-to-clean materials. They can also typically be flattened for easier storage.

Intended Use: If you're a fan of camping, hunting, hiking, and all other outdoor activities, you likely need the durability and large capacity of a hard-sided cooler. Perhaps you need one with wheels for easy transport from your car to your camp site. But if you're just looking to have a cooler you keep on hand for picnics or tailgating, you can save your money and consider a small cooler or even a soft-sided one in many cases.

Best Cooler: YETI Tundra 65

Rotomolded coolers are all the rage — and cost quite the penny. These coolers are heavier, more durable, and more well insulated than almost anything else on the market. Manufacturers produce these features through a process called rotational modeling (rotomolding). During that process, a heated mold is filled with a powdered plastic material that melts and expands to fill the entire mold. The result is a single-piece cooler that is consistently thick and sturdy.

Yeti is an example of one of the best rotomolded coolers available today. People covet Yeti coolers for a reason — they're high-quality coolers that are very durable. Are they perhaps too expensive? Yes. But for the regular camper, hunter, or hiker, the Yeti is a win-win purchase — and a great gift!

With a Yeti Tundra , you can expect top-of-the-line ice-keeping capabilities. Three inches of insulation and the brand's signature FatWall design put a great deal of cooling space between your food and the outside air. All Yeti coolers are made with rubber latches, one of the few drawbacks for the brand; they sometimes feel a little weak for the price point.

The 65-quart capacity can hold about 40 cans with ice. The cooler comes standard with one dry goods basket for keeping some food cool but suspended above any ice. For personalization, the Tundra 65 is available in several colors, and if you order through Yeti, you can even pick custom designs.

"I own three Yeti coolers. Though not cheap, they keep ice longer than any cooler I've ever owned," one Amazon reviewer writes. "The 65 is my work horse. From camping to hotel stays to concerts at the park, this thing keeps the drinks and snacks cold."

Buy it: YETI Tundra 65 Cooler, $350; Amazon or YETI

Rotomolded coolers like this RTIC 65 option, our pick for the best hard-sided cooler on the market, are stuffed with insulation for superior ice-keeping capabilities. In my own personal experience, this RTIC cooler option keeps ice frozen for more than a week. One reviewer has had the same experience with this cooler's insulation: "Will hold ice for days, even with regular beer fetching. Even in Texas in 90+ heat. We throw freezer blocks in and ice on top. Will keep beer cold all weekend no issues at all.....even longer," they say.

Another reviewer writes, "Awesome cooler!! We camped for 9 days and 8 nights and we used the purple Xtreme ice packs in the bottom with ice and then froze our meals. We still had frozen food on the way home the next Sunday! We only had to add 1 10lb. Bag of ice the whole time, which really makes it easier so you don't have to run everyday for ice. We had average temps of mid-80's through the week during the day and tried to keep it out of the direct sunlight. Love this cooler!!"

And though you may not need eight or nine days of freezer capability, you've got it with this cooler. That means even if you're using this for your weekend tailgating spot, holding beers and sodas, or if you're taking it with you to the beach for a day and need to ice down some sandwiches and juice boxes, this all-purpose cooler is the one for you.

Buy it: RTIC 65, $350; Amazon or Walmart

Hard coolers put in a lot of work, but their size and rigidity may not always be the best option for you — and you don't always need to keep food chilled for a week. Soft-sided coolers, on the other hand, are among the best coolers you can buy, even if they're not the typical cooler option.

This Coleman 30-Can Soft Cooler gets high marks for its flexibility and dependability. Even for its petite size, this cooler can accommodate 30 cans and keep them cool for up to a day. The food-safe liner can be easily cleaned in between uses. If you have a big spill, it can be removed entirely.

As a bonus, the padded strap makes transportation easier — no lugging a cumbersome cooler several blocks to the beach. It also has side handles so you can easily lift and move the cooler from place to place. Keep snacks nearby with the mesh pockets on the two sides.

"I use these mostly on the back of my tractor while mowing so they get used a lot. I just wrap the shoulder strap over the seat and I'm good to go. It amazes me that the strap has never broken off after so many years. The hard liner is what sold me on this cooler in the first place. I didn't want a hard cooler scratching my tractor up and sliding around, and soft coolers with no liner constantly leak everywhere. This cooler is the best of both worlds," a reviewer writes.

If you like the features of this soft-sided cooler but want one that's a bit smaller, the 16-Can Soft Cooler with Removable Liner gets marks equally high as its bigger sibling.

Buy it: Coleman 30-Can Soft Cooler with Removable Liner, $40; Amazon or Walmart

While there may be cheaper cooler options, we specifically wanted to find the best cooler at the best price point for the results. Cheap coolers may ultimately cost you in lost food and bags of ice. Coleman's line of Xtreme Coolers is a much lower price point than many similarly sized coolers, and it has all the benefits you expect from those high-price coolers.

So what are the sacrifices for a budget cooler if you don't want to shell out the cash for a rotomolded cooler? The two primary concessions are in durability and temperature retention. To put it another way, this is a cheaper product, so long-term, heavy use will take its toll. And while this budget-friendly cooler will most certainly keep things chilled all day, you shouldn't expect to get more than a day or two of ice retention without a great deal of ice reinforcements.

One Amazon reviewer writes, "The solid ice lasted about 3 days. It still had icy water for my water and soda though. Everybody told me I would need to spend money on a Yeti if I wanted to have ice for 4 days, but for way less, this did great."

Buy it: Coleman Xtreme 5 Cooler, $51; Amazon or Walmart

This portable cooler is a bit of a surprise. Tucked beneath the water- and stain-resistant padding is a HardBody liner. This plastic liner protects your cooler's contents from rough and tumble transportation. What's more, the liner has a built-in SmartShelf that can keep soft goods, like sandwiches, away from the cans and bottles below.

With more than 22,000 reviews on Amazon, it maintains a 4.5+ star rating, with reviewers giving praise like, "The performance of each of these coolers is top notch. Drinks say cold for what seems like forever. The extra pouches around the bag are a nice touch as well."

A padded strap makes for easier and more comfortable carrying. A patented zipper-less top gives quick one-handed access. If you like this small size (it holds 16 cans), you can size up to 30 or 48.

Buy it: Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Hardbody Cooler, $35; Amazon or Target

Whether you need a cooler to keep groceries chilled while you run errands or like having an insulated picnic basket, this soft-sided collapsible cooler is a great option for your new cooler. Designed to hold up to 50 cans, this cooler tote is surprisingly spacious. The designers know the flapping bag lids can be annoying, so they designed SnapHinges to keep the cooler's lid upright while you dig through the ice for your next drink.

Though it weighs only two pounds when it's empty, this great cooler can carry up to 50 pounds of goods, and the carrying strap has a built-in bottle opener. Pick from five color options for your favorite.

Buy it: CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag, $40; Amazon or Walmart

Best Cooler With Wheels: RovR Roller 45 Cooler

Not all coolers with wheels are made equally. RovR took all the bad things about wheeled coolers , got rid of them, and made a product that's infinitely better. What's the biggest improvement? Puncture-resistant rubber tires. These wheels can take your cooler anywhere you want to go.

The cooler is also certified bear-resistant, which tells you it is tough as can be. (Bears may not be a concern where you're going, but it means the construction is meant for rough and tumble action.) Plus, the cooler is still big enough to hold 60 cans and 10 pounds of ice — and it can still hold 24 cans 10 pounds of ice if you need to use the "Deepfreeze bin," which allows you to keep things cool but away from ice. A Wagon bin is also included for easily carrying dry items out of the cooler.

Reviewers say the cooler is easy to transport and does a good job of holding chilled foods and ice for days; RovR says up to 10 days. And reviewers agree it does have excellent ice-retaining capabilities: "Maintains coldness as well as my Yeti," one reviewer writes.

Buy it: RovR Roller 45 Cooler, $400; Back Country or Amazon

Best Small Cooler: Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology

Small can still be mighty, and this heavy-duty Igloo cooler is proof of that. With a 25-quart capacity, you've got room for about 15 cans and a few snacks or a large picnic for the whole family. And even if it's small, it has major ice-keeping capabilities thanks to UV-inhibiting plastic, thick foam, and an insulated lid.

"This Igloo BMX cooler is doing just as good as my Pelican at a fraction of the cost. It's a little lighter, the handle and straps seem to be heavy duty. It's got a great look and works just the same ! Very happy with this," writes one reviewer.

If you're an angler, this is a great option for keeping your catch, too. There's a ruler integrated on the lid for measuring your fish. There are even built-in tie-down loops for strapping the cooler to your boat deck.

Buy it: Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, $60; Amazon or Target

With more than 20,000 reviews, this insulated cooler lunch bag still maintains a 4.8-star rating, which speaks to just how much users love this cooler. A dual compartment (the second is in the lid) body keeps dry items away from ice and liquids. The bottom compartment is insulated to keep foods cold for hours. There's enough space for a six pack, but this is a great option for a lunch or road-trip cooler for one or two people.

A soft handle makes for easy carry, and a cross-body strap can help you go hands free if you need to carry other things. Weighing less than a pound when empty, it's also a good option for kids going to sports practice or friends' houses for playtime.

"I bought this for my husband; I pack him breakfast and lunch for his work days. The lunch box seemed to have enough room but the reviews had me worried. I bought it anyway and am so glad I did! Anybody saying it's small must be packing for a 3 day camping trip," writes one reviewer.

Buy it: Carhartt Deluxe Insulated Lunch Box, $25; Amazon

Best Disposable Cooler: Igloo Recool 16qt Cooler

Disposable foam coolers do a number on the environment, so Igloo created one that does all you need from a cooler without the environmental impact. The 100-percent biodegradable cooler is molded for easy carrying; the lid also has wells for cups or bottles. Despite being made from natural products, you won't have to worry about leaks with a day of use. It's designed to keep water for up to five days; ice for up to 12 hours.

"Took it out to the the beach and back home, all afternoon with ice and very cold beer. Interesting that it never got wet on the outside," a reviewer wrote.

There's space in here for about 12 cans and a few sandwiches. If you need more space, get a few. At just $7, it'll take days of using these disposable coolers to get near the cost of a reusable one.

Buy it: Igloo Recool 16-Quart Cooler, $7; Target

Most Durable Cooler: ORCA 58-Quart Classic Cooler

Orca may not be as widely known as Yeti or Pelican, but it's every bit as good as those brands. It's also made with rotomolded construction, integrated insulation, a lid gasket for a complete seal, and extendible flex grip handles mean this cooler is made to last. But because of this heavy-duty construction, there is one negative quality: it's heavy.

"It is an excellent cooler. I like the fact that it was made in the USA. The reason it is four stars and not five is because it is already a heavy cooler empty, when you get it full of stuff it takes about two people to lift. I would recommend, but do know it is not a lightweight cooler whatsoever," writes one reviewer.

Buy it: ORCA Classic Cooler, $340; Amazon or Bed Bath & Beyond

Slip on this backpack cooler before you head out for a day in the canoe, an evening of stargazing, or an afternoon of hiking. The 25-liter main compartment is large enough for the equivalent of 28 cans. That's plenty of space for a day outside the house. But besides all the space, the backpack keeps everything you pack cool with high-density insulation, and a leak-proof liner.

In addition to the main compartment, the backpack cooler has two mesh pockets and one large front zipper pocket for stashing snacks or supplies that need to stay dry. Lightweight and padded for comfort, this backpack cooler is designed for all-day wear. Because of the design, it'll be better to use ice packs instead of ice.

"We used this backpack on the 4th of July while it was swelteringly hot and our food and drinks stayed nice and cold, despite sitting out in the sun. The backpack is a great size and holds a good amount inside. All zippers worked great, no issues at all with functionality. We had no leaking and it cleaned up easily," writes one reviewer.

Buy it: TOURIT Insulated Backpack Cooler, $40; Amazon

For a bit of style at your next backyard picnic, opt for a rollable cooler that's as fashionable as it is functional. The 80-quart cooler sits atop rust-resistant powder-coated steel legs. The exterior and a bottom storage shelf are made to look like wood grain finish.

The wheels lock in place so the cooler won't role away from the party. There's even a built-in bottle opener that won't get lost and a reservoir for caps. When not in use, close the two-sided lid, and store for your next use. You'll just drain any liquid through the built-in plug.

Buy it: 80-Quart Wood Grain Cooler, $194; Wayfair

Bags of ice are not always the easiest — or the cleanest — option for keeping food and drinks chilled in a cooler. These ice packs for coolers, however, do a fantastic job of keeping everything frosty without a mess. What's more, if they melt and spill out, you don't have to worry about unusual chemicals or gels covering everything.

Once activated, the cooler ice packs are designed to stay at 18°F for for up to 48 hours. That makes it especially great for weekend camping trips when you may not have access to ice. Their size — 10 inches by 10 inches — makes them right-sized for just about any cooler, even smaller ones.

Buy it: Cooler Shock Mid-Size Cooler Freeze Packs, $22; Amazon

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Best Coolers of 2024

From premium rotomolded models with excellent ice retention to wheeled designs for easy transport, below are the year’s best hard-sided coolers.

Cooler (Yeti Tundra on tailgate)

Switchback Travel ( Jason Hummel )

We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases. Read more about us . 

Whether you’re headed to the beach, tailgating before your favorite sporting event, or camping in the wild, there's a good chance you'll want to keep your food and drinks cold. Thankfully, the market is packed with high-quality coolers that excel at everything from short day trips to week-long adventures. Below we break down our favorite hard-sided designs of 2024, including budget-friendly Coleman models, ultra-premium Yetis, and popular offerings from brands like RTIC, Orca, Pelican, and more. For more background information, see our cooler comparison table and buying advice below the picks. We’ve also compiled lists of the best soft coolers and best backpack coolers , for those that prioritize weight and portability.  

Our Team's Cooler Picks

  • Best Overall Hard-Sided Cooler: RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light
  • Best Premium Cooler with Excellent Ice Retention: Yeti Tundra 65
  • Best Budget Cooler: Coleman 316 Series 70-Quart
  • Best Small Cooler for Day Trips: Yeti Roadie 24
  • Best Cooler with Wheels: RovR Products RollR 60

Best Overall Hard-Sided Cooler

1. rtic 52 qt ultra-light ($200).

RTIC 52 Ultra-Light cooler

The best hard-sided coolers nicely balance capacity, ice retention, portability, and price, and RTIC’s 52 QT Ultra-Light checks all those boxes emphatically. Starting with capacity, you get a versatile 52 quarts of storage, which easily squeezes into a trunk but still offers sufficient space for two campers headed out on a long weekend (for reference, most alternatives are either 45 or 65 qts.). As the name suggests, the 21-pound RTIC is well made yet notably lightweight, making it easier to carry than most similarly sized options, including Yeti's smaller Tundra 45 (23 lb.). Last but not least is cost: By selling direct to consumer (and consistently discounting their coolers on their own site), RTIC’s prices are significantly lower than much of the competition, with the 52 QT Ultra-Light checking in a considerable $125 less than the aforementioned Tundra 45.

What are the downsides of buying an RTIC cooler? First is the lack of convenience: While you can see and pick up a Yeti and many other brands at your local outdoor shop, you don’t get the same luxury with online-only RTIC. Additionally, the Ultra-Light’s injection-molded construction means it comes up a bit short in terms of all-out durability compared to the Tundra and other premium rotomolded options—including RTIC’s own 45 QT Hard Cooler below—although the trade-offs are a more manageable weight and reduced cost (for more on this, see our buying advice below). The RTIC also falls a little behind in ice retention, although the differences aren't as stark as the price gap would suggest. Realistically, the Ultra-Light is all most of us need for beach days, summer camping, and boating trips, and the combination of value and performance earns it our top billing for 2024. See the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light

Best Premium Cooler with Excellent Ice Retention

2. yeti tundra 65 ($375).

YETI Tundra 65 cooler_0

In the world of coolers, Yeti pioneered the high-end concept, and the Tundra is its best-selling and most versatile model. This popular line features premium cooling and ice-retention capabilities with a thick, rotomolded build that’s more durable and less prone to cracking than injection-molded options like the RTIC above. Further, you get a handy basket for dry goods, secure closures, and multiple tie-down slots to easily secure it on a boat or truck bed. What's more, the Tundra is certified as bear-resistant (locks are sold separately for $30), which is great for those who plan to spend time in bear country. Throw in Yeti's clean styling and a nice selection of classy colorways from simple white to dark olive, and the Tundra 65 is an exceptionally well built and good-looking option for everything for car camping to road tripping and long days on the water (provided you have a generously sized boat or raft).

The biggest downside of buying a Yeti is price. At $375 MSRP (a Yeti is a great item to get on sale), this cooler is more expensive than comparable models from brands like RTIC and Orca. In addition, the “65” in the Tundra’s name is a bit of a misnomer: With its 2-inch-thick walls, the capacity ends up being closer to 60 quarts (the other Tundra sizes are also a bit smaller than the product titles would insinuate). And finally, the Tundra's rotomolded build means it lacks integrated add-ons like cup holders or a bottle opener. But if you’re set on a Yeti, we understand. You do pay a premium for the brand, but it's hard to beat the durability of a rotomolded cooler (ours has been going strong for over 10 years) and the Tundra has an excellent track record of performance. See the Yeti Tundra 65

Best Budget Cooler

3. coleman 316 series 70-quart ($75).

Coleman 316 Series cooler

Coleman is nearly synonymous with car camping and offers a wide range of products at very reasonable price points. In the budget cooler category, we like their 70-quart 316 Series model best. For around $75 on Amazon at the time of publishing, you get a generous amount of interior space, Coleman’s Have-a-Seat lid that supports up to 250 pounds (we frequently use our coolers as added seating, so this is a nice touch), and four handy cup holders on top. It’s certainly not a Yeti, but this inexpensive cooler is reasonably durable for the price and will far outperform Styrofoam and other cheaper models.

There are almost always notable sacrifices when going this cheap, and the Coleman’s biggest downfall is its inability to keep ice frozen for long. Ice retention is listed at five days, but in our experience, it’s closer to two or three days in good conditions (the lack of lid latches certainly doesn’t help). We recommend pre-chilling the cooler prior to loading it up (which we detail in our buying advice below) and keeping it in the shade to help maximize performance. But considering the Coleman undercuts most of the high-end rotomolded competition by $175 or more, it’s hard to be overly critical. In other words, for casual outings and shorter ones in particular, the Coleman is all many campers need and nothing they don’t. See the Coleman 316 Series 70-Quart

Best Small Cooler for Day Trips

4. yeti roadie 24 ($250).

Yeti Roadie 24 cooler

If the Tundra above is too much cooler for your intended use, Yeti's Roadie is far more convenient and manageable. Ideal for day trip uses like paddling, picnics, or outdoor concerts, the 24-quart Roadie offers the build quality and impressive ice retention that Yeti is known for in a small and reasonably light (12 lb. 8 oz.) package. Importantly, despite its diminutive size, Yeti didn’t skimp on features: You get a stout rotomolded construction, thick rubber latches that can be opened and closed with one hand, and compatibility with the brand’s Tie-Down Kit to secure on a boat or in a truck bed or trailer. All told, if most of your adventures are of the done-in-a-day variety, the Yeti Roadie is a great option.

However, despite its competitive feature set, the Yeti Roadie is decidedly undersized for most. For reference, RTIC’s 52 QT Ultra-Light above offers around double the capacity for $50 less, giving it the clear edge in value. On the flip side, the Roadie is considerably lighter, takes up far less space in a trunk, and retains the same impressive cooling capabilities that we love about the brand’s Tundra series. But while it’s hard to argue with the premium quality and rugged nature of a Yeti rotomolded build, the Roadie 24 realistically is a niche cooler with a steep price tag. If you’re not ready to make the investment, check out Pelican’s 20QT Elite and Igloo’s BMX 25 below, which cost less while offering similar benefits to the Roadie but with a step down in overall quality and performance... Read in-depth review See the Yeti Roadie 24

Best Cooler with Wheels

5. rovr products rollr 60 ($450).

RovR RollR 60

If you plan on covering any kind of distance from your vehicle—whether it be to your campsite, a spot along the river, or a cabin retreat—wheels can make transport a whole lot easier. And no cooler is better equipped for the job than the RovR RollR. This Boulder-based wheeled-cooler specialist offers its signature RollR in four capacities from 45 to 85 quarts, with the mid-range 60-quart model offering the best versatility of the bunch, in our experience. On all versions, you get big and burly wheels that work over pretty much any terrain (including tricky surfaces like sand and rocky trails), a long handle that’s easy to grab from either side, and a generously sized dry goods bin for stashing perishables that you want to keep fresh. A final feather in the RollR’s cap is the wide selection of fun add-ons, from kitchen basics like a prep board and cup holders to canvas bins that fit perfectly inside the cooler, beefier tires for shuttling longer distances on sand or heavier loads, and even an attachment kit for towing behind your bike.

As you might expect from a cooler with this many bells and whistles, the RovR RollR 60 is quite expensive at $450, which is a considerable $75 more than the similarly sized Yeti Tundra 65 above. Speaking of Yeti, we found that the RovR falls a little short in ice retention despite its similarly premium rotomolded build. In addition, the added functionality does tack on a noticeable amount of heft and bulk—it can be a bit of a bear to load into a trunk or truck bed. A final nitpick is that the rubber latches are fairly stiff and require some force to open. But the RollR’s all-terrain functionality is second to none, and we love the sheer amount of customization options. In terms of competitors, Yeti offers wheeled versions of their popular Tundra and Roadie coolers, and Coleman’s Xtreme below also has wheels, but the RollR is in a class of its own when it comes to capability and versatility. See the RovR Products RollR 60

Best of the Rest

6. xspec pro 60 quart ($230).

Xspec 60 Quart Rotomolded cooler

Rotomolded coolers like Yeti's Tundra above are made out of a single piece of continuous plastic, which is great for durability but means they typically lack built-in features and mounting locations. Xspec’s 60 Quart is a notable exception, with a tough rotomolded build but a functional assortment of extras, including integrated bottle openers and a compass, an air release valve (in addition to the standard drain plug, which is common on most designs), and even a ruler for measuring the size of a fish. Tack on a price that undercuts the similarly sized Tundra 65 above by a considerable $135, and the Xspec stands out as a very well-rounded design at a great value.

In addition to the drop in price, there are a couple other noteworthy differences between the Xspec Pro and Yeti Tundra. Specifically, the Xspec isn’t certified as bear-resistant—a downside for those who frequently camp in areas where bear-proof gear is required—and also lacks a dry goods basket, which can be helpful for keeping produce fresh for longer. If these are must-haves for you, Arctic Zone’s Titan 55Q is a little smaller, costs $45 more, and lacks the Xspec’s full feature set but is certified as bear-resistant and comes with a wire basket for separating perishables. Finally, some users have noted that ice melts a bit quicker in the Xspec than in a Yeti, but again, it’s hard to argue with the combination of price, features, and overall build quality. See the Xspec Pro 60 Quart

7. Coleman Steel Belted Cooler ($200)

Coleman Steel Belted Cooler_0

For many people and uses, Yetis and other high-end coolers on this list are overkill. And if you want a step up from a budget model but don’t need premium cooling or a bear-proof design, the Coleman Steel Belted is a nice middle ground. At $200 full MSRP (colorways vary on Amazon), you get a tough build with metal components along with a classic look that’s been a mainstay at campgrounds and backyard cookouts for decades. The claimed four days of ice retention may be a little optimistic in the real world, but this cooler is more than enough for road tripping, campouts, and day use. And we like the 54-quart capacity, which beats out the Yeti's popular Tundra 45 while managing to weigh 4 pounds less.

In terms of build quality, the Steel Belted is a noticeable improvement from Coleman’s plastic 316 Series model above but falls well short of high-end rotomolded designs. In addition, the single-latch lid doesn’t seal as easily or effectively, and the thin metal handles are uncomfortable to grab and hold for extended periods, especially when loaded down. All told, the Coleman is great for casual outings like camping, backyard parties, or beach trips, but it’s less at home in a boat or scenarios where you need maximum ice retention, portability, or toughness. Coleman also offers a modernized Reunion variation with a matte finish and built-in bottle opener for $240. See the Coleman Steel Belted Cooler

8. Orca 40 Cooler ($325)

ORCA 40 cooler

It’s always risky business trying to reinvent the wheel, but Norway-based Oyster pulled it off surprisingly well with their innovative Tempo Cooler. Unlike most competitors, the Tempo boasts a double-wall aluminum build that’s vacuum-insulated (similar to a thermos or travel mug), which is designed to trap cold inside the cooler and block external heat from entering. In between the walls, Oyster utilized silica in place of traditional foam or plastic to maximize the interior (it takes up much less space while providing similar thermal efficiency). The brand makes some big claims about overall cold retention and performance that are hard to verify, but initial reports have been overwhelmingly positive: The Tempo is on par with or better than most premium rotomolded designs. And perhaps most importantly, you don’t need to adhere to the usual 2:1 ice-to-food ratio—just throw in a couple of cold packs (the cooler comes with two).

It's worth noting that the Oyster Tempo isn’t the only vacuum-insulated cooler on the market. For $300 more, Yeti’s stainless steel V Series is considerably larger at 55 quarts (it fits 96 cans compared to the Oyster’s 36) but weighs over 34 pounds empty. By comparison, the 12-pound-5.5-ounce Tempo is much easier to tote from car to campsite but realistically doesn’t have enough capacity for large groups or more than a couple days away at most. We also think the handle could be improved—it’s rigid and not all that comfortable for hauling, although Oyster does include a separate, over-the-shoulder carry strap that can be swapped in. In any case, the Tempo is a very promising new design, especially for activities when insulation matters more than capacity—think keeping meat chilled at a cookout or spending an afternoon at the park or on the water. It works with hot items, too. See the Oyster Tempo Cooler

10. Pelican 20QT Elite ($200)

Cooler (Pelican 20QT Elite)

For those who don’t know, Pelican is an industry leader in tough, dependable cases for storing and protecting everything from camera equipment and laptops to guns and drones. Therefore, the jump to hard-sided coolers was a logical progression. Like the venerable Yeti Roadie above, Pelican’s 20QT Elite here is a lower-capacity option for day trips on the water, strapping to the back of an ATV, and other short outings away from home. Stacked up against the Roadie, the Pelican is $50 cheaper (albeit with slightly less storage) but comes with functional extras like integrated cup holders, easier-to-use latches, and a more robust carry handle. We also like the unique assortment of multi-toned colorways that add a nice dose of flair.

Why do we rank the Roadie above the Pelican? The biggest compromises are quality and performance: While the rotomolded Roadie is lauded for its impressive ice retention and undeniably top-shelf build, the injection-molded Pelican is a step down in all-out durability and cooling capabilities (ice retention is listed at an unimpressive two days, although that should be plenty given the small size). And it’s worth noting that neither the Roadie nor the Pelican has a drain plug, which can make dumping melted ice a bit of an involved process. That said, if you’re looking for a portable option for day trips, the Pelican’s compact design and reasonable price make it a competitive Yeti alternative. For personal use and those who work outside all day—including rescue personnel and construction workers—Pelican sells a smaller and lighter 14-quart model for $120. See the Pelican 20QT Elite

11. RTIC 45 QT Hard Cooler ($220)

RTIC 45 QT Hard Cooler

RTIC’s 52 QT Ultra-Light above offers a hard-to-beat combination of weight, capacity, and price, but its injection-molded design falls a little short of rotomolded options in all-out durability. Enter RTIC’s tougher 45 QT Hard Cooler, which represents another strong value from the brand at just $20 more than the Ultra-Light. In fact, at $220, it’s the cheapest rotomolded design on our list—even undercutting the diminutive Yeti Roadie 24 ($250). And like the Ultra-Light, the Hard Cooler comes nicely appointed with two ports for quickly draining excess water, durable T-handles that keep the lid locked securely in place, grippy rubber feet, and rope handles with comfortable grips for easy hauling. 

You do pay a penalty in capacity by 7 quarts with the 45 QT Hard Cooler, which makes it less appealing for longer camping trips than the Ultra-Light 52 (stepping up to the 65 QT Hard Cooler increases price to $250). And weight jumps by 8 pounds, so it's harder to carry solo (although 29 lb. is fairly standard for a rotomolded design of this size). In the end, the Hard Cooler’s advantages over the Ultra-Light aren’t enough for us to rank it higher, but it’s another well-made cooler at a very competitive price. Of note: RTIC also offers the design in a smaller 20-quart version for $150, as well as larger options that range from 65 all the way up to 145 quarts . See the RTIC 45 QT Hard Cooler

12. Goat Hub 50 ($500)

GOAT HUB 50 hard-sided cooler

There aren’t a ton of innovative ideas cropping up in the hard-sided cooler market, but Texas-based Goat did a great job thinking outside the box with their inventive Hub. The design is highlighted by a creative built-in storage system: Deep slots along the sides pair with the brand’s container-like Cans (four are included with purchase), which are great for stashing small camp and kitchen accessories. You also get a handy cargo net at the front for securing lighter items like snacks, a thin jacket, or a collapsible dog bowl. And for those who like to geek out on their gear, Goat offers the option to build your own Hub system with customizations for capacity, color, and Can kits that come preloaded with essentials like first aid supplies, hygiene basics, and more (there are currently 17 kits to choose from). Added up, the Hub is one of the most thoughtfully built and practical designs on the market.

That said, while we love the Hub's creative solution for gear storage, it does eat into the amount of usable space in the main cooler compartment. For reference, the Hub 50 here has a capacity of just 38 quarts for ice, food, and beverages, while most similarly sized competitors offer around 45 to 50 quarts. Goat does sell a larger 62-quart Hub 70, but it’s even pricier at $600 and noticeably hefty at over 42 pounds (the Hub 50 is pretty manageable at 25 lb.). That said, the built-in storage does help offset the drop in capacity, and overall build quality is top-notch. From overlanding and hunting to casual days at the lake or beach, the Hub is a real standout and makes organization a breeze. See the Goat Hub 50

13. Igloo Ecocool 52 ($60)

Igloo ECOCOOL camping cooler

We tend to steer clear of most bargain-basement coolers—they may work well for a day or two but often lack the impressive ice retention of premium models and won’t stand up as well to regular outdoor use. Igloo’s Ecocool 52 isn’t totally exempt from these drawbacks, but it’s more well rounded and functional than much of the budget competition. For just $60, the Igloo boasts a generous 52-quart capacity, and the proprietary foam insulation does a good job keeping food and drinks chilled for up to three days (in the right conditions, of course). The feature set is also pretty well sorted for the price, including four self-draining cup holders and functional lifts at the bottom that slightly elevate the cooler off the ground or truck bed. Igloo also added holes in the swing-up handles, allowing you to string a bungee between them to make carrying heavier loads easier.

In terms of overall build quality, the Igloo Ecocool is a slight step up from many of Coleman’s budget designs but still can’t hold a candle to most of the pricier competition. The recycled plastic used for the body and lid is decidedly cheaper-feeling and less confidence-inspiring than rotomolded designs from Yeti, Xspec, Orca, and others (again, we’ve had Yetis withstand over a decade of use with almost no wear to show for it). Further, we’re disappointed that Igloo omitted a drain plug—you’ll have to manually drain any water once the ice starts to melt—and lid latches, meaning the cooler lacks a secure seal and isn’t an efficient insulator. But if you’re not quite ready to invest in a $200+ cooler and are willing to set reasonable expectations, the Igloo is a perfectly serviceable entry-level pick for weekend getaways and day outings like picnics or trips to the farmers’ market. See the Igloo Ecocool 52

14. Roam 45QT Rugged Cooler ($319)

ROAM 45QT Rugged Cooler

Roam is primarily a rooftop tent manufacturer and well regarded among serious outdoor-goers like overlanders and those who like to get off the grid. But their foray into coolers hasn’t gone unnoticed, combining the ruggedness and utility that Roam is known for with a myriad of functional features. The 45QT model here is their most popular size and comes fully appointed with a handy storage basket, removable cup holder, internal divider that doubles as a cutting board, integrated bottle opener, and multiple carry options and tie-down points. And importantly, all these features are integrated nicely and have the same solid and confidence-inspiring feel as the rest of the aptly named Rugged.

All told, the 45QT Rugged Cooler has a lot going for it: It insulates well (ice retention is listed at eight days), will stand up to rough use with a tough rotomolded build, and is one of the most well-equipped options here. However, Roam still is a relative newcomer to the cooler market, and competitors like Yeti, RTIC, and others above offer similarly priced alternatives with long track records to back them up. Another small (albeit entirely subjective) complaint is that the Rugged Cooler has a pretty utilitarian look, which lines up with Roam's overlanding focus but detracts from the cooler’s all-around appeal. But this may be enough to sway some: Roam backs their Rugged Cooler collection with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects, which speaks volumes to their overall craftsmanship. See the Roam 45QT Rugged Cooler

15. Igloo Trailmate Journey ($250)

Igloo Trailmate Journey wheeled cooler

Igloo’s Trailmate Journey is the cooler equivalent of an all-terrain vehicle: the oversized (10 in.) wheels have deep tread to plow through sand, grass, and other soft surfaces, and the burly plastic and metal construction is built to withstand the rigors of regular outdoor use. Throw in a host of fun and well-executed extras including four cup holders, a mesh storage pocket, integrated bottle openers, a “butler” tray for storage and food prep, and even a built-in phone stand, and you get the most fully featured cooler on our list. We also love the legs and telescoping handle, which make toting easy and keep the bottom of the cooler protected and clean.

No cooler is perfect, however, and we do have some sizable concerns with the Igloo Trailmate. First is the fairly middling four-day ice retention (remember, coolers rarely live up to these claims), which falls well short of the RovR RollR above (10 days). Additionally, the substantial build and sheer number of features add a decent amount of bulk and weight. And not everyone will like the utilitarian looks and styling, which are a far cry from streamlined, sleek models from Yeti, RTIC, and other brands above. Finally, a number of users have reported premature durability issues, including stuck glide handles, broken hinges, and subpar components. But at $250 for a massive 70 quarts of capacity, the Igloo is a good value and backed by a 1-year warranty should you encounter any problems with workmanship. See the Igloo Trailmate Journey

16. Pelican 80QW Elite Wheeled ($570)

Pelican 80QT Elite wheeled cooler

On the heels of the Igloo Trailmate Journey above is the crème de la crème of wheeled coolers: Pelican’s 80QW Elite. Right off the bat, we’ll address the astronomical price: At $570, this cooler is the most expensive unit here by a sizable margin and has limited appeal for the average outdoors-goer. That said, for targeted uses like hunting, fishing, and other activities that warrant the massive capacity, it’s a true standout. The Pelican boasts heavy-duty wheels, glove-friendly latches, and an extendable handle for easy hauling and handling, as well as a freezer-grade seal and two inches of foam insulation to maximize freshness. You even get an integrated fish scale and garden hose-compatible drain plug to make cleaning a breeze. Tack on a lifetime warranty (for reference, Yeti's warranty for their Tundra series is five years), and there’s a lot to like with the burly 80QW.

Pelican designs many of its products for agencies like the military and law enforcement, and this tactical styling is readily apparent in its cooler line. In other words, if you’re looking for a sleek and streamlined unit, this isn’t it. The handles are bulky and rigid, the color options are relatively subdued, and the cooler itself is undeniably hefty at 52 pounds before food, drinks, and ice. But again, most people who buy this cooler aren’t overly concerned with looks and simply want a large, beefy, and functional option for safely transporting game or fish. If that’s your end use, the 80QW Elite should be on your short list. See the Pelican 80QW Elite Wheeled

  17. Igloo BMX 25 ($100)

Igloo BMX 25 cooler

Joining the ranks of Yeti's Roadie 24 and Pelican’s 20QT Elite above, Igloo’s BMX 25 is another lower-capacity option for day trips. The biggest selling point here is price: At just $100, the BMX undercuts the Roadie by a whopping $150 and the Pelican by $100, which is excellent news for those on a budget. Igloo didn’t skimp on features either, with a triple-point grab handle that boasts rubber on the bottom for easy gripping, a stainless steel kick plate to boost protection, and—similar to the Xspec 60 Pro above—a molded ruler on the lid for measuring the size of a fish. All in all, the Igloo is well appointed, built to last, and an enticing value. 

That said, it’s still important to set reasonable expectations at this price point. As we saw with budget models like the Coleman 316 Series and Igloo's own Ecocool above, the BMX's ice retention is a considerable step down from high-end options from Yeti, RTIC, Orca, and others (Igloo lists it at four days, which seems like a stretch). Some users also report leaking around the lid due to the lack of rubber seal, which likely has an impact on those cooling capabilities. To be fair, the BMX is a sizable improvement performance-wise from many ultra-cheap plastic models on the market, but if you want more than a day or two of ice retention, we recommend spending up for the Pelican 20QT Elite or Yeti Roadie 24 above. See the Igloo BMX 25 

18. Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme w/ Wheels ($65)

Cooler (Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme Wheeled)

For $65, the 50-quart Coleman Xtreme is another standout in the value category, and this time with wheels. With a similar overall construction as our top budget pick, this basic cooler certainly is a far cry from the RovR RollR, Igloo Trailmate, and Pelican 80QW Elite above, but the functionality is decent for the price. The simple plastic wheels and tow handle make transporting the cooler over smooth surfaces relatively easy, the hard-sided build provides modest insulation for day or short overnight getaways, and the integrated cup holders atop the lid are convenient for storing drinks. All told, like the non-wheeled 316 Series model above, this Coleman cooler should meet the needs of many recreational campers, concert-goers, and tailgaters without breaking the bank. 

That said, as with any budget product, the Xtreme wheeled cooler makes a number of sacrifices to cut costs. First, the cooler is far less durable than premium roto- and injection-molded models (when testing them together, the cheap and lightweight materials were very noticeable). We also had trouble keeping the lid open while loading and unloading the cooler, which made the process fairly painstaking, and the plastic wheels struggle even on marginally bumpy paths. Finally, as we touched on above, we’ve found Coleman’s five-day ice retention claim to be overly optimistic (in practice, it’s been much shorter for us). But again, it’s hard to knock the bargain-basement price of the Xtreme wheeled cooler, which represents another strong value from Coleman. See the Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme w/ Wheels

Cooler Comparison Table

*Editor's note: This number represents claimed ice retention. In real-world use and depending on the specific circumstances, we've found these times to be quite a bit lower. More in our "Ice Retention and Cooling Capabilities" below.   

Cooler Buying Advice

Cooler construction: rotomolding vs. injection molding, cooler sizes (capacities).

  • Ice Retention and Cooling Capabilities

Weight and Portability

Wheeled (rolling) coolers, are expensive coolers worth it.

  • Cooler Latch and Closure Systems

Bear-Resistant Ratings

Cooler drain systems, accessories and add-ons.

  • Ice Types: Crushed, Blocks, Packs, or Dry

Cooler Warranties

  • Hard-Sided vs. Soft-Sided Coolers  

Construction techniques for premium hard-sided coolers fall into two types: rotational molding (rotomolding) and injection molding. Starting with rotomolding, this process was popularized by Yeti (although they technically weren’t the first to make a cooler in this way) and currently dominates the high end of the market. These types of coolers are made out of a single piece of continuous plastic that is rotated until it forms the desired shape. The advantages are fewer stress points (these coolers are less likely to crack under pressure) and a consistently thick outer shell, which translates to exceptional durability. Primary disadvantages are cost and weight. 

Cooler (latching YETI)

What about injection molding? These coolers are simply made by inserting hot plastic into a defined mold, given time to cool, and then removed. The process is simpler and cheaper than rotomolding and allows for greater precision because of the molded shapes. But they’re made with multiple pieces—unlike the single, uninterrupted form with rotomolding—which can lead to a drop in durability and added susceptibility to cracking. That being said, a high-end build like RTIC’s 52 QT Ultra-Light stacks up favorably to top rotomolded coolers in overall toughness. Many injection-molded designs also allow for various mounting locations for accessories like tables, cup holders, and cutting boards—something you don’t typically get with rotomolding.

If you're researching this, you may be wondering how the two designs differ in terms of overall cooling performance. All else being equal, a cooler's construction does not inherently affect ice retention. In other words, a premium injection-molded cooler should stack up favorably in terms of insulating abilities to a comparable rotomolded design. That said, because most high-end coolers utilize rotomolded builds, the two tend to correlate more often than not—a quick check of our list reveals that most rotomolded designs retain ice for about 10 days (based on manufacturer claims), while many injection-molded offerings come up well short at just 2 to 4. But again, there are exceptions to this rule: The aforementioned injection-molded RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light, for instance, is rated to keep ice frozen for up to eight days, while their rotomolded 45 QT Hard Cooler is listed at just four days.  

Before we jump in, there are a few considerations to note regarding sizing. Most importantly, not all coolers measure interior capacity in the same way. Some use cans as a unit of measure, while others use liters, quarts, or gallons. That said, quarts are what the majority of manufacturers list, and we’ve utilized that form of measurement throughout this article (when available). And a final note: Don’t be misled by the number in a product’s name. The Yeti Tundra 65 , for example, only boasts around a 60-quart capacity once you account for its thick walls.

Coolers (all together)

Medium: 35-55 Quarts Stepping up to the 35- to 55-quart range gets you an all-purpose model: These coolers are compact enough to squeeze into a loaded car trunk or truck bed, can typically be carried by one person, and don’t take up too much space on a boat or raft. In our testing, we found that 35-, 40-, or 45-quart coolers sufficed for groups of one to two for a couple days. If your party exceeds that, it’s worth bumping the capacity up to 55 quarts or higher for the same time frame. And if you plan to go on an extended outing or are traveling with a large group, you’ll want to check out the larger sizes below.

Cooler (carrying RTIC Ultra Light cooler to tent at camp)

Large: 55-75 Quarts As we touched on above, if you’re headed out with two or more people over multiple days, it’s worth packing a large cooler. It’s true that you’ll likely need a second person to help transport it to and from the car, but the upside is enough space to utilize a proper 2:1 ice-to-food ratio to maximize performance (we cover this in more detail below). In the 55- to 75-quart range, we like Yeti's Tundra 65 best: It has a great mix of storage capacity, ice retention, and features that should meet the needs of most small groups on extended weekends or larger families on overnight trips. But at more than 30 inches long and 16 inches high, it does take up a fair amount of space in a trunk or pickup bed.

Cooler (OtterBox Venture 65 size comparison)

If you are looking for maximum cooling power, premium rotomolded coolers from brands like Yeti, RTIC, and Orca are the clear leaders in keeping ice cold for long stretches. You definitely pay for the privilege, but you can expect multiple days of cold temperatures and solid ice in your cooler with these high-end offerings, and that time goes down as you move toward cheaper hard-sided coolers and soft-sided designs (we cover the latter in more detail below). If you need ice for extended periods (we’re thinking of you, rafters and multi-day campers), the cost is worth it. But for those on day trips or shorter overnight outings with access to new ice, an inexpensive cooler like the Coleman 316 Series or Igloo Ecocool is a fine option.

For those who plan to carry or move their cooler with any regularity, weight should be an important consideration. Even when empty, hard-sided options weigh anywhere from 10-15 pounds for low-capacity models up to 50+ pounds for premium designs with 75+ quarts of storage. Once loaded down with ice, food, and beverages, that number skyrockets. And despite including carry handles, they're simply too hefty to travel with for long distances. If portability is a priority, we recommend looking at options with wheels, such as RovR’s RollR 60 or Igloo’s Trailmate Journey . Although these units still are decidedly hefty (the RovR is around 40 lb. while the Igloo is just under 35), the wheels make them much easier and less cumbersome to transport for extended periods, even just for one person.

Coolers (hard-sided)

Many of the top hard-sided coolers are listed as bear-resistant, which is a worthwhile consideration should you be camping in bear country. Specifically, you should look for an IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee) rating, which designates that a certain cooler has gone through the appropriate testing and been deemed compliant with the organization’s regulations. However, not all coolers listed as bear-resistant carry this certification—you can see a full list of certified coolers here . If you frequent the backcountry or will be traveling where bear-proof gear is required, make sure your cooler is on the list.

Most of the hard-sided coolers on our list have drainage systems to help you empty out water once your ice has melted. Typically, this comes in the form of a screw-on or pop-off cap at the base of the cooler—simply take it off and let the water pour out. Some also boast drainage channels that funnel water through the opening, which is a nice touch for helping with the clean-up process. Yeti's Roadie 24 and Pelican’s 20QT Elite are two notable exceptions that don’t come with drain plugs, which can make dumping out extra water a bit of a hassle. However, given these coolers’ smaller capacities, most users will be restocking the contents frequently anyway.

Cooler (drain plug water)

Hard-Sided vs. Soft-Sided Coolers

Speaking of soft-sided coolers: We exclusively cover hard-sided units above, but if need a simple and portable option for road trips or day use, a soft-sided design can be a viable alternative. Soft-sided models don’t offer the same ice retention as hard-sided coolers—typically ranging from one to three days—but typically weigh around 5 pounds or less, are more portable and often collapsible, and come in much cheaper. Some also boast padded, backpack-style straps and exterior storage for easily shuttling longer distances. However, in addition to less ice retention, soft-sided coolers are inherently less durable than hard-sided options and often are only offered in smaller capacities. Some of our favorite designs include the RTIC Soft Pack series, REI Co-op Cool Haul 18 , AO Coolers 24 Pack Canvas, and Hydro Flask Day Escape. For a full breakdown on the topic, see our articles on the best soft coolers and best backpack coolers . Back to Our Top Cooler Picks   Back to Our Cooler Comparison Table

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7 Best Coolers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We melted popsicles in top coolers in sweltering heat. See which ones passed the test!

food cooler for travel

Related To:

food cooler for travel

Our Top Cooler Picks

  • Best Overall: Yeti Tundra Haul
  • Best Value: RTIC 20 Hard Cooler

Best Budget Cooler: Coleman 48 Quart Cooler

Best soft cooler: rtic soft cooler 20.

  • Another Top Soft Cooler: Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler

Best Personal Cooler: Igloo Playmate

Best extra-large cooler: yeti tundra 65 hard cooler.

Tested by Madison Papp for Food Network Kitchen

If you are a fan of summer fun, the great outdoors, and drinks and snacks that stay artic-cold on the hottest of days, a sturdy cooler is a must-have. However, not all coolers reign supreme. Thus, we’ve rolled up our sleeves and tested the most tried and true of coolers in tough summer heat.

This article has been reviewed since its original publish date for accuracy, pricing and availability.

What Makes a Great Cooler

All coolers do their best when they are lined with ice packs, insulation materials, or large blocks of ice. If you want the coldest of coolers, these are all great hacks. But what about a cooler that simply takes your favorite frozen treats as-is and keeps them that way, in 90-degree heat, with the sun baking down?

Before we go into our results and top performers, here's what makes a cooler, a great cooler.

  • Sturdy Handles: Yes, you will fill it up to the brim with chilly treats and, without sturdy handles, walking your cooler to the beach or from the car to campsite on a scorching and sunny day will not be fun.
  • Wheels: Wheels are essential on larger models. To handle a mega-cooler, you'll want wheels and a solid handle to get it to and from your location.
  • Weight: In our testing, the heavier the cooler, the better the insulation and thus better results. This also bore true for the range of mini coolers we tested. The heavier-duty mini models crushed the lightweights on melt time and temperature control.
  • Temperature Control: The best coolers will maintain the temperature of whatever you put in them.

How We Tested

If you really want to test the strength of a cooler, we found that it would be counter-intuitive to pack it with ice, especially when coolers of different shapes and sizes were going head-to-head. Ice packed into a cooler will feed off the surrounding ice and stay colder, longer. So, the question remains: Is the ice keeping your favorite frosty treats, or is your cooler actually doing its job?

We tested 10 well-reviewed coolers of varying shapes, sizes and materials. We purchased bunches of the classic multicolored and multi-flavored summer treat: Fun Pops. We chose this popsicle for our cooler testing because they easily go from liquid to solid and back to liquid, while keeping a uniform shape. This would allow for an easy measurement in our test.

We added a total of 15 popsicles to each cooler and let the sun, the heat, and our top 10 cooler picks take care of the rest. When entering this experiment, we were prepared to let the popsicles slowly melt for days on end. However, the test only lasted 5 hours with the cooler sitting on hot sandy gravel in 90-plus degree heat. The coolers received direct sunlight, without shade. Basically, we delivered the perfect hot and sunny beach day to put these coolers to the test.

How We Picked the Top Coolers

The Igloo Playmate and the Coleman FlipLid barely lasted one hour before turning into slush. We think this was due to the hot sandy gravel beneath the surface of the cooler which subsequently heated the floor of each cooler. This environment would be similar to hot sand at the beach and thus we hypothesize that these coolers would fare better with a similar outdoor temperature in the shade on sitting on a blanket or towel.

In our soft cooler categories, the popsicles in the Clevermade lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes before the appearance of slush and melt took over. The Yeti Hopper Flip and The RTIC Soft Cooler 20 saw full melt after 3 hours. However, after five hours, the popsicles were still cold in both the Flip and RTIC. This led us to conclude that these coolers would be solid options for storing frozen water bottles, and letting them slowly melt throughout the day for guaranteed cold water at the end of a long day of hiking. The frozen water bottles could also act as ice packs for other snacks!

The Coleman 48 lasted about 2 hours in our test conditions while the Igloo Max 50 lasted 2.5 hours. Still, the popsicles in the Coleman 48 quickly turned to room temperature when melted while the popsicles in the Igloo Max 50 stayed cool yet liquified for up to four hours. The RTIC tested similarly to the Igloo Max 50 with the popsicles staying cold for 3.25 hours.

Our top winners in the popsicle test were the Yeti Tundra 65 and the Yeti Tundra Haul. The Yeti Tundra Haul however outperformed the 65 by 15 minutes, each melting after 4 hours. Curious, we let the popsicles sit for an additional 2 hours. At this point all the popsicles returned to room temperature except for the popsicles in the two large Yeti Coolers.

food cooler for travel

Best Overall: Yeti Tundra Haul Hard Cooler

In terms of performance, this was the best cooler we tested. After 4 hours in the hot sun, our ice pops only just began to melt. This means that this cooler functions well in hot conditions at different capacities. The product has a solid drainage system and a handle which makes wheeling this heavier model a breeze. This cooler is an investment piece at $400. But, if heavy duty tailgating or camping is in your future, this may be the cooler for you.

food cooler for travel

Best Value Cooler: RITC 20 Hard Cooler

This model has a sleek design which honestly we would display in a cute corner of our home. Like larger models it has a drain, and will hold up to 20 quarts. Now our favorite feature it’s the leak-proof seal in its lid. We filled this performance-built cooler with water and shook it in a few directions with zero leaks! At $200, it is certainly an investment and it is heavy for its size. Still, cushioning on the handle helps when carrying this sturdy option to any locale.

food cooler for travel

This cooler claims to keep ice cold for up to three days, but a few frozen popsicles melted within four hours of sitting in the sun in this cooler. That being said, stocking the cooler with plenty of ice for a backyard barbecue will yield better results. Plus, you can’t beat the price. Although we tested popsicles, we figured that filling such a large cooler with ice will get heavy. To make spillage clean-up or removing ice melt a breeze, this cooler has a drain! Plus at the 48 quart capacity it was the most lightweight of all the coolers tested in the large category.

food cooler for travel

This cooler is plenty chic and at $125, it’s worth the investment. It comes in a range of fun colors and honestly it tested on-par with the Yeti and rocked an easy leakproof zipper (we tested it). We let some water spill in the bottom and turned it upside down and were excited to find that none of the water spilled! Other smaller models on the market do not come with this handy seal and if you plan to drive winding roads, take this compact cooler along trusting that your precious cargo will stay cool and any spillage will stay within the walls of the cooler.

food cooler for travel

Another Great Soft Cooler: Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler

Is it pricey? Sure, at $250 this cooler is an investment piece. But boy, is it amazing. Not only did it rival and out-perform larger coolers in our popsicle test, it’s stylish too. Plus, its seamless interior makes for an easy clean. The only drawback is that the zipper is strong and needs a solid tug to open and close. It doesn’t collapse like other models, but it is still small enough to make packing for an outdoor gathering a breeze. Now, unlike the heavier duty models on this list, we still recommend bringing additional insulation for hotter days and longer periods of time in the sun.

food cooler for travel

The sun was a solid match for this chic red mini cooler. It holds a six pack, which is ideal for a quick beach trip. However, we recommend you pack this cooler with ice. Within an hour atop hot sand and in the hot sun, our freshly frozen Fun Pops melted back to well below room temperature. Still, this cooler would work for a quick trip outdoors or perhaps a sunset sail. Plus, it is compact, holding just four quarts. As for style, we give this cooler a 10 out of 10. Not only does it come in a chic red, but browse the Igloo website and you will see a variety of shades and styles.

food cooler for travel

In our popsicle melt test, this cooler came in second to its sibling the Yeti Tundra Haul. It is a lighter-weight model for its size, carrying a 65 quart capacity. We also liked the cute basket inside the model which helps separate the cold and condensation-forward items from the items you want to keep cold and dry. Also, for heavy-duty campers in bear country this model also boasts that it is bear-proof. We also like the model’s signature T-Rex latches which are not easy to break and bust (trust us, we tried). All the larger Yeti models come with these seals and are definitely a perk if you are going all in on this $375 model.

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Live A Wilder Life

THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP FOOD LIST: 50 Scrumptious Travel Snacks

Post Summary: The definitive road trip food list with 50 snack ideas and meals to keep you happy the entire car ride. Plus, tips for what else to bring and recommendations for the best road trip coolers.

Road trips are the classic adventure that everyone needs to do at least once in their life, whether you’re traveling solo, with your best buds, or packing in the whole family. What’s the secret to a great road trip? Besides having your maps already downloaded to your phone (travel must #1), it’s to have a collection of the best road trip food at your disposal. Being prepared with good travel food will ensure you don’t:

  • Kill your travel mates because you’re hangry.
  • Get killed by your travel mates because they’re hangry.
  • Get lured in by every gasoline stop and somehow end up with bright orange Cheetos and Slim Jims.
  • Waste your travel budget dining on Subway and Wendys road trip meals.

After road tripping with a toddler for half a year around the US, we’ve figured out the ultimate road trip food list so we can enjoy the journey together feeling nourished and happy. Our list includes road trip food ideas for adults and kids as well as healthy car snacks.

After the road trip food list, we’ve included non-food items you’ll want to bring and some tips on choosing the best road trip cooler.

Need More Road Trip Tips? Check out our other articles below:

The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: 41 Essentials For The Road 160 Fun, Deep, and Sometimes Silly Road Trip Questions 41 Fun and Challenging Road Trip Trivia Questions 17+ Fun Things To Do On A Road Trip How To Survive A Road Trip With A Toddler 40 Must Have Items To Have In Your Camper

*This road trip food list post may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you purchase from them. This is at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely think are helpful.

The Ultimate Road Trip Food List

prepared food on top of a map

Healthy snacks for a road trip

We’ll start with healthy snacks for the road. I don’t know about you, but when we go on road trips, we tend to fall back on fast food and junk food. In an effort to have a quasi healthy road trip we make sure to include some healthy options so we can at least feel like we’ve balanced out all our snickers bars and Wendy’s frosties. Here’s our list of the best road trip foods that won’t leave you feeling sluggish at the end of the day. We also added in a few recommendations of some of our favorite brands.

Healthy Snacks For Car Rides 1. Fruit: Bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, apples, oranges 2. Sliced veggies: carrots, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, pickles, radishes 3. Cherry tomatoes 4. Olives (buy the pitted kinds) 5. Salsa 6. Deli sandwiches or wraps (already made from home or pre-purchased) 7. A simple charcuterie spread (summer sausage, pepperoni, sliced cheese, dried apricots, olives, crackers, etc.) 8. Popcorn 9. Yellow corn chips, blue corn chips, kale chips 10. Granola Bars and Energy Bars ( Munk Bars are our favorite! ) 11. Dried Fruit 12. Crackers (cheese crackers, saltines, whole wheat crackers, these almond crackers are my favorite!) 13. Pretzels 14. Nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews, macadamia, walnuts, pecans) 15. Trail mix 16. Tuna (Get the kind that doesn’t need to be refrigerated! It can become a snack on crackers, a sandwich, or added to a salad) 17. Coconut chips ( Dang chips are our favorite. ) 18. Dark chocolate 19. Wasabi peas 20. Fruit leather 21. Whole-grain muffins 22. Bread (pretzel rolls, pita bread) 23. Water (Preferably in a water bottle like a Hydro Flask that will keep your water cold for hours.) *The following are all still healthy snacks for a road trip but will require a cooler. Skip them if you are going sans cooler. Further down, we’ll talk about the best road trip coolers. 23. Hard-boiled eggs 24. Small yogurt containers or drinkable yogurts 25. Humus 26. Guacamole 27. Pasta salad 28. Lentil salad 29. Grocery store salad kits (Can be eaten out of the bag! Just cut the top, pour in the salad dressing, and shake it away. You can also opt to do salads in a jar) 30. Cheese

Essential Road Trip Snacks

Pile of potato chips for a road trip

These road trip snacks might not be the healthiest, but look…you can’t always be perfect!

Road Trip Snack List 32. Beef Jerky 33. Chips 34. Fun candy (Any kind of candy that brings you joy for your road trip. Gummy bears, reeses pieces, airheads) 35. Ranch dip to go with your healthy veggies 36. Fun drinks (Just make sure the drink is able to be resealed or small enough that you’ll drink it all quickly. My favorite road trip drink is coconut water!) 37. Cookies

Road Trip Snacks For Kids And Toddlers

While we don’t put a distinction between road trip food for the adults and road trip food for kids, here are some fun ideas you can add in addition to the travel food listed above. We found that allowing for leniency with what we let our kid snack on will mean a more fun time for everyone in the car.

Road Trip Snacks For Toddlers and Kids 38. String Cheese or Babybels 39. Peanut butter pretzels 40. Clementines 41. Squeezable applesauce 42. Squeezable nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter) 43. Graham crackers 44. Goldfish 45. Fruit snacks 46. Fruit roll ups 47. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich 48. Dry cereal 49. Nutella 50. Snap pea crisps ( I love the wasabi ones from Harvest Snaps . I can only get them online because my grocery store never has them!)

Essential Non Food Items

Utensils and napkins for a road trip

Now that you’ve got your travel food and made your road trip food list, let’s talk about non food items to have on your road trip packing list. We are both advocates for minimal waste living so we do advise using reusable items like real utensils, glass containers, and reusable straws rather than single-use items. I know it can feel like a nuisance, but once you get used to doing it, it’s easy to integrate it into your habits. We’ve provided links to different products, so you can check out some good options.

-Trash bags (old shopping bags work well) – Stackable glass or plastic containers (While glass may feel like a hazard, I find that most of them are built for endurance and would require some extreme throwing around to actually break. Either way, bringing containers rather than an entire bag of snacks is a great space saver.) -Reusable straws (we like this multipack option here ) -Bento boxes (another option is to make individual bento boxes with everyone’s preferred snacks put in. It’s essentially a healthier version of a Lunchable. Great option if you’re traveling with kids.) Check out these cute bento boxes here . -Utensils -Plates -Paper towels -Hand sanitizer -Ziplock bags -Wipes -Cups if you want to share drinks -Ice packs for the cooler (We prefer to use reusable ice packs like these , but frozen water bottles or ice cubes in a ziplock back will do the job as well.) -Reusable grocery bag to carry your non-perishable stuff -Plastic tub (If you’re going on a long road trip and will have lots of snacks, a good option is to pack all your non-perishable items in a tub like this .) -Cooler

Related : A Comprehensive Guide To the Best Toddler Carriers For Traveling

Best Road Trip Coolers

food cooler for travel

If you’re going on a long road trip, you’ll definitely want to bring a cooler so you can have more options for the journey. Things to consider when deciding what kind of road trip cooler to bring.

  • How much space will you have in your car?
  • How many days will you be driving and subsequently how much food will you need?
  • Cost of the cooler
  • If you road trip or camp a lot and will use a cooler several times a year.

Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler

YETI Roadie 24 Cooler, Tan

Our choice for the best road trip cooler is the Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler . It’s a mid-sized cooler that can fit a bottle of wine standing upright. We like its lightweight design and that its compact size can fit on the ground behind the passenger seat.

It has a mid-range price point, so if you are wanting something more economical, you’ll probably want our next pick.

Igloo MaxCold Cooler

Igloo Maxcold 40-100 Qt Commercially Insulated Coolers

If all you need is a no-frills cooler to keep your food cold, the Igloo Maxcold Cooler is a great option. The thin design also makes it a great choice for someone wanting to save room in the car.

Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze

Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler - 30 Can Zipperless Hardbody Cooler - Navy Blue with Deep Freeze Insulation, HardBody Liner, and SmartShelf

If you like a soft cooler, the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze consistently offers the best bang for your buck.

Yeti Tundra 45

YETI Tundra 45 Cooler, Navy

Lastly, if you are wanting a high-end cooler that will be great for camping and can take the wear and tear of consistent use, the Yeti Tundra 45 is your best bet. Yeti is the reigning champion of coolers and you can’t go wrong with anything you purchase from them.

Before you head out on your epic road trip, we suggest packing the night before. Alleviating as much stress as possible on the day you leave, especially when you’re doing a road trip with a toddler , is key to enjoying the road trip journey. We find that the night before, it’s best to:

  • Wash, cut, and peel all vegetables and fruit.
  • Pack up all non perishable food and supplies.
  • Prepare any road trip sandwiches you plan to eat.

Lastly, don’t forget to make sure all your tasty road trip snacks are within reaching distance in the car.

We hope you enjoyed our complete road trip food list. Happy road tripping!

** For more road trip inspiration follow us on Instagram . We travel… a lot.

NEED SOME TRAVEL INSPIRATION? A Complete Guide To A Utah National Parks Road Trip How To Plan A Cross Country Road Trip + Fun Routes To Take 10 National Parks To Visit In The East 50 Family Bucket List Experiences In The US

PIN IT FOR LATER

food cooler for travel

Hi, we’re Christina and Brad, Idaho based writers and photographers who live to explore. We did a short stint of traveling full time with our two year old and discovered we're much happier as part time nomads. What does that mean? We travel a lot! And then we go home. We love helping fellow parents and everyday adventurers discover new places and experiences.

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GRAND TETON WITH KIDS: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO AN EPIC FAMILY ADVENTURE

GRAND TETON WITH KIDS: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO AN EPIC FAMILY ADVENTURE

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Road Trip Food List: Easy to Pack Meals & Snacks

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy .

Are you looking for a road trip food list that includes the best road trip snacks and other food to bring on a road trip?

Road trips can range from being budget-friendly to out-of-this-world expensive if you do not plan ahead, especially when it comes to eating food.

The temptation to grab a snack at every gas station, as well as to eat out at restaurants or gorge on fast food, can really start to add up in terms of money and wasted time.

One way to save money and time while road tripping, however, is to bring your own food!

By making a road trip food list and packing fun road trip snacks, you’ll avoid having to stop and spend as much.

Our road trip food list includes easy road trip snacks, as well as portable breakfast, lunch, and dinner options – plus, a FREE Road Trip Food List printable to take with you to the grocery store.

The links on this page are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Road trip foods, yogurt parfait

Table of Contents

Road Trip Food List: Breakfast

One of our absolute best family road trip tips is to leave bright and early in the morning when starting a long road trip.

As the most important meal of the day, luckily, having breakfast on the road is the easiest meal to eat cold and on the go.

If you decide to hit the road early, or if your hotel en route doesn’t offer a free breakfast, plan ahead by bringing along these simple road trip breakfast foods.

Our tried-and-true road trip food list awaits!

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

  • Yogurt tubes and granola bars
  • Muffins, donuts, and scones
  • Bagels and cream cheese
  • Squeezable applesauce
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • Peanut butter, banana, and granola wrapped up in a tortilla
  • Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits

Additional planning tip: For added morning fun, use the category “breakfast foods”, “brands or cereal”, or “types of fruit” while you play a road trip word game .

Road trip food, colorful sandwich

Road Trip Food List: Lunch

When it comes to planning for lunch and beyond, your road trip packing list should always include a reliable portable cooler .

Whether you chill made-ahead sandwiches, salami & cheese, fruits, or veggies, there are so many awesome road trip food ideas when it comes to having lunch on the go.

What we love about these road tip lunch ideas is that they keep us out of congested cities and fast-food drive-thrus during the busy noon hour.

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

  • Premade sandwiches with deli meat and cheese (make them extra fun by using shaped sandwich cutters !)
  • Peanut butter sandwiches (skip the jelly to avoid sogginess)
  • Pita pocket with mozzarella, tomato, basil, turkey, cheese, hummus, cucumber, and/or tuna salad
  • Home-ade Lunchables with summer sausage, cheese, and crackers
  • Tortilla with cream cheese, sliced olives, and pepperoni
  • Veggies and single-serve packs of ranch dressing, hummus, or guacamole
  • Pre-assembled Salad In A Jar

Road Trip Food List: Dinner

If there is one meal that you choose to splurge on, I recommend stopping to have dinner at a roadside restaurant or cafe.

Though this may not be your final destination, experiencing another city in this way will help you check more places off of your family travel bucket list !

If you’re not keen on stopping, however, here are the road trip foods we enjoy that are tasty and hearty enough to serve as dinner.

Road trip salad

Road Trip Dinner Ideas

  • Cold rotisserie chicken, chunked and served with a garden salad (package in a disposable salad container )
  • Pre-made pasta salad, such as Pizza Pasta Salad
  • StarKist ready-to-eat tuna salad in an avocado half or on a bun
  • Chicken and pickled veggies in pitas
  • Hummus veggie wrap

Additional planning tip: If you’re road tripping in the winter when driving conditions are much more unpredictable, packing extra road trip food is an essential component of your winter road trip packing list .

The best Road Trip Food List from Top U.S. family travel blog, Travel With A Plan!

Road Trip Food List: Snacks

In my opinion, snacks   are the No. 1 way to keep everyone (including you!) happy on a family road trip.

Homemade snack mixes and individual pre-purchased snacks are also a great way to help cut costs associated with buying food on the road.

For this reason, I suggest assembling an entire tub filled with fun and appetizing snacks and surprises that you know your kids will love.

We use these  16-quart storage tubs from Sterilite  that are the perfect size, price, and durability!

Road Trip Snacks Ideas

  • Chips and pretzels
  • Animal crackers (Suprise them with Barnum’s Originals !)
  • Filled crackers (peanut butter, cheese)
  • Nuts (cashews, almonds, peanuts)
  • String cheese, Babybel, Laughing Cow cheese wedges
  • Fresh or dried fruit
  • Healthy no-bake cookies
  • Candy and gummy candy

Be extra organized for your family road trip by clicking the following image to get your FREE family vacation packing list that is both customizable and printable!

Road Trip Food

Travel Snacks for Toddlers

Road tripping with toddlers presents its own set of challenges and requires additional thought when it comes to toddler-friendly road trip activities and food.

(It’s much harder to keep a close eye on them when they’re in the backseat, and you’re in the front.)

When considering toddler road trip foods, the most important thing is to avoid giving them anything to eat that could be deemed a choking hazard.

In addition, opt for healthy versus overly sweet options that may give them a tummy ache.

Our favorite healthy toddler car snacks and road trip foods include:

  • Graham crackers
  • Snap pea crisps
  • Applesauce and/or yogurt pouches
  • Cheese sticks
  • Soft mini muffins
  • Whole-grain crackers
  • Bananas and/or this apple slices

Road trip sick bag essentials

9 Essential Tips For Traveling With Food

As seasoned travelers, we’ve assembled a list of tips for traveling with road trip foods and make-ahead hotel room meals.

  • Use up your most delicate fruit first when on long-haul road trips.

In other words, start by eating bananas and berries, then move on to more sturdy produce such as apples and oranges that don’t spoil as easily.

2. Every family needs an organized packing strategy !

When it comes to road trip food, tortillas, pitas, or other sturdy flatbreads work better to bring along than do loaves of bread. They take up a lot less room and do not risk getting smashed.

3. When packing a cooler with items that need to stay chilled, be sure to lay the ice on the top, versus the bottom of the cooler.

This is because cold air sinks and will, therefore, disperse itself more evenly if laid on top of the food.

4. Aim to open the cooler only 1 or 2 times a day in order to maintain its refrigeration and keep the ice from thawing.

5. Also, make all food, including snacks, easily accessible throughout the duration of your family road trip.

This prevents someone (likely mom or dad!) from having to constantly bend over the back seat or stop to open the trunk every time hunger or boredom hits.

6. Avoid bringing anything made of glass on your road trip, including glass food containers. Glass is heavy, bulky, and very dangerous when broken within the confines of your family vehicle.

7. Assemble and bring along a road trip kit with the following road trip essentials for spills, clean-ups, and car sickness:

  • Anti-bacterial wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Garbage bags
  • Ziplock bags
  • Napkins/paper towels
  • Saltine crackers and motion sickness medicine

8. Each time you stop while on a road trip, don’t forget to pitch any garbage that has accumulated.

This prevents build-up and smelliness.

9. Head to the grocery store with our FREE printable checklist and purchase all of your road trip food in one shopping trip!

Road tripping is one of our favorite family vacations!  Get our awesome road trip food list that includes ideas for meals and snacks on-the-go and a printable checklist to take to the grocery store!  #roadtripfoodlist #bestroadtripfoods #roadtripsnackideas #toddlerroadtripsnacks #healthyroadtripsnacks #roadtripmeals

If you enjoyed reading our best Road Trip Food List , click here to check out our Related Posts:

  • Top 10 Tips for Planning a Family Road Trip (And Enjoying it Too!)
  • 7 Road Trip Word Games to Play in the Car With Kids
  • 18 Amazing “Are We There Yet” Road Trip Activity Bags
  • Top 16 Tips for Flying With Kids & Ways to Keep them Calm
  • The Ultimate Guide for International Travel with Kids
  • 8 (Unexpected) Benefits of Traveling With Kids

*Before leaving, be sure to check our  Travel Resources Page  to find our exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

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Jen Brommer is a family travel expert. She has been featured as an authority on several notable travel websites and is a member of the Family Travel Association (FTA), Midwest Travel Network, and TravMedia global media network.

A prominent content creator and influencer on Instagram, Jen has over 150K unique monthly blog readers from countries all over the world. She has spent the last 16 years planning fun, and hassle-free family vacations for her family of 5.

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Thank you for the road trip food list and travel tips.

You’re welcome! Was there something you saw that you hadn’t thought of before? Happy travels!!

This is a great list as we also big in road trip. Snacks is so important especially to keep them from asking are we there yet. Haha… I myself like peanuts to keep me awake when it’s my turn to drive.

Thanks for reading and for sharing your favorite road trip snack!!

This is such a comprehensive list and it is so helpful as I predict a lot of us will be going on more road trips once we can. Prepping these meals will definitely save some money and help the kids feel less bored. I know that my kids are usually pleased munching stuffs during road trips. I also like that it is more likely for the road trip snack to be more healthier than what you’ll buy elsewhere.

Thank you! Yes, the health factor of pre-packing is a big one, as is the enormous cost savings 🙂

I like to have a good mix of healthy (kids like apples, those are easy to eat) and snacky/salty. I am also very particular. about road trip drinks. Big coffees, la croix, iced tea!

I like your ideas! We’d be good road trip buddies!

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The 7 Best Coolers for All Your Chilling Purposes

Our top performers feature portability, durability, and leak protection.

In This Article

Jump to a Section

  • Our top picks

Our Favorite

Factors to consider, other coolers we tested, our expertise.

Food & Wine / Dera Burreson

Every household needs a reliable cooler, whether for keeping things cool at hot summer barbecues or a little bit of extra cold storage for holiday gatherings. So, we imagined nearly every scenario while choosing the best coolers on the market, from a tailgate to a picnic . So many ice coolers range from backpack style to design-forward pieces that can double as a bona fide seat. Regardless of their shape and extra features, they must keep things at the right temperature, not leak when stuffed with ice and perishables, and be easy to handle with the rest of your gear.

To test the best coolers, we looked for peak insulation performance, the seal's tightness for said cooling and leak protection, overall durability during various situations, and how easy it was to open and handle for one person or two. These coolers took a bruising as we put them through essential tasks such as balancing a beverage in one hand and maneuvering an ice chest along the beach or rolling wheeled versions along the asphalt. We even performed a drop test with our contenders to mimic real-life conditions. Read on for the reasoning behind our selections and our favorite ice coolers on the market.

Best Overall

Rtic 52-quart ultra-light cooler.

It has an incredible cooling ability, with plenty of ice still intact after a full day.

The ropes on the handle are sometimes awkward, and it is hard to lift alone.

The RTIC Ultra-Light 52-Quart Ice Chest is a superior cooler across the board, and the best overall on our list. It's the perfect size for most cooler needs, from backyard barbecues to beach days. The interior has both a divided bin and a removable wire basket so you can easily separate the contents. Food remained nice and cold, with the interior temperature holding at a cool 32 degrees on a hot day. The RITC insulated so well that much of the ice barely melted during our tests, and every can was still cold after 24 hours. The tight seal means that the ice chest does not leak when tipped. While the design of the rope handles might make it difficult to lift the cooler alone, it's helpful for two to move it around. Even better news? RTIC released a wheeled version of this cooler this summer, and we love it as a more portable solution if you find yourself toting a large cooler on the go. Capacity: 49.2 liters | Weight: 40.12 pounds | Can capacity, with ice: 78

Food & Wine / Henry Wortock

Best Large Capacity

Orca 140-quart cooler.

Orcacoolers

The cooler is very sturdy and holds an impressive amount of cans.

Due to its size and lack of wheels, two people need to move or lift it.

Our editors loved the capacity of the huge Orca 140-Quart that holds a whopping 68 cans with ice. Since it is one of the most oversized coolers on our roundup, it requires handling assistance. You will need another person's help loading it, keeping the top open, moving it, and draining it. This cooler is heavy when empty, but the chest feels incredibly solid and can easily be used as a seat. It has a superior cooling ability — we found the temperature increased barely one degree in 24 hours. It was also difficult to tip over and didn't scratch easily. The latches were challenging to close, but there was no water or ice spillage. It's the perfect cooler to use as a second fridge or cold storage for an event. Capacity: 132.4 liters | Weight: 64 pounds | Can capacity, with ice: 68

Best Rugged

Igloo 70 qt premium trailmate wheeled rolling cooler.

The cool and functional design features make it versatile. It holds ice well and keeps drinks cold, even after 24 hours.

It has no latches, so the lid will open if it tips over.

This Igloo Trailmate 70-Quart is one of the best wheeled coolers we've tested. It's perfect for outdoorsy types who want helpful design features such as a snap-on holder for umbrellas or fishing poles, two bottle openers on each side, drink holders, a basket inside the cooler, and a removable tray with two cup holders. The cooler has an excellent handlebar that pulls up and makes it easy to maneuver the wheels over rough terrain. It holds ice well and keeps things cold all day long. During our drop test, the cooler came open because it has no latch, which also means it leaks when tipped over. It is heavy when it's full and is difficult to lift if the top is loaded with more gear, but the wheels solve for portability. It's one of the best cooler options for campers and beachgoers. Capacity: 66.2 liters | Weight: 34.7 pounds | Can capacity, with ice: 73

Best for Picnics

The get out cooler bag.

The Get Out

The shoulder straps are comfortable, and the ice chest cools very well.

The pocket is pretty useless and doesn't even fit a phone.

The Get Out Cooler Bag was a favorite for us for many reasons. The retro-looking backpack has a funky design, but the bag's features are for the modern user. The insulation exceeds expectations for a backpack style. While there isn't a ton of ice left after 24 hours, the temperature only dropped by 2.6 degrees and was still at a food-safe temperature. Since it keeps food cool and can also fit a wine bottle, this is the perfect backpack-style cooler for a picnic. The soft-sided cooler is also comfortable on the shoulders, and the zipper is easy to use, which isn't always the case with similar cooler styles. Capacity: 15.1 liters | Weight: 6 pounds | Can capacity, with ice: 12

Best Splurge

Yeti tundra 65 cooler.

It makes a comfortable seat and can act as a small table at a campsite.

It is hard for one person to handle alone, and it got scuffed in the drop test.

Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler is a superstar from performance to design. The T-shaped latches fit into molded latch keepers, so the lid stays closed. The latches are durable, and the seals shut the cooler to a freezer-quality level to minimize air exchange. While this isn't the cooler for solo travelers since four hands are needed to manage it, it's the perfect splurge for a family that often goes tailgating, camping, or to the beach. We love that it is so durable that it can double as a table or a seat. It's easy to transport it from place to place, thanks to the solid handles on each side, and it held up well during our drop and leak tests. The cooler lost half its ice in 24 hours, but the temperature only increased to 2.2 degrees, so we know it will keep perishables cold for days. Capacity: 32.9 liters | Weight: 29 pounds | Can capacity, with ice: 17

Best Softside

Bluu cooler.

It is comfortable to carry and durable when handled roughly.

The zipper can be finicky, but they provide lubricant.

The Bluu Softside Leakproof 35-Quart Cooler is one of our favorite soft-sided coolers . We love the size and durability and noticed there wasn't a single scratch after our table drop test. In the padded backpack format, the Bluu is incredibly comfortable to carry for a long time, even at total capacity. It cools well, but note that this is not the best for a long trip because the internal temperature rises noticeably after 24 hours— it's better for day trips and picnics. Some owners report that the zipper can stick, but reviewers note that the company is quick with customer service turnaround and provides lubrication for the zipper, which will ease over time. Capacity: 33.1 liters | Weight: 7.11 pounds | Can capacity, with ice: 11

Best Backpack Cooler

Hydro flask escape soft cooler.

This cooler backpack is lightweight and has superior insulation for hiking and day trips.

It's smaller than most standard coolers, so not ideal for packing for a big group.

The Hydro Flask Escape Cooler's leakproof construction and padded shoulder straps make it the ultimate backpack cooler for anyone heading into the great outdoors. Choose between the 20-liter backpack version or the 18 or 26-liter shoulder bag, depending on your packing needs. The molded base ensures the bag won't topple over wherever you set it down, but the soft construction makes it easy to pack and store when needed. The brand offers several trendy color options, and the bag is easy to wipe clean. Capacity:  20 liters | Weight:  2.63 pounds | Can capacity: 16

Overall, our tests showed that the RTIC Ultra-Light 52-Quart Ice Chest was the best for both performance and appearance. A close second with some of the highest scores across our test subjects was the Bluu Softside Leakproof 35-Quart Cooler , our choice for Best Softside.

When it comes to coolers, you have every style imaginable, from hard-sided, to soft-sided, to tote style, and even floating coolers . Depending on how you intend to use your cooler, these tend to have different cooling capacities and duration. If you want things to stay cold the longest, especially if you need them to stay cold for food safety over long periods of time or in hot conditions, a hard-sided cooler with a tightly sealed lid and good insulation will be your best bet. If you just need to get something from point A to point B, or for a short day trip, you can often get away with a soft-sided cooler or hamper or even an insulated tote-style cooler.

Capacity will always be one of the main things to consider when purchasing a cooler. It will be important to think about how much internal volume will be taken up with ice or ice packs when deciding how large a cooler you might need. Remember that it is the inside capacity that is the most important, for some coolers, there can be as much as a three- to four-inch-thick insulation wall, so the exterior dimensions can be misleading. Finally, consider the overall size in terms of transportation. Do you need to be able to carry it alone? Put it on your bike? While a huge cooler might fit in your car or on your boat, will you be able to lift it when it is full? Sometimes you might be better off with two smaller, more manageable coolers rather than one huge one for better flexibility.

Coolers can range from truly inexpensive to wildly pricy, so some of these choices will come down to budget. Having said that, it is one of the areas where some of the high-end products really do perform in ways that simply outshine their less costly competitors. So, some of your decision-making should involve how often you need to use a cooler and under what sort of conditions. It might be that making a larger initial investment will ultimately serve you better. This is especially true if you are going to rely on a cooler to keep perishable food at safe temperatures. If you mostly want to keep your beer cold, you can achieve that with a cheap cooler. But if you don't want everyone at the family reunion to get food poisoning from the warm potato salad, you might want to invest a bit more in your own peace of mind.

After researching the best in the market, our experts worked through a rigorous testing process with 48 coolers in every form and function one can imagine. We simulated the way one might use an ice cooler in everyday life. Cooling was a primary concern, so we performed multiple steps to measure cooling ability with ice and cans, taking the temperature after specific periods. We lifted the coolers full of ice and cans to feel how easy they were for people to handle and tipped them on their sides to see if they leaked, and knocked them off raised surfaces to see if the lids popped open. Although many coolers performed well, the ice coolers we selected are designed to impress with extra fun features and comfort, which made them stand out from the competition.

Strong Contenders

  • Pelican 20-Quart Elite Cooler ( Amazon )
  • Cabela's Polar Cap Equalizer 80-Quart Cooler ( Cabela's )
  • Lifetime 65-Quart High-Performance Cooler ( Home Depot )
  • Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler ( Amazon )
  • Ozark Trail Cooler ( Amazon )
  • Herschel Pop Quiz 30 Pack Soft Cooler ( Hershel )
  • Engel HD30 ( Amazon )
  • XSpec Roto Molded Wheeled Hard Cooler ( Amazon )
  • XSpec Roto Molded Ice Chest ( Amazon )
  • Roam - The Rugged Cooler 45-Quart ( Amazon )

What Didn't Make the List

We tested over 30 additional coolers within several different categories that didn’t quite make the grade, including options from Pelican, Igloo, Rover, Coleman, Polarbox, Icemule, Cotopaxi, Arctic Zone, and Yeti. A previous version of this roundup included the Yeti M20 Soft Backpack Cooler and the Yeti Hopper Soft-Sided M30, which have been recalled. Find more information here .

"Both are great options, and it really depends on your specific needs," says Chris Welch, Senior Manager of Category Management at YETI. In terms of design, hard coolers are constructed with thick walls that serve as stronger insulation. "They are great for those looking for maximum ice retention to stay out longer and are in need of an ultra-durable cooler built to last, the hard cooler is the way to go. Soft coolers are usually engineered to really maximize portability, without sacrificing durability, and should feature a leak-resistant and puncture-resistant construction." A soft structure and straps help with portability, so users can tote them anywhere.

Generally, it is soft-sided coolers that can float, which can be helpful if they fall out of your canoe but should not be relied upon as floatation devices. The RTIC Soft Pack cooler does have the ability to float, so if you frequently enjoy time in the pool or at the lake, it might be worth prioritizing.

Welch likes the use of reusable ice packs when using coolers, especially in conjunction with regular ice. "You want to find packs that are built with a durable design that is break-resistant and comes in multiple size options, which means you can outfit everything from your smallest hard cooler to biggest soft cooler," he says. "No messy cleanup, no puddles to drain — just toss it back in your freezer." If you want to avoid using ice and ice packs entirely, consider getting an electric cooler to keep food and beverages chilled.

Jennifer Zyman is a Senior Commerce Writer for Food & Wine and a recovering restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, Local Palate, National Geographic, Southern Living, and Thrillist. To write this story, she used our insights and extensive data, and her culinary expertise. Stacey Ballis contributed our factors to consider and the Q&A using her research and advice from cooler industry experts.

Related Articles

The Manual

How to pack a cooler for camping (or any outdoor trip away from home)

W hether you’re camping for two nights or a full week, camping requires some careful forethought and planning. No one wants questionable food due to the cooler getting too warm too soon or an unidentifiable snack that’s soggy from falling out of an open package and into melting ice. With some consideration and preparation, you can easily pack a cooler for camping that will seamlessly serve you well throughout the length of your trip.

Type of cooler

The three greatest factors to consider when choosing the best cooler for camping are its ability to insulate well, its size, and its features. Brands like Yeti and ORCA are both top performers for backpack coolers because they are incredibly durable and excellent at insulating. If you are in the market to buy a fancy new cooler, you can get good sizes from both brands too, should you need a compact design or a more sprawling cooler depending on your needs.

A 56-quart cooler can hold enough food and keep it from spoiling for up to six and a half days, which makes it a versatile option for campers who go on both long and shorter trips.

If you know you’ll be moving the cooler around with other camping gear, opt for a cooler with wheels . And if you plan to have a cooler just for drinks and ice, find a cooler with long ice retention and easy drainage.

Cooling materials

The key to making these coolers keep your food cold and fresh for as long as you need it comes down to how well you pack it with cooling materials. That begins with getting the cooler itself as cold as possible before you even place the first item or ice pack inside. If you have a spare fridge in your garage and can somehow move shelves around to fit your cooler inside, let it chill for about a day prior to packing. Otherwise, place the cooler in the coldest spot you can, even if it’s outside, to let cool it.

Next, line the bottom with ice packs. If you need more than what you have but don’t want to buy additional ice packs, consider filling sealable plastic bags or food storage containers with water and freezing them. Do, however, stay away from using ice cubes that don’t last as long and actually cause the other ice cubes to melt faster once they start floating those that have melted first.

After that first layer of ice packs is down, place a thin, insulating layer of cardboard, a broken down and cleaned milk carton, or even a foam pad between the ice packs and your food. This benefits the cooler in two ways. It will keep your food organized by preventing it from falling between the ice packs, and if there is water in the bottom of the cooler, it will also keep the food from turning into mush. It’s also a good idea to place an additional insulating layer like this between the food and the lid of the cooler, too.

Pack food and drinks the right way

Consider which foods need to stay the coldest as well as what you will need later in the trip. Those items should go at the bottom. Add another layer of ice packs and continue this layering pattern of food and ice packs until you reach the top.

Reserve one side of the cooler for drinks so you can easily reach in and find them without leaving the cooler open for too long. Always latch it all the way so none of the cold air slips out. The rest of the food should be well organized so you know where everything is and can easily find it without having to stand over the cooler, pulling tons of items out. One way to prevent this from happening is to pack by meal. The last day should be on the bottom while the first day should be at the top of the cooler. You can even incorporate a separate section for snacks.

Something to consider as well is a second cooler for drinks. You’re likely going to be reaching in for drinks like water, soda, or beer a lot more often than you are ingredients for meals. So, if you can, packing a separate drinks cooler will allow you to keep the food a lot colder in the long run.

Coolers are at the top of the list for camping cooking gear and a great way to make everything last as long as possible is to freeze the items that need to stay cold prior to packing them. Things like meat, water bottles, and even fruit can be frozen and then packed.

It’s also helpful to remove the original packaging for most food and repack it in sturdier containers that are less likely to leak. This also allows you to prevent any wasted space because you can do meal prep and package it well. One example is eggs. You can crack them into a plastic bag, add any toppings or mix-ins you might want, such as veggies , then seal it and pack it in a much smaller space.

How to pack sandwiches

Packing sandwiches in particular can be tricky, so here are some tips on packing them in a cooler. First, use leak-proof containers or wrap sandwiches tightly in plastic wrap or reusable food wraps to prevent moisture transfer and keep them from getting crushed by other items. Pack enough ice packs or blue ice around the sandwiches to maintain a cold temperature, and place sandwiches upright in the cooler, like books on a shelf, to avoid them getting squished.

Put sandwiches toward the top of the cooler, where the temperature stays coldest, and consume them before other items. Some additional tips include packing the spreads separately and adding them to the sandwiches when you eat them. You could also toast the bread before your trip to add a slight barrier against moisture.

As you use your camping meals and containers become empty, you can drain off any water from the bottom of the cooler into the now-free containers. Though it won’t freeze, the water should still be cold enough to help keep the rest of the cooler cold within the sealable containers without leaking.

The post How to pack a cooler for camping (or any outdoor trip away from home) appeared first on The Manual .

How to pack a cooler for camping (or any outdoor trip away from home)

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Lanette Mayes

Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Published: 22 Jul 2023

Modified: 02 Mar 2024

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Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

  • Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
  • With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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Elektrostal'

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Elektrostal' Travel Guide

Experience elektrostal'.

The Moscow Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin

Krasnaya ploshchad'

Krasnaya ploshchad'

St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral

State Historical Museum

State Historical Museum

Moscow Metro

Moscow Metro

GUM

Great Moscow State Circus

Moscow State University

Moscow State University

Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre

Moskva River

Kroshka Kartoshka

Cafe Vostochny Express

Cafe Vostochny Express

Fabrika Obedov

Fabrika Obedov

Yason

Beer Club Tolsty Medved

Cafe Antresole

Cafe Antresole

Coffee Shop Usy Teodora Glagoleva

Coffee Shop Usy Teodora Glagoleva

Teremok

Quest-Cafe 4 Komnaty

Prima Bolshogo

Prima Bolshogo

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Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

IMG_5767

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

IMG_5859

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Screen Shot 2015-04-01 at 5.17.53 PM

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

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Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

IMG_5826

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

Mayakovskaya station

Mayakovskaya metro station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

IMG_5893

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

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January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

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December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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    何游天下. The Red Square is located in the center of Moscow, Russia, is a famous square in Russia. It is also the venue for major events in Moscow and is one of the famous landmarks in Moscow. There is also Vasili Ascension Cathedral nearby. . St. Basil's Cathedral. เด็กน้อยในมอสโก. Very beautiful, give full marks.

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