Home / Coolers / Best Soft Coolers for Day Hikes & Camp Meals
Best Soft Coolers for Day Hikes & Camp Meals
Updated
The RTIC Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler 30 Can is our pick for most camping families: RTIC says it keeps things cold for up to 2 days, and it’s waterproof. For more room, look at the Engel HD30. For carrying on your back, there’s the Hydro Flask Day Escape 20L. The Coleman Chiller is the budget choice.
Day4Camp earns a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. How we choose.
Your main hard cooler stays at camp. A soft cooler is what goes with you to the trailhead, the beach or the picnic table down the loop. We compared maker specs and owner feedback on Amazon. We have not tested these products ourselves.
RTIC says it keeps things cold for up to 2 days if you follow its cooling tips, and it’s leakproof and floats. It weighs 4.3 pounds and comes with a shoulder strap. Owners like how it keeps things cold through the day, though they differ on how much it holds once you add ice.
Why we picked it
Leakproof and waterproof design
Up to 2 days cold, says RTIC
Shoulder strap included
What to watch for
Real capacity drops once you add ice
No backpack straps for long walks
Who it's for
Families packing lunch and drinks for a day or a night.
This is the biggest bag here. Engel lists TPU fabric, welded seams and ice retention of up to 3 days. It weighs 5.3 pounds empty. Owners rate it highly for how it keeps things cold. It’s heavy when full, so it’s more of a car-to-table bag than a trail bag.
Who it's for
Families who pack more food and drinks, or trips with relatives.
This one goes on your back, with a padded mesh back panel and a weight of 2.7 pounds, leaving your hands free for kids on the trail. Hydro Flask says it stays cold for 36 hours, and it has a watertight zipper and welded seams. Owners like how it keeps drinks cold, but some say the zipper is hard to open.
YETI lists a leakproof HydroLok zipper and a puncture-resistant DryHide shell. It holds up to 12 cans plus ice, so it suits a couple or a day trip rather than a family’s food for the weekend. It costs a lot for its size, so choose it if toughness matters most to you.
This is a simple, leakproof soft cooler at a much lower price, sold in 9, 16 and 30-can sizes, so check the size you’re buying. It suits short trips and drinks more than long-lasting cold. Don’t expect it to hold ice the way the thicker coolers here do.
Capacity. Can counts can assume little or no ice. Count your real containers, and leave room for ice.
Carry style. A top handle works from the car to the table. A backpack helps when you’re walking a trail with kids.
Cold claims. Makers’ numbers are best cases. Sun and frequent opening shorten them, so keep it shaded and closed. Our guide on how to keep ice longer covers packing.
Final Verdict
Best Overall: RTIC Ultra-Tough 30 Can, for most family day and overnight trips.
Best Budget: Coleman Chiller, for short trips.
Most Room: Engel HD30, for more people and more food.
We’d start with the RTIC Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler 30 Can. RTIC says it keeps things cold for up to 2 days, and it costs far less than a similar YETI.
How long does ice last in a soft cooler?
Usually less than in a thick hard cooler. Makers list from about 36 hours to 3 days for the models here, in good conditions. Sun and frequent opening shorten that.
Is a soft cooler or hard cooler better for camping?
Soft coolers are better for day trips and carrying short distances. Hard coolers hold ice longer and work better as your main camp cooler. Many families use one of each.
Can soft coolers hold as much as hard coolers?
Usually not, and their can counts may not leave much space for ice. Compare the maker’s ice ratio if it lists one, and plan to pack less than the headline number.
Are backpack-style soft coolers worth the extra cost?
Yes, if you’re walking any real distance, like to a swim spot away from the parking lot. If you only carry it from the car to a nearby table, a handled bag saves money.
We use cookies to measure traffic and improve the site.
