Our Best Overall Cooler Is Made from Recyclable Materials

Coolers can keep your food, beverages and snacks cold for hours when you're outdoors. Some hold ice to bring the temperature down; some provide insulation to help retain the temperature of chilled items — and some do both! They come in an assortment of styles including hard coolers and soft coolers, which can be broken down into even more categories: Wheeled models make great accessories for camping, while backpack versions leave your hands free for your beach chair on a day trip.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, we’ve been testing coolers and insulated devices like water bottles and lunch boxes for decades. We’ve tested more than 70 coolers over the years, and in our most recent side-by-side test, we evaluated 22 coolers and tested 15 of them. We assessed how well they retained temperature, how good they were at resisting odors and how easy they were to use and clean. Here are the best coolers you can buy in 2022, according to testing.

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Igloo

amazon.com

$279.99

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The Igloo Eco Trailmate scored highest overall in our most recent cooler testing. It steadily maintained the temperature of soda cans over 36 hours and even kept most of the ice intact. It was easy to move around when full and is designed to handle all kinds of terrain with its oversized wheels. It has a sturdy base and remains steady when parked. It's made from recyclable materials — amongst the first of its kind.

This hard cooler is packed with useful features like a telescoping handle and a removable food storage container. It also includes a cutting board that stores inside the lid and is designed to be used on the handle when it's extended. The lid comes equipped with four built-in drink cups. It even comes with detachable umbrella holders. In addition to all of its handy features, it opens easily and seals without any pesky latches. The one downside was the location of its drain plus, which made it a trickier to empty and clean than other coolers. Instead of being positioned on the very bottom of the cooler, it's located just above it so it was a little hard to fully empty. It's also a little more expensive than the regular Igloo Journey Trailmate.

• Style: Hard cooler with wheels
• Capacity: 70 quarts
• Dimensions: 35" x 24"
• Can capacity: 89 cans

Arctic Zone

amazon.com

$66.91

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This small, soft cooler with hard interior (yes, you read that right, it’s a combo that's lightweight but still holds its shape) had extremely good temperature control: After 36 hours, the soda cans dropped only 6 degrees from when they were put in the cooler. It can hold up to 48 cans without ice, and weighs about 44 pounds when fully packed. The hard liner is removable for easy cleaning.

It has a zipperless design for easy access and opens and closes with the help of a Velcro-type connection. It's equipped with a strap, which makes it easier to carry, as well as two handles on either side, which is helpful if you want two people to carry it when full. Additional features include a perforated tray to keep some goods separated and several pockets on the outside as well as bungees on the top to help control loose items like napkins.

• Style: Hard cooler
• Capacity: 20 quarts
• Dimensions: 20" x 13" x 12.5"
• Can capacity: 48 cans

Polar Bear Coolers

amazon.com

$199.95

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Of all the soft coolers we tested, this one from Polar Bear performed the best. It even performed just as well as some of the hard coolers we tested, which typically perform better than soft coolers. The soda cans got 7 degrees colder over 36 hours and maintained a temperature of 33ºF. It’s easy to pack and can fit 30 soda cans without ice. When full, its max weight is under 30 pounds. The handle on top (hence the name Topper) makes it relatively easy to carry; plus, it comes with a detachable shoulder strap.

We appreciate the special instructions it comes with that describe how to prep it and subsequently care for it. The zipper comes with zipper lubricant that you apply to help maintain smooth opening and closing. It's RF welded (aka the plastic pieces are essentially melted together to create a better seal) to prevent leaks inside and out, and even floats if you need it to! We found it easy to clean.

• Style: Soft cooler
• Capacity: 8 quarts
• Dimensions: 14" x 10.5" x 13"
• Can capacity: 30 cans

YETI

amazon.com

$400.00

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The Tundra Haul is Yeti's first cooler with wheels, which many will appreciate since it can exceed 100 pounds when full. It boasts 65 quarts and can fit 83 cans without ice. In our tests, it had excellent temperature control and was able to maintain a temperature of 33˚F for 36 hours. (The cans were put in the cooler at a temperature around 40˚F.)

The Tundra Haul is easy to open thanks to the rubber latches versus traditional plastic ones or buckles. Plus, it has a food crate to help keep the inside organized. The handle is oversized, and it can be operated with one hand or two; when it's not extended and ready for use, it folds flat against the cooler.

The cooler is easy to clean, partly thanks to the drain plug located in between the wheels — just tip the cooler up and pour out excess liquids. It comes with a user maintenance manual that provides instructions on first use and includes directions for cleaning and care.

• Style: Hard cooler with wheels
• Capacity: 65 quarts
• Dimensions: 28.3" x 19.5" x 18.6"
• Can capacity: 83 cans

ROVR

amazon.com

$449.99

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The Rovr Roller 60-quart is one of our personal favorites. It comes with a multitude of attachments and a bunch of cool features that add to its allure, including a "wagon bin" that stores on top of the cooler and can be used to help transport non-cooler items. Other accessories include an internal bin to help keep items dry.

In our tests, it maintained a temperature of 35ºF over 36 hours (starting from about 40ºF). It’s hard-sided and durable and capable of traversing any landscape thanks to its large wheels. The large handle folds down when not in use. It seals with rubber latches that keep the lid secure. It's fairly easy to clean.

• Style: Hard cooler with wheels
• Capacity: 60 quarts
• Dimensions: 26.5" x 20.8" x 19.8"
• Can capacity: 65 cans

YETI

amazon.com

$325.00

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The Yeti Hopper M20 Backpack cooler is a fun one. It uses magnets to help seal: You open it by pulling the magnetic seal apart and close it by pushing it back together. For an even tighter seal, you can fold it after closing it, and latch it closed using backpack buckles. We found it is easy to look inside — it opens wider than a typical backpack cooler — and pack it the way you want to.

In our test, we were able to fit 26 cans inside without ice. It felt comfortable on our backs, likely thanks to the extra padding that helped keep everything in place. After filling with the appropriate amount of ice and cans, anything within and surrounded by the ice was able to stay at a temperature of around 32˚F. The air on top of the ice was around 55˚F, so it doesn't keep the interior at the top as cold as a traditional cooler would, but with enough ice it would keep any items cold.

Cleaning was simple because of the wide opening. The inside is waterproof, so even when filled with water, we didn't notice any leaks, and it dried quickly. It comes with a user manual that explains its unique features, as well as proper cleaning and care.

• Style: Soft backpack cooler
• Capacity: 21 quarts
• Dimensions: 18.75" x 9.5" x 18.5"
• Can capacity: 26 cans

Hydro Flask

amazon.com

$174.95

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This Hydro Flask option is a tote bag that works as a cooler. It has a zipper opening and opens easily like a regular tote, but it is a little difficult to pack as it's not a traditional cooler. We were able to fit about 23 cans of soda without ice, for a weight of around 23 pounds. It did come with a manual on care and use, which is helpful when owning a certain cooler for the first time.

The Day Escape name is apt: It is not meant to hold items for longer. For 12 hours, it was able to maintain a temperature of 34˚F within the cooler — perfect for a trip to the beach or a picnic. It is not the easiest to clean if something spills, but it is sealed and leakproof if you need to rinse it with water.

• Style: Soft tote bag cooler
• Capacity: 27 quarts
• Dimensions: 13.70" x 23.60" x 9.80"
• Can capacity: 42 cans

RTIC

amazon.com

$289.99

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This cooler is rotomolded and made from one seamless piece of plastic. It had great temperature retention and had plenty of ice leftover after 36 hours. It's thick and durable with large handles for carrying, though we recommend two people carry it together or that you opt to leave it in the car for camping. It can hold up to 64 cans with ice and comes with a food bin. It latches with rubber hooks.

Our testers liked that it has two drains that allow you to release melted ice from either side depending on how the cooler is sloped or where it is placed.

• Style: Hard cooler
• Capacity: 65 quarts
• Dimensions: 32.52" x 19.21" x 18.03"
• Can capacity: 64 cans

Polar Bear Coolers

amazon.com

$94.99

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The Polar Bear Original Backpack Cooler offers an easy way to carry food and beverages around during a hike or trip to the beach. It's padded and has wide straps. It fits 20 cans without ice and weighed around 20 pounds when fully filled.

In our test, it proved difficult to pack because of its design, but it held temperature extremely well: At 36 hours, the temperature at the bottom of the backpack was around 35˚F compared to about 40˚F when the soda cans were first added. The ice had melted at that point but there were no wet spots or leaks, and while the temperature at the top of the backpack about ten degrees warmer, it was still sufficiently cold. Cleaning is a little tricky since it's deep and doesn't have much structure, but can still be done effectively.

• Style: Soft-sided backpack cooler
• Capacity: 8 quarts
• Dimensions: 18" x 12" x 7"
• Can capacity: 20 cans

Igloo

amazon.com

$159.99

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This industrial-looking cooler features two removable vertical dividers and a basket that allow you to create four sections to keep your wine, beer, soda, water and more organized and easy to find — plus, it can hold up to 212 cans with ice. It has utility loops to secure towels, trash and recycle bags. One of our favorite features is the 360-degree battery-operated LED lights that illuminate the inside of the cooler to help find your items quickly, even at night.

The Party Bar is on wheels that can be locked into place, and the base removes for easy transporting. The lid is hinged for easy opening and closing, and it can be removed to turn the cooler into an open beverage bucket. The threaded drain fits a standard hose for draining, and an integrated bottle opener has a built-in catcher beneath for the caps.

• Style: Hard cooler on wheels
• Size: 125 quarts
• Dimensions: 39.1" x 21.8" x 26.9"
• Can capacity: 212 cans

REVO

revocoolers.com

$159.88

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The Revo Party Barge is our most unique cooler choice. It's completely open-faced, built for maintaining cooler temperatures for events and parties. It’s 11 inches wide and a little under 4 feet in length with three sections, two of which are designed to hold ice plus a center unit for condiments and other dry goods. And fun fact: It floats!

The Revo is capable of holding temperatures all day long. During our test, it held a temperature of 40˚F for 12 hours, a generous amount of time for most parties. It can be hosed down for cleaning.

For hot items, consider the Revo Dubler Heat, which is half the size of the Revo Party Barge and comes with heat packs and insulation meant to keep food hot.

• Style: Open-faced home entertainment cooler
• Capcity: 15 quarts
• Dimensions: 44" x 11" x 7.5"
• Can capacity: 39 cans

A family photo of all the coolers we tested.