
When you need to bring cold drinks to a place you can’t drive to, a cooler backpack makes the job easy. Kimson Doan, Unsplash
Whether chilling poolside, paddling down the river, picnicking, or camping, cooler backpacks provide an efficient, easy-to-carry means to bring food and drinks with you, and have them stay chilled the whole time. There’s a lot of range in what’s on the market, so we laid out what you need to consider when choosing one — and listed a few top choices.
- Durability and Closures: Even if a backpack is leak proof or waterproof, its closure may not be. Look for waterproof zippers or roll-top closures if you want it to be truly impermeable. Likewise, the fabric used — inside and out — matters greatly as far as how long your cooler will last, but so does the quality and weight-bearing capacity of the seams, straps, and zippers.
- Capacity and Carrying Comfort: Different brands list their capacity differently, often in liters or cans…and with or without factoring in ice. Read carefully, check dimensions, and don’t assume an apples-to-apples comparison. Remember too that cooler contents are heavy, and consider the back support, strap comfort, etc. in choosing your pick.
- Cold Retention: You need different levels of chill for an afternoon picnic, a day hike, and a weekend camping trip. Likewise, the weather surrounding the cooler pays a role, so think about if the bag will be out in the sun, or mostly in a climate-controlled car.
- Leak Proofing: Between melting ice and condensation off of cold cans and packages, leak proofing is non negotiable on a backpack cooler, unless you’re hoping to get icy drips running down your back. Impermeable materials, as well as fully sealed (not stitched!) seams are essential.
Our Picks for the Best Cooler Backpacks on Amazon
Top Pick Overall: YETI Hopper M20 Backpack
Runner Up: TOURIT Cooler Backpack 30 Cans Lightweight Insulated Backpack Cooler Leak-Proof
TOURIT
Chill Looks: Lekesky Cooler Backpack Large Insulated Cooler Bag
Lekesky
Cold and Casual: Wise Owl Outfitters Backpack Cooler – Ultra Insulated Waterproof Cooler Bag Back Pack
Wise Owl Outfitters