Best Small Soft Cooler - Buying Guide 2024

Sarah Combs By, Sarah Combs
Updated
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze 16 Can Zipperless HardBody Cooler
Image credit: Amazon.com

Our Top Picks

1. Best Overall: Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze 16 Can Zipperless HardBody Cooler

This convenient cooler features a water and stain repellent exterior and a leak-proof lining. The Backsaver shoulder strap adjusts to fit your needs, so you can carry it comfortably with ease. It's an easy way to keep cool on the go. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag: Insulated Leakproof 50 Can Soft Sided

Keep your food and beverages cool in this large capacity SnapBasket Tahoe Cooler. This cooler is designed with a Soft Sided to allow for easy access to your cans and ice, as well as a duffel bag handle which is comfortable to carry. Read Review

3. Best Leak Proof: YETI Hopper M30 2.0 Portable Soft Cooler with MagShield Access, Navy

The YETI Hopper M30 2.0 is a sleek soft cooler with a built-in magnet to create an ultra leak-resistant, super strong magnetic shield. It also features a high-density fabric that withstands punctures and UV rays, making it perfect for your next adventure. Read Review

4. Best Durable: AO Coolers Stow-N-Go Cooler, Black, 38 Pack

AO Coolers Stow-N-Go Cooler offers a unique design that is perfect for off-road vehicles, RVs, or even your boat. This soft insulated cooler is 3/4 inches thick and made from high density closed cell foam. It also boasts a leak proof design with an integrated carry handle and hinged lid. Read Review

Keeping your food and drinks cool is vital if you’re hosting a party. Whether it’s an outdoor barbecue or a poolside luau, keeping your food and drinks at the correct temperature is essential.

With so many different types of cooler on the market today, how do you know which one is right for you? Read on to learn more about the best small soft coolers.

You are strongly encouraged to pay close attention to the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze 16 Can Zipperless HardBody Cooler as our top product. Or you can check the CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag: Insulated Leakproof 50 Can Soft Sided as the other great option, even if the first option didn't meet all of your requirements.

Our Top Picks

  • Hardbody Liner with Smartshelf: Allows you to keep hard stuff (like cans) separate from soft stuff (like sandwiches) so soft foods won’t get crushed; Easily removable to provide one large compartment
  • Zipperless Beverage Cooler: 16 can cooler with our flip-open patented Zipperless lid for easy, quick access to food and drinks as well as an insulated from pocket
  • Comfortable and Convenient: Features an adjustable Backsaver shoulder strap that centers load weight for easier carrying and an anti-slip shoulder pad
  • Patented SnapHinges on both sides of the cooler bag offer structured support when the tote is open; to close the cooler, simply push the side hinges in, folding the compact bag down flat
  • Measures 18.25"L x 12.25"W x 11.5"H when open and collapses flat to 3"; weighs 2 pounds when empty; lightweight bag holds 30 liters (8 gallons) by volume with a load capacity of 50 pounds
  • Versatile totes can be packed up for a daytime picnic and are small enough to place in the trunk of your SUV as an ice chest on road trips; collapesed down, the cooler can fit in your suitcase for vacation. Recommended to use with Clever Ice
  • YETI’s tough-as-nails Hopper M30 Soft Cooler has a major update. With the 2.0 Version their signature wide-mouth opening has been reengineered to stay open with ease and close tight with a gentle push.
  • COLDCELL INSULATION: Closed-cell foam offers impressive cold-holding capabilities, helping keep your frosty goods ice cold.
  • DRYHIDE SHELL: High-density fabric withstands punctures and UV rays.
  • Soft-sided cooler designed to fit in tight places; ideal for ski boats, fishing boats, off-road vehicles, and RVs
  • Measures 23 by 15 by 8.5 inches
  • Soft exterior won’t scratch gel coat or tear up upholstery
  • The DryHide Shell is waterproof and resistant to punctures, and abrasions so it will hold its own when faced with the hazards of the wild
  • The Hopper Flip 8 dimensions are 11 1/2 in long x 8 in wide x 10 ½ in high and an empty weight of 2.8 lbs.
  • Features a 100% leakproof HydroLok Zipper and high-density fabric that withstands punctures and UV rays
  • Hard, Reinforced Bottom Stands Up To Any Surface: The best of both worlds, this cooler has soft sides but a hard bottom that can stand up to sand, grass, dirt, asphalt, and concrete. Take it everywhere and anywhere the party goes with confidence
  • Fits 6 Bottles Of Wine Upright: Measuring 14.25 inches wide, 12.5 inches high, and 9.25 inches deep, this rectangular cooler fits 6 bottles of wine upright, 30 12-oz beverage cans, or 36 skinny cans. Great shape for stacking food containers
  • Keeps Contents Cool And Cleans Up Easy: The three-layer insulated fabric features a water-resistant exterior, foam-insulated middle, and a heat-sealed, food-safe (PVC-free) liner that won't leak. Add ice and go! Spills wipe clean inside and out
  • Features a 100% leakproof HydroLok Zipper and high-density fabric that withstands punctures and UV rays
  • Its DryHide Shell is waterproof and resistant to punctures, and abrasions so it will hold its own when faced with the hazards of the wild
  • The Hopper Flip 12 has ColdCell Insulation, a closed-cell foam that offers superior cold-holding to ordinary soft coolers, with a capacity of up to 12 cans plus ice
  • ✔SUPER PERFORMANCE OF COLD HOLDING: ROCK BROS leak proof soft cooler designed with 3 special insulation layers. 1- 420D Nylon TPU material inner with FDA identified, clean and healthy. 2- more than 28mm high density insulation foam in the middle, provide a excellent cold protection. 3- 840D hardest Nylon TPU outside. 3 unique material support up to 48h--32°F cold holding.
  • ✔100% LEAK PROOF & WATERPROOF GUARANTEE: Insulated leak proof soft coolers use the airtight zipper, even the air can not through it( ensure the zipper was closed). Benefit with waterproof 840D nylon TPU, waterproof soft coolers can work well in beach, floating, fishing and road trip. (Attention: For the best leak-proof and waterproof performance, we strengthened the zipper, so it would be a little bit to zipped.)
  • ✔ROCK SOLID GUARANTEE: We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. In next 3 years, if any issue or questions about our soft coolers, contact us anytime you want, we will be glad and pleasure to service you.
  • LINER IS BPA-FREE, & FDA FOOD SAFE : Welded seams makes for a leak-proof construction durable and abrasion resistant EVA bottom adds heavy duty stability
  • HOLDS 18 CANS PLUS 10 LBS OF ICE : Wide mouth roll top opening makes it easy to load and clean leave the wide mouth open and you’ve got a killer party bucket; includes a convenient, attached built-in bottle opener
  • FREEZE LOCK INSULATION: Designed to keep the cold in and the hot out, this cooler has 1-inch thick insulation on sides and 1. 5-inches thick insulation on the bottom.
  • Safe: The highly flexible and puncture resistant liner is made from 100% waterproof welded seam polyether-based TPU that exhibits excellent resistance to microbiological attack. The liner contains zero vinyl and is BPA-free.
  • Easy Opening Zippers: Large coil zippers with molded thumb pulls make getting into your Drifter 20 simple. You won’t have to fight the zipper on the Drifter 20.
  • Tough: Waterproof 1680d Ballistic Polyester Shell can take a beating, it is highly abrasion resistant and includes a waterproof backing.

What to Look Through Prior to Buying the best small soft cooler?

Visitors may be aware that purchasing something is not actually an easy action. Your everyday life will be affected if you choose the most fantastic product. What variables, though, will make this acquisition successful? Whether you're seeking for best small soft cooler to meet your needs, you'll be wasting your own time.

Nevertheless, it would be preferable if you weren't so worried. We've enlisted the help of a team of professionals to investigate best small soft cooler, and we've provided accurate data.

As mentioned above, our article's description is accurate, and perhaps the most crucial reason for that is the conduction by highly qualified specialists with many years of market expertise. Furthermore, designers use AI and Big Data to ensure that the information you discover here is accurate and reliable.

There seem to be several important considerations to make. But only a few of them are really concentrated. Here are some crucial reviews while purchasing best small soft cooler:

Cooler Latch And Closure Systems

The cooler's closure or latch is a key feature of premium models and will play a major role in cooling performance. Two rubber T-handles are a common feature on high-end, hard-sided coolers. They keep the lid in place and prevent it from opening. They are extremely sturdy and user-friendly.

Cooler Sizes (Capacities)

A few things to consider before we get started: Size. Importantly, coolers do not measure the interior capacity of all models. Some coolers use cans to measure interior capacity, others use liters or quarts. However, most manufacturers use quarts as a unit of measure. We've used that measurement in this article when it was possible. A final point: Don't let the product name fool you.

Cooler Drain Systems

Many of our hard-sided coolers have drainage systems that allow you to drain the water out once the ice is melted. This is usually a pop-off or screw-on cap located at the bottom of cooler. Simply remove it and let the water flow out.

Wheeled (Rolling) Coolers

We mentioned above that if you have cooler needs such as mobility and large capacity or maximum ice retention it is a good idea to look into a hard-sided rolling model. These wheeled monsters can still be difficult to maneuver on uneven terrain, and will need assistance if there is no clear path. A rolling cooler is a good choice for camping, tailgating or days at the beach.

Ice Retention And Cooling Capabilities

Ice retention is one of the most difficult things to determine when researching coolers. This is largely due to external factors. The temperature of the air and direct sunlight have a significant impact. Ice quantity is also important. Most brands suggest a ratio of 2:1. You should also open the lid as often as possible to let warm and cold air into your cooler. Pre-chilling your cooler before loading it is a good idea to ensure maximum efficiency. To reduce the cooler's interior temperature, you should fill it with ice at least for a couple of hours. Once you are ready to go, add fresh ice in the right ratio. You can also expect your cooler to become pre-warmed if it is left out in the sunlight before you load it up.

Weight And Portability

Weighing your cooler is an important factor for those who will be carrying it or moving it around regularly. For models with less capacity, they can weigh as little as 10-15 pounds and up to 50+ for those that have 75+ quarts storage. This number goes up dramatically when you load it down with food and drinks. Even though the handles are made of rope, some are plastic and others are nylon. They are too heavy to be carried for extended distances. We recommend wheels if portability is important. They are easier to carry for longer periods of time and more convenient for one person, so they're less burdensome.

Bear-Resistant Ratings

Many top-rated hard-sided coolers can be listed as being bear-resistant. This is an important consideration if you are camping in bear territory. You should specifically look out for IGBC ratings. This indicates that a cooler has been tested and is in compliance with their regulations. You should ensure your cooler is included if you plan to travel in bear-proof gear or frequent backcountry areas.

Cooler Construction

There are two main types of construction techniques used to make premium hard-sided coolers: injection molding and rotational molding. Yeti popularized rotomolding (even though they weren't technically the first company to do so) and is the dominant market at the top end. This type of cooler is made from a single, continuous piece of plastic which is then rotated to form the desired shape. These coolers have fewer stress points, so they are more likely to break under pressure. They also feature a thicker outer shell that ensures exceptional durability. Cost and weight are the main drawbacks.

FAQs

What Is The Best Hard Cooler?

There are many coolers. It really doesn't matter which cooler you choose. A cooler that is more resistant to damage will be the most suitable if you intend on using it every week.

Can I Use Dry Ice In A Cooler?

Most times, the answer is yes. Some coolers can be damaged by dry ice, but the majority should work fine. However, you will need to cover dry ice with blankets or other insulators. A cooler designed for dry ice is best if you plan to use it every day. You won't have to do any special tasks because the cooler has compartments to store dry ice.

Which Size Cooler Do I Need?

Although you might feel compelled to buy a large cooler, make sure it fits in the car. Smaller coolers can be lifted without the need for assistance. However, coolers with larger capacities can hold more ice and so tend to stay cool longer than smaller models.
Higher coolers can store bottles more upright. Models with recessed lids are better for loading items higher, but they may become warmer.

How Long Does A Cooler Stay Cold?

It all depends on how efficient the cooler is at insulation. This includes the temperature outside, initial temperature of food and its stacking. Food can be kept cold for up to 4 days with ice (the best), in ideal conditions. A high-end cooler may even keep it chilled for as long as 10 days.

How Does A Portable Cooler Work?

Combining the insulation of the cooler with the ice you put inside, either ice cubes, ice packs, or foam, slows down warm air circulation and helps keep things cool.

Does Food Stay Cool In A Portable Cooler Without Ice?

But it will take longer than if you put ice inside the cooler. Insulation in the cooler stops food from heating up faster than if left out. The temperature of the cooler and how chilled the food were at the beginning will determine the time it takes to cool down. Even frozen foods will heat up faster if they are kept cool in a trunk compartment of a vehicle.

How Much Do Coolers Cost?

Consider what your cooler will be used for. If you need it to store food or drinks for several days or at extreme temperatures then more money is an investment in food safety. A cooler that is cheap and cheerful may suffice if you just need to chill a handful of drinks for an afternoon barbecue.

How Do I Clean My Cooler?

Warm water and dish soap will generally clean your cooler. You can also use warm water and bleach to remove stubborn stains or odors.

The figures we've presented here aren't all of them. Alternatively, we continuously update it as new information becomes available. It's advisable to keep in mind the points we discussed related to buying guide.

We always appreciate your feedback and handle it with the utmost importance. As a result, the most up-to-date data will come to your mind as soon as possible. You are supposed to contact us and give us your reviews as well as problems so that we will try to support you. Hope you have a pleasant shopping experience!


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About Sarah Combs

Sarah Combs
Sarah Combs is a visual editor who loves to travel and hike. She enjoys taking photographs of her journeys, which help her to remember the beautiful places she's been to. Sarah is grateful for the opportunities that she has had to see the world and looks forward to continuing to explore new places in the future. Sarah is the editor of CampfireHQ since 2021 and has written on a variety of topics, from camping, and hiking to other outdoor guides.

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