The 7 Best Small Coolers for Everything From Picnics to Camping
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No need for an oversized ice chest when a small cooler fits your outdoor needs.
Food & Wine / Jhett Thompson
Whether it's a picnic, tailgate, or simply a long car ride, a cooler is an excellent idea — you can keep snacks, drinks, and other perishables cold until you need them. When a family-sized ice chest is too much and an insulated lunch bag isn’t enough, a small cooler can be just right. Small coolers come in a variety of sizes and materials, from soft-sided totes to durable, bear-proof trunks. Most of these coolers range from around 11 quarts to 24 quarts, big enough to hold at least a dozen soft drink cans plus ice. Drawing on insights from our lab tests, home tests, and knowledge of the market, we rounded up the best small coolers and compared their features, capacities, and insulation.
Best Overall: RTIC 20-Quart Cooler
Pros
The super rugged exterior makes it ideal for camping or hauling to the beach.
Cons
It’s not officially certified as bear-proof, so consider adding a padlock to the corners to keep the container secured if you're camping.
This durable, high-end cooler from RTIC is a fantastic alternative to a Yeti or Pelican cooler, at a better price. The cooler holds up to 24 cans, plus ice, which makes it a good size for a camping trip or an outdoor gathering. Made from rotationally molded plastic, its thick walls ensure contents stay cold for a few days. Testing the larger RTIC Ultra-Light 52-Quart Ice Chest, our pick for the overall best cooler, we found the ice had barely melted after 24 hours. Other features include a drainage spout and a heavy-duty stainless steel handle that locks upright for easy carrying. You can also use it as a seat, with the option to purchase a seat cushion separately.
Price at time of publish: $180
Capacity: 20 quarts
Weight: 19 pounds
Dimensions: 20 x 15 x 11.75 inches
Best Value: Coleman Chiller 16-Quart Cooler
Pros
This cooler is easy to clean and can carry a fair amount of food or drink without becoming too heavy.
Cons
The lid doesn’t latch as securely or hold cold as well as more expensive models.
This 16-quart cooler by Coleman is a wallet-friendly option that keeps its design simple but functional. It can hold up to 11 drink cans along with eight pounds of ice, keeping items cold throughout the day. The lid flips open for easy access and the large handle makes it pretty easy to maneuver with one hand. Because of its less elaborate construction, this cooler doesn’t have the same cold insulation as some of its pricier competitors, but it does a great job for the price — it would do great for picnics, tailgate parties, or even as a work lunchbox.
Price at time of publish: $23
Capacity: 16 quarts
Weight: 3.6 pounds
Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.7 x 8.2 inches
Related: The Best Ice Buckets for Wine Lovers and Party Hosts
Best Splurge: YETI Hopper Flip 12 Portable Soft Cooler
Pros
This cooler is lightweight and roomy enough for up to a case of drink cans plus ice. It’s also leakproof and resistant to abrasions and punctures.
Cons
The strap could benefit from more padding, and we've found the zipper difficult to open at times.
Yeti coolers tend to come with a hefty price tag, but they stand out in our tests for quality and performance. This 12-quart cooler is made from high-density fabric that withstands scratches and punctures and is also totally waterproof. The zipper, the same kind on survival suits, offers airtight closures, and our tests have confirmed Yeti's claim it's leakproof. Fit up to 12 drink cans (plus ice) and keep everything cool for days, thanks to rubber foam insulation. The shoulder strap makes lugging it around easy. Food & Wine editor Daniel Modlin brings his Yeti Hopper to the park and grocery store, among other places. "This is the only cooler you’ll ever need," he says. Finally, the entire unit is easy to clean with mild dish soap and water, so it can handle plenty of outdoor use.
Price at time of publish: $200
Capacity: 12 quarts
Weight: 3.1 pounds
Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 11 inches
Food & Wine / Yeti
Best Rolling: Igloo Latitude 16-Quart Rolling Cooler
Pros
This affordable, lightweight cooler is the perfect size for poolside drinks or to bring to a sporting event.
Cons
You’ll need to prep the cooler by pre-cooling it before filling it with food, drinks, and ice.
Many rolling coolers only come in large sizes, so this 16-quart hard cooler is a rare find. It’s ideal for anyone who wants the maneuverability of a roller with the compact silhouette of a small cooler to hold just enough food and drink for a few people. The telescoping handle tucks away easily when not in use, and the molded side handles make loading or unloading from your trunk easy. One caveat — this type of cooler needs to be prepped before use. The manufacturer recommends bringing it indoors and filling it with ice for a few hours to let the container cool, then adding fresh ice and your perishables for optimum performance.
Price at time of publish: $24
Capacity: 16 quart
Weight: 6.3 pounds
Dimensions: 12 x 14 x 13.5 inches
Best Backpack: Hydro Flask Escape Soft Cooler
Pros
This watertight cooler holds about two dozen cans with ice for up to 36 hours. It’s also tall enough to accommodate wine bottles.
Cons
The opening is tight, which can be an obstacle for getting larger items in and out.
A backpack-style cooler lets you keep your hands free and is the ideal vessel to keep drinks cold when trekking out to your favorite chill spot. After testing 23 backpack coolers, we named this sporty, streamlined Hydro Flask model the Best Overall. Designed for durability, it's made out of rugged, waterproof nylon and outfitted with lightweight insulation that keeps items cold for up to 36 hours. In our tests, we found that this backpack resisted damage and leaking even when knocked over, while the contents inside remained intact. Despite the shoulder padding, we found it felt less and less comfortable the longer we wore it. So, comfort is a factor to consider when deciding between a backpack cooler and other styles.
Price at time of publish: $200
Capacity: 24 cans
Weight: 2.6 pounds
Dimensions: 8.5 x 18.5 x 18.1 inches
Food & Wine / Jhett Thompson
Best Tote: Hydro Flask 18L Day Escape Tote
Pros
This soft cooler keeps contents cold for up to 36 hours. It’s leakproof, waterproof, and comes with a detachable crossbody strap for easier carrying.
Cons
It’s on the pricier side.
A tote bag style cooler is a smart option for picnics and long trips, but it can also be nice to have for transporting perishable items from the grocery store or farmers market. Made from durable 600D polyester, this zipper-top bag from Hydro Flask boasts lightweight insulation that keeps things cold for up to 36 hours. This model holds up to 24 cans (without ice) and also comes in a larger 26-liter size that can hold up to 42 cans (without ice). You can also opt to purchase a dry storage accessory that attaches to the front, perfect for utensils and napkins or anything else that doesn’t need to be kept cold. Both sizes have comfortable shoulder straps and a detachable crossbody strap for hands-free carrying, and thanks to its soft build, it’s incredibly easy to store when it’s not in use.
Price at time of publish: $150
Capacity: 18 liters/19 quarts
Weight: 2.4 pounds
Dimensions: 19 x 14 x 8 inches
Best for Wine: Corkcicle Eola Bucket Cooler
Pros
Designed specifically for wine, this backpack can fit up to five bottles. Backpack straps let you keep your hands free to carry other essentials.
Cons
The fabric isn't durable compared to other backpack coolers we tested, and it can leak when tipped over.
Not all coolers can accommodate tall wine bottles, so if you’re looking specifically for one that can keep your rosé or Sauvignon Blanc chilled, the Corcksicle is for you. This sleek backpack cooler comes in an array of colors (in either vegan leather or neoprene) and features a sturdy zipper closure. It has a lightweight food-safe liner that helps keep the cooler ice cold and can act as an ice bucket for you to keep your beverages at the perfect temperature all day long. There’s also a handy zippered accessory pocket for you to stash a wine key. We found it comfortable to wear and easy to pick up during testing. We wish the material held up better, as dropping the bag from a table a few times scuffed it. On the upside, the contents were not damaged.
Price at time of publish: $160
Capacity: 12 cans or 5 wine bottles
Weight: 3 pounds
Dimensions: 14 x 11 x 8.5 inches
Food & Wine / Jhett Thompson
Factors to Consider
Portability
When picking out a cooler, portability is an important factor. Look for easy-to-hold handles that allow you to securely load and unload your cooler. Some coolers have straps that can be worn on the shoulder or crossbody so you can keep your hands free to carry other items. If you don’t want to bear the weight of the cooler on your arms or shoulders, pick a model on wheels for optimum maneuverability.
Material
Hard-sided coolers should be made of durable plastic — thicker, commercial-grade polyurethane will last longer than thin plastic but will be more expensive. Soft-sided coolers should be made of stain-resistant, durable fabric like high-density nylon or neoprene. If your cooler has a zipper closure, look for a version with a high-quality zipper mechanism and well-made seams that can withstand the rigors of constant opening and closing with the added weight of the cooler’s contents.
Insulation
Insulation will determine how long your cooler actually keeps things cold. Thicker insulation tends to aid in maintaining coolness for up to several days, but you may find these models to be more bulky overall. Conversely, a compact cooler with lots of interior space might have thinner, less efficient insulation (fine if you’re just planning on using a cooler for a few hours).
Frequently Asked Questions
What size are small coolers?
Generally speaking, small coolers run anywhere from 10 to 24 quarts — large enough to hold drinks, food, and ice, but still compact and easily portable.
How do I choose the right size cooler?
Picking a cooler size depends on how much you need to pack. If you’re planning on just carrying lunch to and from a work site, an 11-quart cooler should be totally adequate. If you’re toting food for more than a couple of people, you’ll want to size up, always keeping in mind that you need to leave room for ice or gel freezer packs.
How long does a small cooler stay cold?
This depends on how insulated the cooler is, but you can expect most coolers to stay cold for at least a day. Higher-end models can stay cold for up to three days or longer, depending on the ambient temperature the cooler is kept in.
Our Expertise
Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.
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