The Best Soft Coolers (Review) in 2020

What to Look for in a Soft Sided Cooler

• Insulation performance

First and foremost, you’ll need a cooler that can keep your food at the right temperature, so you don’t end up with food poisoning and gastroenteritis. As such, you should look into getting a soft-sided cooler that can keep food cool for as long as possible. Preferably, this would also have separate storage areas for the food you need to keep cold, versus the food that can stay in more temperate environments.

In other words, you’ll have to look into the insulation performance of your soft-sided cooler bag. The cold temperature of your cooler will leak out the cool air and the Fahrenheit will drop over time, but the best soft coolers will be able to hold this for much longer than an average soft cooler.

• Size

This all depends on how much you’re planning to take with you. Just as you need a soft-sided cooler that can handle enough food or drinks for the number of people who travel with you, you also don’t need a massive cooler if you’re only looking for a bag that’s big enough for your own food.

• Durability

A bag that comes with you on day trips or weekends away is likely to get a little battered during the process of travel. Not only will your cooler need to handle possible drops, as well as bangs and scrapes, you should grab a bag that is reinforced around its weakest areas- the zipper, around the handles and the seams.

Getting a soft cooler bag that has heavy-duty lining means your bag will have increased longevity, and the likelihood of you losing your goods will drop considerably. Meanwhile, you should also watch out for areas around any extra features that your bag might have, as these can potentially create weak points in the material or structure.

• Material

This is one of the biggest reasons why customers purchase a collapsible cooler, since hard-sided coolers are more likely to be made of tougher materials, such as metal or plastic. Meanwhile, soft sided coolers can be made from everything from cotton to the tougher weaves with nylon.

These can affect a number of different aspects, all of which add to the overall quality of your cooler, such as whether or not your new cooler will be waterproof- a huge benefit if you are planning to take a few drinks that need to be kept on ice. There’s also a difference in how airtight each material will be, with some being more likely to let out the cold air and bring in warm air- which will affect the longevity of your food’s shelf life.

• Weight

Admittedly, you might be more concerned about whether your bag can carry the weight you intend to place inside. However, it can also be important to register how heavy your new cooler is- especially, if you’re planning on using it regularly for work or similar purposes. A lighter bag is less likely to be as strong as a heavier bag- but it will be much easier to carry around on your shoulder or back if it’s lightweight.

• Convenience

With the rising competition brought forward by the online market, the added features that each bag brings can be ever-tempting. These features can include portability, for example, such as extra handles or the ability to carry your cooler bag in multiple ways, to find the most comfortable for yourself. It can also mean that you invest in a collapsible cooler, which is much easier to pack away when not in use or put to one side once they food has been eaten on your travels.

Other convenient features include having drainage holes, or openings, which will allow you to safely remove the water contents from your bag once you’re finished using ice or similar. Meanwhile, others may have something simple, like capacity markings or built-in cup holders. All of these are nice additions- but they should affect the overall usability of your soft cooler.

Benefits of Soft Coolers

All coolers have the benefit of keeping your food fresh, reducing the risk of health problems as a result of poor food hygiene and keeping your food tasting great, and your drinks cold. All of which is perfect for trips out or sunny days where you would otherwise be spending money or struggling to find somewhere to eat out. Soft coolers, of course, come with further benefits, including:

• Versatility

You can fill up a soft-sided cooler with the amount of food and drink that you desire, and then easily store the malleable bag away. Hard-sided coolers are tougher, as you have a set size and capacity, which needs to be stored upright and somewhere that has enough space to hold your cooler.

They’re also much lighter, which helps when it comes to smaller bags in particular, as these are more frequently used for shorter day trips or simply to take your food to the office. This makes it much easier to bring your soft cooler with you- especially at the end of the day, when it’s empty!

• Affordability

Soft coolers are cheaper because they’re made from cheaper materials. As opposed to metals and plastics, the fabric used in soft sided coolers comes at a better rate and this makes them more affordable to the average household.

• Convenient

Being lighter, easier to store and affordable makes soft coolers extremely convenient. As well as this, they’re more likely to come with different carrying methods, as opposed to a hard handle, such as in backpack format or as a messenger bag- which is infinitely easier to carry around. Being hands-free allows you take other items that you’re carrying around with you, without strained fingers and wrists, too!

How to Pack and Use Your Cooler

Coolers are brilliant for keeping your drinks cold and your food fresh- but this can only happen when you use them appropriately. As much as we would all love for it to be as easy as opening it up and chucking in what you need, there is a method to the madness that will help you get the most out of your cooler.

1. First of all, you should refrigerate your cooler the night before- especially if your bag uses gels or similar. This will give the bag enough time to absorb the cold and increase the longevity of your food and drinks.
2. If you’re looking to add in some ice, ready for some nice, cold drinks with your pals, you should try to go for the chunkiest ice available- this will last longer and create less water, which in turn will melt smaller blocks even faster.
3. Pack in layers! Begin with a layer of ice at the bottom of your cooler, which will lay a solid foundation for the rest of your food and drinks. Then use a piece of cardboard or similar above this- it might sound strange, but it will provide a simple barrier for when you reach in- helping you grab your intended item over a handful of ice.
4. If your packaging is thicker or larger than necessary, then you can always opt for re-sealable bags. This can cut down on wasted space, which will in turn create more room for you to pack in your favorite nibbles and beverages.
5. If you’re packing different food types- cooked and raw meat for a BBQ, for example- be sure to keep these items separated. This is basic food hygiene but it’s easy for food to slip and greet each other when sliding around the trunk of your car, so use re-sealable bags or other forms of barriers to stop the meeting.
6. Keep your cooler closed when not in use- there’s not much point keeping your cooler bag open if you’re not using it, since this will essentially lower it to a storage bag for ice (and not for very long, at that). Luckily, cooler bags are easy enough to open and close without hassle, so this shouldn’t be too inconvenient.
7. Always clean out your soft cooler bag after it’s been used. We discuss how to do this in more detail, in our FAQ section, below.

Soft Coolers FAQ:

Q: What is a soft cooler?

A: Soft coolers, also known as soft-sided coolers are reinforced bags that have a reflective or protective lining, which allows for food to stay at the temperature required- providing it was placed in the bag at that temperature in the first place.

They slow down the time it takes for your food and drinks to become warm, which allows food to stay fresher and much healthier, as bacteria is less likely to grow in cold areas. The fresh food also increases the taste and texture of your meals, which is a huge bonus.

Q: How do I clean my soft-sided cooler?

A: First and foremost, you’ll need to ensure that your bag is free from loose dirt and debris, which will inevitably be hanging around your bag. Simply tip your soft cooler bag upside-down and give it a good shake, to do this.

Next, give your bag a quick wipe over with some dish soap and warm water. If you notice spots that don’t come away, then just allow the mixture to sit over the dirt and let it soak in. For the teeth on zippers, or awkward spaces, use a soft-bristled brush to shift away food that may have gotten caught in the teeth.

Once again, wipe over the tougher spots that wouldn’t come away previously, and- if they still won’t budge- use your brush there too, being firm but gentle so as not to damage the cooler.

If you have a zipper grease, such as the supplied tube with the YETI cooler bag, apply this to the top end of the zipper. This will keep everything working as it should and ensure that you can keep using your soft cooler bag, for years to come.

Never use any bleach or harsh chemicals when cleaning your bag, as this can contaminate food and cause harm to those who use the cooler.

Q: Are all of these coolers leakproof?

A: While the majority of our top picks are leak-proof, it is unfortunate that not all of them are classed as being leak-proof. That said, they will naturally have a considerable durability and the linings and seams will all be able to retain water. Where the cooler isn’t waterproof, we have made it clear in our descriptions- including where the bag will leak- for example, some zippers aren’t created to withhold water, and therefore should be kept upright.

Q: Will a soft cooler work for both hot and cold items?

A: Not all soft coolers have the ability to keep hot items hot, as the temperature can sometimes damage the bag, or the cooler simply isn’t designed to stay hot. Of course, some of our top picks do have this feature and we’ve let you know in the descriptions when this is the case.

Our Top Pick

The YETI Hopper TWO Portable Cooler easily sails past competitors when it comes to durability, longevity, size and convenience. The reinforced handles and sturdy material seem almost indestructible and the closed-cell foam lining provides a long-lasting insulation that will ensure your food and drinks stay as fresh as can be. Ideal, since the space of the bag allows for plenty of food to be kept, too.

Then there’s the fact that this bag is completely waterproof- including the zipper- something that is easily one of the toughest parts about carrying ice around with you on your travels. Add to this the accessories available and all-in-all you’ve got yourself a great travelling companion when it comes to camping weekends and day trips.

Sources:

1. Are You Storing Food Safely? - FDA