Packing a cooler should give you the same anticipatory buzz as packing for a trip, and just as you wouldn’t take a rolling duffel for an overnight getaway, you have to pick the best cooler for your beach, hiking, or camping excursions. There are tons of options when it comes to coolers—hard sided, mini coolers, wheeled options, backpack styles—and the right one for you depends on where you’ll take it and what you’ll fill it with. Whether you’re planning a week-long excursion or just soaking up some sun for the day, there’s a cooler that will keep both you and your provisions chilled out.Best CoolersBest Overall: Yeti Roadie 48 Best Budget: Ozark Trail High-Performance CoolerBest Soft Cooler: RTIC Everyday Soft CoolerBest Wheeled Cooler: Igloo Trailmate Journey Wheeled CoolerBest Backpack Cooler: IceMule Pro CoolerWhat to Consider A cooler has to cool.Any brand can make promises about the proprietary technology it uses to keep things cold, but most popular cooler companies use the same methods for keeping things insulated. Hard coolers rely on thick, roto-molded plastic walls injected with open or closed cell foam to reduce heat conduction, while soft coolers use coated polyurethane or Mylar to reflect heat.How much are you going to pack in your cooler?Capacity is the biggest determining factor when buying a cooler. For instance, if you want a cooler to take to the beach or to tailgates, you probably don’t need one that’s 70 liters and meant to hold a week’s worth of food and water (though if your plans are with a large group, you’ll probably want about 50 liters). Soft coolers are great for keeping groceries cold mid-transit or bringing beverages to the park for a couple of hours. Soft-sided cooler bags also make great lunch boxes. Durability is a given, but keep an eye out for portability features.High-end hard coolers are often roto-molded, which refers to the plastic manufacturing process that creates coolers without seams or stress points, making them extremely durable. The process also gives these coolers a smooth, premium look and finish. Roto-molding only affects durability—coolers that aren’t roto-molded have the same insulation performance. If you prioritize durability or are particularly hard on your gear, you should look for a roto-molded cooler.Look for user-friendly details, too: A periscopic handle made of aluminum or heavy-duty plastic, oversized wheels for easy hauling, and lids with sturdy hinges will make your cooler more durable and easier to use. How We Selected and TestedWe took into consideration coolers we’ve used firsthand, as well as consulted with our test team to make sure we understood what makes a good cooler, great. We called in some of the most promising products and put them to use to get a feel for their insulation, durability, and ease of use. We also noted models that had unique features such as extra storage compartments and included accessories. Our list includes a range of durable, highly-insulated coolers that serve a variety of adventures across price points. I've personally tested a handful of these coolers and used them for beach weekends and going to the park in Brooklyn. I can speak to how easy they are to transport and how well they kept cans cold on a sweltering summer day. Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler Yeti’s Tundra cooler may be its best known hard cooler but the Roadie deserves equal—if not more—attention. The Roadie 48 cooler has the same insulating capabilities as other Yeti coolers and adds all-terrain wheels and a periscopic handle to make this a great companion for camping, roadtrips, and outdoor gatherings.I used it for a Memorial Day weekend on Bolivar Peninsula, where you have to bring everything with you as grocery stores are scarce. We packed three days worth of both food and drinks into this and a small personal cooler—and we’re a large Mexican family, so this is no easy feat. The extra height on this cooler allowed it to fit stacked containers of barbacoa and queso, a carton of 18 eggs on top, several bags of sliced watermelon, and still have some room left for water and beer. The all-terrain wheels make it easy to roll through the sandy beach and it’s built sturdy enough to serve as a stool when you’re low on seating. The integrated handles make it easy to lift out of the trunk and save a bit of space when packing the car—we slid our tent, bags, and other stuff next to the cooler without worrying about awkward handles. It came with a dry basket that helped to keep things like fruit or prepared foods organized and easily accessible throughout the day. The quick drain plug made it easy to empty at the end of the weekend, and all you need is soap and water to clean it before air drying.This thing is built to be pretty indestructible, but it doesn’t have Yeti’s famous bear-proof latch closures like you’ll find on the Tundra series. Still, the latches are easy for adults to open and hard enough to keep my nieces and nephew out, which was all we really needed. Pro Cooler The Pro Cooler was our number one pick for the best backpack coolers because of its sturdy construction, ergonomic design, and—of course—its insulating capability. There’s no zipper to hassle with or potentially snag and break, and the bag is collapsible for easy stowing in cars or with your other camping gear. There’s a sternum strap to distribute weight easily when toting a full load and the mesh shoulder straps are padded for breathability and comfort. It floats, so it’s ideal for tubing and rafting trips, and will hold up to 24 cans with ice. There aren’t extra pockets but the external bungee straps can cinch down to hold bottles, water shoes, or a small dry bag. Pro Premium Hard Cooler Coleman's new Pro cooler is roto-molded but lighter than other options in the same size. The thick walls and lid keep contents insulated, and the dual handles make it easy to move.I'm impressed at how lightweight this cooler is compared to other plastic coolers. At just under 20 pounds empty, I can fill it up with ice packs, drinks and food and still stay under 50 pounds. The dual handles are convenient as well: I use the integrated handles if I'm carrying it by myself, and the strap handles to carry with a friend over longer distances. The oversized drain plug empties water fast and I don't worry about losing the screw cap since it's so big. The latch is easy to open and close with one hand, though it may be the first component to wear out. The bar that secures it shut is quite thin though it is made of stainless steel. I'm excited to further test the Coleman this summer. Everyday Soft-Sided Cooler RTIC’s Everyday cooler is good for day trips, golfing, or even keeping groceries cold while you run errands. It collapses into its semi-rigid top for compact storage so it’s great to keep on-hand in the car or toolbox of your truck bed. It has multiple zip pockets on both the inside and outside to stash napkins, utensils, or condiment packets.The bottom has a water-resistant coating so it can handle slick docks and boat decks, and the nylon construction makes it durable, yet lightweight. Its zipper isn’t leakproof and the brand suggests only using it with ice packs, but customers didn’t have any spilling issues as long as they kept it upright.The interior is waterproof, so condensation won’t leak through the bottom. Its size and capacity also make for a great lunch bag. Trailmate Journey Wheeled Cooler The Journeyman is a large-capacity cooler that’s packed with features to keep provisions cold and your crew comfortable. Oversized wheels and skid rails give it a high ground clearance so it’s easy to haul over any terrain. These also keep the cooler off the ground which can help keep contents cool since it won’t be sitting on hot sand or dirt.The periscopic handle sits horizontally to make pulling the cooler easier when it’s full. It has a dry storage compartment at the front for electronics or wallets, plus bottle openers on the sides. There are two sturdy pole slots at the back to hold a beach umbrella or fishing rods and tie-down hooks on the sides to make bungeeing such equipment on top.One of the handier features is the butler tray that attaches to the front to hold your food and drinks; when not in use it stows neatly into the lid of the cooler so you can always have it on hand and at the ready. Four self-draining cup holders on the lid also serve as an extra table-top space, and a food basket is also included to keep contents organized.Igloo’s Journeyman is a large cooler that’s long on features that are meant to keep a party going. If you prefer a large capacity cooler with less frills consider the brand’s Latitude model. Insulated Tote Cooler This tote cooler is as functional as it is stylish—it can hang on a golf cart, pack up for beach and park days, or live in the trunk for groceries. The freestanding design keeps the opening easily accessible and the durable straps have a long enough drop-length to comfortably carry in your hands or over your shoulder.The coated PU fabric construction makes it durable, waterproof, and easy to wipe clean. The interior is fully lined so you can use this with ice packs or ice—note there’s no drain spout but the manageable size makes it easy to dump out.The exterior zip pocket is a nice bit of storage to have your keys and phone easily accessible. The capacity is enough for day-long ventures to pack food and drinks but don’t expect to carry a campsite’s worth of food in this. The tall height allows for longneck bottles, and 16-ounce cans but you still need to lay down a standard size wine bottle. We were able to pack two Nalgene bottles, a six pack, and snacks for my four-year-old nephew who crushes berries like you’ve never seen.