10 Best Soft Sided Coolers 2020 [Buying Guide]

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How to Choose the Best Soft Sided Cooler

Soft-sided coolers are a great option if you have limited space while you’re packing to go camping, or if you’d rather not carry around a bulky cooler. They can come in larger sizes that carry a ton of cans, but with the added benefit of collapsing when you’re done. We’ve compiled a list of the top ten soft-sided coolers on the market, and here are some things that you should know before we get started!

Color Options: Here, we’ll tell you how many different color options are available for the soft cooler, so that you can choose the most stylish or the one that goes best with the rest of your gear.

Can Capacity: How many cans can the cooler hold? This is important if you’ve got a long weekend planned or if you’ve got a lot of people coming on your trip with you. Check here for that information.

Waterproof: Is the cooler waterproof? This refers mostly to the outside material, so that water doesn’t seep into your other items or the outside isn’t damaged by water. We’ll let you know if the exterior is waterproof here.

Ice Pack: Does the cooler come with an ice pack? Most of the coolers on this list won’t come with one, but there are some that might include an ice pack to keep your cans cold and avoid using ice.

Weight: The weight of the cooler as described here refers to a cooler that is completely empty. Obviously, the weight will increase when you add ice and cans to the cooler, so keep that in mind.

Size: The dimensions of the cooler can tell you where it’s going to fit when you’re packing for camping. It can also help you determine how big the cooler is when you want to purchase it for food instead.

Top 10 Products

Now we can start showing you our picks for the top ten soft-sided coolers available right now. We’ve done all of our research in order to bring you the best coolers for your camping trips! We’ve included a variety of sizes so that you have different options for wherever you want to take your cooler! Our top pick and budget pick are our favorites, so check them out before moving down the rest of the list.

YETI Hopper Flip Cooler

The best small soft cooler on our list is undeniably the YETI Hopper Flip 12. This cooler is small but mighty, and capable of holding 12 cans at a time, with ice. It’s great for smaller day trips or even long car rides. The Hopper Flip 12 only weighs about 3 pounds empty, so it’s lightweight enough that you’ll only feel the weight of the ice and the cans when it’s full. It uses a HydroLok Zipper so that nothing will leak into the cooler or out of it. The outer material is waterproof and resists mildew and UV rays, while also staying puncture-proof. It uses ColdCell Insulation, a unique YETI construction that holds cold in better than other soft coolers. The zipper even has a hitch point so you can attach the cooler to just about anything! Even the liner is FDA approved for contact with food! It’s the best soft sided lunch cooler around.

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Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler

There are five colors available for the Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler. This inexpensive option works great for sporting events, tailgate parties, and camping excursions – just about anywhere you need to keep your items cool. This cooler holds 16 cans with ice, so it’s great for a day-long activity where your family is getting drinks. The inside features a removable liner – use it with loose ice, or don’t use it if you’re using ice packs or other substitutes. It features an adjustable shoulder strap to make carrying comfortable. There are four pockets, including two side pockets, a front zippered pocket, and a dry storage pouch, along with the main compartment. You can use a lid bungee system for additional storage. The seams are heat-welded so that it won’t ever leak. This cooler is made to keep mildew, mold, and odors from forming in the cooler itself, so you have a pleasant experience each and every time.

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Homitt Soft Pack Cooler

The Homitt Soft Pack Cooler might not have wheels, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most portable coolers on our list. It has straps like a backpack so you can carry up to 30 cans plus ice on your back. It won’t leak, because it isn’t entirely soft – it’s still rigid enough to hold the shape due to their closed-cell insulation foam. This is nestled between two layers of TPU material, for a great high-quality 3-layer insulation system. It holds so much that it’s the perfect size for multiple-day excursions, from hiking too long road trips. The shoulder straps are padded and detachable, so you don’t have to use them if you don’t want to. There are side-handles for carrying heavier loads around. The zipper is air-tight and perfectly sealed, which makes it waterproof. It’s also non-toxic and BPA free so you’re safe to use it around your food. What more could you want?

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IceMule Pro Backpack Cooler

IceMule is another popular brand, and they make this excellent backpack cooler that can hold up to 40 cans plus ice at once. It’s comfortable to carry, with double-padded and ventilation straps so you can carry it while you’re using your hands for other things. All of your drinks can stay cold all day long! Plus, it isn’t a bulky cooler at all. When you aren’t using it, you can collapse it and roll it up to store it for the next adventure. There are no zippers on the entire cooler, which means you can get to your drinks faster and most of the problems with leaking are dealt with. The seams are welded so well, that the cooler even floats! That’s perfect for kayaking or other water adventures. There are four other color options and various sizes so that you can get the exact cooler that you need for the job. It’s waterproof and easy to get into!

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TOURIT Soft Pack Cooler

The TOURIT Soft Pack Cooler offers high-quality insulation. There are three layers that keep your food and drinks cool. The first is the waterproof outer layer that won’t sweat, while the second is the high-density foam middle. The interior is a leak-proof liner that makes sure that no moisture gets in or out of the bag. This liner is antimicrobial so it won’t mold or mildew and the zipper that runs around the top of the bag is entirely airtight with an easy-to-pull tab. You can use the padded shoulder strap, top handle, or the side handles when you’re moving the bag, depending on how heavy the load is. You can keep 20 cans with ice inside, and there are five different color options to keep you stylish. All parts of this bag are BPA free and FDA approved for contact with food, so you can feel safe using this cooler! Your camping trips are going to be awesome!

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CleverMade SnapBasket Cooler

CleverMade’s SnapBasket Cooler opens in a snap, providing easy access to all of your drinks! It holds an amazing 50 cans plus ice so it’s great for larger events or larger parties. You can collapse the cooler when you aren’t using it, and when you are, you can carry it around like a duffel bag so it’s easier to move around. This cooler keeps its structure no matter what, so it won’t flop over and spill the contents everywhere. It’s designed with water resistance and durability so that you can use it no matter where you’re going. It has a convenient bottle opener built into the strap so that you always have something to open bottles and don’t have to worry about forgetting it! Plus, there is a zippered pocket in the front to hold all of the other things that you need to carry with you. It’s leak-proof and well-insulated for all of your cold items!

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MIER Soft Cooler

MIER is another brand that is trusted by outdoor enthusiasts everywhere! This is a super lightweight cooler that weighs only about 16 ounces empty, which means that you’ll only be carrying the weight of the cans and the ice. It can hold up to 24 cans quite comfortably with ice as well. The cooler is made of 600D oxford cloth, so it’s flexible and durable, as well as being easy to clean. Inside, there’s a soft PEVA liner to keep all of your moisture inside. The heat-welded seams help make sure that the cooler doesn’t leak, inside or out. This cooler bag will make sure that your food and drinks are the right temperatures right when you need them to be. It’s a high-quality bag by a brand that is well-loved by hiking and camping enthusiasts no longer how long the trip is. There are even side pockets for additional storage and an adjustable shoulder strap.

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AO Coolers Backpack Cooler

The AO Coolers Backpack Cooler is great for about 18 cans with ice. It’s great for picnics, camping, and other traveling adventures because it’s really good at keeping ice from melting. Even in 120-degree weather, this cooler can hold ice for about 24 hours without melting. There are two side pockets and a large back pocket for dry items and all of the personal accessories that you need. It has twice the insulation of some of the other soft-sided coolers we found, and the liner is completely leak-proof so it won’t sweat or get water everywhere. It’s a great alternative to some of the best soft-sided coolers with wheels, especially if you are hiking and can’t take a cooler with wheels over the rougher terrain. We love the insulation in this backpack cooler, and also that it holds a smaller number of cans than some of the other alternatives. There are 8 different color options, too!

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Engel Soft-Sided Cooler

The Engel Soft-Sided cooler has an amazing performance rating. It can hold ice cold for up to 4 days before it fully liquefies, which is great for longer trips when you need to keep more food or drinks chilled. It can hold 24 cans with ice, so you know it will do well with food as well if you need it to. The full-length zipper is completely waterproof for easy access, and the accessory pocket in the front will hold all of your odds and ends. The insulation performance is improved by the vacuum valve technology that helps keep air locked outside of the cooler, rather than seeping in with regular zippers. The outer walls of the cooler are made of a rugged TPU material that will hold up no matter what. It comes with a shoulder strap to make carrying the cooler easier, as well as a bottle opener for parties and tailgating events.

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Igloo Coast Cooler

Our best soft-sided cooler reviews wouldn’t be complete without including an Igloo cooler. It’s one of the most well-known and popular brands on the market right now. The Coast Cooler by Igloo is definitely a worthy addition to their line of products. It can hold an amazing 50 cans plus ice, ideal for parties and tailgating. The outside is made of a 600-denier polyester, which is dense and easy to wipe clean if it gets dirty. It’s coated in TPE so that it lasts a long time, and wrapped in ultra-thick insulation so that the contents stay as cold as you want them. It uses extra-thick closed cell foam to do this. The hardware keeping this cooler together is durable and won’t corrode with moisture, and the entire cooler is anti-mildew. It’s also UV-protected. The leak-resistant, durable Igloo Coast Cooler is available in two different colors and only weighs about 2.66 pounds when empty.

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About the Author

Kimberly Graf

Expert Researcher and Writer

Kimberly Graf is a researcher and writer for GeekWrapped.com. She covers kitchen, cooking, and home products.

Best Soft Sided Coolers

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

YETI Hopper Flip Cooler

Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler

How to Choose the Best Soft Sided Cooler

Top 10 Products

YETI Hopper Flip Cooler

Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler

Homitt Soft Pack Cooler

IceMule Pro Backpack Cooler

TOURIT Soft Pack Cooler

CleverMade SnapBasket Cooler

MIER Soft Cooler

AO Coolers Backpack Cooler

Engel Soft-Sided Cooler

Igloo Coast Cooler

About the Author

TOP PICK

YETI Hopper Flip Cooler