10 Best Beach Coolers – (Reviews & Buying Guide 2020)

When you’re spending time at the beach, it’s likely that you’ll need something to eat and drink. This is because beach activities can be exhausting and take a lot of energy. What’s more, the hot summer sun will drain your energy quickly.

This in mind, would you like to reduce the cost of buying food and beverages at the beach? A cooler allows you to do this. You can purchase cheaper items beforehand, then carry your refreshments to the beach in a cool container that keeps them from spoiling.

Since every brand claims to make the best beach coolers, how can you select the best one? Our reviews will show you what to look for and help you make the right choice.

Quick Recommendations

Best Beach Cooler Reviews – Portable Hard & Soft Models

1. YETI Roadie 20 Beach Cooler for Sand

Exterior Dimensions: 14,5″ X 19″ X 13,75″
Capacity: 14 Cans
Weight: 15 lbs
Type: Hard

Beach adventures require reliable and portability accessories. The YETI Roadie 20 cooler meets these specs. It’s sturdy with plenty of features, making it a suitable beach companion. The Roadie 20 features fine materials, and a special interlock system secures the lid and makes it leakproof. Extra-thick, 2” permafrost walls provide exceptional insulation. The exterior’s roto-molded construction makes it strong enough to withstand all outdoor conditions. This feature also makes it resistant to prolonged UV ray exposure.

What makes this Roadie 20 unique is it’s compatibility with dry ice. As such, it’s cooling ability outlasts ordinary coolers. It’s compact means it can fit into the trunk of a small car or even a bike. The bottom features BearFoot anti-slip, marking rubber feet that prevent it from sliding. It measures 19” L x 13.75” W x 14.38” H and weighs 15 lbs. It may look small, but it can hold 16 soda cans, equivalent to 20 lbs. of ice.

2. Igloo Ice Cube, Rolling Cooler for Beach

Exterior Dimensions: 20″ x 18.5″ x 20.7″
Capacity: 90 cans
Weight: 12.2 lbs
Type: Hard

The Igloo Ice Cube Rolling beach cooler cart offers a unique design and a large capacity for carrying all your drinks and food. Unlike other wheeled, rectangular coolers, this one features an appealing design. Deep foam insulation enables it to cool your items for five days, and ultratherm insulation on the body keeps the internal temperatures at the same level for longer periods. It’s the perfect cooler to take with you on extended beach and other outdoor trips. What’s more, it measures 20’’ x 18.5’’ x 20.69’’ (outside) and 16.75’’ x 14.5’’ x 17.25’’ (inside). Its large interior capacity holds up to 114 soda cans.

The Igloo Maxcold offers portable convenience thanks to sturdy wheels that maneuver smoothly on different terrain, making it quite versatile. A telescopic handle with locking system enables you to pull it securely on the beach. The lid features molded side cup holders and handles, and the bottom features a drain spout for removing liquids with ease.

3. Coleman Soft Beach Cooler Cart with Wheels

Exterior Dimensions: 21.3″ x 12.6″ x 11.4″
Capacity: 42 cans
Weight: 2,2 lbs
Type: Soft

The Coleman wheeled beach cooler 42-Can Soft Cooler rings all the bells and whistles. To begin with, Coleman is a trusted brand on the market that produces reliable outdoor equipment. The Coleman 42 delivers plenty of features that make it easy to use and comfortable to transport. To begin with, it offers additional storage with numerous pockets that allow you to carry dry food and gear separately. You can store drinks in the main compartment and use a hard, plastic liner if you pack with ice. It holds up to 42 cans (and hence its name).

The Coleman 42 boasts a sturdy build with anti-UV properties that will stand the test of time. Its liner is treated with antimicrobials that resist mold, odor, mildew, and fungus, making it easy to clean. Heat-welded seams prevent liquid from leaking out. What’s more, carrying and transporting this bag is easy thanks to a telescopic handle and sturdy sand wheels. You will also find handles on the side, giving you plenty of carrying options.

4. Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series, Marine Portable Cooler

Exterior Dimensions: 36.8 x 19.3 x 18.75″
Capacity: 204 cans
Weight: 25 lbs
Type: Hard

If you plan to visit the beach in a large group, then the Coleman Coastal Xtreme is a perfect choice. Not only is it large and reliable, but it offers multifunctional performance and a large, 204-can capacity. What’s more, the lid and walls feature low CO2 insulation with Xtreme technology, which retains ice in a frozen state for six days, with exterior temps up to 90 degrees. The lid features a UV-guard and supports up to 250 lbs., so you can use it as a seat. The top features four built-in cup holders to help prevent spills.

When ice begins to melt, the Coastal Xtreme cooler allows you to drain excess water with ease (thanks to a stopcock and threaded drain) without having to tilt it. The lid features a smooth texture that you can wipe clean easily, and side handles that make carrying it a breeze. With stainless steel hardware, it withstands harsh conditions for long periods.

5. Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze, Hardbody Beach Cooler Bag

Exterior Dimensions: 20″ x 13″ x 12.5″
Capacity: 48 cans
Weight: 4.3 lbs
Type: Soft

The Titan Deep Freeze zipperless cooler by Arctic Zone offers a unique, high-performance design with a patented flip-open lid that eliminates the need for zippered closures and allows easy access your items. It features an external accessory pocket for carrying small items like napkins, cell phones, or keys. What’s more, the exterior features water- and stain-resistant Rhino-Tech construction. This also resists abrasions and punctures and allows you to use the cooler for extended periods.

The interior presents a hard-wearing Hardbody, Smartshelf liner that enables you separate food from drinks to avoid crushing. You can easily remove the Smartshelf to increase space.
The cooler features Deepfreeze insulation, with a heat barrier and a triple layer Cold Block base for excellent cooling performance, keeping your drinks cold for more than 24 hours. A leakproof, micro-ban liner resists odors and stains for easy cleanup. The bag cooler comes with a padded adjustable, back-saving shoulder strap for convenient portability.

6. YETI Hopper Flip, Portable Cooler

Exterior Dimensions: 11,5″ x 8″ x 10,5″
Capacity: 8 cans
Weight: 2.8 lbs
Type: Soft

YETI makes yet another entry on this review – the Hopper flip cooler. This is the best choice for people who enjoy long stays at the beach. Its high-density construction is waterproof and resists mildew, punctures, and UV rays. The interior liner is made with an FDA-approved, food-grade material that’s safe for food. The closure features a Hydrolok zipper that’s tough, waterproof, and leakproof. The entire construction features closed-cell rubber foam that provides excellent insulation that lasts for days. In addition, it comes with YETI ice that maximizes ice retention, keeping your contents cool for a long time.

This YETI cooler sports a beautiful design, with bonus space for your gear and accessories. A sidekick Dry holds small items, like cell phones and keys, and keeps them 100% dry. You can attach a MOLLE bottle opener to open bottles easier. Compact dimenions hold only 6 cans of regular soda cans with ice packs.

7. CleverMade Collapsable Beach Cooler Tote Bag

Exterior Dimensions: 18.25″ x 12.25″ x 12″
Capacity: 50 cans
Weight: 2 lbs
Type: Soft

The CleverMade Cooler is the perfect collapsible cooler bag to take to the beach. It features durable, long-lasting construction. The fabric has a bit of everything: 2% ABS, 3% MDF, 50% polyester, 10% polypropylene, and 35% polyethylene. What’s more, the rip-stop fabric which is extremely durable and quite water-resistant. The interior offers ample space for packing all your necessary items and holds up to 50 cans with ice.

This cooler features an insulated interior and a leakproof design that prevents melted ice from leaking out. What’s more, the flop-free design keeps groceries from spilling. An exterior front pocket with zippered closure holds your small items, like phones and keys. There’s also an integrated bottle opener for your convenience. This cooler bag sports a comfortable, portable design, with side grip and duffle bag handles. After use, it folds down to a compact size of 3” for convenient stowing.

8. Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler with Removable Liner

Exterior Dimensions: 12.20 x 6.69 x 12.20″
Capacity: 16 cans
Weight: 1.8 lbs
Type: Soft

If you prefer traveling light to the beach, then this Coleman 16-can cooler is for you. It’s as convenient as it is versatile; you can take it to a picnic or campground and it will keep your snacks and drinks chilled for a long time. It features an antimicrobial liner that prevents mold, mildew, and odors. You can remove the liner easily when ice begins to melt. The main, zippered storage compartment will keep your items cold when using a hard-plastic liner with ice. This eliminates the need to pack ice alternatives.

The bag holds up to 16 cans with ice, enough for a short visit to the beach. It includes multiple pockets, including a front pocket, mesh pockets on each side, and a pouch for dry storage. You can add bungees to the lid for added storage, and the seams are welded with heat to prevent ice from leaking out. An adjustable shoulder strap allows comfortable transport.

9. MIER Large Capacity, Beach Cooler Tote

Exterior Dimensions: 11.02” x 7.87” x 10.24”
Capacity: 24 cans
Weight: 1 lbs
Type: Soft

This soft cooler tote by Mier is good for keeping your contents cold, fresh, or hot for hours at the beach. Measuring 11.2’’ x 7.87’’ x 10.24’’, the bag holds up to 24 cans and provides even more space with numerous external pockets, like a front zipper pocket and mesh pockets. An insulated liner maintains the temperature of your food for hours. What’s more, the PEVA liner’s heat-welded seams prevent leaks and includes a thick foam construction that’s easy to clean.

This bag utilizes durable, 600D Oxford fabric. A padded, adjustable shoulder strap that detaches for comfortable carrying, and two handles with hook and loop closures expand your carrying options. If you’re looking for a lunch bag with excellent warming and cooling capabilities, then this MIER soft cooler tote is ideal. It will carry your meals with ease.

10. Seehonor, Insulated Backpack Cooler for the Beach

Exterior Dimensions: 17.7’’ x 7.9’’ x 13.0’’
Capacity: 30 cans
Weight: 1.6 lbs
Type: Soft

If style is your main concern, then this SEEHONOR insulated backpack is your ideal choice for the beach. You can use it for outdoor events or for carrying your lunch to the office. Its high-quality PEVA liner is hot-pressed to maintain cool temperatures for hours (freeze packs for below 15℃ are included). A heat-sealed, thick foam interior won’t leak and is resistant to odor.

Measuring 17.7’’ x 7.9’’ x 13’’, the SEEHONOR backpack offers a large, 30L capacity for storing sodas, beverages, and snacks in the main compartment. The bag also offers lots of pockets for added space. Keep your small items and accessories in the front two-zipper pocket for quick, easy access. A pocket on either side holds your umbrella or wine bottles, and the lid features an insulated zipper pocket for added storage. Breathable mesh pads at the back prevent sweating, and the cooler is comfortable and lightweight to carry, thanks to adjustable shoulder straps and a convenient handle.

Beach Cooler Buying Guide

It may seem difficult to choose the best beach cooler given the many options available on the market. To make things easier, you can learn about the features and specifications of beach coolers. Insufficient knowledge of what a beach cooler looks like and how it functions can affect your buying decision negatively. You don’t want to invest in the wrong beach cooler. Below, you’ll find major features to consider when buying a cooler.

The Top 9 Things to Consider When Buying Beach Cooler

1. Storage Capacity

   The size of a cooler is the first factor to consider since it determines how much content you will carry. People easily neglect this feature, but interior storage size matters. First, remember that you will be carrying drinks, food, and ice packs (or ice). Therefore, get one with enough to hold all your contents at once. It is always ideal to pick a size that’s larger than your expectations. If there’s more space in the cooler, you can add ice packs to keep your items cooler for longer.

   The number of people using the beach cooler also determines the size you should choose. For a family, two adults and children, a larger (60-quart) rolling cooler is ideal. It will carry your items without limitations. If you’re visiting the beach alone, then a 20-quart beach backpack cooler is enough to carry soda cans and snacks for the trip.

2. Mobility

   Most beaches have remote locations that require you to walk a few miles to get there. Knowing this, you should consider whether your cooler will cause fatigue when you travel to these spots. More often than not, beach coolers with wheels don’t do well on the sandy beaches unless they have big wheels. Since these coolers don’t come with large wheels, you should find an effective way to carry them to the beach. Large rolling coolers for beach are heavy and require you to have a beach car for soft sand to transport them, while medium and small coolers with handles or shoulder straps offer portability and convenience. Also, you can choose a beach backpack cooler to carry on your back. This way, all the weight is evenly distributed for a comfortable carrying experience.

3. Material

   Since you’ll be using your cooler outdoors, pay attention to its construction material. The material determines where and how you can use the cooler. You don’t want a cooler that will melt your ice when the sun shines brightly. So look for a beach cooler that provides maximum insulation under the hot sun. If you want the best insulation, then choose a hard-sided cooler with steel-coated fabric. These types of coolers are capable of keeping your content cool for days, regardless of external temperatures.

   Bags and totes (soft-sided coolers) use an aluminum-based fabric to insulate your items. Their liners feature aluminum fabric that’s best at maintaining interior temperatures in the hot sun. These are ideal for brief visits to the beach are also versatile, since they can keep food warm and drinks cold. You can use them as lunch bags, picnic bags, and more.

   The material in the cooler also plays a big role in how long you’ll use it. Hard-sided coolers offer unmatched insulation that lasts for years. Soft-sided coolers, on the other hand, will only last a few years since the insulation tends to wear off easily. You can choose a beach cooler based upon how many years you plan to use and the material used to construct cooler. Most importantly, you should look at how it will behave when exposed to environmental elements. Neither water nor sand should affect your coolers functions.

4. Chill Time

   The amount of time a cooler keeps the contents cool is also important. Since you are spending time under the sun, you should know how long your drinks or food will stay cold for. The type of insulation in cooler will determine this. If you are planning on staying longer at the beach, then you should choose a cooler with thick insulation. This type of insulation will keep your contents chilled for hours or even days because it has great ice retention performance. Soft-sided is only best for a few hours since they have a thinner lining.

5. Accessibility

   While at the beach, you tend to grab a drink or a snack more frequently to hydrate and re-energize the body. This means that you will have to keep opening and closing the cooler every now and then. The problem with opening the cooler is that it interferes with the cooling process inside as cold air escapes. Therefore, you should get a cooler box with a wide lid area so that it becomes fast and easy to access your drink. With a narrow lid, you can spend more time finding what you need in the cooler and that means, more cold air is escaping.

   It is ideal to get a cooler with plenty of compartments so that it becomes easier and faster picking what you want. There are coolers that come with mini-access lids to provide extra storage space and also allow you to easily pick a snack. What’s more, you will find that others offer plenty of pockets to store the items that don’t require insulation. These ones are easily accessible.

6. Additional features

   Different brands are producing cooler boxes and bags to suit various occasions. And since they are plenty of options on the market, they strive to keep up with the competition. They do this by adding extra features on their models to stand out from the rest. You will find some cooler boxes have lids with cup holders to avoid spills. Also, there are those that provide cleaning convenience with an easy to access spout to drain liquid without tilting the cooler. What’s more, a lid with waterproof and UV guard allows you to use the beach cooler for longer. There are so many other features that make a cooler box for the beach unique. Just ensure to look for practical features that make your work easier.

7. Price

   The price of beach coolers varies from model and brand. There are plenty of options available on the market offering an affordable price range and still work well. However, the high-end coolers are a good investment since they provide durable performance and are easy to maintain. What’s more, the premium options are reliable with additional features that make them prestigious and outstanding.

8. Cleaning

   Cleaning a cooler is not an easy task. It involves lifting it to drain water and all those things you do while cleaning any item. To avoid such trouble, you should specifically look for a beach cooler that is extremely easy to clean. Hard-sided cooler boxes offer easy cleaning convenience but the soft-sided ones with plenty of compartments are much harder. However, not all of them are hard to clean. There are some that have removable liners to make the task easily doable. To reduce the intensity of cleaning, ensure you have a full cooler to reduce spills.

How do Beach Coolers Work?

While at the beach during the summer, it is important to have a cold drink every now and then. Also, as the sun hits your foodstuff, it takes away the freshness. That is why having a beach cooler to chill your contents is most ideal. However, most people don’t know what happens in the cooler for it to keep your items cold. Here, we will enlighten you on the process that takes place in the cooler for you to have an idea and use it better. There are soft-sided and hard-sided coolers which all function differently to achieve the same goal; keeping contents cold.

Hard-sided beach coolers for sand feature complex materials in their construction that provide maximum insulation in the interior while resisting shock. Here, they can either use steel-based fabrics or aluminum as they are best at insulating. The walls will trap cold air to maintain the coolness for a long period of time. This cold air comes from either freeze packs or ice gel packs and the wall creates a barrier that prevents the air from escaping to the outside. That is why when you place your items in the cooler, you will still find them cold even after some time.

Soft-sided coolers work differently as they include a waterproof material on the outside and an insulating layer on the inside. This layer maintains the internal cold temperature so that your items stay chilled for some time. To achieve this, the layer should either have an aluminum lining or any other insulating materials. The lining should be extremely tight so that the outside temperatures don’t affect the internal air. Also, the seams, zippers and even lids should feature a special fabric in order to increase the insulation.

You should know that the coolers will not keep your contents chilled for long. What they can do is to extend the time you want them cold. You can achieve this by using plenty of ice in the cooler to ensure a longer ice life. Also, before you place your items in the cooler, make sure that it is at room temperature for a whole day. After this, you can pre-chill it, although it’s not compulsory, to prepare it for the task at hand. The best thing to do before packing all your items in the cooler is to remove them straight from the refrigerator. Once you have all your items ready in the cooler, fill the remaining spaces with ice because cold air will drop.

Another way to increase ice retention is to keep the cooler away from the sun. You place it in a tent or leave it in the car to have your items chilled for long. When the ice melts while your items are still in the cooler, it is advisable not to drain the water. This is because the water will maintain a cold temperature more than air. If all is said and done, avoid opening the lid frequently. Every time you open the lid, you let cold air escape to the outside environment. This greatly reduces the chill time of your cooler.

Soft-Sided vs Hard-Sided Coolers

As you have seen, there are two types of coolers available on the market. They both work to produce similar results but they differ in how they function. You can choose the cooler you want depending on the purpose and how long you want to keep your items cold.

You can use soft-sided coolers on a daily basis for different activities as they are highly functional and versatile. This means that aside from carrying your drinks and food to the beach, it can also carry other stuff to other places. Hard coolers, on the other hand, perform on specific events since they feature a rugged body and are heavier. You can either use them for beach purposes or road trips involving vehicles. Soft coolers will provide portability convenience since they feature a softer fabric in their construction. They are lightweight and most of them come with straps to enable easy carrying.

Since hard coolers are bulky given their rugged design and shape, it becomes quite difficult to store them. You will require more space to store it since a hard cooler doesn’t collapse. Conversely, a soft-sided cooler is collapsible and provide greater storage convenience. When empty, you simply fold it into a compact pack to occupy lesser storage space.

Hard coolers are great at retaining ice for long because of their high-performance insulation. Their insulation is thicker compared to the soft-sided counterparts. This means that they will keep contents chilled for longer. Soft-sided has a much narrower lining that doesn’t match up to the thick insulation in the hard coolers. Therefore, they will retain ice for like six hours utmost. There are some hard-sided coolers that have ice retention of up to 10 days.

Soft coolers are lighter; therefore, they occupy very little compared to the hard coolers. With soft-sided coolers, you can only carry drinks and small amounts of food. While this may be true, hard coolers have a generous capacity. You can carry everything you need at once. Luckily, the hard-sided coolers come in a variety of sizes for you to choose one depending on your needs.

Hard coolers are more durable than soft-sided counterparts. This is mainly because of the material used in making them which is rotomolded plastic. The material in hard coolers, as the name suggests, is rugged and resilient. It features a design that withstands all external effects. Soft-sided, on the other hand, will only last you through a few uses. They are built with softer materials that are susceptible to harsh external conditions.

Best Beach Cooler Comparison Chart

PRODUCT	PRICE	EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS	CAPACITY	WEIGHT	TYPE
yETI Roadie 20 Cooler	$$$$	14,5" X 19" X 13,75"	14 Cans	15 lbs	Hard
gloo Ice Cube, Rolling Beach Cooler Cart	$$$$	20" x 18.5" x 20.7"	90 cans	12.2 lbs	Hard
Coleman 42-Can Soft Beach Cooler with Wheels	$$$	21.3" x 12.6" x 11.4"	42 cans	2,2 lbs	Soft
Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series Marine, Portable Cooler	$$$$	36.8 x 19.3 x 18.75"	204 cans	25 lbs	Hard
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze, Zipperless, Hardbody Beach Cooler	$$$	20" x 13" x 12.5"	48 cans	4.3 lbs	Soft
YETI Hopper Flip, Portable Cooler	$$$$	11,5" x 8" x 10,5"	8 cans	2.8 lbs	Soft
CleverMade SnapBasket Beach Cooler Tote Bag	$$	18.25" x 12.25" x 12"	50 cans	2 lbs	Soft
Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler with Removable Liner	$	12.20 x 6.69 x 12.20"	16 cans	1.8 lbs	Soft
MIER 24-Can, Large Capacity, Soft Cooler Tote	$	11.02” x 7.87” x 10.24”	24 cans	1 lbs	Soft
SEEHONOR Insulated Backpack Cooler for the Beach	$$	17.7’’ x 7.9’’ x 13.0’’	30 cans	1.6 lbs	Soft

Wrap up

Beach coolers are great tools to have especially during the summer period. They will keep your contents cool and fresh for hours and even days. This will, in turn, make your stay at the beach fun and enjoyable. Apart from carrying your food and drinks, there are beach coolers that come with numerous pockets to hold your accessories and other valuables. In addition, some also include bottle openers to make your work easier.

This article features some of the best beach coolers available on the market today that come at a great price. Each one of them offers different features for you to select the one that matches your exact needs. Since finding a cooler isn’t as easy, these beach cooler reviews provide you with all the necessary information to start you off. You will not regret buying a beach cooler since it’s the perfect companion for keeping your body hydrated and energized.

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