The 8 Best Coolers for Beach Days, Picnics, and Campouts
Keep your provisions cool on the go.
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Packing a cooler should give you the same anticipatory buzz as packing for a trip, and just as you wouldn’t take a rolling duffel for an overnight getaway, you have to pick the best cooler for your beach, hiking, or camping excursions. There are tons of options when it comes to coolers—hard sided, wheeled, backpack styles—and the right one for you depends on how you’ll use it. Whether you’re planning a week-long excursion or just soaking up some sun for the day, there’s a cooler that will keep both you and your provisions chilled out.
Best Coolers
- Best Overall: Yeti Roadie 48
- Best Budget: Ozark Trail High-Performance Cooler
- Best Soft Cooler: RTIC Everyday Soft Cooler
- Best Wheeled Cooler: Igloo Trailmate Journey Wheeled Cooler
- Best Backpack Cooler: IceMule Pro Cooler
What to Consider
Insulation
Any brand can wax poetic on the proprietary technology it uses to keep things cold, but most popular cooler companies use the same methods for keeping things insulated. Hard coolers rely on thick, roto-molded plastic walls to reduce heat conduction, while soft coolers use coated polyurethane or Mylar to reflect heat.
Capacity
Capacity is the biggest determining factor when buying a cooler. For instance, if you want a cooler to take on beach days and tailgates, you probably don’t need a 70-liter cooler that’s meant to hold a week’s worth of food and water (though if your plans are with a large group, you’ll probably want about 50 liters). Soft coolers are great for keeping groceries cold in-transit or bringing beverages to the park for a couple of hours. Soft-sided cooler bags also make great lunch boxes.
Construction and Durability
High-end hard coolers are often roto-molded, a plastic manufacturing process that creates coolers without seams or stress points, making them extremely durable. The process also gives these coolers a smooth, premium look and finish. Roto-molding only affects durability—coolers that aren’t roto-molded have the same insulation performance. If you prioritize durability or are particularly hard on your gear, you should look for a roto-molded cooler.
Look for user-friendly details, too: A periscopic handle made of aluminum or heavy-duty plastic, oversized wheels for easy hauling, and lids with sturdy hinges will make your cooler more durable and easier to use.
How We Selected
We took into consideration coolers we’ve used firsthand, as well as consulted with our test team to make sure we understood what makes a good cooler great. We called in some of the most promising products and put them to use to get a feel for their insulation, durability, and ease of use. We also noted models that had unique features such as extra storage compartments and included accessories. Our list includes a range of durable, highly-insulated coolers that serve a variety of adventures across price points.
Danny Perez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.
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