Take Your Picnic On the Road With the Best Backpack Coolers

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Backpack coolers are essential warm-weather gear for anyone keen on day-tripping or camping. Unless you’re heading into the wilderness for a week, you can get by with a soft cooler strapped to your back to carry everything from cans of soda and bottles of wine to a packed lunch.

They’re ideal for afternoons at the park or beach, short hikes, or overnights in the woods since they can hold a lot and are easy to carry. To get the best use out of your backpack cooler, you should consider how it’s constructed, whether it’ll be comfortable to wear, and how you should pack it. Strategic packing maximizes what you can carry and ergonomic straps prevent back strain while carrying it.

Whether you need a large-capacity sack for a family of four or want a stylish option for a picnic, here are our recommendations for the best backpack coolers for a range of activities.

For more recommendations, check out our coverage of the best coolers for any outdoor activity and the best coolers for camping.

Best Backpack Coolers

• Best Overall: IceMule Pro Large Collapsible Backpack Cooler

• Best Budget: Tourit Lightweight Backpack Cooler

• Best Splurge: Yeti Hopper M12

• Best Value: IceMule Jaunt Backpack Cooler

• Most Versatile: Pelican Dayventure

What to Consider

How to Pack a Cooler

How you pack a backpack cooler can make a big difference in how long it lasts you. For starters, you can get a jump on your ice retention by chilling the cooler before using it. Having a cold bag helps keep the ice intact for longer periods of time. Next, instead of ice cubes (which melt quickly), add ice packs. These solid chunks of frozen liquid take more time to melt than cubes. Finally, pack in layers. Between each layer of food or drink, add more ice packs as dividers. Keep the beverages towards the bottom of the bag so they don’t make the rest of the items soggy inside.

Insulation and Construction

Backpack coolers use lightweight insulation instead of the layers of foam you find on hard coolers. They use lightweight insulation that is only millimeters thick to cut down on bulk. They efficiently insulate for a day or so, but don’t expect them to have the same cold retention as hard coolers.

Construction features like welded seams and waterproof zippers prevent leaking when ice melts or condensation forms in the cooler. Welded seams are bonded using heat instead of being sewn, creating a waterproof seal. Taped zippers create a waterproof barrier that prevents any leaking from a closed lid. Some of our picks use a roll-top closure that creates a waterproof barrier.

Ergonomics

While the main goal of backpack coolers is keeping things cold, still consider the features you’d look for when shopping for an everyday backpack. Backpack straps and back panels made of mesh allow for breathability and help prevent the back sweat you get on summer days. An adjustable sternum strap provides extra support if you’re carrying a heavy load.

Also consider the backpack’s height. The Pelican Dayventure is a spacious option but on the taller side, so if you have a shorter torso, it won’t be comfortable to wear. We list the dimensions and weight of each backpack cooler to give you an idea of how they’ll fit on your back.

How We Selected

Along with combing through countless user reviews for backpack coolers, we dug into our own testing results on soft coolers. Our selection includes options for a variety of activities, with picks across price points from value-added to high-end. We also looked at extra features that make these recommendations comfortable and durable—things like the number of outer pockets, padded shoulder straps, and top handles to switch up carrying options. We called in products with promising features to test out how comfortable and user-friendly they were.

Pro Large Collapsible Backpack Cooler

The Pro Large backpack cooler is perfect for any activity near or even on the water. It’s collapsible and deflates like an inner tube so it’s easy to roll up for transport or storage. Its roll-top design is completely waterproof, with no zippers to snag or break, and it serves as a convenient handle. It fits up to 18 cans with ice and if it falls off the boat and into the water, don’t fret—it floats!

The exterior is made of a heavy-duty 1000-denier tarpaulin fabric—similar to tarps you see on 18 wheelers—that’s extremely durable and waterproof. Along with the welded seams and no zippers, it won’t leak as ice melts and rarely forms condensation.

A standout feature is the IceMule’s air valve which allows you to add air into its layer of insulation once after it’s packed and closed— though you don’t want so much air that you’re limiting capacity. The valve also releases air so you can roll the bag tight to store or pack.

There are two padded mesh shoulder straps along with a sternum strap to help distribute the weight when the backpack cooler is full. The cinchable bungee straps at the front are a bonus for holding small accessories or oddly-shaped items. They easily hold a rolled up pack towel or extra pair of shorts.

Lightweight Backpack Cooler

This backpack cooler is durable, versatile, and—best of all—affordable. It’s made from rugged 600-denier polyester and has welded seams to prevent leaking, though the zippers aren’t leakproof so it’s best to keep it upright.

It’s ideal for camping trips, sports games, and other outdoor pursuits, with a 30-can capacity. At the top you’ll find a wide zipper for easy loading and packing, plus two side mesh pockets, a slip pocket on the shoulder for a phone, and a handy bottle opener.

Hopper M12 Backpack Cooler

The Hopper M12 is a spacious backpack cooler with excellent ice retention that’s comfortable to haul. The mesh shoulder straps are padded and breathable, and there’s a mesh panel on the entire back of the backpack. It’s rigid and stands up when it’s on the ground, meaning you don’t have to fumble around to find the opening and fish out what you want. The tradeoff is that the bag has some bulk to it even when empty.

It has a magnetized closure that rolls over and buckles to keep things cold and leakproof. Admittedly I was skeptical about the magnetic seal, but I’ve never had an issue. Drinks stay ice cold even after a day’s worth of being out and about. It also has welded seams to prevent leaks.

There’s a large slot pocket on the front—I usually put my phone and wallet in it if I’m biking–and the multiple daisy chains on the front and sides are good for clipping my water bottle. The straps are comfortable even when the cooler is fully loaded; I only use the sternum strap when I’m on my bike.

The M12 is perfect for beach days and park hangs though you would probably want the M20 for larger groups. I’ve used both and the M20 performs just as well—only difference is it has a handle on both sides for easier hauling and it doesn’t have a pocket on the front.

Jaunt Backpack Cooler

The IceMule Jaunt is another bag we put through testing, and it came out on top as a great choice for day trips. It has a nine-liter capacity, which equates to roughly fifteen 12-ounce cans, and a roll-top that secures with a buckle.

It’s completely watertight—it didn’t leak when we filled it with a gallon of water and held it upside down. Like our Best Overall pick, the Jaunt’s coolest features is the air intake valve: Blow it up to create a barrier between the inner liner and outer shell to boost insulation.

There aren’t a lot of outer pockets, which may be a dealbreaker for some as there’s little space for additional storage.

Dayventure Cooler Backpack

The Dayventure has an insulated main compartment as well as a structured insulated compartment at the base. The molded base means it’ll stay upright when on the ground for easy access to drinks, plus there’s a small pocket at the front for extra gear.

The bag is completely waterproof with bonded seams, a waterproof zipper, and roll-down top closure. Its exterior is constructed of coated 840-denier TPU, a rubber-like plastic that’s abrasion- and water-resistant so it’ll handle any rough trek.

It has breathable mesh straps and a sternum strap for extra support, and the two mesh panels on the upper and lower back help keep you from getting too hot.

The ability to organize food, drinks, and a bit of extra gear makes this bag ideal for a range of activities. However, it’s on the tall side, so people with shorter torsos may find it uncomfortable to wear. It also feels awkward if you’re hunched over biking for a long period of time.

Chillout Backpack Cooler

Backpack coolers can be expensive, however, there are affordable options out there like this one from RTIC. With a fully insulated cooler compartment, this backpack—which really looks and fits like a normal backpack—can hold up to 24 cans whether that’s for a baseball game, beach day, or hike.

There are two front pockets suitable for holding other daily essentials like towels, bathing suits, or rain jackets without mixing in with the contents of the bag. Plus, the bag has a moisture-wicking back panel so you’ll feel comfortable even if the cooler (or your back) starts to sweat.

Carry Out Backpack Cooler

The Cary Out has a 600-denier polyester fabric that’s durable and is DWR-coated for water-resistance. The lid and base are molded so have a rigid shape that won’t collapse as you empty the cooler throughout the day.

Its cylindrical shape fits cans, bottles, and food with extra storage on the outside. The large exterior pockets stretch to fit a 32-ounce water bottles or any other extra gear you may need. The backpack straps have mesh for breathability but the back panel doesn’t so you might get hot if you’re hauling this down the beach on a hot day. However, the backpack starps stow away into the back panel which is a nice feature if you prefer to tote it around by the handles instead.

Senior Director of SEO, Erica Murphy, uses this cooler for picnics and beach outings and says the shape of the Carry Out is helpful when packing.

“Overall I’ve been happy with the cooling capabilities—I feel like it lasts a full day.” she says. She isn’t a fan of the zipper, however.

“It’s just really hard to use,” she says, “but [the cooler] does do a solid job at leak protection.”

Backpack Cooler

Maelstrom’s backpack cooler has ample functional storage throughout and a main compartment with well-padded insulation. In terms of overall design, if you prefer a cooler that looks more like a regular backpack, this one is a good choice.

It fits up to 32 cans and can even fit full-sized wine bottles. The front pocket has velcro straps to hold small plates and elastic bands to hold utensils and small condiment bottles.

The spacious water bottle holders on both sides are cinchable and one side has an extra strap to secure taller bottles. There’s a small zip pocket on the outside of the lid and an extra mesh pocket on the inside to hold small items you want to keep cool.

The backpack’s mesh straps are breathable and there’s an attached bottle opener on the right one. There’s also a mesh panel on the lower back to keep you cool and comfortable.

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