Best coolers for camping trips, tailgates, and more

This cooler impressed us across the board with its solid construction, excellent cold retention, and thoughtful features. One especially clever detail is the dual-hinge lid, which opens from either side to make packing and access easier in tight spaces — a design the group and I had never seen before. Inside, a removable divider doubles as a cutting board, and on the exterior, a stainless-steel bottle opener is built right into the wall.

The anti-skid feet prevent it from sliding around, the side drain plug is well-built with a metal chain, and the tight refrigeration-style seal helped it retain ice for hours, even in direct sun.

Overall, Magellan Outdoors Pro’s explore icebox 25Q is a well-rounded, high-performing cooler that did a fantastic job keeping our drinks cold, delivering excellent value for the price.

This is your classic cooler — the kind you grew up with and still see at every tailgate or fishing dock. It doesn’t boast high-end insulation or rugged rotomolding, but it nails the basics at a wallet-friendly price. It holds up to 80 cans, and importantly, keeps them cold. It also boasts practical features like an antimicrobial liner, UV-rated coating, and a seat-supporting lid that can hold up to 250 pounds.

The stainless steel hardware helps prevent rust while the swing-up handles make it easier to transport. For casual weekends, road trips, boat days, or other adventures, the Coleman classic is a solid, affordable choice that has stood the test of time.

Built for laid-back afternoons outdoors, this ultra-portable bundle from Hydro Flask is the picnic lover’s weekend staple. The 20-liter carry-out soft cooler is compact enough to tote across a park but spacious enough to hold up to 38 cans (without ice).

The wide-zip opening makes it easy to load up snacks, sandwiches, and drinks, while its lightweight insulation and molded base keep everything cool and stable.

The whole thing is wrapped in water-resistant recycled fabric, and it has an exterior stash pocket and removable crossbody strap.

The game day bundle comes with a 20-ounce tumbler and a 12-ounce cooler cup. But, if you’re not into the extras, you can purchase the cooler separately for $89.95 (Hydroflask.com).

Designed specifically for auto compatibility, RTIC’s 16qt road trip cooler lives up to its name. With a slim, upright shape, it fits perfectly behind car seats or in the center console area so you can grab a drink without hoisting a bulky cooler or digging through a cluttered backseat.

It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, and chills beverages exceptionally well. I accidentally left a batch of sodas out in the sun (which got piping hot), and the cooler impressed us by bringing them back to an ice-cold chill in just 15 minutes.

Whether you’re driving cross-country, heading out for a weekend excursion, or just keeping drinks cold between rest stops, this road trip companion will provide reliable cooling, along with a little style, wherever the drive takes you.

When it comes to backpack coolers, the Yeti hopper M12 is the clear winner in any contest. Its slender, tapered shape and padded backpack straps make it comfortable to carry, even when fully loaded with drinks and ice. Beyond its ergonomics, it keeps drinks cold for a staggeringly long time. After testing, I left it in my basement without unpacking it, and the ice managed to stay chilled for three days.

The magshield closure system lets you seal it shut effortlessly, and it also rolls down and buckles for extra leak protection. It has a front pocket for stashing smaller items and a webbing grid to clip on accessories. Plus, like most Yeti products, it's ultra-stylish.

If you want a comfortable backpack cooler with long-lasting ice retention in a rugged-chic design, this should be your go-to adventure cooler.

The Thermos icon tote stood out for one big reason: it doesn’t look or feel like a cooler. Instead of being a bulky piece of outdoor gear, this tote offers cooling capabilities in the form of a sleek, stylish bag that you’d be happy to carry to a picnic or patio hangout.

During testing, it held up reasonably well in 95-degree Faranheit heat, though the black colorway may have caused it to warm up faster than some others. The molded base adds extra durability, and the outer fabric felt tough, water-resistant, and easy to clean.

My friends and I liked having the choice between top handles or a shoulder strap, and the zipper was smooth and easy to open. One person noted the magnetic flap over the zipper added just enough coverage to make it feel neat and finished. If you want something that chills your beverages and won’t look out of place at a picnic or on your porch, this is it.

Designed for everyday use, whether you’re commuting to work, heading to school, or out driving around town, the OtterBox lunch cooler is an excellent choice for single meals and quick outings.

Nailing that middle ground between soft-sided portability and real cold-holding performance, it’s compact enough to stash on a passenger seat but still fits a full lunch or up to six cans with ice. The included gel ice pack is a nice touch that adds to its cooling abilities.

I liked the dual carry options: sturdy built-in handles and an optional shoulder strap that clips on when needed. The water-resistant zipper seals things up tight, and the whole thing feels easy to clean.

If you’re seeking a lunch-sized cooler that’s lightweight and durable, you will love this choice.

If I could give this cooler more stars, I would. RovR’s rollr 45 was a serious contender for best overall, and honestly, it might still be my personal favorite — but it was just a little too heavy and expensive to take the top spot. That said, it crushed every category I tested.

The oversized inflatable wheels glided over everything (I hauled up and down stairs, across the deck, and over bumpy grass), while the telescoping T-handle makes towing genuinely smooth, even when it’s fully loaded.

The latches seal tight with soft, satisfying clicks, and the dry storage bin inside keeps food from getting soggy. There are also tons of optional accessories, from drink holders to a cutting board, which makes it feel more like a picnic base camp than just a cooler.

I got the coral color — which a neighbor complimented as I wheeled it to the porch — but it comes in a bunch of other colorful shades too.

Anyone seeking an ultra-durable, feature-packed wheeled cooler that’s rugged enough for any terrain will find this one hard to beat.

Another five-star winner, the Titan 60 is another cooler that I seriously considered for best overall — not because it’s flashy but because it’s so versatile, lightweight, and functional for the price.

Throughout the testing sessions, it consistently impressed with how cold it kept drinks, even without the heavy-duty latches or buckles you’d expect. The main zipper glides smoothly for quick access and seals tightly to help keep the chill locked in.

It has a removable interior tray that helps keep things organized, and the wheels, while not as robust as the RovR, get the job done just fine.

I especially love that you can detach the whole thing from the wheeled cart, effectively giving you two coolers in one — or roll it through a park, then pop it off and sling it over your shoulder. If you’re looking for an affordable rolling cooler that outperforms other coolers in its class, the Titan 60 fits the bill.

Stanley’s all-day Julienne 10-can cooler won me over the second I unboxed it, and not just because it’s stylish but because it’s genuinely functional.

The structured, zippered top pops open wide like a classic doctor’s bag, holding its shape and making it easy to grab items without a fuss. It fits about 10 cans, keeps things decently cold, and includes useful extras like a bottle pouch, front zip pocket, and detachable shoulder strap.

I tested the cream version with the pink-and-white checkered lining, but it also comes in fun colors like fuchsia, seafoam, lilac, and others that stay true to Stanley’s chic, design-forward vibe.

It’s full of subtle style details like embroidered logos on the strap and smooth matte hardware — and it performs well too. For light snacks, drinks, or lunch at the park, this is a wonderful day cooler.

At the lower price point, I didn’t expect to be as impressed with Camco’s pop-up cooler as I was, but it turned out to be one of my favorites.

Designed for RV life, it’s super lightweight and collapses completely flat, making it easy to stash in a trunk or cabinet. Yet once it’s popped open, it holds its shape and can fit a 12-pack with ice.

The top hatch lets you grab a drink without opening the full lid, and the built-in bottle opener is a nice bonus. If you’re tight on space but still want cold drinks on hand, this one strikes a fantastic balance between portability and performance.