The 12 Best Backpack Coolers for Outdoor Summer Adventures
The 12 Best Backpack Coolers for Outdoor Summer Adventures
Backpack coolers are essential warm-weather gear for anyone keen on day-tripping and camping. Unless you’re heading into the wilderness for a week, you can get by with a soft cooler strapped to your back to carry everything from cans of soda and bottles of wine to a packed lunch. They’re ideal for afternoons at the park or beach, short hikes, or overnights in the woods. So whether you need a large-capacity sack for a family of four or want a stylish option for a picnic, here are our top picks for the best outdoor coolers for a range of activities.
1) Tourit 30-Can Backpack Cooler
TOURIT
amazon.com
This backpack is an excellent choice if you’re looking for something versatile and affordable—plus it gets rave reviews, with an average 4.8 stars from more than 6,000 customers. Made from rugged 600-denier polyester, the backpack has a 330-millimeter capacity to hold roughly 30 cans and weighs a mere pound, with a roomy insulated main compartment and a wide zippered top for easy loading. There are also two zippered front pockets, two handy mesh side pockets, and a slip pocket on the shoulder strap for your smartphone.
2) Coleman Soft Cooler Backpack
Coleman
amazon.com
Coleman has been around since the 1950s, and is a trusted name in outdoor gear with a loyal customer base. This soft cooler backpack has some structure to it, though there’s extra foam added for comfort and insulation. Its main compartment can hold 24 cans and it has a wide zippered top, plus there’s a large front pocket with a bottle opener attached to the flap, and bungee cords on the lid for extra storage.
3) TOURIT 28-Can Backpack Cooler
TOURIT
This cooler is another customer favorite, with an impressive 25-liter capacity to hold about 28 cans. It features a main storage compartment, two large exterior pockets, two side pockets, and one zippered pocket on the lid. It’s made from a durable water-resistant material, and according to reviewers, the insulated main compartment doesn’t leak and it’s comfortable to carry.
4) YETI Hopper Cooler/Backpack
YETI
amazon.com
The ever-popular Yeti Hopper Backflip is built to impress—it gets an average 4.9 stars from more than 2,600 customers—but it’ll cost you. The backpack has an ultra-durable, 840 denier shell designed to hold up to the elements and it features a waterproof zipper and a food-grade liner. It performs exceptionally well, with closed-cell foam insulation, plus there’s a removable chest strap and waist belt for added stability and comfort. It comes in a range of color options from aqua to coral, charcoal, sage, and gray.
5) Wise Owl Outfitters Backpack Cooler
Wise Owl Outfitters
amazon.com
Beach day-trippers with packed cars will appreciate this collapsible backpack cooler. It’s completely waterproof, with no zippers to snag or break, plus it deflates and rolls up for storage. The backpack is lightweight, and you can stash either 18 or 24 cans with ice inside its roomy main compartment, depending on whether you get the 20L or 30L size. There are two padded shoulder straps and an adjustable air valve on the outside for easy inflating as needed.
6) Igloo Daytripper Backpack Cooler
Igloo
amazon.com
This appealing backpack cooler is picnic-perfect. It features an insulated compartment at the bottom to keep drinks and perishables cold, plus an adorable bamboo cutting board and cutlery set, which includes a cheese knife, bottle opener, and corkscrew, stowed in a designed front sleeve beneath the flap. Side pockets offer easy access to things like a smartphone or key. The shoulder straps are adjustable and there’s also a sternum strap to help balance weight for comfort. It gets bonus points for its fold-back divider that keeps two wine bottles from clinking.
7) Permian Coolers Portable Cooler Bag
PERMIAN
amazon.com
Permian's lightweight, roll-top cooler can keep your things ice-cold for up to 30 hours. Use the backpack straps and you'll stay hands-free whether you're adventuring on land or on the water, and its welded seams mean that dirt and water won't get in and it won't leak on you either. It can hold up to 12 cans or five large bottles and despite all of that, it can still float. Best of all, when not in use, it rolls down flat for easy storage.
8) Lekesky Backpack Cooler
Lekesky
amazon.com
For a backpack cooler that looks more like a chic work tote (remember those?), it’s tough to beat this stylish option. It’s covered in an attractive water-resistant heather gray Oxford fabric, with an aluminum inner lining and foam insulation. The bag weighs just over a pound and can hold up to 30 cans, plus it’s loaded with outer pockets for everything from personal accessories to picnic paper goods, and there’s a secure back pocket for things like your smartphone or wallet. It’s also comfortable to carry, with padded mesh shoulder straps and a tall top handle. Another major plus: It can hold up to four bottles of wine.
9) OtterBox Trooper Cooler
OtterBox
amazon.com
We tested this backpack and it won Editors’ Choice in our review of soft coolers. It kept food and drinks cold for more than 72 hours when packed full with ice. OtterBox’s Trooper is completely waterproof, with a clamshell latch that snaps tightly shut, covered in thermoplastic urethane-coated nylon. It boasts a 20- or 30-quart capacity, and other highlights include a water-resistant front pocket and convertible straps, so you can also carry it on one shoulder. The only drawback is that it’s on the bulky side.
10) RTIC Backpack Cooler
RTIC
amazon.com
If you're looking for a cooler that can take more than the average rough and tumble, then look no further than this extra-durable RTIC hardside backpack cooler. This cooler isn't constructed with the usual fabric exterior, but instead uses a plastic construction that is waterproof and floats. It comes in two sizes that holds either 20 or 30 cans, and has a wide-zip opening. The interior is leakproof and the loops on the front add extra storage space.
11) Carhartt 2-in-1 Insulated Cooler Backpack
Carhartt
amazon.com
This insulated Carhartt bag is more than just a cooler with shoulder straps, as a full-hybrid of a backpack and cooler, it's perfect for those on a short hike. The bottom half of the backpack functions as an insulated cooler that fits up to 12 cans and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. The top half of the backpack has two zippered storage compartments, a large one for bigger items and a smaller one for things like phones, wallets, etc. It also has two side mesh pockets.
12) BLONDI&SAM Cooler Backpack
BLONDI&SAM
amazon.com
Brace yourselves, because this backpack cooler can fit not 20, not 30, but 36 whole cans in it! While only the bottom portion of the backpack is insulated, with all of the additional side storage pockets, you can even pack several bottles of wine. This bargain backpack is ideal to take to the ballpark, beach, or on picnics, as it has plenty of room to store food, utensils, and drinks all in one convenient carrying case.
Backpack coolers are a convenient way to keep your drinks cold and and snacks fresh. Check out these top-rated backpack coolers before your next adventure!