When it comes to personal items that tell a story, we often think of a fine watch or leather wallet. These items typically last for years and get more than their fair share of use. We’re here to make the same case for soft coolers.
A soft cooler will last a man years if he buys the right one. Similar to a watch or wallet, a trusted soft cooler will accompany an individual in both day-to-day use and on special trips—they quickly become a trusted sidekick for all endeavors.
Maybe you’re someone who travels on the road a lot? Perhaps you enjoy activities like golfing, fishing, hiking, and attending sporting events in your free time? These are all specific examples of spaces where soft coolers exist outside of traditional everyday use.
Reviewing the 7 Best Soft Coolers of 2022
There are all sorts of reliable soft coolers to buy these days, especially from lifestyle brands like YETI, RTIC, Coleman, and more.
What we did is we reviewed 7 of the beset soft coolers on the market to determine what each one does best. We’ve designated each soft cooler with a respective “Best for” title so those who are looking for a specific type of soft cooler can find the ideal product.
Read on below and discover the best soft coolers of 2022. To shop, click on the button under each cooler review to go to its respective marketplace.
Make sure to let us know what you pick up!
Best Overall: YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler
Behold the YETI Hopper M30. From camping tote bag to picnic basket, to tailgate MVP, we like Hopper M30 as the Best Overall because of its versatility and durability. The Hopper is constructed like a messenger bag, so you can wear it over the shoulder or carry it with the handles. It’s deceptive in the way it can hold cargo, as its slim silhouette holds up to 30L (approx. 50 cans of beer) and weighs 6.8 lbs.
The tech on the Hopper also guarantees a long lifespan. A HydroLok Zipper promises waterproof resistance and a unique high-density DRYHIDE™ SHELL withstands tears and UV rays. Both the interior and exterior of the Hopper are treated to be mildew resistant.
SHOP HERE
Best for Travel: RTIC Soft Cooler Insulated Bag
RTIC is another premium brand in the cooler game. Soft Cooler Insulated Bag is a great pick for traveling. From cross-country road trips to single-day beach trips, this compact cooler will keep beverages ice-cold while offering ease in carrying while on the go.
The cooler features 2-inches of closed-cell foam and a tear-resistant liner. A durable waterproof tape seam zipper is outfitted to seal off potential leaks or spills—and to block out dirt or sand.
SHOP HERE
Best for Everyday Use: YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler
There’s nothing like a YETI when you want your food or drink to stay cold all day. Yeti’s Flip Hopper soft coolers are easily the best soft coolers out there thanks to ColdCell Insulation, which is a type of closed-cell foam that offers superior cold-holding to soft coolers.
The YETI Hopper Flip soft coolers range in capacity, from 8 cans plus ice to 18 cans plus ice. They also feature a 100% leakproof HydroLok Zipper and the wide-mouth opening for easy-lookin’ into what you have inside. We like the 12 can size for everyday use—from packing your work lunch to bringing over brews when watching sports with the guys.
SHOP HERE
Best Sling Cooler: Pelican Cooler Sling
Sling coolers are a popular option for those who aren’t planning on carrying a ton of goods. They’re extremely portable, especially when hiking or attending a sporting event. There are a bunch of different types of sling coolers, but you won’t find one as durable and advanced as the Pelican Cooler Sling.
It’s made with 840D double coasted TPU nylon that’s waterproof and tear-resistant. It weighs a lofty 2 lbs while offering the ability to store up to 8 liters of cargo. Other features include a leak-resistant zipper, insulated inner walls, and a compression-molded base for added durability. Perhaps the best design note overall is the supremely cushioned shoulder strap—it’s all about effortless carrying with sling coolers!
Best for Golf: Coleman Soft Collapsible Cooler with Removable Liner
Also known as the best bang for your buck cooler, Coleman gets the job done day-in and day-out. This Soft Collapsible Cooler doesn’t have any futuristic technology or military-grade hardware, but what it does have is the ability to keep your goods cold and protected for extended periods of time.
We love this cooler for golf because, at a price point under $30, it won’t be that big of a deal if you forget it in the golf cart after finishing up a morning round. It holds 16 cans, contains additional pocket space aside from its main compartment, and has heat-wielded seams to prevent any leaks that could get on the bench seat or on someone’s golf bag.
SHOP HERE
Best Cooler Backpack: Filson Dry Backpack
Cooler backpacks offer a level of portability similar to sling coolers, except the backpacks make it so you can carry more cargo. The Filson Dry Backpack is the crème de la crème of cooler backpacks. It’s made with waterproof 840D nylon and features an airtight roll-top closure. The Dry Backpack is so waterproof, you could throw this bad boy in a river and watch it float.
It measures an easy 20″ x 12 ½” x 6 ½” and holds up to 28L of goods. Oh, and did we mention Jack Dorsey absolutely loves this bag?
Best Zipperless Soft Cooler: Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Hardbody Cooler
Some people are anti-zipper, we get it. If you’re fishing or performing any manual labor jobs where you’re opening and closing your cooler multiple times within the hour, then a zipperless cooler is a solid choice. Arctic Zone Titan features a patented “flip-open” lid that prevents leaks and seals shut in a snug fit.
The cooler is also easy to clean, as the interior is actually fitted with a hard plastic liner that’s a part of the “flip-open” lid. So all you have to do is wipe down the liner with a wet wipe or wash it out in a sink for cleaning.
SHOP HERE
John is the Style & Gear Editor for BroBible. You can contact him on Twitter @johnthompsoniv or via email John@brobible.com
The BroBible team writes about gear that we think you want. Occasionally, we write about items that are a part of one of our affiliate partnerships and we will get a percentage of the revenue from sales.