8 Best Coolers WIRED Tested For Every Budget, Any Situation

Ah, summer time. The seaside, the lake, the river—wherever you could find water is the place to be. But when you’re beating the warmth floating in an interior tube or standing on a paddleboard, your drinks and meals should not. They’re baking within the afternoon solar, as a result of this morning’s shady spot has already evaporated, alongside along with your ice.

When cooler firms declare ice lasts for days, be skeptical. They’re not essentially mendacity, however they’re testing below best situations which can be by no means going to exist in the true world. We’ve been testing coolers for over two years now, and we have saved them within the solar, in bike trailers, and in vehicles, all whereas attempting to maintain meals and drinks cool and edible. Below, you will discover our prime picks for every class (hard-sided, soft-sided, backpack-style, costly, reasonably priced, even disposable), in addition to a number of alternate options, plus basic shopping for suggestions if none of those seize your fancy.

For your different out of doors wants, make sure to take a look at our different shopping for guides, just like the Best Portable Grills, Best Camping Gear, Best Camp Camp Cookware, Best Tents, and the Best Binoculars.

Updated May 2023: We’ve added a number of new Yeti coolers, the Airskirts inflatable cooler, and the Oyster iceless cooler, and we have up to date costs all through.

Special provide for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This contains limitless entry to WIRED.com and our print journal (if you would like). Subscriptions assist fund the work we do day by day.