The 23 Best Camping Coolers

If you’re heading out on the road for a few days of hiking, camping, or laid-back fishing, then there’s no better bit of luggage to bring along than a stocked-up camping cooler. Aside from an awesome camping hammock, or camping knife, that is. Whether you’re throwing as many beers as possible into an icebox for you and your buddies to share or stacking provisions in a backpack-style hiking cooler for a long weekend off the grid, there’s a great camping cooler to suit your needs. With luxury options capable of practically serving up dinner themselves and budget picks perfect for solo ventures into the wild, there’s a great range of options out there, so simply read on to find the one that suits your needs best.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

BEST OVERALL CAMPING COOLER

While there are many honourable mentions for the best overall camping cooler on this list, the top dog (or rather, otter) has to be the Otter Box Venture 65 Cooler. This is a bumper-sized 65-quart cooler that somehow manages to retain a low unloaded weight of just 33 lbs, making it ideal for slinging into the back of a truck before you set forth on a weekend of adventure. It’s got some nifty features like a dry storage tray and a bottle opener, along with additional accessories that can be slotted in and out easily. Plus, it’s designed and built right at home in the USA! 

BEST SMALL COOLER FOR CAMPING

If you’re only camping for a night or two or heading out solo and need something small, then the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler is by far and away your best option, in our opinion. At only $30, it’s amazingly cheap, and on top of this, it’s packed out with great little features, including a removable shelf and exterior rapid-access pockets. This bag-style cooler may only have a 9-can capacity, but that’s more than enough for solo or duo hikers intent on travelling light.

BEST COOLER FOR MULTI-DAY CAMPING

When it comes to multi-day camping, efficiency is everything, and the Engel ENG25 High-Performance Cooler delivers on that front spectacularly. This fantastic little hard-walled cooler can keep ice from melting for a full eight days, all thanks to its freezer-style gasket and airtight latches. It’s a little heavier than other coolers of a similar size as a result, but this is a worthy trade-off for the sake of keeping your provisions fresh the whole week long. 

BEST CAMPING COOLER FOR UNDER $100

There are many affordable camping coolers on this list, but the best of the bunch is, without a doubt, the Coleman Xtreme 5 hard-walled cooler. This jumbo-sized 73-quart behemoth is perfect for larger groups, with four cup-holders, two no-pinch handles perfect for carrying between two people, and a massive interior capacity. It’s ideal for longer trips or a weekend blowout with your best buds. Whatever you use it for, you’ll be sure to get your $50 worth in no time!

1. YETI Tundra 65 Cooler

YETI is well known for its excellent range of camping coolers, and the Tundra 65 is a great option for those packing lots of cans and refrigerated food thanks to its large 52-quart capacity. This edition is available in 4 colourways and is equipped with polyester rope handles for ease of carrying thick insulated walls and non-slip feet, the last of which allows it to double up as a camp seat.

2. Dometic CFX3 75 Powered Cooler

This electric cooler for camping from Dometic is a high-tech option for those setting up in range of a vehicle or generator. Simply connect this cooler to your car with the cable provided, and you’ll have a fully functioning mini-fridge wherever you are. With custom temperature control and two interior compartments, this is a comprehensive digital option.

3. RTIC 45 QT Hard Cooler

This mid-large cooler for camping from RTIC is a classic choice, with a sturdy overall design and heavy-duty features, including thick rope handles, non-slip feet, and secure plastic locking tabs. There’s a good balance here between weight and capacity, and you can pick from 5 colours for a cooler that matches the rest of your gear.

4. Coleman Xtreme 5 Cooler

Coleman’s Xtreme 5 is an affordable camping cooler with a massive 73-quart capacity. This option might be cheap, but it’s just as good as some of its pricier counterparts, with some nice additional features like built-in cup holders, no-pinch handles, and extra wall insulation. This is a really brilliant pick for those on a budget, and it only weighs 12 pounds despite its bumper capacity – making it one of the best camping coolers under $100.

5. Stanley Adventure Cooler

A fairly cheap camping cooler with a tall profile, the Stanley Adventure cooler is perfect for keeping wine chilled for a romantic retreat or stocking up on soda mixers to have with spirits on the road. With clip locks and an easy-to-use drainage hole, this is a simple but sturdy high-height option, clocking in at a super-lightweight 13 pounds.

6. Orca 75 Quart Cooler

When you’re looking for good coolers for camping, it does make sense to spend a little extra sometimes, as the more you pay, the sturdier, the cooler will be in most cases. The Orca 75 quart cooler strikes a nice balance between premium construction and price, and the cargo net storage pouches are a nice touch. Still, what you’re really paying for is the freezer-style gasket seal on the lid – something you don’t always find in cheaper camping coolers.

7. Engel 80 Hard Cooler Ice Box

Another massive 74-quart cooler, the Engel 80, is a large cooler for camping that requires a couple of people to lift, owing to its heavy 32-pound construction. Thankfully it makes up for its size with its great features, including the closed-cell foam insulation used in the lid, bottle opener latches for easy access to brewskis, and lock holes for strong resistance against bears and other critters in the night.

8. Wool Street The Wooly Cooler

A luxury camping cooler for those who want something a little more sophisticated, The Wooly from Wool Street is a bamboo-finished delight with plenty of unique features. This tacklebox style cooler features an extendable rack with a bamboo cutting board installed, plus a removable sandwich tray in the interior, making it ideal for picnics with family or friends. Interestingly, Wool Street has opted for wool insulation here, making this an eco-friendly and sustainable option on top of everything else.

9. YETI Roadie 24 Cooler

YETI’s Roadie 24 is another of the top camping coolers in their range, this time in a tall profile ideal for keeping soda, wine, and big bottles cool. The single-cord carry strap makes it easy to maneuver thanks to its low 13 pounds carry weight, and dual locking latches are implemented to ensure it’s completely critter-proof. This cooler has thick non-slip feet, and so it’s perfect to use as a seat while enjoying a glass of chilled white wine.

10. Pelican 70 Quart Elite Cooler

Available in 6 high-visibility colour options, the Pelican 70 Quart Elite cooler sits among some of the best camping coolers on offer. With a high-density polyurethane insulation system built to keep all of your food and drink cool for as long as nine days. 4 built-in cup holders and a built-in bottle opener are nice additions. However, the real strength of this cooler is its massive size – it can hold up to 48 cans and still have room for ice!

11. RTIC Soft Cooler 20

A small cooler for camping on the move, the RTIC soft cooler 20 makes for a great blend of function and form. At a super lightweight 3 pounds, this bag cooler is easy to carry on long treks without weighing you down. It has room for 20 cans, and its semi-rigid walls are insulated and leakproof. On the interior, meanwhile, you’ll find a scientifically sophisticated antimicrobial lining, which will help keep the bag fresh and hygienic in the long run.

12. YETI Tundra 75 Hard Cooler

Another hard shell cooler from YETI, the Tundra 75, is much like their other Tundra range coolers, except for a boosted 74-quart capacity. This larger option also comes with a removable sandwich rack, making it ideal for storing food and drink. Non-slip rubber feet allow it to be used as a seat, and they help with stability when driving too.

13. Igloo BMX Cooler

Available in a range of striking colorways, this small cooler for camping from Igloo is a big hitter despite its compact size. The BMX is a UV-protected mid-profile cooler with a reinforced base and a single rigid handle. Its reasonable 25-quart capacity straddles the line between convenience and size nicely. With a reinforced bottom and rubberized latches, it’s also sturdier than it looks.

14. OtterBox Venture 65 Cooler

Otter makes some of the best coolers for camping around, and their Venture 65 is no exception to this rule. Designed in Colorado and made right at home in the USA, this traditional cooler steps into the modern-day with a dry storage tray, built-in bottle opener, and smart mounting grooves for the addition of extra accessories. This is a great comprehensive pick for those with a higher budget.

15. Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer 80-Quart Cooler

It would be an understatement to call Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer a large cooler for camping. This is an absolutely massive beast, with an unfilled weight of 40 pounds and a bottomless 80-quart capacity capable of holding a whole bar’s worth of drinks. Size isn’t everything, however, and so this cooler also has some nice features like moulded padlock tabs for bear resistance, glow-in-the-dark handles for night use, and non-slip rubber feet, all of which combine to make one fantastic pick.

16. Igloo Trailmate All-Terrain Cooler

The second of our two camping coolers on wheels, the Igloo Trailmate, is another brilliant all-terrain cooler made for wheeling far down a trail or along the beach on a summer’s evening. This cooler has a large 70-quart capacity, but most of its 35-pound empty weight is offset by the wheels, making it easy to transport back and forth. It’s perfect for picnics, too, thanks to a built-in food tray basket and serving tray.

17. YETI Hopper Two 40 Cooler

A super high-efficiency camping cooler designed as much for tactical missions as for summertime fun, the YETI Hopper Two is a massive 40-quart bag that manages to weigh only a minuscule 6.1 pounds when unloaded. With a waterproof shell and a leakproof zipper, this is perfect for rough weather adventures. Its carry-bag design makes it easy to transport even through tangled undergrowth and dense forest environments.

18. K2 Coolers Summit 30 Cooler

With extra-thick insulation designed to increase ice retention to five days and beyond, the K2 Coolers Summit 30 is a great affordable camping cooler for those heading out for a long weekend. With dual plastic latches and a boxy mid-height profile, this is a good pick for storing bottles and cans, and on top of this, it has a decent 30-quart capacity.

19. Magellan Outdoors IceBox

Another great camping cooler under $100, the Magellan Outdoors IceBox, sets itself apart from the crowd with a bucket-style handle for easy carrying and a stainless steel locking system. You’ll also find two bottle openers built into the locking latches, perfect for cracking open a cold one while out fishing. What’s more, there are a bumper 18 colours available so that you can pick something inconspicuous or flashy depending on your usage scenario.

20. Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler

We’ve already seen Coleman’s budget option, and their premium steel-belted cooler is another great pick while staying at a very reasonable sub-$200 price. This is another fantastic cooler for camping, with a strong 54 quart capacity at just 15 lbs of weight when unloaded. Its lightweight construction doesn’t mean it’s flimsy, however. This cooler packs in steel handles and metal hinges for heavy-duty performance at a low, low price.

21. Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler

One of the best camping coolers for those who only need something small, the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze cooler is a truly miniature option well worth its $30 asking price. With a 9-can capacity ideal for an afternoon hike or single-night camp, this mini bag cooler still manages to pack in plenty of features, including a removable shelf, exterior pockets, and a rigid flop-open lid. It won’t keep you supplied for days on end, but if you’re looking for a small cooler for camping out, then this is a perfect pick.

22. OtterBox Trooper LT 30 Cooler

Our final camping cooler from Otter, the Trooper LT 30, is a backpack-style solution for those on long-distance or rough terrain hikes. It sports a futuristic semi-rigid design with a leakproof seal and handy exterior quick-access pockets. The bag can be carried either on your back or with a shoulder strap, making long journeys hassle-free and comfort-friendly. You’ll also find a built-in bottle opener accessory included with your purchase.

23. Engel ENG25 High-Performance Cooler

Last but not least, the ENG25 mini cooler from Engel is a great high-performance pick, along with being one of the top camping coolers for ice retention. This baby can keep your cubes from melting for a full eight days, all thanks to its freezer-style gasket and airtight latches. This does make it a little heavier than other coolers of the same size, but if you’re on a long trip, it’s well worth the extra weight for the sake of keeping your food and drink fresh.

COMPARE THE BEST CAMPING COOLERS

Use this table to sort the camping coolers featured on this list and order them by weight, capacity, dimensions, ice cooling time, body type, and power.

CAMPING COOLER	WEIGHT	CAPACITY	DIMENSIONS	KEEPS ICE FOR	BODY
YETI Tundra 65	2.3 lbs	52 qt	9.75″ x 8″ x 9.5″	2 days	Hard
Dometic CFX3 75 Powered Cooler	61 lbs	80 qt	35″ x 19.5″ x 18.6″	Indefinitely	Hard
RTIC 45 QT Hard Cooler	25 lbs	45 qt	26.5″ x 16″ x 25.25″	10 days	Hard
Coleman Xtreme 5 Cooler	12.3 lbs	73 qt	28.25″ x 15.75″ x 18.25″	5 days	Hard
Stanley Adventure Cooler	13.5 lbs	32 qt	21.3″ x 18.5″ x 15.5″	4 days	Hard
Orca 75 Quart Cooler	40 lbs	75 qt	35″ x 19″ x 19″	10 days	Hard
Engel 80 High-Performance Hard Cooler and Ice Box	32 lbs	74 qt	34.5″ x 16.5″ x 17.5″	10 days	Hard
Wool Street The Wooly	18.3 lbs	52 qt	24.6″ x 14.9″ x 13.7″	3 days	Hard
YETI Roadie 24 Cooler	12.9 lbs	24 qt	17.1″ x 14.3″ x 18″	Unknown	Hard
Pelican 70 Quart Elite Cooler	33.3 lbs	70 qt	36″ x 20.3″ x 21″	Unknown	Hard
RTIC Soft Cooler 20	3 lbs	14 qt	14″ x 11″ x 14″	5 days	Soft
YETI Tundra 75 Hard Cooler	30 lbs	74 qt	33.5″ x 17.5″ x 32″	Unknown	Hard
Igloo BMX Cooler	12 lbs	25 qt	19.59″ x 13.25″ x 15.7″	4 days	Hard
OtterBox Venture 65 Cooler	33 lbs	65 qt	40″ x 18.76″ x 18.83″	16 days	Hard
Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer 80-Quart	40 lbs	80 qt	40″ x 20.5″ x 20.5″	12 days	Hard
Igloo Trailmate All-Terrain Cooler	34.7 lbs	70 qt	23.61″ x 19.7″ x 34.59″	Unknown	Hard
YETI Hopper Two 40	6.1 lbs	40 qt	26″ x 13″ x 19.5″	Unknown	Soft
K2 Coolers Summit 30	19 lbs	30 qt	20.3″ x 18.3″ x 16.4″	Unknown	Hard
Magellan Outdoors IceBox	18.4 lbs	20 qt	14.5″ x 22″	Unknown	Hard
Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler	15 lbs	54 qt	21″ x 17.5″ x 17.2″	4 day	Hard
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler	1 lbs 9 oz.	9 cans	9.75″ x 8″ x 9.5″	2 days	Soft
OtterBox Trooper LT 30 Cooler	6.7 lbs	30 qt	21″ x 17″ x 11″	3 days	Soft
Engel ENG25 High-Performance Cooler	18 lbs	21 qt	20.75″ x 14.25″ x 14.5″	10 days	Hard

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