The Best Beach Coolers To Keep Essentials Cold On The Hottest Days

Forbes

19-05-2025

There are few better ways to spend long sunny days than at the beach. You can surf, read, play in the sane and, when you have one of the best beach coolers on hand, enjoy your preferred cold beverages and fresh eats, even on the hottest summer days. When you pick the right beach cooler—perhaps our top pick, the RTIC 32-Quart Ultra-Light Cooler—and pack it with enough ice or ice packs, even hours of blazing summer sun won't warm up your food and drink.
The best beach coolers can keep your food and drink safely chilled for hours even in sultry summer ... More weather.
Before selecting the beach coolers featured in this guide, we spoke with experts, consulted Forbes Vetted staffers and relied on our own experiences with many of these models. From the wheeled RovR RollR 45 to the backpack-style Hydro Flask Day Escape, we've got you covered with the best options for a day by the water. Find our recommendations below, along with expert insights and advice to make the buying process a little easier.
RTIC
Weight: 13 pounds | Capacity: 32 quarts | Locking method: Dual rubber latches | Extras: Yes | Warranty: 3 years
The Ultra-Light from RTIC looks like a hefty piece of hardware, but it's surprisingly light at just 13 pounds when empty. And even when you take full advantage of the 32-quart capacity—enough room for 30 pounds of ice, or 48 12-ounce cans—this cooler is still easy to move about. It also packs in some clever features, like a built-in bottle opener, tie-down points and non-skid rubber feet that prevent it from sliding about.
RTIC coolers are known for their rugged reliability, but they tend to show wear more noticeably than other brands we've tested. That said, this is still a durable and highly efficient cooler with rock-solid insulation, so if you don't mind that it picks up scrapes and scratches, it's a lifetime purchase that will keep goods cold no matter how many days you spend at the beach
Amazon
Weight: 8.7 pounds | Capacity: 52 quarts | Locking method: N/A | Extras: Yes | Warranty: 1 year
Coleman's Classic Series Hard Cooler proves you don't have to pay top dollar for a decent chilly bin. Insulation, durability and capacity are all adequate for a day at the beach, and the only thing we'd like to see is a latch or two to keep the lid shut. As it is, if the cooler falls over, there's a good chance all your goods will spill onto the sand, so don't let the kids or distracted friends tip it over. Do, however, enjoy the impressive 80-can capacity and three-day ice retention, even in temperatures as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you need a boost, this Coleman is also tough enough to support someone weighing up to 250 pounds using it as a seat or step stool, which is impressive considering it weighs less than nine pounds. And when the lid isn't being used as a seat, it doubles as a small table thanks to four recessed cupholders. Ultimately, it's not going to be as insulative or durable as other top-tier models, but it's great for casual trips to the beach and other summer adventures.
REI
Weight: 28 pounds | Capacity: 45 quarts | Locking method: Dual rubber latches | Extras: Yes | Warranty: 5 years
The RollR 45 from RovR is one tough piece of hardware. It can shrug off drops, rolls and other accidents without popping open, or popping a tire. Those nine-inch wheels roll right over dirt, grass, gravel and of course, sand without breaking a sweat. And you'll need the wheels—this thing weighs almost 30 pounds when empty, which makes it difficult to lift from shelves or into the back of the car based on our testing. Thankfully, once it's on the ground and ready to roll, deploying the suitcase-style handle makes moving it from A to B an absolute (ocean) breeze.
Inside, you'll find a plastic dry bin to separate food and utensils from ice and ice melt, though you won't find any water in the bottom for quite some time—the insulation is outstanding, even in direct sunlight. What you will find is an assortment of compatible RovR accessories sold separately, including cupholders, a cutting board and even a large storage bin, all of which attach to the cooler in some way. It's pricey, but if you're willing to spend a bit more on reliable wheels, insulation and accessories, you'll never wrestle with a heavy cooler again.
Yeti
Weight: 4.5 pounds | Capacity: 18 quarts | Locking method: Zipper | Special features: Yes | Warranty: 3 years
The Yeti Hopper Flip can hold a generous assortment of 12-ounce cans (30, to be exact) provided there's no ice, or you can stash a 12-pack, plenty of snacks and enough ice to keep contents cold for a day at the beach. It features a rugged, waterproof zipper that keeps sand and seawater out, and you can haul it from the side handles, a top handle or an included shoulder strap. And unlike a hard-sided cooler, it's easy to stuff in the car or wedge into a canoe—the soft walls bend and flex, unlike the rigid plastic on a traditional hard-sided cooler.
Don't be afraid to toss, stuff or otherwise push this cooler to its limits, either. It's backed by a strong three-year warranty, and in classic Yeti fashion, it can handle just about anything you throw at it, save for a shark encounter. It can also double as a dry bag to safely stash food, clothing and even electronics if you want to strap it to a paddle board or kayak. Of course, you're going to pay a bit more for a Yeti, but if you're looking for a reliable soft cooler that's a step above the rest, this is a great option.
Amazon
Weight: 2.7 pounds | Capacity: 21 quarts | Locking method: Zipper | Special features: Yes | Warranty: 5 years
Carrying a fully-loaded cooler across hot sand is no easy task, even if you're sharing the load with others. Tossing those cans into a backpack that disperses the load, however, makes the process a whole lot easier. And the best backpack cooler for the job is the Hydro Flask Day Escape that features padded and adjustable shoulder straps as well as an adjustable sternum strap that helps balance the load. When empty, this backpack cooler weighs a mere 2.7 pounds, yet it's rated to keep things cold for up to 36 hours if loaded with enough ice.
Based on our experience, the backpack's zipper can be stubborn, probably because it's leak-resistant, but that's a tradeoff you'll be willing to make at the beach. Like the Yeti Hopper Flip, it also doubles as a dry bag for water sports, or even winter sports if you want to bring it to an apres scene. Hydro Flask finishes the design with a mesh pouch and gear attachment loops to secure your keys or one of the best Bluetooth speakers.
Amazon
Weight: 4.1 pounds | Capacity: 11 quarts | Locking system: Side lid locks | Special features: No | Warranty: 1 year
A cooler is a lot like a suitcase: You tend to overpack it 'just to be safe' but rarely use everything inside, which is why a compact option like the Igloo Tag Along Too is usually all you really need. This small cooler will hold more than enough food and drink for those low-key beach outings, and it takes up far less space than a big, bulky cooler when you're not using it. Measuring just 13.07 x 9.33 x 13.07 inches, it's smaller than your standard carry-on luggage, but it still fits 14 12-ounce cans.
The Tag Along Too's lid is secured in place by little wings attached to the shoulder strap, and when it's open, the lid is designed to sit upright for easy access. If you were to load this compact cooler with ice alone, you could expect it to insulate for more than two days, which is plenty long enough if you're packing for two, or spending an afternoon by the water.
The gear team at Forbes Vetted never recommends products without throughly evaluating them first. That means research, hands-on testing, conversations with experts and a thorough review of online ratings left by verified buyers. From traditional coolers to beach chairs and wagons, we seek out only the best products for a day by the water.
Your cooler is indispensable if you want to spend any meaningful amount of time relaxing in the sand. As your source of sustenance, hydration and libations, it's important to invest in a cooler that's built for the demands of a sizzling summer day. Here's how we made our selections:
Your beach cooler does you zero good if it's too heavy and clunky to haul across the sand. Look for models with big handles, wheels and shoulder straps, as these make it easy to move your cooler from point A to point B.
Most hard-sided coolers are fairly heavy, but backpack and soft-sided styles are great alternatives, and they're just as reliable when it comes to insulating. 'For beach coolers, I prefer ones that you can sling over your back,' says Yamaguchi. 'I like the Hydro Flask Day Escape insulated cooler, which can be worn like a backpack.'
Capacity is one of the more important things to consider, so think about how many people you're packing for and how long you'll be at the beach. A small beach cooler, around 10 to 20 quarts, is perfect for one or two people, while a group or family may need a cooler that's 40 quarts or bigger. Keep in mind that bigger coolers can hold more food, drinks and ice, but they're also heavier and harder to carry.
Reliable insulation keeps your food and drink cold for hours, so look for a cooler with thick walls and a tight-fitting lid to keep the cold in and the heat out. Some coolers—including the ones we recommend in this guide—are made with thicker insulation to keep contents cold for days. If you'll be in the sun for hours, better insulation means your goods will stay colder, longer. Again, good insulation can make a cooler heavier, so find one that balances your needs.
Sand, sun and saltwater can be tough on materials, which is why it's worth looking for a cooler made from strong, weather-resistant plastic or fabric. Sturdy hinges, durable handles and watertight zippers are also important—the more rugged the design, the longer it will last and handle wear and tear.