The 8 Best Coolers of 2023, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

RTIC Ultra-Light 52 Quart Hard Cooler

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Insulation
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Capacity
  5/5

The RTIC Ultra-Light 52 Quart Ice Chest is our top pick because it’s thoughtfully designed with a removable divider that doubles as an ice pack and can keep drinks cold for 24 hours. On top of its impressive cooling ability, this cooler is also incredibly durable and does not leak when tipped over. During testing, we noted it would be the perfect size cooler for a boat or camping trip. 

This cooler’s impressive 52-quart capacity means it can easily hold 78 12-ounce soda or beer cans. To test this cooler’s chilling power, we filled it two-thirds full with ice and 26 12-ounce cans. After two hours on a 90-degree day outside, this cooler was still holding at 32.7 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it will easily keep beverages cold through an afternoon football game or tailgate. After sitting for 24 hours with ice and cans inside of it, the cooler’s inside temperature read 32.4 degrees Fahrenheit and it still had about 20 pounds of unmelted ice in it. 

This cooler’s incredible temperature performance can be attributed to its 3 inches of closed-cell insulation and its heavy-duty rubber T-latches, which hold the top firmly in place even when pushed off a table. The marine-grade rope handles are a great feature if you’re carrying this cooler with someone else, but they make maneuvering this cooler solo a bit tricky. We also appreciate the removable divider—which doubles as an ice pack— and basket to keep snacks and food dry.

With the ice and cans loaded into this cooler, it weighed over 40 pounds, which isn’t incredibly heavy but may be difficult for some people to carry on their own—especially with the loose straps. Overall, this cooler easily handled every test we put it through and exceeded our expectations. 

How It Performed Long-Term

We used this cooler in one of our own homes for six months and are still just as impressed with its capabilities. It kept food cold during a two-day camping trip and we loved the dry basket to preserve camera film from overheating. We've also kept it in the back of a car to use for grocery runs, which allowed us to run other errands without feeling rushed to get home with cold food items in tow.

Price at time of publish: $200

_{Dimensions: 18 x 27 x 15 inches | Capacity: 52 quarts | Weight: 21 pounds}

Best Budget

Coleman 48 Quart Cooler

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Insulation
  2/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Capacity
  3/5

For anyone looking for a standard, yet reliable cooler, we recommend the Coleman 48 Quart Performance Cooler. While this cooler may not have any innovative features, we appreciated its cooling ability and hard plastic shell, which is lighter than other coolers on the market. This cooler can also double as a bench if you’re pinched for seating at a tailgate or outdoor function. 

Under the lid of this cooler, you’ll find enough room to store 39 12-ounce cans without any ice. For our testing, we loaded it up with 36.2 pounds of ice and 13 cans and found that the internal temperature only increased 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit over a 24-hour period. Although 17.2 pounds of ice melted, we were still surprised by how well this cooler functioned. Keep in mind that the lid does not have any latches to secure it in place, so the contents can be spilled if it’s knocked over. 

We did find this cooler’s handle design slightly confusing. We initially thought the handles lifted up, which resulted in one of the handles coming out of its joint, but that was easily fixed and did not affect the integrity of the cooler. The handles in fact slide up, which makes for a comfortable grip whether you’re carrying it solo or with someone. Overall, this Coleman cooler is a great option, if you’re not looking to break the bank. 

How It Performed Long-Term

Despite its supposedly less-durable plastic, this cooler has held up well during our six-month, long-term testing period. We left it outside on a deck to use while enjoying dips in a hot tub, and we even left it out during inclement weather. We haven't noticed any change to its overall integrity or appearance, which makes us confident that it does not need to be stored in a closet if you're tight on space.

Price at time of publish: $40

_{Dimensions: 14.13 x 25.25 x 13.63 inches | Capacity: 48 quarts | Weight: 7.35 pounds}

Best Hard-Sided

Pelican 20 Quart Elite Cooler

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Design
  3/5
• Insulation
  4/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Capacity
  5/5

There wasn’t much we didn’t like about this hard-sided cooler from Pelican. While it’s certainly not the largest cooler we tested, it was one of the most intuitively designed coolers in our testing pool. We appreciated the conveniently placed built-in cup holders on the lid of the cooler and the bottle opener located between the latches. This cooler also has non-skid feet, which is especially helpful if you’re using it on a truck bed or in a boat. The molded-in tie-downs also offer a quick way to secure this cooler while in transit. 

Aside from its intuitive features, this cooler also boasts a 2-day cooling duration. Although we didn’t test it for two days, it was still holding at 32 degrees Fahrenheit after 24 hours and more than half the ice had melted. This cooler can hold up to 26 12-ounce cans with no ice in it, and it is also tall enough to hold 4 standard wine bottles. Even though this cooler doesn’t have a drain plug, we believe it would still be easy to empty while holding onto the handle. It also did not leak or break during our drop test, which means it's durable enough to survive just about any rowdy tailgate or boat ride.

How It Performed Long-Term

This cooler became an essential tool for one of our team member's hour-long commute to work every day. The tough handle never cracked or felt flimsy like previous coolers she had tried and the all-around durable design made her confident that it would keep meals frozen and stay upright in the trunk of her car.

Price at time of publish: $200

_{Dimensions: 18.8 x 12.6 x 17.7 inches | Capacity: 20 quarts | Weight: 12.52 pounds}

Best Large

Orca 140 Quart Cooler

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Design
  3/5
• Insulation
  4/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Portability
  1/5
• Capacity
  5/5

A large capacity cooler will not only require zero refills but will also take your hosting game to the next level. This 140-quart cooler from Orca supposedly retains its inner temperature for up to 10 days and it can hold up to 200 cans without any ice in it. For our testing, we filled it with 99 pounds of ice and 68 cans (one-third of the can capacity), and we were blown away by the temperature consistency over a 24-hour period—the cooler only gained 0.9 degrees—and only about 25 pounds of ice melted. 

However, this cooler’s size does lead to some complications. It’s incredibly heavy—64 pounds to be exact—without anything inside of it, and when we loaded it up with ice and drinks, it weighed over 100 pounds. Its size alone requires two people to carry it and it doesn’t have wheels to aid the transport process. The top also does not stay open on its own, so you’ll need to use both hands to prevent it from closing on you while loading and unloading its contents. 

We’d be remiss though to address the positive aspects of this cooler’s size, other than its capacity. Our push test proved that this cooler is not top-heavy and is hard to knock over, and two people could easily sit on it for additional seating. This cooler is also an investment, so we recommend considering your cooling needs before splurging on it. The cost is definitely justified based on this cooler’s capacity and cooling duration alone, though.

How It Performed Long-Term

As we suspected, this cooler didn't become a go-to for easy transport at tailgates, but we enjoyed using it to host large parties in the backyard. It remained relatively in the same spot over the course of six months because of its size, but we loved how it could easily store all of the beverages we'd need for an almost 20-person gathering.

Price at time of publish: $600

_{Dimensions: 21.38 x 39.44 x 23 inches | Capacity: 140 quarts | Weight: 64 pounds}

Best Backpack

BLUU Softside Leakproof 35qt Cooler

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Insulation
  2/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5

If you’re carrying multiple tote bags down to the beach, a backpack cooler may be the easiest way to transport your snacks and beverages. After testing this cooler from Bluu in the lab we noted that this is possibly the best insulation you could find in a backpack cooler. Although the majority of the ice from our test—10 out of 14.5 pounds—had melted, the cooler’s internal temperature only increased by 4 degrees over a 24-hour period. 

The waterproof zipper passed our drop and leak tests with flying colors, and our tester noted the padded straps and back support were very comfortable while wearing this cooler. Keep in mind that the waterproof zipper may be slightly difficult to pull over time, but you can purchase a wax lubricant stick separately to loosen it. The extra mesh pockets also make it easy to store dry snacks that may not need to be chilled.   

How It Performed Long-Term

This backpack showed no signs of wear after six months of regular use, and we love the versatility of packing it with larger cans, glass food containers, and more. Our testing team member even said she was excited by its potential for kayaking trips as it's the exact design she's been needing.

Price at time of publish: $120

_{Dimensions: 19 x 12 x 16.5 inches | Capacity: 35 quarts | Weight: Not listed}

Best for Wine

The Get Out Cooler Bag

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Insulation
  4/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5

For some, a picnic isn’t complete without a bottle of wine, so we completed the search for you to find a cooler that can hold not just one but six bottles of wine. The Get Out Cooler Bag impressed us so much that we'd be willing to purchase it at a good sale price since it has so much potential as a soft-sided bag. The use options are limitless from toting it to a dock to outdoor concerts, picnics, hiking, and camping.

Although most of the ice from our test had melted after 24 hours, the 12 cans we placed in this cooler were chilling at a cool 39.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and the cooler’s inner temperature had only changed by one degree. This cooler did not leak at all during our drop test, and the bottom also did not become wet during any part of our testing period. We also noted that both carrying options—the backpack handles and side handles—were both comfortable to use and much easier to navigate than a hard-sided cooler. Although the front pocket is rather flat to really serve any true purpose, a fishing license or koozie could easily be stored in it.

Price at time of publish: $260

_{Dimensions: 16 x 17.15 x 10 inches | Capacity: 16 quarts | Weight: Not listed}

Best for Tailgating

YETI Tundra 65 Cooler

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Design
  4.5/5
• Insulation
  4/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Capacity
  5/5

If you’re hosting a tailgate event, you’ll want the YETI Tundra 65 Cooler as your sidekick. It’s hard to know where to start when listing off this cooler’s features. A freezer-quality gasket seal minimizes air exchange while this cooler is shut, long-neck bottles lay flat in this cooler, and to top it off: it’s bear-resistant according to the manufacturer, when secured with two padlocks (not included in cooler purchase). 

This cooler is surprisingly lightweight at only 29 pounds with nothing inside of it. We loaded it with 22 cans and 37 pounds of ice during testing, which weighed it down to 84 pounds. We recommend having an additional person to help transport this to your tailgate destination. About 18 pounds of ice melted in this cooler over a 24-hour period, but its interior was still resting at a chilly 32 degrees. All in all, YETI has yet again proven that its price tags are backed by quality goods and thoughtful design practices.

How It Performed Long-Term

This cooler's top-notch cooling capabilities made it an easy favorite with our testing team member who used it during our six-month testing period. It's easy to fill, relatively easy to maneuver with the help of a friend, and can serve as additional seating in a pinch.

Price at time of publish: $375

_{Dimensions: 16 x 30.6 x 17.3 inches | Capacity: 57.6 liters | Weight: 29 pounds}