The 9 Best Backpack Coolers for Outdoor Summer Adventures
The 9 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 Backpack Cooler
Coleman
amazon.com
Coleman has been around since the 1950s, and is a trusted name in outdoor gear with a loyal customer base. This retro-looking soft cooler backpack has some structure to it, though there’s extra foam added for comfort and insulation. Its main compartment can hold 28 cans and it has a wide double-zippered top, plus there’s a large front pocket with a bottle opener attached to the flap. Side handles make it easy to tote around and dump out ice, and the shoulder straps are adjustable and well-padded.
3) Tourit 42-Can Backpack Cooler
TOURIT
amazon.com
This cooler is another customer favorite, with an impressive 335-milliliter capacity to hold about 42 cans. It features two large front zippered pockets, two mesh side pockets, and a top handle with a Velcro comfort grip. It’s made from a durable weather-resistant material, and according to reviewers, the waterproof insulated main compartment doesn’t leak and it’s comfortable to carry. The backpack comes in two other color combos in addition to black with eye-catching turquoise details.
4) YETI Hopper Backflip 24 Soft Sided Cooler/Backpack, Sagebrush Green
YETI
amazon.com
The ever-popular Yeti Hopper BackFlip is built to impress—it gets an average 4.9 stars from more than 1,500 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 in addition to sage green, including a bright coral and subdued charcoal gray.
5) IceMule Pro Backpack Cooler
IceMule
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 like an inner tube and rolls up for storage. The backpack is about 3 pounds, and you can stash up to 24 cans with ice inside its roomy 33-liter main compartment. There are two padded mesh shoulder straps along with a sternum strap to help distribute the weight when it’s full. Front bungee straps are a bonus to hold small accessories.
6) OtterBox Trooper Backpack Cooler
otterbox.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 LT 30 is completely waterproof, with a clamshell latch that snaps tightly shut, covered in thermoplastic urethane-coated nylon. It boasts a 30-quart capacity, and other highlights include two water-resistant front pockets and convertible straps, so you can also carry it on one shoulder. The only drawback is that it’s on the bulky side.
7) 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.
8) IceMule Jaunt Backpack Cooler
IceMule
amazon.com
The IceMule Jaunt is another bag we put through testing, and it came out on top as a great choice for day trips. It has a 9-liter capacity, which equates to roughly fifteen 12-ounce cans, and a roll-top that secures with a buckle. It’s completely watertight—it didn’t leak when we filled it with a gallon of water and held it upside down. One of the backpack’s coolest features is an air intake valve: Blow it up to create a barrier between the inner liner and outer shell, which helps with insulation. There aren’t a lot of outer pockets, which may be a dealbreaker for some.
9) 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.
Cold bevvies and snacks will travel.