Coolers are a solid staple for any camping trip or a day at the beach.It provides a convenient way to properly refrigerate beverages and food, both to prevent bacterial growth and to ensure icy sips on your adventures.But no matter its size, lugging a cooler around while filling it with ice cubes and a beverage of your choice isn’t an easy task.Instead, consider a backpack cooler, a product designed specifically to solve this problem, making the freezer more portable.
With the Backpack Cooler, you won’t be embarrassingly lugging bulky boxes across the beach or down muddy trails as you and your friends try to share loads.These portable freezers simply attach to your back and you’re free to take whatever else you have with you or just enjoy your surroundings.
Backpack coolers may sound fancy, but thanks to modern manufacturing, many, if not all, are able to keep their entire contents cool and refrigerated for two, three, and sometimes even four days.
At the end of this guide, we’ll go over how we tested the options below, but since we know you want to spend less time researching these packs and more time enjoying their contents, we’ve screened all the pack coolers for Find the best.While companies like Yeti or IceMule are what you’d expect, brands like Hydro Flask and OtterBox surprise us with their unique offerings.Backpack coolers aren’t just an innovative way to chill beverages — it’s the best way to go.
Updated 2/22/2021 by Rachael Schultz: Updated photos, checked availability of each recommended cooler, and updated prices and links if necessary.
Pros: Rugged exterior punctures and UV protection, HydroLock zipper provides superior water resistance, ColdCell insulation keeps drinks cool for days, holds up to 20 cans
Yeti is one of the leading hard cooler brands, so it’s no surprise that they make the best backpack coolers.The Hopper Backflip 24′s impeccable build quality, ice resistance and durability make it our top pick.
Taller and wider than other Yeti products like the Hopper Flip, this backpack can carry up to 20 cans of beer or soda or 25 pounds of ice.
To make carrying the Hopper Backflip a breeze, Yeti designed it to distribute its weight evenly, whether you pack it top-heavy or not.Equipped with comfortable, ergonomic shoulder straps and detachable hip and chest straps, longer hikes are easy to carry, even with a heavy pack.In other words, pack it to the edge and don’t look back.
But what really sets the Hopper Backflip apart is Yeti’s three proprietary technologies: DryHide shell, Hydrolok zipper, and ColdCell insulation.The brand’s DryHide Shell is a high-density material that enables the packaging to resist mildew, mildew and UV rays while still remaining waterproof.
Its Hyrdolok zipper helps avoid any false spills, keeping liquids where they belong – inside the cooler.Finally, Hopper Backflip’s ColdCell Insulation promises to hold ice more, if not better, than any pack on the market.We found it held ice for days no matter how hot it was outside.
Despite its $300 list price, it’s a worthwhile investment for all that Yeti’s Hopper Backflip has to offer.
BENEFITS: Weighs only 3 lbs when empty, keeps package refrigerated for up to 48 hours, hinged top makes it super easy to access, woven chest strap and handles for easy hauling, free standing design, waterproof zipper is 100% leak-proof
The Hydro Flask became an instant hit with its innovative thermos and is known for designing and manufacturing high-quality products.This trademark quality is greatly facilitated as the Unbound series enters the backpack cooler market.
Hydro Flask’s Soft Cooler has a moulded base that can stand upright on its own, and what’s called a “True Access Hinged Top” that flips over easily when unzipped, making it super easy to scoop out a cold beer.
With just one external zippered pocket and a mesh water bottle pocket, it’s nicely designed, but doesn’t offer much storage space if you want to carry more than just a bottle opener or fork.
I love using Hydro Flask’s Soft Cooler Pack on short trips.Since it only weighs 3 pounds unladen, it won’t disappoint if those quick trips turn into longer day hikes.Featuring the brand’s innovative cooling technology, the pack is designed to exercise more insulation on the bottom where the cold usually dissipates faster.Despite its smaller size, it is capable of refrigerating contents for up to 48 hours.
If you do find yourself on the road for more than two days, the pack’s construction is waterproof and supported by YKK Aquaseal zippers so that not even a drop of liquid will get out (or in).It’s cheaper than Yeti’s Hopper or IceMule Boss, and it’s much smaller, but the Hydro Flask Soft Cooler Pack is by no means second-rate.
Pros: 30 liter capacity, shoulder or backpack carrying options, versatile accessory mounting system, keeps items refrigerated for about 3 days, durable construction, can be opened with just one hand
Known for its extremely durable smartphone cases, OtterBox has diversified its offerings in recent years by squeezing into cooler markets.While that might seem like an odd choice for the brand, its Trooper LT Backpack Cooler is one of the best we’ve tested, proving it’s both sturdy and versatile.
It has an external mounting system ideal for attaching a corkscrew or drying box, and the Trooper LT also offers two Duraflex tie-downs for additional accessories.That means not having to decide what to leave behind on your next trip.
The Trooper LT has a large opening for easy loading and unloading, and its insulation can hold ice for up to three days.No need to worry about the sloping cooler splashing water on your back seat, as its leak-proof seal keeps its contents safe.Plus, its 30-liter internal capacity means you can pack 24 cans of soda or beer and still have room for ice.
The OtterBox also includes an easy-to-open composite latch that you can open with just one hand, and its exterior storage pocket is waterproof, making the Trooper the perfect drifting companion.
Pros: Wide mouth shell for easy loading and unloading, 30 liter capacity holds 24 cans and ice cubes, captures extra air for enhanced insulation, suspension system and mesh back pad make it comfortable to wear (even up to 60 lbs), has an oversized External pocket, very durable
The words “behemoth” and “heavy duty” just scratch the surface of the IceMule Boss’s durability and durability.Constructed from MuleSkin 1000-denier fabric, this cooler is designed to take an absolute hit without sacrificing any performance.
Due to its blast-proof construction, the IceMule Boss is best for serious campers and hikers who plan to dig deep on trails or backcountry for a few days.Its 30-liter capacity also means it offers enough storage space for at least 24 cans of beer or soda and ice — a capacity no other backpack cooler on the market can claim.
Boss achieves ultimate ice retention with its closed-cell PolarLayer XT insulating foam and IceMule’s innovative IM AirValve.Essentially, the valve adds extra air to the insulating layer, increasing the overall insulating capacity of the battery pack.So even if it touches triple digits outside, the owner will refrigerate any packaged food and drink to perfection.Its wide mouth case also makes it easy to load and unload anything you want to carry.
Sure, it gets high marks for its insulation and durability, but perhaps the most underrated aspect of the Boss is its actual pack design.Featuring the kind of suspension you might find in an actual pack, it’s capable of packing up to 60 pounds with ease.
Its air mesh back pad, cushioned waistband and comfortable chest strap also help keep you cool in hot weather, keeping you comfortable on long treks.
Pros: Small design makes it ideal for day hikes, has comfortable soft shoulder straps, is made from waterproof fabric, removable lining makes it easy to clean, $80 price tag is hard to beat
With all the other options in our guide costing at least $275, it’s clear that well-insulated, well-designed backpack coolers don’t come cheap.However, Barebones backpack coolers cost less than $100 and still offer a high level of quality and insulation.
The Barebones have an internal capacity of 17.5 liters and can hold about 20 cans of beer or soda.It’s not the largest backpack on our list, but its smaller size is perfect for short hikes or a couple’s trip to the beach.
With a zippered compartment at the top, the pack’s wide mouth opening makes it easy to load and unload a day’s worth of food and drinks.The square base of the backpack allows it to stand freely without falling, perfect for a picnic.Barebones also designed a waterproof case with an antibacterial silver foil lining, and its removable lining is easy to clean between trips.
No matter how many cans of your favorite ice-cold beverages you carry with you, the backpack’s soft shoulder straps keep you comfortable on your back, and its leather handles are perfect for unloading from the car or transporting over short distances.
At $80, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a backpack cooler of the same quality for cheap.Not only is the Barebones Backpack Cooler an affordable model, it’s also a reliable summer companion for anyone.
While using a backpack cooler is a pretty simple task, finding the best available product means putting our review model through a variety of tests.To that end, we haul these old freezers around on weekend camping trips, afternoons at the beach, and even multi-mile hikes to see how well they keep our food and drinks cool, and whether we actually enjoy using them they.
When testing, we looked at four specific categories: comfort, performance, design and value.Here are the influencing factors for each category:
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