Every time we’ve ever reviewed a cooler, the conversation inevitably goes into how much room it takes up. Soft-sided coolers can be amazing solutions for camping or road trips but, despite being lighter and more packable, simply don’t have the ice retention of even their most entry-level hard-sided counterparts.
One of the most prominent names in outdoor gear, Coleman apparently had a solution, debuting what they’re calling the world’s first collapsible hard coolers.
A LEGACY WORTH LEANING ON
Coleman entered the cooler market back in 1954 after acquiring Queen Stove Works, which had already patented a portable galvanized steel ice chest called the Kampkold. Within a few years, Coleman had pioneered plastic cooler construction, swapping heavy steel for injection-molded HDPE liners and introducing the first Styrofoam-lined coolers using Dow Chemical’s expanded polystyrene. This category-defining run has helped make them the legends they are today.
The brand has continued to innovate through the years, from wheeled coolers in the ’90s to five-day ice retention in the 2000s Xtreme series. But since Yeti entered the premium rotomolded space in 2006, the industry’s attention has largely drifted upmarket. The Snap ‘N Go feels like Coleman planting a flag back in the conversation, and doing so with something no one else has pulled off.
THE ENGINEERING PROBLEM NOBODY SOLVED
Eighteen months of development went into figuring out how to take a hard cooler from a full-sized box to something closer to the footprint of a laptop case, while still keeping it leakproof and insulated. That problem isn’t unique to coolers, but the stakes are higher when you’re dealing with cold retention and water resistance.
Coleman’s solution borrows from the folding storage crate world: a multi-panel exterior shell with hinged front and rear walls that collapse inward, while side walls swing down and lock the whole structure in place. The cooler snaps open and closed in under 10 seconds. A removable internal liner for waterproofing is pulled out before collapsing, and sits beneath the closed lid when stowed.
The result, depending on the model, is a cooler that collapses to roughly one-third its full size and can fit under your arm when you need to carry it from point A to point B. The 35-quart folds to about half its height, while the 45 and 55-quart versions hit that one-third mark; the 55-qt drops from 14″ tall to just 4.7″. At that profile, you’re storing something closer to a camping stove than a cooler.
THE ICE RETENTION QUESTION
With any cooler built around hinges and foldable panels, the first question is what you’re giving up in insulation. The Snap ‘N Go checks in at 48 hours for the 35-quart and up to 64 hours for the 55-quart, which are respectable numbers that cover most weekend trips and is more than enough to last you all day. Coleman’s rotomolded Pro line claims five days or more, and so do many premium competitors. But for now, if you want hard-sided efficiency in a compact space, this is your only option.
One thing worth noting is that there’s no drain plug on any of the three models. That’s a curious omission at this price point, and likely a result of the new technology. However, water inside creates a compounding effect on the melting process of non-melted ice, so you’ll have to dump out any excess yourself.
SPEC SHEET
Model: Coleman Snap ‘N Go (35, 45, 55-Quart)
Shell Material: Hard plastic (PP/PE)
Capacity: 35 qt (64 cans) / 45 qt (76 cans) / 55 qt (93 cans)
Ice Retention: 48 hrs (35 qt) / 55 hrs (45 qt) / 64 hrs (55 qt)
Collapsed Height: 4.5″ (35 & 45 qt) / 4.7″ (55 qt)
Weight: 14.2 lbs (35 qt) / 16.4 lbs (45 qt) / 19.6 lbs (55 qt)
Max Load: 200 lbs
Water Drain: None
Colors: Blue Sky, Mussel, Sapphire (35 qt only in Sapphire)
Warranty: 3-Year Limited
Price: $200 / $220 / $240
PRICING & AVAILABILITY
The Coleman Snap ‘N Go is available now in all three sizes: the 35-quart at $200, the 45-quart at $220, and the 55-quart at $240. Color options include Blue Sky, Mussel, and Sapphire, though the Sapphire colorway is exclusive to the 35-quart for now.
Recap
Coleman Snap ‘N Go Collapsible Coolers
Coleman just dropped the world’s first collapsible hard cooler — the Snap ‘N Go — which folds down to a third of its size in under 10 seconds while still holding ice for up to 64 hours. It comes in three sizes ranging from 35 to 55 quarts, priced between $200 and $240, and the only real knock on it is the lack of a drain plug.
