The 5 Best Coolers of 2026: Tested

Simple, affordable, reliable: That’s the Igloo MaxCold Latitude 54-Quart Cooler. It may not be bear-proof or have the bells and whistles of more expensive coolers, but among outdoorists and travelers who prefer ease-of-use, functionality and an accessible price point, it gets high marks.

Notably, it offers plenty of room for food, drinks and ice. Testers said it was spacious enough to accommodate everything they needed for multiday camping trips, sometimes with room to spare: It fits up to 76 icy-cold 12-ounce cans. It’s also lightweight and portable, plus testers said they appreciated its durability and insulating power (it can retain ice for up to five days, depending on the outside temp). “[It’s a] great product; I can rely on any of the Igloo products I own,” said Casey, one of two testers in Buffalo, New York.

Features are simple but useful, including four self-draining cup holders in two different sizes in the lid, a grab handle on each side to easily carry the cooler alone or with a friend, and a plug for draining melted ice. A simple latch on the front secures the lid and is easy to open and close.

For those who need a cooler that works well without all the flash, this is an excellent choice.

A cushy strap, grippy bottom and leakproof design make the burly Roadie 24 2.0 Hard Cooler from YETI ideal for everything from camping and road trips to all-day sporting events. It offers plenty of room for food, drinks and snacks, yet is compact enough to fit behind the passenger seat of a car. Sturdy latches and rugged construction mean this ice box will withstand years of adventuring. “I feel like this cooler could withstand anything,” said Jacob T., our Pennsylvania-based tester.

The interior is designed to hold up to 33 cans and is tall enough to accommodate most standard wine and two-liter bottles. “I was honestly shocked with how much it could fit,” Jacob reported. Another tester said that using the brand’s reusable ice packs (sold separately) helped to maximize space.

A cold lock gasket in the lid and pressure-injected insulation give the Roadie superior insulating abilities. Testers were wowed by how long it kept its contents chilled in the middle of June. “The cooler was able to keep all of my drinks plus steaks when glamping cold for over a day, and nearly two, with some of the ice still not liquid,” Jacob said. Another found that the Roadie kept food cold for multiple days when stored outside their trailer.

It fit easily in testers’ cars and the cargo wagons that some used to haul gear to bleachers or a campground. While a shoulder strap makes it relatively easy to carry, Jacob noted that, at over 13 pounds, the Roadie is on the heavier side. This isn’t the cooler you’ll want to schlep by hand for a mile to your campsite—consider the REI Co-op Campwell Folding Cooler for that.

Features abound, including exterior tie-downs for use on a boat or truck bed, quick-release latches to make access easy, a drain plug on one side, and multiple add-ons like baskets and organizers (sold separately) to customize the interior. Like the Stanley Julienne, it comes in various colors and larger sizes, including a wheeled version.

Stanley has become synonymous with functional, colorful products, so it’s no surprise testers loved the compact yet practical All Day Julienne Mini Cooler for short day trips.

Testers reported the Julienne Mini from Stanley kept food cold (or hot) for up to 12 hours, even when it was left in the car, making it perfect for packing lunches and snacks. It’s roomy enough for reusable food storage containers or drinks, though space can start to feel cramped once you add ice packs or ice.

Its petite size (at approximately 9 x 9 x 7 inches, it’s the smallest cooler we tested) and removable shoulder strap make it light and easy to transport to the beach, pool, park or picnic site. A hands-free doctor-bag-style opening with a leakproof zipper offers a wide mouth for easy access. One tester noted the hinged opening was a bit stiff, but functional.

Packing it is a breeze, thanks to a solid bottom and semi-rigid sides, which Kristina V., our tester in Washington, noted were sturdier and easier to use than those on most other soft-sided coolers. “It makes standing up bowls or [an insulated water bottle] a lot easier,” she said.

It’s also easy to clean and holds up to daily life, with our New York–based tester, Kimberly V., commenting that it’s survived multiple drops. All that said, it’s on the pricier side. If you’re looking for a more affordable option for picnics and keeping food cold while at school and work, check out the REI Co-op Campwell 18 L Folding Cooler, which is available in an eight-liter lunch box size. The Stanley Julienne also comes in larger capacities, including a Midi and Max version.

Portability and packability are nearly as important as functionality when choosing a cooler. This is where the Campwell 18 L Folding Cooler from REI Co-op shines: It’s easy to transport from your car to your campsite and back again, and it takes up minimal storage space thanks to its collapsible design.

This soft-sided ice chest folds nearly flat when not in use and holds up to 12 cans when expanded. It’s also adjustable: Clip together the wings on the corners to create a space-saving, boxy shape that’s perfect for road trips or unfasten them to carry the cooler as a tote with more room for snacks. Testers loved that versatility. In either configuration, a zipper opening at the top makes it easy to access the contents. You can carry the Campwell cooler by hand or over your shoulder using the tote handles or the removable, padded shoulder strap.

Its compact shape, light weight and insulating power make it perfect for picnics, day trips and short overnights. The Campwell cooler even kept drinks and snacks cold during one tester's eight-hour road trip, despite frequent opening and closing. “This is our go-to cooler for any activity we participate in where we need a cooler,” said John J., our tester in Washington.

Just be careful to keep it upright: John noted water dripping from the zipper when it tipped over with melted ice inside. Another consideration: Its foldable design is tougher to clean and drain compared to coolers with hard, flat interiors. Still, this flexible ice chest is built to last. "We've used several of these in different sizes for many years and haven't had a single issue with any of them," John said. "This is a solid cooler.”

Designed to work without ice, the space-age Tempo Bundle from Oyster comes with two low-profile ice packs designed to be frozen ahead of time and placed on the bottom of the cooler. The intention: to offer max cooling capacity without having to devote space to bags of ice or bulky ice blocks. That’s because aluminum is more thermally efficient than plastic, so the Oyster cools down faster and stays that way with less ice than plastic coolers.

Testers loved the aesthetics as well as the ease-of-use, starting with the fact that they could open the Oyster from either side or remove the lid completely. “On our friend's tiny boat, it allowed us to access it in a tight space.”

Not having to worry about ice means there’s ample storage space inside the cooler: The 23-liter model we tested holds 36 cans plus two slim ice packs (included). Its roomy interior makes it perfect for all-day excursions or overnight trips. It consistently keeps food and drinks cold for several days. That said, Phuong L., managing editor at REI who tested the Oyster Tempo in Washington, reported that drinks didn’t feel as cold on day two as they might in a cooler filled with ice.

Testers found it uncomfortable to cart the Oyster over longer distances due to a lack of grab handles or padding on the shoulder strap. On the plus side, the absence of heavy ice means it weighs less than many other options when loaded with supplies.

Worth noting: It’s not designed for sitting on, so keep that in mind if you like to use your cooler as a back-up camp stool. The Oyster Tempo excels at short trips and, according to Phuong, is perfect “when you need to BYOB drinks to other people's backyard parties.”