10 Best Soft Coolers for Camping

Coolers have become very popular due to their practical use of transporting your perishables. Whether you are going to the lake with your significant other, heading to a ball game, camping, or going fishing, it is important to take everything you want to make your time more enjoyable.

Depending on your opinion, the features and benefits of a soft cooler will always outweigh that of a hard cooler. You want to make sure you know the difference between a soft cooler and a hard cooler. Soft coolers are lighter than hard, plastic coolers because the outer layer is typically made of fabric/vinyl and weighs much less. Soft coolers also have a smaller capacity due to the lightweight.

Top 10 Best Soft Coolers

1. YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler

As the name suggests, the Yeti Hopper is a great portable cooler that is loaded with multiple features to ensure your food and drinks will stay cool and in a great state. In addition, the Yeti Hopper is very versatile
in terms of the multiple sizes that are offered so that you always have a cooler size that is catered to your needs.

This soft cooler offers many show-stopping features, but perhaps one of the most beneficial features is the Dry hide Shell. This built-in feature was created with high-density fabric to ensure that potential damage from perforations, UV rays, and mildew is resisted. If you are a person who needs a highly regarded, trustworthy soft cooler, the Yeti Hopper is a great choice and will be there for you and all your adventurous endeavors.

Specifications

• Cold Cell Insulation
• 100% leakproof Hydro Lok Zipper
• Dry Hide Shell

2. RTIC Soft Pack, 20

Are you someone who likes to spend lots of time outside and need a cooler that will cater to your needs? Well, you should look into the RTIC Soft Pack. This cooler has a large capacity which will hold up to 20 cans while also allowing for 20 pounds of ice.

In addition to its large capacity, the RTIC Soft Cooler offers many other great features that will keep your food and beverages nice and fresh. These features include an anti-leak zipper, a heavy-duty vinyl shell for minimal to no sweat, and up to 2 inches of insulation that is also used in wet suits which allows ice to stay up to 5 days.

If the features aren’t great enough, you will notice that this product is made at its highest quality for the lowest price. In addition, RTIC has a promise to provide for its customers, so if you are unhappy with your purchase, just let one of the service reps know and they will make it right.

Specifications

• Flip-top lid for easy access
• Lightweight and durable
• Contains laminated fabric and welded seams
• Has carry handles

3. Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler with Removable Liner

If you are looking for a top-notch cooler at a very affordable price, the Coleman 16 Can Cooler is the one for you. No matter if you are looking for a cooler to take to a sports game, a picnic, or the campground, the Coleman 16 Can Cooler will suit you every need. This soft cooler contains a hardliner, adjustable straps, comes in various sizes/colors, and many additional
storage pockets which makes it a great choice.

On top of the affordable price and useful features, it is extremely practical. To go into further detail, this specific cooler is unbelievably flexible and has a soft liner that is made of FDA-approved material designed specifically for encountering food.

Specifications

• Heat-welded seams
• Hold up to 16 cans
• Has a removable liner
• Adjustable shoulder straps
• Multiple storage options

4. Homitt Soft Cooler

If you are looking for insulation values that are out of this world, you are in the right place. On top of that, the Homitt Cooler is priced at just about half of its competitors making it more practical. As if it didn’t sound good enough, this soft cooler can hold up to 30 pounds which is an extreme bonus.

With two inches of high-density foam, you can remain calm knowing that your perishables will stay fresh for your every outing. Lastly, the Homitt cooler has a rounded shape which can sometimes be overlooked but is actually very important because you won’t have to worry about being poked by sharp edges.

Specifications

• 3 layers of cooling
• Large-volume
• 100% leakproof and impact resistant
• Multiple options ot carry
• BPA free material that makes it easy to clean

5. Tourit Voyager

Tourist soft coolers are a great option if you are looking for a premium cooler but you aren’t interested in paying as much money as some of the other competitors such as Yeti. This cooler has better ice preservation than that of Yeti.

In addition, there are multiple attributes that this cooler offers that sets them over the top such as the leak-proof material, the dimensions are unisex, there is plenty of storage, and it can be carried like a backpack.
On top of the great features, this cooler also comes with a 3-year warranty which is great for people who tend to be a little more rugged on their adventures. Overall, this is a top of the line cooler for a great price.

Specifications

▪ Leakproof zipper
▪ Waterproof exterior
▪ Reinforced base
▪ Built-in bottle opener

6. Polar Bear Nylon Soft Cooler

The Polar Bear Nylon Soft Cooler has the great ability to be customized to your liking and specifications, which is unique for soft coolers. Although this is a great selling point, there is much more to the Polar Bear
Soft Cooler than just customization.

Both the interior and exterior of the cooler have been made with nylon which has allowed it to be very reliable in terms of longevity and resistance to scratches and lacerations. With this cooler being so durable, it makes it a great choice for people who spend long days in the outdoors and this cooler comes in various sizes with the ability to be worn as a backpack. This is a great cooler for basically every situation and it even has open-cell insulation which means it can fit just about anywhere and it won’t sweat or leak.

Specifications

▪ Unbreakable zipper
▪ Insulation is open cell foam
▪ Double coated nylon material

7. Pelican Elite Soft Sided Cooler

If you are looking for a heavy-duty cooler that can withstand just about anything, the Pelican Elite cooler is the way to go. This specific cooler is made with one of the toughest materials to withstand all your outdoor
activities, double-coated nylon. This material makes it one of the strongest soft-sided coolers out there.

Aside from the double-coated nylon, this cooler offers many other durable features. To go into further detail, there is closed cell foam insulation, thick carrying handles, and a buckle that is dual locked. This cooler ranges in the sizes of 12 to 48 cans and has additional pockets for extra storage.

Specifications

▪ External pocket
▪ Closed-cell foam insulation
▪ Leakproof

8. AO Canvas Cooler

Possibly one of the most versatile options on the list, the AO Canvas cooler allows you to store both hot and cold food. This cooler comes in many different colors and styles so you can easily find one to your
liking. Depending on your activity for the day, you can choose from a 12 can cooler to a 48 can cooler.

The TPC fabric within this cooler is designed to be leakproof in the main compartment, while the exterior pocket can hold important items by keeping them dry due to the waterproof feature. Moreover, this cooler is
very lightweight and can keep your ice solid for up to 24 hours.

Specifications

▪ Lightweight
▪ Sweatproof
▪ Insulation is closed-cell foam

9. Otter Box Trooper

Looking for a cool that is great for all your outdoor activities and can withstand almost everything that mother nature throws at you. Well, look at the Otter Box Trooper. This soft cooler can be worn as a backpack and regarding its size, it would best to use this cooler for fishing trips, sporting events, a picnic in the park, and so on.

In addition, it seems like the features are endless. To name a few, the Otter Box Trooper contains a built-in bottle opener, two waterproof pockets with zippers on the front, and even a
distinctive mounting system to carry your small items.

Specifications

▪ 30 can capacity
▪ Leakproof
▪ Can be used as a backpack
▪ lightweight

10. Hydro Flask Unbound Soft Cooler

Besides its visually appealing style and design, this soft cooler really gets the job done in terms of keeping things cold. The Hydro Flask Unbound Soft Cooler contains watertight zippers and pathways that are thermal conductive built right into the padding. These features are made to keep your food and drink cold for two days by managing body to heat to stay clear of the cold zones. Lastly, there are a couple of extra exterior pockets for things like a water bottle, keys, wallet, etc.

Specifications

▪ Upright appearance
▪ Stylish design
▪ Many pockets

Things To Consider While Shopping the Best Soft Coolers

If you already know what a soft cooler is, you are probably thinking they are pretty basic, but there are some things to consider before buying them. In this buying guide, we’re here to help break down all the things you need to know. To start off with the basics, you should consider:

Are you looking for a cooler with extra storage?

There are many benefits to having a soft cooler. In terms of size, a soft cooler is much easier to fit in smaller spaces, especially when it is empty as compared to a hard-plastic cooler. In addition, most soft coolers have extra pockets for storage for your phone, wallet, keys, etc.

How am I going to carry this?

For someone who doesn’t want to make additional trips, soft coolers have an awesome feature which is a shoulder strap. This allows people to be hands-free if they need to carry something else.

Does it need to be waterproof?

As crazy as it sounds, many coolers on the market are not waterproof. Although this is true since soft coolers are made of vinyl and fabric, almost all of them have 100% waterproof/leakproof capability which is
extremely important when deciding what kind of cooler you want.

How well does the insulation need to be?

People get coolers for one reason, to keep their food and beverages cold. Since soft coolers are made of a soft material, the insulation life will be lower. You should expect to get 2-3 days of ice/insulation at the most
so keep that in mind.

Conclusion

These were all the best soft coolers that are on the market today. As a recap, soft coolers are much easier to transport in terms of the ability to be compressed, they are much lighter and have various ways to carry, there are multiple storage compartments, and they keep your perishables fresh for just as long as hard coolers. Happy hunting!

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