Rtic Soft Side Cooler

Compare can capacity, insulation, empty weight and price across the soft cooler lineup, then narrow to the bag that matches your trip and how far you plan to carry it.
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Fresh picks for the season

Three soft coolers worth a closer look

A medium soft-sided cooler open on a picnic table with ice and drink cans inside

RTIC Soft Cooler with tough insulated body for full-day trips and easy carry

This soft cooler covers a single afternoon or a relaxed weekend without turning into a burden to carry. The insulated body holds ice longer than a thin liner, the shell wipes clean after sandy trips, and the price sits in the $90 to $159 sale range where soft coolers usually land.
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A soft-sided cooler backpack resting against a tree on a wooded trail

RTIC Backpack Soft Cooler that frees your hands on long trail walks and beach runs

Backpack straps are the whole point here. Both hands stay free on the trail, the cooler rides close against your back, and the insulated compartment still keeps drinks cold into the evening. It suits anyone who walks farther than a parking lot before setting down, and the empty weight stays low.
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A large soft-sided cooler filled with cans on an open truck tailgate

RTIC Large Soft Cooler with 50-can capacity for group days and tailgates outdoors

Big capacity for group days. A 50-can class body holds enough for a tailgate, a family beach run or a long boat trip, and the soft sides still fold into a crowded trunk next to chairs. That is the room most group trips actually need, and the insulation does the rest when the day runs long.
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The RTIC soft cooler built for long days out, with tough insulation and easy carry

This is the soft cooler to start with when you want real insulation without hard-cooler bulk. The body holds ice well past a single afternoon, carries comfortably, and packs down when the trip ends. Sale pricing in the $90 to $159 range makes it an easy step up from thin lined totes.
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A large soft-sided cooler sitting open on a truck tailgate with ice and drink cans inside

More soft coolers for every kind of day

A soft-sided cooler tote carried by its handles across a sandy parking lot

RTIC Soft Cooler Tote built for quick walks from the parking lot to the open sand

Tote carry suits short moves. Grab the handles, walk from the car to the sand, and set it down without fuss. This style trades maximum ice life for low empty weight and a flat pack, which is exactly the right trade for a quick afternoon at the park or the picnic table.
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RTIC Insulated Soft Cooler that keeps ice through a full day from car to campsite and back

Ice life is where this model earns its price. Heavier insulated walls hold cold well past a single afternoon, so drinks stay usable on long days without a second ice run. Owner notes about zippers and leaks are the details worth reading before you commit to it.
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A thick-walled soft-sided cooler on a camp table with the lid folded open
A close view of the sealed zipper and stitched seam along a soft-sided cooler

RTIC Soft Cooler with tough zippers and a leak-resistant insulated body for daily use

Zippers and seams decide whether a soft cooler leaks in a truck bed. This build uses a tough zip and a leak-resistant insulated body, which makes it a steady daily driver for work lunches, practice nights and weekend runs to the lake without babysitting it.
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An empty soft-sided cooler folded flat beside a rigid hard cooler in a truck bed

RTIC Lightweight Soft Cooler that packs flat and saves room in the truck bed on every trip

Empty weight matters more than most shoppers expect. This body packs flat and weighs less than a rigid cooler, so the walk out is easier before anything even goes inside. It is the sensible pick for anyone counting pounds in the pack or the trunk.
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A mid-size soft-sided cooler sitting on a park bench next to a water bottle

RTIC Mid-Size Soft Cooler sized for one person's drinks all afternoon and snacks on the go

One person, one afternoon, one cooler. The mid-size body holds a personal load of drinks and snacks without bulk, and it still fits beside you on a bench or a boat seat. The value here comes from right-sizing instead of upsizing to a hard cooler.
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Where soft coolers earn their keep

Trips and tasks a soft cooler fits

A soft-sided cooler tote set on a beach blanket next to towels and drink cans

Beach and park days with the family

Packed with drinks and snacks, a soft cooler rides easily from the car to the sand. The lower empty weight and tote carry make short walks simple, and 30- to 50-can capacity keeps a family supplied through the whole afternoon.

A soft-sided cooler backpack worn on a narrow forest trail at mid-morning

Trail hikes where hands need to stay free

Backpack-style soft coolers keep both hands free on uneven ground and steep sections. Choose a roomier body for longer routes, then add ice and drinks at the trailhead without straining your shoulders on the climb up.

A large soft-sided cooler open on a tailgate beside folding chairs and a grill

Tailgates and all-day group gatherings

Group trips call for bigger capacity. A 30- or 50-can body holds enough for several people, and soft sides squeeze into a crowded trunk next to chairs and grills without wasting the space a hard cooler would take.

A soft-sided cooler secured on the deck of a small fishing boat

Fishing and boat trips on the water

On a boat or at the water's edge, a tough zip and insulated body keep drinks cold through long sessions. Soft construction also survives being tossed into a truck bed or a deck box at the end of the day.

Soft-sided coolers shown in four settings: a beach blanket, a trailhead, a tailgate and a boat deck
What to compare first

Six factors that decide your soft cooler

Three soft-sided coolers of different sizes lined up beside loose drink cans on a tailgate

Match can capacity to your trip length

A 15-can tote handles a single afternoon, while 30- and 50-can models cover all-day and group use. Bigger capacity adds bulk, so weigh the room you need against the effort of carrying it.

Two adults walking away on a trail, one wearing a soft cooler backpack and one carrying a soft cooler tote

Carry style changes how far you go

Backpack straps free your hands for the trail, while tote and shoulder-carry bodies suit short walks from the parking lot. Pick the style that matches how far you actually plan to move with it.

An adult hand pouring ice cubes into the open zippered compartment of a soft-sided cooler on a table

Insulation grade sets your ice window

Ultra-tough insulated bodies hold ice longer than basic lined totes. If you need drinks cold through a full day out, step up to the heavier insulated soft-sided construction instead of a thin liner.

An empty soft-sided cooler folded flat next to a rigid hard cooler in a truck bed

Weight when empty matters on the way out

Soft bodies pack flat and weigh less than hard coolers, which saves room in the truck and makes the walk to the beach easier before anything even goes inside the bag.

One adult lifting a soft-sided cooler out of an open shipping box on a kitchen counter

Ratings and reviews show real use

Some models carry thousands of ratings near 4.5 out of 5. Read what owners say about leaks, zippers and ice life rather than trusting a single specification on a product page.

One adult in a retail aisle holding two similar-sized soft-sided coolers, one in each hand

Price range sets the value line

Sale prices across this category run from about $90 to $159. Compare what each step buys in capacity and insulation instead of defaulting to the cheapest option in the row.

Find the right size, insulation and carry style

A compact soft-sided cooler on a blanket beside fruit and drink cans

Weekend day trips

Roomy soft cooler bodies that hold enough for a full day out.

A soft-sided cooler backpack set down on a rocky overlook at midday

Full-day outings

Backpack-style coolers that leave both hands free on the trails.

A large soft-sided cooler opened beside folding chairs on a gravel campsite

Group-size hauls

Insulated soft coolers made for group hauls and long days.

Shopper stories from the cooler aisle

What soft cooler owners report back

I compared capacity and insulation before buying, and the trade-off was worth it. The straps make the walk to the beach easy, and drinks stayed cold through a long afternoon. For the price I paid, it beat the pricier bags I handled in the store.
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Jordan M.
Backpack soft cooler buyer, two seasons in
Reading the reviews about zippers and leaks paid off. I wanted something light for day trips that packs flat in the truck, and this fit the bill. Ice lasted well into the evening without adding bulk to carry back to the car.
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Casey R.
Tote-style soft cooler shopper on a budget

Answers to common soft cooler questions

A 15-can tote covers a single afternoon, while 30- and 50-can models handle all-day trips and group use. Think about how far you will carry it too, since more capacity means more bulk in your hands or on your back.
Backpack straps free your hands for hiking and loading, which matters on longer walks. Tote and shoulder styles suit short moves from the parking lot to the sand. Pick the carry style that matches how far you actually plan to move.
Insulated soft-sided bodies hold ice longer than thin lined totes, but hard coolers still lead on pure ice life. If drinks need to stay cold through a full day out, step up to heavier insulated construction instead of a basic liner.
Yes. Soft bodies pack flat when empty and weigh less than rigid coolers, so they save room in the truck and make the walk to the beach easier before anything even goes inside. That weight edge is why a lot of campers switch.
Look past the star rating and read what owners say about leaks, zippers and ice life. Some models carry thousands of ratings near 4.5 out of 5, and those comments show how a cooler performs after a season of real use.
A shopper comparing two soft-sided coolers at waist height in a retail aisle

Keep reading before you choose