Best Soft Coolers for Car Camping
Updated How we research
RTIC 20 Can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro
RTIC's 20 can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro upgrades the shell for campers who toss soft coolers into truck beds and boats.
Our score8.2/10Premium
CleverMade Collapsible Soft Cooler Tote 18 Can
The CleverMade collapsible soft cooler tote holds 18 cans, a small foldable bag for lunches, drinks and short day trips.
Our score7.0/10Budget
A soft cooler is the flexible, easy-carry companion to a big hard cooler, ideal for drinks, lunches, and short outings from camp. For car campers, it packs into tight trunk space and slings over a shoulder for hikes or beach runs where a rigid box is a hassle. When shopping, look at insulation thickness, a leakproof liner, and a zipper that seals tight to hold cold longer. Check capacity, carry straps, and whether the exterior wipes clean. Durable, welded seams stand up to rough handling. A well-made soft cooler complements your main cooler and keeps a day's food and drinks cold on the move.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 6.8 to 8.2 out of 10, across $, $$, $$$ price bands.
- Best overall:RTIC 20 Can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.2/10.
- Also great value:RTIC Soft Pack 20 Soft Cooler. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Solid build:YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 7.6/10.
- Feature-rich:CleverMade SnapBasket 30 Can Collapsible Cooler. Features score of 7/10, overall 7.2/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.RTIC 20 Can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro8.2/10$$$Check price
- 2.RTIC Soft Pack 20 Soft Cooler8.0/10$$$Check price
- 3.YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler7.6/10$$$Check price
- 4.CleverMade SnapBasket 30 Can Collapsible Cooler7.2/10$$Check price
- 5.Coleman Chiller Insulated Soft Cooler 30 Can7.0/10$$Check price
- 6.CleverMade Collapsible Soft Cooler Tote 18 Can7.0/10$Check price
- 7.Coleman Soft Cooler Bag 30 Can6.8/10$$Check price
#1RTIC's 20 can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro upgrades the shell for campers who toss soft coolers into truck beds and boats.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Ultra-tough shell resists punctures and abrasion better than basic bags
- + 20 can capacity covers drinks for an afternoon with friends
- + Pro version adds durability without jumping to YETI pricing
- - Tougher materials make it heavier than simple soft coolers
- - Not large enough for multi-day food storage
#2RTIC Soft Pack 20 is a mid-size soft cooler with thick insulation, a value alternative to premium soft coolers for day trips.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Thick insulation holds ice longer than basic lunch coolers
- + 20 size carries drinks and snacks for a small group
- + Much cheaper than YETI soft coolers with a similar concept
- - Stiff zipper can take effort to open and close
- - Soft walls do not protect crushable food as well as hard coolers
#3YETI Hopper Flip 12 is a premium soft cooler for day trips and side outings from camp, carrying drinks and lunch for one or two.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 6/10
- + Leakproof style zipper and tough shell handle rough use
- + Compact 12 size is easy to carry by the shoulder strap
- + Keeps ice for a full day, perfect for hikes and beach trips
- - Small capacity limits it to lunch and a few drinks
- - Very expensive for a small soft cooler compared with RTIC or Coleman bags
#4CleverMade SnapBasket 30 can collapsible cooler is a basket-style soft cooler that folds flat for campers short on storage space.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + Collapses flat when empty, freeing trunk space on the drive home
- + Basket shape with open top access is easy to pack and unpack
- + 30 can capacity handles drinks for a family day out
- - Insulation is light, so ice melts faster than in thick soft coolers
- - Structure is less rigid, so heavy loads can sag the sides
#5The Coleman Chiller 30 can insulated soft cooler is an inexpensive bag for picnics, drinks and short outings near camp.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + 30 can capacity handles drinks for a group at a picnic
- + Very low price makes it an easy second cooler for drinks
- + Soft sides fold down smaller than a hard cooler when empty
- - Basic insulation keeps ice for hours, not days
- - Lighter fabric can tear if dragged over rough ground
#6The CleverMade collapsible soft cooler tote holds 18 cans, a small foldable bag for lunches, drinks and short day trips.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + 18 can size is right for a couple's lunch and drinks
- + Collapses flat to store in a door pocket or seat back
- + Tote handles make it easy to carry to a beach or trail
- - Small capacity is not enough for groups or a full day of drinks
- - Light insulation suits hours of cooling rather than overnight
#7Coleman's 30 can soft cooler bag is a simple budget cooler for picnics, road trip snacks and drink runs from camp.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 30 can capacity at a budget price point, handy for drink runs
- + Soft bag design is light and easy to carry by the strap
- + Coleman is a familiar camping brand with wide availability
- - Keeps drinks cold for an afternoon, not a whole weekend
- - Soft walls can leak condensation onto car seats
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Tougher materials make it heavier than simple soft coolers (RTIC 20 Can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro)
- Stiff zipper can take effort to open and close (RTIC Soft Pack 20 Soft Cooler)
- Small capacity limits it to lunch and a few drinks (YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler)
- Insulation is light, so ice melts faster than in thick soft coolers (CleverMade SnapBasket 30 Can Collapsible Cooler)
- Basic insulation keeps ice for hours, not days (Coleman Chiller Insulated Soft Cooler 30 Can)
- Small capacity is not enough for groups or a full day of drinks (CleverMade Collapsible Soft Cooler Tote 18 Can)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among soft coolers for car camping?
RTIC 20 Can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro is our top overall pick. RTIC's 20 can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler Pro upgrades the shell for campers who toss soft coolers into truck beds and boats. It earns our score of 8.2/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
CleverMade Collapsible Soft Cooler Tote 18 Can is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. The CleverMade collapsible soft cooler tote holds 18 cans, a small foldable bag for lunches, drinks and short day trips.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span $ to $$ to $$$ price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Car Camp Picks independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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