The 8 Best Backpack Coolers for Summer Adventures

The recent resurgence of hard-sided rugged coolers built for the outdoors has been nothing short of a blessing for individuals who live a more rough and tough extracurricular lifestyle. Yet, with that said, these hard coolers don’t come without their drawbacks. Especially when it comes to  transportation, lugging these things around can be quite cumbersome, to say the least. Now, thanks to a little bit of common sense in conjunction with good old-fashioned innovation, we have a market of hybrid backpacks/coolers that – naturally – combines a soft-sided cooler with that of a standard backpack.

Needless to say, these portable backpack coolers are ideal for afternoons at the beach, at the campsite, or out on the skiff for a day of fishing. Typically, they boast enough room for all the essentials – from canned cocktails to the day’s food items – and can keep cool for up two days in some cases. Not bad for a backpack right? So if you’re on the hunt for one of these handy outdoor companions yourself, look no further. What lies below are simply the best backpack coolers on the market today.

What To Look For

Weight: When traveling all day with your cooler on your back, you want to make sure it’s fairly light in weight. That said, all of these options will be significantly lighter than their hard-sided compatriots. Plus, they’re typically built with padded straps and back panels for extra comfort.

Capacity: Your cooler’s capacity will largely be determined by how long you need it for and how many people you’ll be accommodating. Usually delivered in terms of “cans,” coolers can range from as small as 6 to as large as 36.

Shell Material: If you’re planning on taking your backpack cooler into tougher conditions, consider getting one with a tougher outer shell, such as ripstop polyester or nylon, which will both also help with bolstering water resistance and shedding weight.

Ice Retention: Any cooler’s worth can be measured by how long it keeps its items cold for. Ice retention, while an estimate, should always be at least as long as your outing. But keep in mind that the number of hours may, in the field, be fewer (or more) than what’s listed on a company’s website.

*NOTE: Ice retention quotes will be affected by external conditions and temperatures and aren’t 100% accurate.

Igloo South Coast Snapdown Backpack

Best for the Beach: It would be a huge mistake for one of the most well-known cooler brands on the market to not participate in this growing trend. Well, fortunately, Igloo isn’t behind the times here, and with their handy South Coast Snapdown Backpack, you won’t be either. Constructed with super-durable 600D TPU fabric, the cooler boasts enough capacity for 24 cans, but without needing to unbox the cans thanks to the squared-off shape and wide mouth. Aside from the spacious main compartment perfect for a day at the beach, the cooler also features side pockets for water bottles or sunscreen. Not to mention, there are multiple grab handles and straps, including one with a built-in bottle opener.

Coleman XPAND

Best Budget Cooler: Why spend more when you don’t have to? Coleman is somewhat of a legend when it comes to wallet-friendly outdoor gear, and the brand’s XPAND backpack cooler is no exception. Capable of holding up to 30 cans and keeping them cold for up to 34 hours, this soft-shelled unit is built with an antimicrobial liner to combat odors and mildew, with welded seams that won’t trap messes and make for easy cleanup. For the price especially, this cooler has some nice features, including a bungee pouch on the outside and a stretchy external pocket for extra gear.

RTIC Backpack Cooler

Best Flat-Top Cooler: If you’re looking for something along the lines of CamelBak or Hydro Flask but at a cheaper price, try RTIC, a Texas-based brand known for its wilderness-ready drinkware and gear. Its Backpack Cooler is a medium-sized model, with a claimed 20-can capacity, but we think it can do a bit more if pressed. With 24-hour ice retention, this bag has a flat top, which makes stacking and packing a breeze, and even has a cinchable bungee pocket on the outside for some extras. Likewise, it’s available in several colorways to suit your style.

Pelican Dayventure Backpack

Best Split-Compartment Cooler: Have you ever been hiking, excited to eat the sandwich you made for yourself, but then taking it out you realize it’s been crushed by water bottles and ice packs? Not fun at all. But with Pelican’s Dayventure Backpack, you can store food and beverages in two separate, insulated pouches. It may be a bit pricier than some other models, but the Dayventure Backpack is built with the same quality know-how that goes into the brand’s insanely-durable gear cases. Featuring an 840D TPU construction with a compression-molded base that allows the bag to stand on its own, this cooler also has some webbing attachments on the outside for extra gear.

Carhartt Cooler Backpack

Most Like a Standard Backpack: Backpack coolers are indicative of the evolution of camping and hiking gear in recent years, but sometimes you may just want a traditional backpack too — or at least something that looks like one. Carhartt is no stranger to the outdoor space, and its Cooler Backpack falls right into the brand’s signature styling. Made from 600D polyester, the pack comes in brown or black and keeps its insulated compartment zippered underneath, while the top portion can be used for regular gear. 

IceMule Pro Cooler

Best Overall: IceMule has several fantastic backpack cooler models, but its Pro Cooler is the best for the price. Weighing just 3.5lbs, the cooler holds 24 cans with ice and features a thick PolarLayer foam insulation layer for a day’s worth of coldness. Whether you’re going hiking or heading to the beach, the padded shoulder straps and back panel will ensure that this bag won’t be a burden. Equipped with an adjustable bungee outer pocket, the nylon-polyester shell can compress down when not in use thanks to the IM air valve. And in the case of emergencies, the bag can also float.

Hydro Flask 20L Day Escape

Best Large Cooler: With the largest can capacity on this list, you’d expect Hydro Flask’s 20L Day Escape to weigh a good deal more than the coolers that boast half the capacity. However, at well under 3lbs, this backpack cooler is quite impressive. The drinkware brand gets the job done thanks to its 600D polyester shell and lightweight insulation. As far as all-day comfort, this bag has you covered too, with padded shoulder straps, a padded mesh back panel for ventilation, and a woven sternum strap to help distribute the load easier. Also, the compression molded base allows it to stand up on its own when you need to rifle through it.

CamelBak ChillBak Pack

Best High-End: When you get over the $300 threshold for backpack coolers, you may balk when readying to purchase even the best model. And CamelBak’s ChillBack Pack is not for the faint of heart. However, it’s worth every penny, with a TPU-coated 400D ripstop nylon outer shell capable of keeping 24 cans cold for more than three days, and that includes ice. If that’s not enough, there’s a secondary compartment that serves as a 6-liter water reservoir, equipped with a waterproof zipper and spigot hose for refilling your bottle, which can be stored inside the exterior mesh pocket on the side. 

The Best Hard Seltzers

If you need something to stock up your backpack cooler with, check out our guide to the best hard seltzers to wet your whistle.