Layer strategically Put things you need last at the bottom, so when you go rummaging in the bag, it's for the shortest amount of time possible. While we wouldn’t recommend it for extended hikes, this cooler outperformed its price point for an extended weekend in and out of the car and hanging around outside. We also found that the chest strap, which is not adjustable, is placed too low for busty women, so beware.

One of our favorite details about YETI is the tenacity and smoothness of the exterior material including with the Hopper M12. This stuff is so easy to wipe down after getting smudges, too. And we love the grab handle, which is super comfortable and wide to grip. Those shoulder straps are supportive and clean-cut, too. Throw the cooler in the freezer: Cool your cooler. Starting with a chilled cooler means there is one less thing for your ice to chill. Claims on how long they keep your food cool for vary from product to product, from a few hours to several days. The roomy design will hold everything, though it’s heavy. The padded shoulder straps and hefty waist belt are nice, but we found it challenging to carry the cooler comfortably. We wish the straps were adjustable or the waist belt were removable. Testers noted that the hip belt sat too high for comfort. The best cool bags are leakproof and easy to clean. The worst leak. Some have water dripping out in a matter of seconds and are impossible to clean, as spills soak into the bag. ComfortWays to keep your family living costs down, and kids of all ages happy Get our Family newsletter – it's free monthly With a sturdy base and durable all-around construction, this cooler is easy to drag in and out of the car and through the dirt and sand, and it’s easy to clean. We also loved the bright orange interior which made it easy to see what’s hidden at the bottom.

The best cool bags are solid and durable; the worst have the exterior casing rip after only one strong tug. We also performed a controlled in-house ice retention test to verify brand claims. For the experiment, we filled each cooler 70% with fresh, frozen cubed ice and set them in a shaded, dry indoor space at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This design is lightweight, simple, and sustainable. Made of recycled materials, it’s durable and easy to clean. The bottom is textured and rigid enough to stand up on the beach or uneven ground. The inside is shiny, like a whitewater raft, and rinses out clean. We appreciate the minimal seams in this cylindrical design and secure strap attachments. To replicate getting bits in and out of the bag, we open and close it at regular intervals throughout the test.All the cool bags we tested so far perform decently, but the best ones keep water cool all day, whereas in the worst, the water is closer to room temperature by the end. Leakproof

The strong exterior is waterproof 1,000-denier tarpaulin, a tenacious material used for crash pads. Other coolers we’ve tested have been made with layers of high-density superfoam plus a lightweight heat-reflective material around the exterior. But that material isn’t as strong. The Food Standards Agency recommends you keep your fridge set at 5°C, so that cold food stays at around 8°C. You'll want to keep your bag below 5°C, especially if you have perishables, for as long as you want to keep eating and drinking stuff from the bag.No small accessory, the RTIC 30 is also huge. If you’re hanging out with a crowd or headed out for a full weekend, this cooler can handle the load. We loved this cooler for car camping, hanging out at a park or the beach, or anything around the water. The waterproof zipper is truly leakproof, plus the whole thing floats! Even after opening this cooler frequently, our food stayed cool all weekend long. However, in direct sunlight, the cooler gets hot to the touch.