The 10 Best Beach Coolers In 2023

Nothing gives you more pleasure than having a cold drink whilst you chill out on the beach. Unfortunately, drinks do not stay cold forever especially with the high temperatures.

This is why you need to invest in the best beach cooler to keep snacks and beverages safe and fresh. There is a variety of in the market, and they all come in different sizes and models.

The question is, do you go hard plastic or soft shell; do you prefer pushing or pulling your consumables on wheels or just carry them around?

These are questions that most probably will bombard you on seeing the different varieties in the market. I know it’s overwhelming to settle on a perfect pick and for this one reason, I have compiled this comprehensive review with every detail you’ll need to help you purchase the very best beach cooler.

The 10 Best Beach Coolers In 2023 Are:

SOFT-SIDED BEACH COOLER REVIEWS

1. YETI Hoper Two Portable Beach Cooler

YETI Hoper is specially designed for outdoor summer adventure. It’s one of the best Soft-Sided bag cooler we have reviewed in the market today. Investing one will definitely come in handy during your future trips to the beach. Let’s jump straight to the various attributes that make Yeti Hoper the best beach cooler.

Superior fabric and accessories

This is made from the hopper’s high-density fabric; a material that is waterproof and resistant to mildew, punctures and UV radiations. In addition, it’s fitted with a liner made from an FDA-Approved food-grade material, a leak-proof HydroLok Zipper, and the MOLLE Bottle Opener.

Easy to transport

It’s a portable cooler with padded shoulder straps to help you carry it around. At least the shoulder straps ar3 comfortable enough to prevent numbness and unproportioned fatigue. Moreover, it has a tapered body that makes hauling easy and more comfortable.

Accessible and easy to clean

The wide mouth makes it easy to pack and unpack goods. Besides, it enables you to access the inner parts easily for quick cleaning. This is perfect for a more humid kind of weather.

YETI Sidekick Dry

The Sidekick Dry is designed to keep the important things secure, accessible and 100% dry. This waterproof side pack is the best way to carry your keys, wallet, and phone on the beach.

 

2. Arctic Zone Beach Cooler

The Arctic Zone Rolling Wheel Cooler is without any doubt the Best beach cooler with wheels we’ve reviewed. If you want to own one which you can easily carry and drag along, then you have a perfect pick.

Capacity

Its dimensions of the cooler bag are 14.25×14×15.5 inches which are definitely enough to hold up to 60 cans. What’s better? It comes with a detachable terrain cart that can hold a maximum of 100lbs of dry stuff. At, least you can haul all your luggage easily.

Chill effect

It features a Super Foam high performance insulation cooler that will keep your products cool for a long period of time. In case of extreme heat, the Thermal-Flect interior radiant barrier comes in handy to effectively reflect away heat.

Easy to transport

For easy transportation, the cooler has padded handles and adjustable back saver padded shoulder strap. If you prefer to pull/ push the cooler, it has an oversized wheel that offers minimal pressure on the ground and therefore able to move it easily along the sandy beach.

Leak proof and easy to clean

It’s designed with an Ultra-Safe Leak Proof lining. This will ensure zero leakage in case the ice melts or a drink spills off.  When it comes to cleaning, you can either use a washing machine or a brush and soapy water.

Additional features

It comes with two drink holders, an easy access lid on the cover, insulated front compartment, a mesh bag cooler on both sides and a detachable bottle opener.

 

3. Icemule Backpack Beach Cooler

Icemule is the most classic insulated Backpack cooler. It’s a high performance soft-shell cooler available in a variety of sizes and colors to ensure that whatever the occasion, your snacks and drinks are kept ice cool. Below are a few positive things about this.

Good Ice Retention

The exceptionally sturdy exterior fabric made from mule skin and the tough interior layer combines to create a rugged shell that protects against exterior weather elements, and allows for superior ice retention. It also features an IM Air Valve. This distinct feature allows extra air to be added to the insulation layer which increases the insulating capability.

Easy transportation and storage

It straps comfortably to your back, leaving hands and arms free to carry additional luggage. Moreover, it features double padded and ventilated straps for effortless hands-free carrying. The Icemule cooler also rolls and stores easily when not in use thanks to the IM Air Valve that allows you to release air so that the cooler can roll up for storage. It is fully collapsible, meaning it is great for traveling. Besides, the cooler can float and therefore perfect for kayaking and watersport trips.

Quality fabric

It’s made from a firm and waterproof mule skin that will serve you for years. The closure system is designed without zippers and welded seams, meaning no messy leaks.

Accessibility and cleaning

It has a wide mouth that ensures easy access and enables you to load and offload the cooler without much hustle. It is easy to clean either with hand or washing machine.

Capacity

The inside capacity of the is cooler bag is 10 liters with dimensions of 16 x 8 inches. The unit is big enough to hold 6 cans or four 2 liters bottles of beverage plus ice.

 

4. MIER Leak-proof Backpack Cooler

Besides being a perfect beach cooler, MIER backpack bag cooler is perfect for all kinds of outdoor activities including hiking, picnics, camping, road trips and many more. Besides, you can use it as a personal traveling bag cooler as well.

Quality construction

The interior of this cooler is insulated with leak proof materials and an inside Premium thick insulation layer with heat-welded leak-proof PEVA liner. This ensures that your snacks and drinks remain cold for hours without worrying about leaking, dripping or any watery spills. The interior is accessible and therefore easy to clean.

Storage and Safety

The cooler is roomy enough with a large U-shaped opening lid that allows you to pack meals, beer, snacks, and tall beverage bottles. It has a capacity of 22L and can fit 20 cans and ice as well. It’s an organized insulated pack that features multi compartments including 1 spacious main compartment sized 8.3’’L × 9.8’’H, 1 mesh pocket inside the flap and 1 zipper pocket outside the flap. In addition, there are 2 zipper pockets in the front; one large enough for iPad/tablet and the other one has 7 organized pockets inside.

This extra cool backpack cooler also features 2 sides mesh pockets with beam rope buckle to keep beverage bottles from falling off. All these pockets are easily accessible and will comfortably provide the needed protection and safety.

Easy to transport

It’s pretty comfortable to carry and retains its form even when carrying heavy items. It has adjustable padded air mesh comfort straps for hands-free transportation, and sternum straps to distribute the load. Additionally, it has thick mesh pads on the back area to keep your back comfortable even when loaded heavily. You will also find a handy grip handle on the shoulder strap for more carrying options.

Warranty

If a product fails because of a defect in material or the quality of design and workmanship, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. MIER gives you the guarantee that their products are free of any defects.

 

5. One Savvy Girl Ultralight Backpack Beach Cooler

Despite the name, this ultralight portable cooler can be used by any gender. It’s a 3-in-1 design that converts from a lightweight backpack to a mini stool chair with built-in cooler bag for your drinks and food. This makes everything from sitting around the campfire to beach tour lunch stop-over comfortable and convenient.

High Quality Material

It’s made of high quality Oxford fabric with waterproof coating. It’s super durable and able to stand up well to the changing weather elements.

Lightweight & Portable

It measures approximately 3 pounds; it’s portable and convenient with a foldable chair which folds up nicely for loading, travel and also easy to store in the trunk of your car.

Versatile

One Girl Savvy bag cooler has lots of pockets that offer ample storage space. At least your essentials are well stored and well separated such that what you need kept cold stays cold and warm stays warm. Moreover, it has a small foldable stool that makes a day’s trip to the beach, camping or sporting relaxing and easy.

Warranty

Like all Savvy products, this comes with a full lifetime warranty, meaning that if you are not pleased with the product you are guaranteed of a swap or a quick fix.

 

HARD-SIDED BEACH COOLER REVIEWS

6. Coleman-Xtreme 70-Quart Beach Cooler

This is a well-insulated portable beach cooler that will keep your beverages and perishable foods fresh all round that weekend beach tour. It’s Ideal for camping adventures, barbecues, and road trips.

High ice retention

It features Xtreme Insulation Technology that keeps ice up to 5 days in temperatures as high as 90°F. This is the best hard-sided you can get.

Large Capacity

It has enough capacity for up to 100 cans. I bet that’s enough to cater for quite a big team of tourists. The beach cooler provides ample space for ingredients, perishable food, soda cans, and other essentials.

Easy to transport

It features No-crush handle grips that make it easy to carry and to minimize strain and pinching on your hands. On the other hand, it is a bit heavy when it’s full.

Additional features

It has a leak-resistant drain that enables you to empty excess water without tilting the cooler easily. It also comes with Integrated cup holders that offer easy access to cold drinks and a lid that offers a comfortable place to sit and relax.

 

7. YETI Tundra 45 Beach Cooler

The YETI Tundra 45 combines versatility with durability. This hard sided beach cooler is built for all kinds of outdoor activities. It’s one of the best YETI products. Below are some of its distinct features.

Capacity

It has a capacity of up to 26 cans with a recommended 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio and a standard dry goods basket. This enough space to carry drinks and snacks for a small family of four.

Great chill effect

It is designed with a 3-inch Permafrost insulation, a ColdLock gasket and an extra thick wall that will ensure your ice is well kept and intact for quite a duration of time.

Durability

The Rotomolded Construction makes the Tundra well armored, sturdy and virtually indestructible. It also features the T-Rex Lid Latches construction of heavy-duty rubber made with patented technology and a military-grade polyester rope for extra durability. It features two hinge pins and interlocking design that prevents the hinges from ever breaking.

Easy to transport

It’s designed with LipGrip handles that make carrying easy and enjoyable. It is also fitted with anchor point tie-down slots and bear foot Non-slip feet so it can be securely tied to the bed of a truck, trailer or boat.

 

8. Wagan-EL6224 Beach Cooler

Wagan EL6224 is an electric cooler and warmer. It is perfect for family road trips or small team beach adventures. It keeps food and beverages cool without messy ice and in case you need to grab something warm, there is that option too.

Capacity

It has a capacity of 24 liters and capable of holding up to 27 cans or four 2 liters bottles standing vertically.

Strong Construction

It is designed with Polyurethane Foam insulation to ensure that your products will stay cool up to a maximum of 36°F below room temperature. The material is durable enough to last for several years.

Has a warmer

It’s a 12v warmer that is capable of heating up to 140°F. It comes with a 7.5 feet DC power cord long enough to extend to your vehicle’s back seat area.

To use the warmer/cooler, simply plug the 12v adapter into your vehicle’s 12v DC outlet and slide the switch on the back of the cooler to either hot or cold. The hot/cold switch has indicator lights well labeled so you can quickly see which mode is in use. Anything left inside the cooler will stay cold for some time after the unit has been disconnected. However, the internal temperature will balance with the external surrounding temperature over time.

Easy to transport

It can either be placed on the floor of your vehicle or on the seat.  You can also secure it with a seat belt. It also comes with a heavy duty handle for easy transportation.

Easy to clean

It’s fitted with a removable lid which can be easily removed for cleaning; simply open half-way and then pull upwards. The large interior is perfectly accessible so that you can clean all corners of the beach cooler.

Extra features

It also features a built-in fan and a 10A fused plug with a power consumption of 40 watts. An optional AC adapter in case you need to use electricity while in the hotel, at home or in the office.

 

9. Pelican Elite Beach Cooler

This is a cooler that provides the best service for people who may need extreme cooling services. Its features make it stand out and fit for its work.

Strong chill effect

It’s designed with a 2-inch Polyurethane Insulation with a 360 degrees freezer-grade gasket for extreme ice retention. It’s kept tightly locked to keep cold air inside intact. This product is capable of providing up to 10 days of ice retention depending on the weather condition.

Durable Material

The body of this Pelican Elite 50-Quart is designed with high quality material which is corrosion-resistant. It is able to resist any effect of liquid spilling such that you don’t have to worry about it getting constantly wet.

Additional features

There are also four built-in cup holders on top of the cooler that is self-draining, an integrated measuring board, molded tie-down slots, stainless steel bottle opener and a non-skid rubber feet to improve its stability.

Warranty

The Pelican Elite 50-Quart Cooler also includes the Pelican’s legendary lifetime warranty that will guarantee you a replacement in case the cooler breaks.

 

10. Igloo Quick and Cool Beach Cooler

This model comes in a 100 and 150-Quart design. It’s a fabulous deal for the fact that it will serve you well while on your beach tour and you don’t have to spend much on it. Moreover, cleaning and maintenance are quite easy.

Ice retention

It’s made from hard shell Polyethylene and Ultratherm insulated body and lid that keeps ice for up to 3 days in a 90 ̊F surrounding. It has a quick access hatch that lets you access contents without letting the cold air escape.

Easy to transport

It comes with a reinforced swing-up handles with tie-down loop feature. This will make it easy to carry.

Additional features

The Igloo Quick and Cool has duo snap-fit latches to secure the lid closure, stain and odor resistant liner that keep beverages and food fresh and a threaded drain plug for hose hook-up and easy draining.

 

How to Choose the A Beach Cooler

To pick the best, you may need to consider a few things. Some of these factors may not apply for your impending beach tour, but will definitely equip you well for other future plans. Just scroll through, and you and you will have a better understanding on how to pick the best beach cooler for the money.

Storage needs

There are many essentials to carry in a beach cooler, most of which are refreshments packed in cans and bottles. What you intend to store in your cooler is something you need to figure out before you shop for one. The decision on the size of the beach cooler may be influenced by the number and sizes of items to be stored or the number of people the cooler will serve.

There are coolers of different capacities, you only need to know what you intend to be storing in order to choose the right size. A beach cooler to store ice cream is obviously going to be much different from one for soft drinks only.

Items accessibility

Many buyers forget about this essential factor when purchasing and end up struggling to access their items from inside the cooler. This is one thing that you should carefully look at. The cooler’s lid and mouth should tell you how accessible the cooler is. Coolers with a wide mouth make it easier to store and access items. Some coolers have an extra latch so that you can reach inside the cooler without fully opening it.

Ice Retention

Ice retention is one of the most important factors to consider when buying any type of cooler. In the course of your beach tour, you want  your snacks and drinks cold and fresh every time. This means that you need to carefully look through the items in order to get one with high ice retention.

Beach coolers with thick insulation can cool products for a long time meaning they are the best for long tours. You need to study the specific details of each cooler in order to decide on which one to purchase. Different coolers are designed to serve you in different ways, the main aim being to keep your products fresh as long as you intend them to be. Choose what will fit your needs.

Price

Price is another factor that will greatly influence the type of beach cooler to purchase. Think about how much money you have, or you want to spend on a beach cooler. Many people relate price with quality; sometimes they are right other times they are wrong. Do not relate price with quality, you can still find an amazing product at a relatively low price.

Portability

Make sure you purchase one that goes with the available mode of transport. The weight of the cooler is one factor that you should look at as you consider how you will be carrying it. The other factor is portability. As you chose what to purchase, make sure you get one that is comfortable to carry. There are coolers with padded shoulder straps and comfortable handles and also the backpack ones. Such coolers are great because they can be transported easily. These two kinds are the best to carry around. You may probably want a cooler with wheels on the bottom in order to enhance your experience.

Hard or Soft shell

Choosing between soft or hard shell will depend on how long you want to keep your products cool. The soft beach coolers are normally lined with aluminum-based material and only cools for a few hours. Hard-sided coolers have more reliable insulation, they are tougher and will cool your products for longer than soft-shelled ones. In case you are spending a few days on the beach you might want to consider a hard-sided beach cooler.

Durability

Your beach cooler should last you long enough. How long your cooler lasts depends on its construction and material. If you are subjecting your cooler through tough conditions or dragging it through rough terrain, you need an extra sturdy product which is resistant to leaks, tears and wear. Also, you need to define the exact need for the cooler. Are you purchasing a cooler only for a specific tour or you want a product that can serve you for years to come? With this in mind, you will be quite informed on the one to purchase.

Cleaning

Purchase something that is easy to clean. As you carry your essentials around, some will get spilt. You need to clean the stains soon before they get sticky. Look for one that will give you an easy time to clean and maintain. Soft shell coolers are easy to clean but not as quick as the hard shell coolers. You will definitely need to consider the ease of cleaning before you make any purchasing decision.

Additional features

Some have additional features which come in handy during your beach vacation. Some, especially the hard-shelled feature molded cup holders and built-in seats on the lid. Others come with large wheels making it easy to move your heavy cooler around. There are also other brands which have grip point attachments for securing the cooler in place or attaching other accessories and non-food items. Check for all features that will enhance your experience on the beach.

FAQ

Below are some of the few questions that beachgoers ask about coolers. I hope my answers will help you out in case you have similar questions.

Q: How do you clean a beach cooler?

Cleaning is pretty easy as long as it’s spill-proof. Normal beach coolers might give you a hard time trying to remove stains. In case there are spills, you can drain them out by placing the cooler upside down.

You can also use a piece of wet cloth or wipes to clean any dirt. In case you are using a soft cooler, machine washing will definitely do the trick. Stains on the outside can be easily removed using a damp cloth or a toothbrush and soapy water.

Q: How long do beach coolers keep drinks & snacks cool and fresh?

Well, it depends on the type you intend to use. As mentioned earlier, soft beach coolers are not as effective as hard-sided beach cooler. They can only keep products cool for a few hours. On the other hand, the hard shelled will work for days as long as there is ice.

Conclusion

Having gone through my guide, I am sure you are well equipped with all the details about the best beach coolers in the market. I am confident that with this write up you will be in a better position to purchase a good beach cooler. Besides, you have a lot of models at your disposal, you just have to choose the style that suits your needs.

Other Beach Reviews:

• Best Beach Tents and Shelters
• Beach Carts
• Beach Coolers On Wheels