Best Backpack Coolers in 2021

Is your primary goal to have an epic weekend? If so, you’ll need to pack some of the good stuff. IceMule Pro Backpack Cooler can hold up to 18 standard 12oz cans, or 20 liters of space otherwise. Insulated dry bag design means you won’t be shaking the water off from your pack, or from the back of your shirt. One concern—which we’ll t ouch on in our buying guide—is comfort. If you’re going to pack heavy, you’ll be putting stress on your shoulders for long hours during a hike. You want to ensure there’s excellent comfort, and IceMule’s padded straps give you comfort when it’s needed most.

The king of outdoors is Coleman—they make just about everything you could ever want for the perfect camping trip or hike. They wasted no time hopping on the backpack cooler scene. Soft Backpack Cooler comes in with slightly lower storage capabilities from our top model on the list, but it’s made of more lightweight material. If you’re packing light, packing ice, and packing up for the weekend, you’d better remember your buddy Coleman.

Igloo’s been one of those brands that have graced backyard barbeques for decades, and they’ve made a portable way to enjoy ice-cold food and drink on the go. Marine Square Backpack Cooler comes with an extremely comfortable set of straps, so your heavy cargo doesn’t leave marks on your shoulder. Stain-resistant and odor-resistant, this model is the perfect companion to a solo weekend out on the lake with a fishing rod, or a hike in the hills with a few good friends. Either way, it’s what you make out of it. Wouldn’t you want to pop down an Igloo anywhere you go?

Function meets flair—with over five styles/colors to choose from and a 20-can capacity (plus ice), you’re ready to rock and roll with OAGear Backpack Cooler. For the lowest cost on our list, you can go from work to play in a snap. Leave the office and hit the beach with your mates, or hit the train and head out of town on a whim. The choice is yours, but one thing you can’t be caught without is a prime cooler backpack. With adjustable, comfortable straps, external pockets for snacks, and a non-leak liner, what have you got to lose?

Do you go heavy duty in every single aspect of your life? If you burn through though your apparel quickly, then you know how crucial it is to have material that’s going to last. That’s especially true for your cooler backpack—it’s going to hold an immense weight while bouncing on your back through the hiking trail. Mojecto High Capacity comes with heavy duty 1680D fabric (tear proof), comes with multiple pockets and zippers to store smaller items/snacks, and fits comfortably on your shoulders.

If you’re all about additional store, you’ll find plenty of pockets and ample space in the main compartment of DA Gear’s Royal Cooler. Mesh pockets allow you to store small snacks, while other compartments allow you to store your phone with ease. Go hiking or has a cold drink on the commute home with this no-leak interior liner, or pack up hot food to enjoy throughout the day. It’s all up to how you use it, because this pack is ready for anything.

Igloo’s been around for ages thanks to their fantastic seal and ability to keep your favorite food and drinks cold for days. It’s all in the title—this slender vertical pack is designed to go with you and keep you prepared for anything. Carry your EDC pouch in the external pocket, and utilize the padded compartment to safely store a tablet or small laptop/phone. Straps fit comfortably.

The Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 is built for one thing only – carrying enough food and drink to sustain you on any adventure. Whether you’re trekking up a mountain, heading to the beach, or heading to a tailgate party, this backpack is the best way to keep your beer and snacks cool. Sure, it’s expensive, but the quality speaks for itself. The inside of the bag is insulated with closed-cell rubber foam. Yeti calls this technology Coldcell Insulation and it works so much better than cheap coolers. The contents of your bag will stay cool for hours, if not days. 

The large interior is big enough to hold 20 cans with a 2:1 can to ice ratio. All of those beers are going to be pretty heavy, which is why the large padded straps and waist belt are so important. Designed like a hiking backpack, you can carry drinks for your whole crew without breaking your back. Another important feature is the Hydrolok Zipper, which is, in Yeti’s words: “the toughest, highest-performing waterproof and leakproof cooler zipper in the world”. If you want the best cooler backpack on the market, the Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 is pretty hard to beat. 

This next cooler backpack is a more affordable option, designed to keep your drinks and snacks cool for around half a day. There’s enough interior space for 30 (330ml) cans and it’s lined with high-density insulation material. However, we wouldn’t recommend carrying a heavy load like that because the straps aren’t designed to take it. The TOURIT Cooler Backpack is more suited to carry a six-pack, some snacks, and a couple of bottles of water. 

On the outside of the bag, there are three mesh pockets and three zippered pockets. That means you can keep your valuables and anything else you don’t want to get cold, without taking another backpack. It also has a bottle opener integrated into the strap, so you can always open a cold one when you need to. 

The problem with most cooler backpacks is that they look like… coolers. Who wants to head to a beach party with a large cooler strapped to your back. The Carhartt 2-in-1 Insulated Cooler Backpack allows you to be a bit more clandestine. You can rock up with a normal looking backpack, then become everyone’s best friend when you pull out the ice-cold beers. 

Despite looking like a normal backpack, it has a pretty innovative design. The backpack splits into two parts, revealing a large main compartment and an insulated base compartment to store your beers. It’s also got a couple of mesh pockets on either side of the backpack.