Expectations for what makes a good cooler have radically shifted in the last decade thanks in no small part to a few companies building better gear that stubbornly outlasts and outclasses coolers from familiar old names.After spending many years evaluating more than 50 cooler models, we’ve chosen seven that are well made, well insulated, and well suited for a range of outings.The RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler is our best pick for most people who want a lightweight cooler that can do it all at a decent price.However, we also have a pick for adventuring, one that rolls, a space-saving option, a soft cooler for light work, a backpack cooler, and a disposable cooler.

Things to know

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• How we testWe use two methods, measuring meltwater and temperature changes, to find coolers that keep food and drinks cold for a long time.
• What size to getFor hard coolers, 50 to 55 quarts is big enough for a variety of tasks. For soft coolers, we recommend the 20- to 24-can range.
• Forget your cooler?If you find yourself in need of a cooler while away from home, skip the cheap polystyrene cooler in favor of a compostable one.
• What about Yetis?For most people, Yeti hard coolers are overkill. Two exceptions: if you need a cooler with wheels or if you’re in bear country.

How we picked

The research

Why you should trust us

We’ve covered coolers for more than eight years now, building on hundreds of hours of research and watching the category change and evolve in a myriad of ways.

For this guide, we’ve done the following over the years:

• We interviewed rafting and offroad guides and enthusiasts to study how coolers are used in the roughest of environments.
• We’ve read countless reviews and forum debates parsing the differences between the major competitors. Last year we began a meta-analysis of YouTube melt-test reviews for all the coolers we recommend (and many we don’t) to see how our picks perform in aggregate.
• I’ve personally put years of coolers through endless hours of testing in Hawaiian summer heat, when a cooler is indispensable for things such as grocery shopping, beach outings, and fishing.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

Best hard cooler: RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler

Lightweight and well-insulated, the RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler is a perfect cooler for a long weekend away, car-camping trips, or tailgating.It’s lightweight but sturdy. The Ultra-Light Cooler rivals roto-molded coolers in strength (roto-molding creates evenly distributed plastic parts through a heated rotating mold), but at 21 pounds, it’s significantly lighter. This is because, despite looking like roto-molded coolers, the Ultra-Light series is injection-molded, which uses less plastic. Injection molding may be less durable than roto-molding, but at this quality level you’re splitting hairs between the strength of a concrete wall and a brick wall.

It’s easy to move. The Ultra-Light Cooler has two marine-grade nylon ropes slotted through plastic handles.

The RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Cooler has two drainage ports for easy draining from either direction. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

It insulates well without sacrificing capacity. Compared with our roto-molded picks, the Ultra-Light Cooler has a very spacious interior; it has less insulation around the sides while keeping the standard 3 inches of insulation in the lid (similar to a Yeti cooler). In our testing, the Ultra-Light Cooler consistently kept ice frozen and maintained a food-safe temperature (40 °F) for up to three or four days in the shade, even with use. RTIC also sells a freezable divider and basket.It cuts price, but not details. RTIC coolers — both the ultralight and rotomolded variety — are famously two-thirds of the price of Yeti coolers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that RTIC cut any corners. The latches on the Ultra-Light Cooler are made from a stiff rubber and sealing them creates the telltale exhalation of air from a full seal. However, I wouldn’t expect this seal to remain watertight over time — it’s just not built to that high a specification. The Ultra-Light Cooler has two drain ports with cap stays made of wire.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The three-year warranty seems a bit chintzy. Used correctly, the Ultra-Light Cooler should last a lot longer than that (and ours already has). We’d love to see a warranty that extends deeper into the life of the cooler.

People don’t love the latches. The biggest complaint we’ve seen online is that people feel the latches aren’t secure enough. I haven’t had an issue with them and, for day-to-day life, they shouldn’t be a problem. Strapped to the back of an ATV? Yeah — maybe I’d start to worry.

It’s tough, but not bear-tough. The Ultra-Light Cooler just isn’t as sturdy as those roto-molded coolers. You can stand on it, but I wouldn’t fish from it for hours on end. And it’s not grizzly-certified.

Specs

Exterior dimensions: 27.25 by 17.25 by 17 inches (WDH)
Interior dimensions: 21.25 by 12 by 12 inches (WDH)
Weight: 21 pounds
Capacity: 52 quarts

The Canyon Coolers Outfitter 55 Quart Cooler is all but indestructible for longer camping and rafting trips if you don’t mind giving up a bit of interior space for thicker insulation.

It’s just as effective as any big-name brand, with a better warranty. Most people do not need a roto-molded cooler. Those coolers are big. They’re heavy. They carry less than non-roto-molded coolers of similar external dimensions because of the amount of insulation they’re packed with. In short, they’re impractical for most mundane needs — a fact that has stopped absolutely no one from buying them. That said, the Outfitter cooler stood out during our testing for its excellent insulation (2.7 inches thick) and sleek construction: It’s just as tough as any of its competitors, it keeps ice from melting for as long as any cooler we tested. And unlike its RTIC or Yeti competitors, it’s protected by a lifelong warranty.

It’s nearly indestructible. The Outfitter is tough in an already tough field. It weighs 26 pounds with a hinge molded into the frame. The Outfitter’s minimal exterior leaves very little purchase or edge to catch on if the cooler takes a fall. It feels and carries like a well-packed brick, which makes sense given its IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee) bear-resistant certification. As with all such certified coolers, you do need to add a bolt or padlock.