6 Best Coolers of 2026, Tested and Reviewed
We melted popsicles in top coolers in sweltering heat. See which ones passed the test!
Tested by Laura Denby and Madison Papp
If you are a fan of summer fun, the great outdoors, and drinks and snacks that stay artic-cold on the hottest of days, a sturdy cooler is a must-have. However, not all coolers reign supreme. Thus, we’ve rolled up our sleeves and tested the most tried and true of coolers in tough summer heat. We tested both hard and soft coolers as we know each can work best for specific cases like taking a cooler to the beach or pool, packing up a cooler for a camping trip or using a cooler for tailgating. To test coolers, we used nostalgia ice pops to test how well they kept frozen for up to six hours — about the length of a fun backyard barbecue. While most ice pops melted before the six-hour mark, a few notable exceptions made our list of the best coolers.
Our Top Cooler Picks
Also in This Article
How We Tested
If you really want to test the strength of a cooler, we found that it would be counter-intuitive to pack it with ice, especially when coolers of different shapes and sizes were going head-to-head. Ice packed into a cooler will feed off the surrounding ice and stay colder, longer. So, the question remains: Is the ice keeping your favorite frosty treats, or is your cooler actually doing its job?
We tested 25 well-reviewed coolers of varying shapes, sizes and materials. We purchased bunches of the classic multicolored and multi-flavored summer treat: Fun Pops. We chose this popsicle for our cooler testing because they easily go from liquid to solid and back to liquid while keeping a uniform shape. This would allow for an easy measurement in our test.
We added 15 popsicles to each hard cooler and 50 popsicles to each soft cooler and let the sun, the heat, and our top cooler picks take care of the rest. When entering this experiment, we were prepared to let the popsicles slowly melt for days on end. However, the test only lasted six hours with the cooler sitting on hot sandy gravel in 90-plus-degree heat. The coolers received direct sunlight, without shade. Basically, we delivered the perfect hot and sunny beach day to put these coolers to the test.
- Easy to wheel
- Rotomolded construction
- Included drain plug
- On the pricey side
The Yeti Tundra Haul cooler was the best cooler we tested. After four hours in the hot sun, our ice pops only just began to melt and they stayed partially frozen even after six hours. (All of the other coolers we tested saw ice pops turn to room temperature by the six-hour mark.) The Yeti Tundra Haul has a solid drainage system and large wheels which make wheeling this heavier model (it weighs a whopping 37.5 pounds) a breeze. The handle is also sold and practically unbreakable. (Trust us, we tried!) Though this cooler is an investment piece at $425, if heavy duty tailgating or camping is in your future, this cooler would be the best way to ensure food stays at safe temperatures for prolonged periods of time.
- Dimensions 28.1" x 18.6" x 19.6"
- Capacity 55 qt
- Material Polyurethane, foam, aluminum
- Weight 37.5 lbs
- Wheels Yes
- Leak-proof seal
- Rotomolded construction
- Holds up to 3 inches of insulation
- On the heavier side given the size
This model has a sleek design which honestly we would display in a cute corner of our home. Like larger models it has a drain, and will hold up to 20 quarts. Now our favorite feature it’s the leak-proof seal in its lid. We filled this performance-built cooler with water and shook it in a few directions with zero leaks! At less than $200, it is certainly an investment and it is heavy for its size. Still, cushioning on the handle helps when carrying this sturdy option to any locale.
- Dimensions 19.25" x 13.25" x 14.5"
- Capacity 20 qt
- Material Plastic, stainless steel
- Weight 15.7 lbs
- Wheels No
- Lightweight
- TempLock insulation
- No upright handle
This cooler claims to keep ice cold for up to three days, but a few frozen popsicles melted within four hours of sitting in the sun in this cooler. That being said, stocking the cooler with plenty of ice for a backyard barbecue will yield better results. Plus, you can’t beat the price. Although we tested popsicles, we figured that filling such a large cooler with ice will get heavy. To make spillage clean-up or removing ice melt a breeze, this cooler has a drain! Plus at the 48-quart capacity it was the most lightweight of all the coolers tested in the large category.
- Dimensions 25.5" x 14.2" x 15"
- Capacity 48 qt
- Material Plastic
- Weight 8 lbs
- Wheels No
- Easy to carry
- Wide-mouth opening for easy access
- Doesn't collapse
- High-performance zipper that can be hard to open/close
Our editors love Yeti products for their exceptional cold retention and functionality, and this soft cooler is no different. The YETI Hopper Flip 12 is convenient and portable, with a comfortable shoulder strap that’s easy to adjust. The lid opens wide via a leak proof zipper that’s thick, sturdy and durable. The waterproof shell is also thick and durable, which means it’s puncture-proof and resistant to rips and tears.
Best of all, this cooler excelled in all of our tests. It kept ice pops frosty and cold throughout the hottest times of the day, and stayed colder than any other cooler we tested. Even when some ice pops melted at the three hour mark, this one kept a large portion of the ice pops completely frozen solid.
- Dimensions 10" x 12.63" x 11.5"
- Capacity 12 qt
- Material Rubber foam
- Weight 3.7 lbs
- Wheels No
- Push-button swing lid
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
- Requires ice to keep things cold
- No upright handle
The sun was a solid match for this chic red mini cooler. It holds a six pack, which is ideal for a quick beach trip. However, we recommend you pack this cooler with ice. Within an hour atop hot sand and in the hot sun, our freshly frozen Fun Pops melted back to well below room temperature. Still, this cooler would work for a quick trip outdoors or perhaps a sunset sail. Plus, it is compact, holding just four quarts. As for style, we give this cooler a 10 out of 10. Not only does it come in a chic red, but browse the Igloo website and you will see a variety of shades and styles.
- Dimensions 11.75" x 8.25" x 12"
- Capacity 7 qt
- Material Polyurethane
- Weight 2.2 lbs
- Wheels No
- Rotomolded construction
- Included dry goods basket
- Large footprint which is hard to store
In our popsicle melt test, this cooler came in second to its sibling the Yeti Tundra Haul. It is a lighter-weight model for its size, carrying a 65 quart capacity. We also liked the cute basket inside the model which helps separate the cold and condensation-forward items from the items you want to keep cold and dry. Also, for heavy-duty campers in bear country this model also boasts that it is bear-proof. We also like the model’s signature T-Rex latches which are not easy to break and bust (trust us, we tried). All the larger Yeti models come with these seals and are definitely a perk if you are going all in on this $350 model.
- Dimensions 30.8" x 17.3" x 16"
- Capacity 65 qt
- Material Polyethylene
- Weight 30.3 lbs
- Wheels No
What to Consider Before Buying a Cooler
All coolers do their best when they are lined with ice packs, insulation materials, or large blocks of ice. If you want the coldest of coolers, these are all great hacks. But what about a cooler that simply takes your favorite frozen treats as-is and keeps them that way, in 90-degree heat, with the sun baking down?
Sturdy Handles
Yes, you will fill it up to the brim with chilly treats and, without sturdy handles, walking your cooler to the beach or from the car to campsite on a scorching and sunny day will not be fun.
Wheels
Wheels are essential on larger models. To handle a mega-cooler, you'll want wheels and a solid handle to get it to and from your location.
Weight
In our testing, the heavier the cooler, the better the insulation and thus better results. This also bore true for the range of mini coolers we tested. The heavier-duty mini models crushed the lightweights on melt time and temperature control.
Temperature Control
The best coolers will maintain the temperature of whatever you put in them.
Other Top Coolers We Tested
The Igloo Playmate and the Coleman FlipLid barely lasted one hour before turning into slush. We think this was due to the hot sandy gravel beneath the surface of the cooler which subsequently heated the floor of each cooler. This environment would be similar to hot sand at the beach and thus we hypothesize that these coolers would fare better with a similar outdoor temperature in the shade on sitting on a blanket or towel.
In our soft cooler categories, the popsicles in the Clevermade lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes before the appearance of slush and melt took over. The Yeti Hopper Flip and The RTIC Soft Cooler 20 saw full melt after 3 hours. However, after five hours, the popsicles were still cold in both the Flip and RTIC. This led us to conclude that these coolers would be solid options for storing frozen water bottles, and letting them slowly melt throughout the day for guaranteed cold water at the end of a long day of hiking. The frozen water bottles could also act as ice packs for other snacks!
The Coleman 48 lasted about 2 hours in our test conditions while the Igloo Max 50 lasted 2.5 hours. Still, the popsicles in the Coleman 48 quickly turned to room temperature when melted while the popsicles in the Igloo Max 50 stayed cool yet liquified for up to four hours. The RTIC tested similarly to the Igloo Max 50 with the popsicles staying cold for 3.25 hours.
