Last Updated on December 4, 2020 by TheMealPrepNinja
10 Best Soft Coolers – Review and Buying Guide
Having a soft cooler with you while planning for outdoor activity, like a picnic, barbecue, sporting event, concert, canoeing, or kayaking, can be the best option to feel more comfortable. But finding the best soft cooler can be a bit difficult in the presence of soft coolers in various designs, sizes, shapes, and colors offered by various popular brands. Still, you should choose a suitable one for you due to various reasons. The information provided in this write-up will help you to know the reasons to buy a soft cooler for you.
In this article, we review ten of the best soft coolers on the market. We have a list of the best overall, best on a budget, and the best under $25 dollars. If you are in a hurry, our top recommendations are the CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag with a shoulder strap but read on to check out our other favorite soft-sided cooler bags
Best Overall Soft Cooler Bag
The best overall soft cooler bag goes to CleverMade collapsible cooler bag with a shoulder strap because it’s the most affordable and durable bag for the value.
If you are looking for a durable soft cooler bag that will last you for a long time, then this bag is for you. CleverMade takes pride in creating innovative products, and this soft cooler is an example of that pride. This cooler bag is collapsible and is easy to store when you are not using it.
What we Like:
- Storage: This soft-sided cooler can store up to 30 cans plus ice. This is perfect to keep all your drinks cool.
- Collapsible: This snap basket cooler folds down to less than 3 inches and can be stored just about any way. The collapsibility makes it a great travel cooler.
- Structured design: This bag has a steel wire frame on the top of the cooler and a patent SnapHinge on each side to give it a structure support
- Leak-Proof: It comes with 3 layers of leakproof insulation finished with a sonically welded PEVA to create a perfect seal.
- Bonus: It comes with a bottle opener so that you will never have to worry about forgetting to bring one with you on your adventures.
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Best on a Budget Soft-sided Cooler bag
The best on a budget cooler bag goes to Lifewit Collapsible Cooler Bag 32-Can Insulated Leakproof Soft Cooler
This is the best on a budget because it is a large quality bag at a great price. This bag holds up to 23 liters or 32 cans of soda. It has 2 separate compartments to hold your food and drinks. This soft cooler bag also has a front zipper compartment to store your keys, phone, and or wallet, plus a side mesh compartment.
What we like:
- Large capacity: This Lifewit cooler bag can hold up to 23 litters or 6 gallons of liquid. You can pack up to 32 cans of your favorite drinks plus ice. This bag has two separate insulated sections that allow you to pack liquids and dry foods separately.
- Leak Proof Lining: The exterior of the cooler bag is constructed out of high-density, water-resistant, dirt-proof oxford fabric which making it durable, waterproof and easy to clean. This material is a great upgrade from traditional sewing construction.
- Long time insulated: The upper section uses 210D oxford fabric and EPE foam to store dry items, and the lower section use High-Density insulation material and leak-proof liner inside of the bag work together to make sure it keep food cold and fresh for 12 hours.
What we did not like:
This is a great collapsible bag, it just does not collapse all the way down because of the extra insulation.
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Best Runner Up Soft-Sided Cooler Bag
The best runner goes to Columbia PFG Skiff Guide Zipper-less Hard body Thermal Cooler Pack
This is the best runner up but could easily been the number one overall Best Soft Cooler Bag. The reason it is not the best overall is that the price is a little higher than most other bags but the quality of this bag is second to none. The other reason it is not the overall is because it comes with a removal hard body. This hard insert can be removed.
What we Like:
- Quick and easy design: This bag comes with a patented flip open zipperless lid that for quick access to food and drinks. The capacity of this bag is up to 58 soda cans.
- FDA Compliant: The bag has an FDA complaint hard-body liner with a removable smart shelf and features an ultra-safe leakproof lining.
- Expandable design: There is an extra front compartment to hold more food or drinks. The Slime-tech exterior design makes it easy to clean.
Con: This bag is a lot bigger then expected. The bag is a lot bigger then most soft cooler bags.
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Best under $25 dollars Cooler Bag
The best cooler bag under $25 dollars goes to Coleman Soft Cooler Bag
This is the best soft cooler bag under $25 dollars. The brand Coleman is a well known sports and outdoors brand that makes great quality products. This bag is no different. This bag retains ice for up to 24 hours at up to 90F.
What we like:
- Leak-Proof: The bag has heat-welded seams that prevent leaks so that there’s no need to worry about melted ice seeping out.
- Germ-resistant liner: The flexible plastic liner is treated with antimicrobials to prevent the forming of mold and odors.
- Multi-Pocket: This bag comes with a small pocket to store your small dry items.
Con: This is a small soft cooler bag. It is not a large cooler that has extra compartments like most bags.
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Best Insulated Soft Cooler
The best insulated soft cooler bag goes to RTIC insulated soft cooler bag with leak proof zipper.
This bag is over built and not over priced. The quality of this bag is amazing. This insulated bag keeps ice cold for days no hours. If you are looking for a roughed bag that will last you for ever then this bag is for you.
- Holds up to 30 cans plus ice: This bag is 100% leak-proof and puncture-resistant. This bag can easily hold up to 30 cans plus ice and is as tough as nails.
- Antimicrobial liner: This bag is made with an antimicrobial liner that resists mildew. You will have have to worry about mold or odors with this bag.
- Insulated design: The bag is designed with 2 inches of closed-cell foam to keep your drinks arctic cold. You can use the exterior pocket for dry items.
Con: This is a great quality bag but it is on the higher end of the price range for most cooler bags
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Best Luxury Soft Cooler Bags
Here are three of the best luxury cooler bags on the market. We picked three of the best with different price ranges. The first bag goes to YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler. YETI is known for having the best coolers on the market.
The Hopper Flip 8 has ColdCell Insulation, a closed-cell foam that offers superior cold-holding to ordinary soft coolers and is 100% leak proof. The DryHide Shell is waterproof and resistant to mildew, punctures, and abrasions so it will hold its own when faced with the hazards of the wild.
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Here is another luxury cooler bag on the market. This ROCKBROS Soft Cooler 30 Can Insulated Leak Proof Soft Pack Coolers Waterproof Soft Sided Cooler Bag is another amazing luxury bag.
The Rockbros soft sided cooler has more than 48 hours extra long cooling insulation time under a 107 degree indoor environment, will keep the food fresh and drinks cool. The inner material of the soft cooler is high density insulation foam and the interior surface is waterproof TPU & airtight zipper which can ensure the cool air stays in the bag.
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Best Luxury Soft Cooler Bag under $50 dollars
The best luxury cooler bag under $50 dollars goes to Jumo Cyly Insulated Soft Cooler Bag 30 Cans Leak-Proof Soft Pack Cooler Tote Bag Waterproof Insulated Soft Sided Cooler
This bag has all the quality that most name brand luxury bags have but is not as known as the rest. The soft-pack cooler is made of heavy duty nylon which will not rip, tear or scratch, but LIGHTWEIGHT to carry. Closed-cell rubber foam offers far superior cold-holding to ordinary soft coolers. Padded and fully adjustable shoulders straps offer the maximum comfort and support.
Others Coolers Worth Considering
While they didn’t make the top list, these soft sided coolers are also worth considering. Here is a list of other bags to consider
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OlarHike 40/24 Can Cooler Bag Lunch Bag, Collapsible and Insulated Lunch Box Leakproof Cooler Bag
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Different Types of Best Soft Cooler
Two types of coolers are normally used to keep things cold for a long time – hard coolers and soft coolers. But to choose between them you must know them a bit closely.
Hard coolers
These coolers are heavy and bigger in size and can keep your things cold for up to one week. Their storage capacity can be from 20-350 liters. A 50-70 liter hard cooler can be enough for a weekend outing. A larger cooler at this location will be difficult to carry on your back unless it has wheels to stroll along with it easily.
Soft coolers
Soft coolers are easy to carry as they are made from soft materials instead of a molded model like that of a hard cooler. They are available in different sizes and shapes but their capacity is not more than 40 liters in any case. They are cheaper than hard coolers.
However, you cannot keep your beverages and food cool for a long time in a soft cooler due to their small capacity and low insulation than hard coolers.
Though a soft cooler can keep your beverages cold for 1-2 days only you can carry it easily wherever you go. You can also carry some of the soft coolers as a backpack to take them easily to any location.
Benefits of a Soft Cooler
Lightweight: Unlike hard coolers used traditionally, soft coolers are made from lightweight materials for easy transportation. You can carry them as a backpack or even on your shoulder.
Conform to your body: When you carry a soft cooler then you will not feel awkward on tour body as it does not have pressure points and can match the contours of your body.
Limited capacity: Soft coolers usually have a limited capacity up to 30 cans of beverage or 30 quarts of food which one can carry easily.
Keep things cold for long: Though soft coolers are used for activities and events for one day but the things put in them can remain cold for up to three days.
Versatile use: You can use soft coolers not only for keeping the pre-chilled drinks cool but also for carrying snacks or lunch with you.
Easy to transport: You can transport your soft cooler easily by packing it in your car as they can adjust easily in the space available in it.
Easy to store: You can store easily in lesser space as most of the soft coolers are collapsible.
Cleaning Your Cooler
Soft coolers can be cleaned easily by taking a few careful steps.
Clean the exterior and interior: While using the soft cooler for the first time you should clean its interior by using warm water and mild soap. You can also use water and baking soda to clean stains from its interior. You should clean its exterior by hand after every use more particularly when you take it near the source of saltwater.
Remove odors: You can use a solution of water and chlorine bleach to remove odors from your soft cooler. You can use a cloth dipped in the extract of vanilla to wipe the interior of the cooler and leave it inside it throughout the night, if the odor is not removed completely.
Air-dry the cooler: After cleaning the soft cooler, before storing it you should keep its lid open to let it dry naturally by air. It will help in preventing the growth of mildew and mold in it.
Guidelines to improve the performance of your soft cooler
· The drinks and food you store in your soft cooler should be pre-chilled
· To keep your beverage cool for a long time put ice on them inside the cooler. It is because the air-cooled by the ice will travel downward to keep other things cool.
· Avoid putting your cooler at a hot location. You should avoid storing your cooler in your car or garage even when not in use. If you have no other place to store it then you should bring it in the cooler location minimum 24 hours before using it to store cold beverages in it.
· You should not put the cooler directly on a hot surface as it can melt or damage its bottom. If you have no other option then you should put a towel under it while putting it on a hot surface like on the floor of the boat, the back of the pickup or on the top of your car, etc.
It will keep your things cooler or long when put in shady locations instead of putting it in direct sunlight as the ice melts faster in a hot environment.
Avoid draining the water of melted ice in the cooler as it will help in preserving cooling of your things You should use ice cubes in the cooler to keep your beverages cold for a long time as ice blocks melt at low speed.
After opening the lid of your cooler you should close it as soon as possible as it can affect the cooling inside it.
If you have some perishable food like dairy products or meat with you then you can keep it directly in the ice in the soft cooler as it will protect it for a long time.
Final Thoughts – Best Soft Coolers
Having a great quality soft cooler when traveling is a must. There are many different options on the market to fit your needs. Each of the models on our list is fantastic options, but our best overall favorite is the CleverMade Collapsible Cooler Bag with Shoulder Strap: Insulated Leakproof 30 Can Portable Soft Beverage Tote with Bottle Opener because of the quality, design, and overall price range.
We put together a list of the best soft cooler so that you can choose one the fits your needs. We know that we all have different needs when it comes to choosing a bag. So if it made it on our list then you know it’s a great bag to choose from.
It does not matter if you are looking for a affordable or luxury soft-sided bag, we got you covered.
Thus, by buying the best soft cooler you can enjoy all the benefits discussed in this review guide.
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Jim Lopez, the founder and editor of The Meal Prep Ninja, shares his journey from a passionate bodybuilder and fitness enthusiast to a certified nutrition coach. Certified by Precision Nutrition, Jim aims to empower others with knowledge on meal prep and nutrition, offering resources for busy individuals to enjoy low-calorie, tasty foods. His blog is a community for sharing healthy eating habits and meal prep recipes
