The Best Coolers of 2026

When you’re unwinding outdoors, the best cooler makes all the difference. From keeping your catch fresh on a deep sea fishing trip to keeping your cold ones chilly at the beach, coolers are essential. You have a limited amount of leisure time—don’t let a bad cooler ruin it.

After weeks of testing the best coolers available, the Yeti Tundra 45 came out on top for its ability to hold brisk temperatures for days at a time and its secure locks to prevent leakage.

For a great option at a lower price, the Rtic Ultra Light Hard Cooler (available at Amazon) offers incredible value.

For the best rolling cooler decked out with fun features like a padded seat and built-in drink tap, check out the BruMate BruTank (available at BruMate).

There are plenty of other winners among the coolers we tested, for all priorities and price points.

Other Coolers We Tested

How We Tested Coolers

The Tests

When searching for the best cooler or ice chest to test, we researched the most popular units on the market. We also wanted to include a variety of coolers, from hard to soft, portable to heavy-duty, and we took care to find widely available coolers.

We tested how long each cooler could maintain a temperature by filling it halfway with ice, regardless of size. Next, we put the ice coolers into our humidity-controlled lab space to ensure a consistent ambient temperature of 72°F and 50% relative humidity.

To track the temperature of each cooler, we placed two temperature sensors inside to measure when the internal conditions reached over 40°F—the point at which meat becomes unsafe to eat.

We placed one sensor at the bottom of the cooler, wrapped inside a cube of methylcellulose buried in ice. We placed the other sensor on the ice and removed it daily to get readings and simulate regular use. The test ended when a cooler visibly contained no ice.

The following tests involved each ice cooler's portability, build quality and aesthetics. The portability test was straightforward: Fill the cooler with water and walk around with it. We went up inclines, took sharp turns, and trotted around the lab.

Exhausted and out of breath, we then tested whether they were leakproof by tipping each cooler to see if water would come out. Then, we emptied each model of water to examine its design and features. Finally, we filled each cooler with soda cans to see how many cans they could hold compared to their stated capacity.

What You Should Know About Coolers

How Much Ice Should I Use?

You should use a 2-to-1 ratio of ice to items being cooled. For example, if you were cooling a gallon milk jug, you’d need two gallons of ice to keep it cool. However, the more ice, the better the food preservation.

How Can I Make My Cooler Last Longer?

• Pre-cool your cooler: If you’re storing it in a hot garage, bring it inside so it can get up to room temperature. That way, you’re not wasting energy cooling a hot plastic box.

• Avoid using ice that's already melting: A bag of ice-dripping water is too warm to keep a cooler at the correct temperature.

• Don't drain the excess water: Cold water helps insulate any ice you add later.

Can I Use Dry Ice in a Cooler?

Dry ice is okay for use in most coolers. It’s way colder than regular ice and excels at keeping ice cream and meat frozen. When it evaporates, it leaves no puddles to clean up.

However, there are disadvantages. Dry ice melts at an alarming rate, about 5-10 pounds every hour, depending on how often you open and close the cooler. It’s also somewhat dangerous to store indoors, as it releases carbon dioxide.

What Should You Look for in a Cooler for Camping?

It all comes down to how long and how far you’re going.

For day trips, a portable soft-sided cooler or a backpack cooler is perfect. (Remember that backpack coolers work better with ice packs than loose cubes. Once that ice melts, the sloshing will make the backpack more unstable.)

If you’re heading into the backcountry, you'll want a more robust cooler. The best coolers that keep hot air out have T-handles and are difficult to open because of the tight seal. You want a well-insulated unit that keeps the scent of your supplies away from bears and other predators.

When packing a cooler to preserve food for more than a day, use a combination of chunks and chips of ice. Chips help with immediate cooling, and chunks are used for the long haul. Also, store the cooler in the shade, away from direct sunlight.

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