Summer has arrived, and as you pull your old cooler out of the garage for another weekend trip, you probably think the same thing: it’s time for a new one. You want a cooler that keeps your drinks cold and doesn’t leave you scooping out melted ice before you even get to camp.
But then you realize there are so many choices, with prices all over the place, and it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Hard-Sided Coolers Built to Last
For this guide, I’m keeping it simple and focusing on classic hard-sided coolers. I’m not covering soft-sided bags that work well for a day hike, a beach trip, or carrying a few drinks for an evening walk. We’ll talk about those another time. I’m also leaving out powered refrigerators and freezers that you often see in overland vehicles at weekend Cars & Coffee events.
This guide is all about the traditional family-size ice chest. It’s the kind you can use on a camping trip, at the lake, on a fishing trip, or at a backyard barbecue. These coolers are big enough for lots of cold drinks, sandwiches, and maybe even enough space to bring home the fish you catch.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Yeti v series
This innovative ice chest is the most iconic way to chill nearly 50 cans of beer or keep oysters and Alaskan king crab legs on ice.
Fits 96 cans (only)
Fits 64 lbs of ice (only)
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Wine bottle compatible
Price $800 on Yeti.com
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
RTIC 20 QT ULTRA-TOUGH COOLER
One of my personal favorite hard-sided coolers I own, lots of space and easy on the wallet.
Pack for adventure with this compact, durable cooler.
30 can capacity
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Rotomolded Construction for extreme durability
Multi-day ice retention
Price $154 on RTIC.com
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Engel 35 High Performance Hard Cooler and Ice Box
Engel, the original high-performance roto-molded cooler was built for toughness and durability. With a full 2 inches of closed-cell foam insulation in the lid, on the sides, and the bottom, helping to retain cold and ice for up to 10 days.
Unlike the rubber gaskets used by our competitors, Engel’s all silicone gaskets create a near airtight seal that is durable and will never lose its shape. The majority of independent reviews consistently rank Engel Coolers as one of the best-rotomolded coolers on the market.
“IGBC Certified Bear Resistant Container” – molded on rear lid of the cooler
Up to 10 days Ice Retention
Dry ice compatible
Durable seamless rotationally-molded construction
First and original high-performance cooler
Sizes from 25 to 320 available
Warranty: 10 Years
Price $249.99 availabe at Engel
Canyon Outfitter 35 Beats the Competition
True 35-Quart Capacity: Stop overpaying for less space. This cooler boasts a 21% larger true capacity (35 qt) than the YETI 35 series (aprox 28 qt).
Maximum Drink Storage: Comfortably holds up to 58 cans at max capacity, or 27 cans with a perfect ice retention ratio.
Packs Better, Fits Better: Our signature straight-wall design eliminates wasted space, making packing efficient and trunk-loading a breeze.
Multi-Day Ice Retention: Featuring an air-tight insulated seal, a robust latching system, and pressure-injected foam to keep ice significantly longer than a standard 1-2 night getaway.
Customizable & Mod-Ready: Includes a screw-on garden hose compatible drain plug, 2” tie-down slots, and compatibility with our drop-in dividers and side tables.
Bear-Resistant Toughness: IGBC Certified construction that is built for a lifetime of rugged abuse.
Price $259.99 USD on Canyon coolers website
My Personal Favorite The Coleman Classic
Add a retro vibe to your next backyard BBQ, family picnic, or beach day with the Coleman® Vintage 54-Quart Steel Belted® Cooler. A throwback to the classic 1954 design, the cooler evokes memories of outdoor adventure but with modern features you can enjoy today. With enough room to hold up to 84 cans, you’ll have plenty of drinks to go around and the cooler Keeps the Ice™ for up to 4 days. The Have-A-Seat™ lid supports up to 250 lbs. so you’ll always have an extra seat. Carry the cooler from your garage to the backyard or your trunk to the park easily using the comfort-grip handles. The rust-resistant stainless steel hardware helps you enjoy the cooler for years to come.
VINTAGE DESIGN: Adds a retro vibe to your outside activities
PREMIUM INSULATION: Keeps ice up to 4 days
HIGH CAPACITY: Holds up to 85 cans
HAVE-A-SEAT LID: Closed lid supports up to 250 lbs
BUILT TO LAST: Rust-resistant stainless steel hardware
COMFORT-GRIP HANDLES: For easy lifting
price $199 on coleman.com
