Soft coolers have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. These appliances are easy-to-store, practical, and versatile household essentials. If you’re hosting a barbecue party, going out for a family picnic, or kayaking and canoeing, a soft cooler can be your best beverage-storing friend.
In this buying guide, we have compiled the list of best soft coolers for the beach. Browse through these in-depth reviews and tips to choose the right one.
The Best Soft Coolers for Beach
| Top products | Rating | Construction |
| 1. RTIC Insulated Soft Cooler Bag | 4.3 | Antimicrobial liner |
| 2. Igloo HLC 12-Realtree | 4.4 | Hard plastic liner |
| 3. PERMIAN Coolers Portable Cooler Bag | 4.2 | Foldable, waterproof dry bag |
| 4. YETI Hopper M30 Portable Soft Cooler | 4.4 | Cold cell insulation, hydro-shield closure, leak-proof liner |
| 5. Coleman 42-Can Soft Cool | 4.5 | Hard plastic liner |
1. RTIC Soft Pack 30
The RTIC Soft Pack 30 is a soft-sided cooler with a price tag that’s a fraction of the cost of comparable products in the market. As the name suggests, it can hold up to 30 12-ounce cans or 30 pounds of ice. Although it’s a medium-sized soft cooler, it’s got ample capacity for a day’s worth of food and beverages or a long weekend road trip’s worth of cold drinks—no pit stops required.
The tiny closed-cell foam insulation means all the food and drinks stay cold for days instead of hours. Moreover, the durable exterior vinyl and nylon shell are sturdy and fully waterproof. Apart from that, the antimicrobial liner keeps different liquids from leaking out.
2. Igloo HLC 12-Realtree
This soft cooler from Igloo isn’t a status symbol, and it won’t store ice for days, but it’s a quality soft cooler from a well-known cooler brand that won’t break the bank. The soft exterior includes a removable stiffer with an insulated liner that provides structure. It also gives you confidence that your food items don’t get crushed if something bumps against the cooler. Moreover, it features an exterior zippered front pocket and another front flap pocket to keep extra snacks or cutlery.
The Ringleader can hold about 12 12-ounce cans, so it’s an ideal size for lunch for a small group. Unlike larger and expensive soft coolers that weigh 5 pounds or more, this Igloo cooler is lightweight and pocket-friendly. It weighs over a pound, making it easy to carry.
3. Permian Cooler Bag with Roll Top
If you want to bring your drinks to the beach, or top of the mountain, you need the Permian cooler bag with roll top. These bags are a staple of picnic and beach storage gear, and for a good reason: watertight bags like Permian reliably keep water out and hold in the air, which enables them to float. You don’t have to worry about the drinks going overboard, or drowning. Moreover, it features a reliable sealing mechanism that holds all the items inside the bag. You don’t need to use zippers or locks. All you have to do is fold the top three times and connect the clasps to make a smooth welded seam.
Apart from that, the Permian 15-liter dry cooler bag can store ice for 30 hours and hold up to 5 bottles of fine wine or 12 cans of soda. It folds down neatly into a stuffed sack for easy and convenient storage when not in use.
4. Hydro flask Unbound Soft Cooler Pack
Smartly engineered with a sturdy build, this 22-liter cooler pack means business when it comes to keeping drinks cold. It comes with watertight Aquaseal zippers and has thermal conductive pathways built inside the padding. As a result, it directs body heat away from chill zones, so your food and beverages can remain cold for up to 48 hours.
Additionally, its small size and long rectangular shape mean you can keep this inside an internal frame pack. You can also pack it into a bigger backpack or tuck in under the passenger seat. This model is ideal for trips to the beach when you bring special food and drink items. If you’ve cooked char-grilled meat and bought champagne for a campfire on the beach, the Hydro flask cooler pack can be useful. With this dynamic cooler, you can keep your food and drinks as cold and secure as you can. If you consider buying this backpack cooler, it has woven sternum straps for added comfort and stability. Lastly, it features an exterior pocket for water bottles and other accessories.
5. Yeti Hopper M30
YETI has revolutionized a stale cooler industry with its Hopper soft coolers. These dry bags are popular for beach trips and park picnics for their long-standing cooling capabilities. The Hopper M30 comes with upgraded features such as a magnet closure for convenient loading and unloading, and a wider opening. Moreover, it features Hydroshield technology to ensure liquids don’t leak out of the top. The Yeti Hopper also boasts UV-resistant lining and Cold-cell insulation foam to ensure all the contents stay cold for extended periods.
You’ll have to pay extra for that quality, but their three-year warranty lets guarantee you a good night’s sleep. You can rest easy knowing you won’t have to buy a new cooler every year.
6. Otterbox Trooper 20
Otterbox is best known for its durable cellphone cases, so it’s not impossible to imagine they’d make fantastic coolers. The Trooper 20 emphasizes the same attention to detail in a waterproof, skid-proof medium-sized soft cooler. It’s rigid enough to hold itself in a packed vehicle for a long and fun weekend.
Moreover, it features stiff food-grade liners and a hard plastic top blend. It’s the best of soft coolers available on the market and is ideal for when you need a small cooler for the road. If you travel short distances frequently, this is a great fit for your lifestyle. The cooler also boasts some extra features such as a bottle opener and an exterior dry storage pocket.
7. Tourit Voyager
If you’re searching for a soft cooler that handles any adventure or weather condition, look no further than the Voyager soft cooler by Tourit. This 30-can cooler features durable three-layer construction that can stand up to the elements. Moreover, the outer layer is waterproof and leak-proof, the middle layer is of high-density foam, and the interior features a leak-proof insulated lining. Its tough shell is UV-resistant and protects your food, ice, and drinks from harmful sun rays. As a result, all the items stay colder longer. Customers rave about how this cooler is easy to carry thanks to the padded shoulder strap and two handles. You can wipe up spills and carry it effortlessly
8. OlarHike 40-Can Cooler Bag
Hauling a massive cooler from your destination can take valuable space in your trunk. However, the collapsibility of this square soft cooler can make your return trips more efficient. You can store up to 40 cans in this soft-sided cooler. It can fold in on itself when empty to form a lightweight, compact briefcase. You can easily stash it in another backpack or tuck under a car seat.
Moreover, the exterior lining uses a durable 600D Oxford fabric that dries out quickly. It’s also light to carry and weighs only 2 pounds. Customers were impressed by how much this soft cooler can hold. You can easily pack enough food and drinks to feed a small crowd.
9. Coleman 42-Can Soft Cooler
Coleman is popular for camping gear, and while this large-capacity soft cooler isn’t flashy, it provides sufficient volume for bigger groups. It also boasts carry-on luggage-style wheels so you can move all those food and beverages easily. It’s ideal for transporting to the beach or heading into some friend’s tailgate. It features exterior bungees, external dry storage pockets, and large holding capacity. That means you’ll be fully prepared when you reach the destination.
Moreover, a detachable hard plastic liner guarantees leak-proof storing of ice and liquids. If you require extra space, you can remove it. Just ensure to use artificial ice packs instead. It’s also treated with several antimicrobials to prevent germs and mildew from building up.
10. Carhartt Beverage Sling
Whether you carry a few drinks along with the chairlift or plan to stay refreshed on a casual beach stroll, this beverage sling is ideal for keeping your beer cozy. It can sling over your shoulder and holds a six-pack worth of 12 oz. soda cans. At 31 inches long, it’s the size of a fishing rod case. Besides that, the adjustable webbing strap lets you cinch it as tight as you need when traveling.
Moreover, the durable polyester fabric coated with water repellent keeps all liquids at bay. Plus, the lined insulated interior ensures to retain moisture. It weighs less than a pound, and will never be a burden on your shoulder. That said, it’ll provide enough space for empty cans once they’re finished.
11. Engel HD30
The Engel HD30 packs top-notch insulation power and keeps keeping raw foods safely for over four days. Where many soft coolers have annoying zippers or narrow openings, this soft cooler stands out as remarkably convenient to use. It features sides that unclip, and top that can easily be opened to allow quick loading and of contents. Moreover, it can fit an impressive 48 cans, making it a brilliant contender to guard your food on the beach. Despite its big size, the Engel is more portable than you can imagine. It involves a painless two-person carry if you’ve packed it with too many heavy items. Lastly, it also has a high-quality, durable construction that lends credibility to this model.
12. Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless
The Arctic Titan Zipperless is a soft cooler for a steal. Despite having the thinnest insulation of any model, it can manage safely preserve for two days. The zipperless design of the main compartment is easy to use, and the hard plastic interior makes it convenient to pack. Another great feature is the detachable shelf that adds functionality. You can keep sensitive items away from melted ice in the numerous pockets outside. It also comes with a bottle opener clipped on one end. The plastic bin inside the bag stops melting ice from leaking on your backseat. Lastly, the inexpensive price tag makes this soft cooler a bargain!
Buyer’s Guide – Things to Consider
The world of soft coolers continues to be filled with unique contenders every passing year. We’ve listed a few things to consider and help you pick the best one:
Cooler Size
Some coolers can be large, and some quite small. You should choose a size that best fits your needs.
Material
Coolers come in different materials:
Plastic
Plastic is the most common material used for hard-sided coolers. It is sturdy, lightweight, inexpensive, and waterproof and offers moderate insulation.
Metal
Metals are often used for zippers, hinges, and handles. Metal hardware is found in higher-end models and comes with a hefty price tag.
Fabrics
Fabrics are ideal for soft-sided cooler and offer strength, durability, and ease of use.