Best cooler for Camping

Me and my team tested multiple best coolers for camping and also for other purposes like backpacking, solo camping, large group camping etc, you can read the detailed review as follows.

I tested multiple products and found the RovR RollR 80 Cooler to be the best cooler for camping.

With many camping coolers on the market, it can be challenging to know which one to choose from amongst all the best coolers. I’ve outlined several features and benefits to look for when selecting a cooler for your camping trip.

Whether you are going on your first camping trip or you’re a seasoned traveler, I’ll help you find the best cooler. When it comes to keeping your food safe and cold, several coolers can make your trip a stress-free one.

Our top-rated cooler is the RovR Products RollR 80 Cooler. This camping cooler has all of the best features you need including a large storage capacity, rugged wheels, a durable hard shell, and incredible insulation.

I’ve also reviewed the best hardshell and soft coolers. Powered coolers were also considered, along with the best options for solo-campers, group trips, and backpacking trips.

In this roundup, I’ll review the top six camping coolers and explain why they are the best camping coolers for your trip.

Best Coolers for Camping

RovR Products RollR 80 Cooler – Best Camping Cooler Overall

Coming in at number one, the RovR RollR 80 Cooler is one of the top camping coolers available. As the name suggests, it has an 80-quart capacity, giving you plenty of room to store all of your food and beverages. This large cooler measures 27 by 24 by 24 inches, allowing you to pack enough food for your entire camping trip.

The rotomolded foam insulation ensures that your food will stay cold for at least one week. The cooler has a refrigerator-grade gasket and can keep ice frozen for ten days. The RollR’s fast-flow plug allows you to drain water quickly when necessary. Its also one of the best cooler for camping with wheels.

Inside the cooler, you can easily organize all of your food, snacks, and drinks. The divided compartments make it convenient to separate food. You can arrange items so that everything is accessible to you. We also found it to be good at ice retention.

This hard-side cooler is made of LLDPE plastic and polyurethane foam. It is sturdy, rugged, and ideal for back-country use. With the addition of two padlocks, this cooler is certified bear-resistant by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

The RollR has an aluminum dual handle which allows for effortless pulling through all types of terrain. The sturdy handle conveniently folds down when not in use to save valuable space in your vehicle. 

This cooler has puncture-resistant tires and easily handles rugged trails and snowy terrain. The portability of this cooler is a huge plus as the wheels make it easy to move the cooler anywhere you need it. 

Anchor points on the cooler allow you to attach accessories as desired, adding even more efficiency to your camping trip. You can add an attachment that will let you tow the cooler behind your bike!

Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler – Best Hard Cooler

The Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler is our best choice for a hard cooler due to its ruggedness and durability. With 32 liters of storage space, this cooler offers plenty of room for food and drinks while you’re camping. It does not take up a lot of space in your vehicle and measures 25 by 16 by 15 inches.

This cooler comes with built-in tie-down slots in the frame to mount it to your vehicle. You don’t need to worry about the cooler sliding around in your car as the bottom has rubber feet to prevent it from moving.

The insulation in this cooler is efficient and will keep your food cool for several days. The cooler is constructed using rotomolded polyethylene and has extra thick walls. Its unique PermaFrost urethane foam insulation ensures that ice will last for up to a week when camping.

The Yeti cooler has convenient haul handles on each end. Marine-grade nylon rope secures the textured grips. One person can carry the cooler using the recessed handles.

Designed for extreme temperatures, this cooler can handle very cold weather and can be used with dry ice. A tight seal and freezer-quality gasket helps keep your food cold while limiting the air exchange. You can drain water easily with the screw-in gasket drain plug that prevents leaks.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee has certified this cooler as bear-resistant when using two padlocks. It is incredibly durable and can handle the toughest conditions. The aluminum rod connecting the body and lid is rust-proof, so you won’t need to worry about the hinges breaking.

The Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler has a dry goods rack that lets you separate and organize your food. Anything you want to keep dry, like sandwiches, can be kept away from the ice to avoid sogginess. 

Coleman Soft Cooler Bag – Best Soft Cooler

The main advantage of Coleman cooler is a soft cooler bag is its weight. Hard coolers are much heavier, while soft coolers are portable and easy to carry. The Coleman Soft Cooler Bag is extremely lightweight and weighs under four pounds.

This cooler measures 19 by 14 by 12 inches, making it an ideal choice for individuals camping on their own. It is also the perfect option as a secondary cooler for hiking trips when you leave your main campsite but want to bring food and drinks with you.

This cooler is comfortable to carry, featuring a padded shoulder strap and padded handles. It has water-resistant, easy-pull zippers that glide smoothly and avoid snags. There is also a built-in bottle opener on the outside of the cooler for all of your beverage needs.

While it is compact, it offers lots of storage options. This cooler features lots of interior space, zippered pockets on the front, and mesh pockets on the side. There are also bungee straps on the lid for extra storage.

The Coleman Soft Cooler Bag has ultra-thick insulation and welded seams. Your food and drinks will stay cold for at least 42 hours and even longer in cooler temperatures. This durable cooler has an easy-to-clean exterior and a leak-proof interior lining.

Igloo Iceless 40 Qt Thermoelectric Cooler – Best Powered Cooler

Powered coolers are ideal for camping trips that involve a lot of driving. These coolers conveniently plug into your vehicle and keep your food and drink cold while on the go. The Igloo Iceless 40 Qt Thermoelectric Cooler will cool the interior to 36 degrees below the surrounding temperature.

The best thing about this cooler is that you don’t require ice to keep it cold. You don’t have to buy ice or drain the water. Plus, you have all of that extra space that you can now use to store extra food!

This cooler measures 21 by 15 by 16 inches. It is lightweight at 18 pounds and has a 40-quart storage capacity. This provides plenty of room to store all of your food, snacks, and beverages during your trip.

Using this cooler is simple-use a 12V auto plug adapter or 110V outlet. The convection cooling system uses a fan to circulate the cold air throughout the interior. Its motor is quiet and doesn’t disturb you while resting or sleeping.

The eight-foot power cord gives you some flexibility with positioning the cooler in your vehicle. This cooler can stand upright like a fridge or horizontally. The adjustable divider lets you separate foods and drinks.

Camp Zero 10 Cooler  – Best for Solo Camping

When camping on your own, the last thing you need is to be hauling around a large cooler that is too big for your needs. The Camp Zero 10 Cooler is just the right size for one person. It has a 10-liter capacity, measures 13 by 15 by 13 inches, and weighs only nine pounds.

Made of rotomolded polyethylene, this cooler is extremely durable. Its thick walls and molded-in locking system provide a tight seal to keep your food cold. This cooler has commercial-grade insulation and a freezer-grade gasket.

The Camp Zero 10 Cooler can use either regular or dry ice. It features molded-in tie-down channels that allow you to secure the cooler to your vehicle. A compact design and t-latch locking system make this cooler easy to use and very portable.

The aluminum handle features a comfortable grip and folds neatly away when not in use. The two cup holders on the lid of the cooler are perfect for holding your coffee or other beverage. This cooler comes with a 5-year warranty which adds to its appeal.

Coleman Xtreme 5 Cooler – Best for Large Group Camping

If you’re going on a camping trip with friends or family, you’ll need something large enough to fit all of the food. The Coleman Xtreme 5 Cooler is a perfect choice. With a 70-quart capacity, you have plenty of storage space for all!

This hardshell cooler measures 28 by 15 by 18 inches and is very lightweight for its size, coming in at only 12 pounds. It is very sturdy and durable, with the “˜Have a Seat’ lid offering a 250-pound weight capacity.

The lid also features four molded-in cup holders that are two inches deep, ensuring that your beverages don’t get knocked over. There is extra wall insulation and an insulated lid to keep things cold inside.

With the Coleman Xtreme 5 cooler, ice will last for five days in temperatures up to 90 degrees. The cooler is leak-resistant, and you can drain the water without having to tilt it.

This cooler is easy to carry, and the handles have a comfortable grip. They also feature a positive stop, so the handles don’t pinch or crush your fingers. The cooler’s surface is smooth, which makes it easy to keep clean.

Carhartt 2-in-1 Insulated Cooler Backpack – Best for Backpacking

A backpack and cooler all in one is the best option for backpacking trips. These backpacks are a convenient and comfortable way to carry your belongings. You can keep your hands free for other things like taking photos!

The Carhartt 2-in-1 Insulated Cooler Backpack will keep your food and drinks cold for 24 hours. The insulated base compartment provides just the right amount of space for one person’s needs. The upper area has space to store additional food that doesn’t need to be kept cold.

Comfort is key when choosing a backpack, and this one checks all the marks. Its contoured straps are padded and adjustable, so you can customize the fit to your body. There is also a padded carrying handle to use.

Weighing under two pounds, this cooler backpack measures 17 by 12 by 8 inches. It is large enough to store everything you need while compact and comfortable to use. It features a front zipper pocket and side mesh pockets for additional storage.

The backpack is constructed with 1200-denier heavy-duty polyester, which makes it rugged and durable. It is also coated with Rain Defender water repellent, so you can use it during all types of weather.

Buying Guide: What to Look for When Buying a Camping Cooler

There are many features to consider when deciding which cooler will best suit your needs. The main factor is that the cooler keeps your food cold for the duration of your trip. 

You’ll also want to think about how durable, and portable the camping cooler is, particularly if you will be doing back-country camping. Other features to consider when selecting a cooler include size and volume, as well as the insulation and ice life.

Durability

When you buy a camping cooler, you want it to last. Durability is a key feature to consider when picking a cooler for your trips. A hardshell cooler will be more durable than a soft or bag cooler. 

If purchasing a hard cooler, you’ll want to choose a cooler that has sturdy carrying handles. If you choose one with wheels, make sure they are rugged enough to handle the type of terrain you will be camping in.

Soft coolers need to be examined to evaluate the durability of the material, zippers, and pockets. Carrying handles and shoulder straps should be well attached to prevent rips and tears. Zippers should glide smoothly and not snag when using.

Insulation

Since the main function of a cooler is to keep your items cold, insulation is a key factor to consider. Coolers vary in their ability to maintain a cold temperature inside, and this is based on their material and how well they seal.

If you will be camping for a week at a time, you’ll want to choose a cooler that offers exceptional insulation and ice life. This is especially important if you will be in an area that has hot temperatures. For shorter trips or travels during cooler weather, insulation is still important but doesn’t need to be your number one concern.

Portability

Coolers vary in how easy they are to move around. While all coolers have carrying handles, some also come with wheels. Soft coolers may include a shoulder strap.

Think about how much you will need to move your cooler during your trip and if you will be moving it on your own. If you are camping in rough terrain, a cooler with rugged wheels will easily move over bumps and rocks.

Size and Volume

The size of your cooler should be based on the length of your trip and the number of people using the cooler. A single person on a day trip can easily use a cooler backpack or 10-liter cooler to hold all of their food and drinks. 

A family of four or a group of friends will want to choose a larger cooler. Opt for at least 45 liters or larger for a lengthy trip.

You will also want to measure the space that you have in your vehicle before purchasing a cooler. Make sure that you can easily fit the cooler where you want it to go. This is particularly important if you are choosing an iceless cooler that needs to be plugged into the vehicle.

Conclusion

While everyone has unique needs when it comes to camping coolers, our overall best pick is the RovR Products RollR 80 Cooler. Its ruggedness and durability mean you can use this cooler in any terrain without worrying about damage.

The large size of the cooler makes it a great option for groups and families. The wheels and adjustable handle give an added advantage of being easily transportable when on the move.

This cooler provides exceptional insulation, keeping things cold for over a week. It’s a great choice for longer camping trips or warmer temperature locales.

Ready, Set, Camp!

Planning a summer camping trip with the family this year? Going on a weekend excursion with friends? Choosing the RovR Products RollR 80 Cooler will give you peace of mind that your food will stay safe and cold for the duration of your trip. Purchase this cooler today, and let’s go camping!