The Best Soft Cooler to Keep Cool on the Go (2025)

It’s got thinner insulation than most of the other bags we tried, which, in our experience, invited a little extra condensation on the outside. And though the side handles and shoulder strap fit the chic aesthetic, in doing so, they lack meaningful padding, so this is not a bag you’d want to scramble up any mountains with. In the end, it’s an insulated tote. Consider it a hobo bag you can fill with ice packs.

Dometic Unrestricted Tote XL

Like the Unrestricted Backpack, Dometic’s tote is a multifunction bag with tons of storage pockets that also happens to work as a cooler. But like the backpack, it worked a bit less like a cooler than I might have liked. It would totally function for a day trip, maintaining 12–18 hours of temperatures just a degree or so above freezing using 10 lb. of ice. (Again, you can also choose to buy Dometic’s clip-in ice packs, which would make for a less sloshy experience as my ice was half melted by 12 hours in.) But the selling point of this bag is that it’s as packable for a weekend getaway as it would be for using as a cooler, while being capable of folding or rolling up when not in use.

Other soft backpack coolers we tested and liked

Yeti Hopper MT20 Backpack

Just because I chose another backpack cooler as our most functional pick doesn’t mean Yeti’s Hopper MT20 Backpack cooler didn’t function well. In fact, it performed equally as well as the box-style Yeti cooler I tested in ice retention and temperature. The straps were comfortable, and the bag carried higher than Brümate’s, which kept it off my lower back.

The rub comes down to the Yeti’s magnetic strip closure, which is snapped closed and then folded over and clipped down to “seal” the bag. (I put “seal” in quotes because it wasn’t totally leakproof, as there was some dribbling out of the top corners of the bag when not upright.) This style of opening creates awkward access and impaired visibility of the contents within the cooler. It also means you have to leave some room (i.e., lose some space) for pressing it flat and folding it down. I took this backpack on a beach trip and found it difficult to place and retrieve anything but my smaller food storage containers, so it’s not exactly picnic-friendly, but best used as a drinks station. That said, if you’re looking for a reliable backpack cooler that’s geared more toward outdoor activities like hiking, Yeti’s fits the bill.

Dometic Unrestricted Backpack Cooler

Dometic Unrestricted Backpack Cooler

Dometic’s Unrestricted Backpack Cooler looks and functions much more like a frameless hiking backpack than the other backpacks on this list. It has a ton of pockets, straps, loops, and water-resistant zippers, making it a storage and organization beast. The straps are comfortable and breathable, so carrying 30 lb. around didn’t feel too taxing. The main compartment has an oversized zipper that’s easy to open and close, but sadly it isn’t leakproof. If the bag tips over, water is coming out.

Unfortunately, it was also quicker to let ice melt (50% loss at 18 hours) and saw the temperature in the water jar creep higher before hitting the 24-hour mark. This might be due to the thinner, more flexible insulation material necessary for this to be a totally soft and stowable bag, which, to be fair, is a nice feature. However, if you subscribe to the Dometic Unrestricted lifestyle, there are available reusable (refillable with water) ice packs that clip to bespoke magnetic attachment points inside the bag. If you spring for those accessories—and if you’re only occasionally going to need to pack cold things on your back—this backpack cooler might be the most versatile option. As a cooler, it’s definitely just for the day. But as a multipurpose backpack, it’s got a lot going for it on any length of trip.

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