NEED ADVICE -soft side coolers

[GusRobin]

I am looking to get a soft side cooler. I see prices from $15 to $299 (YETI). I know the Yeti are probably very good but I don't need to have the ice last forever. Looking for something that will keep things cold most of the day.
Quality is more important than cost from the standpoint I don't want to go cheap and be disappointed. With that said, I don't see spending $299 for a YETI.
Anyone have experience with these and can make any recommendations.?
Thanks

[rexster314]

I had a Yeti 30 soft sider for about a year, hated every minute, especially when trying to get a cool one out of it. The zipper and top are so stiff you will scratch up your arms reaching in and coming out. Sold it back in the spring. I just recently purchased an RTIC 20 soft side. Much better design, the entire top flips back for easy entry. Ice will last about a day and a half, soda cans stay extremely cold. I put some 48 small ice cream cups in it yesterday, iced them down and then salted the ice. The ice cream was still frozen hard after a couple of hours. Best part is it's half the price of a Yeti and appears to be just as good a quality. It also has molle loops so you can hang a bottle opener on the bag for your Coronas

[teesquare]

Glad you asked this one Gus...I have had the same thing on my mind -and thanks rester for the heads up about the RTIC.

Glad to see some other brands enter the market at comparable performance and better price point.

[hikerman]

Fellas check out IceMule coolers. 99.9 % of soft-side coolers leak. This one doesn't!  It's a rolltop, easy access, very insulated. Have had mine over a year and nary a problem. It's an ice saver! And won't break the bank.

[Tailgating is my game]

I am sure you have seen this but just in-case http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Soft-Cooler-Reviews/Polar-Bear-Coolers-24-Pack


Another one   http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-soft-cooler/


One more that boaters use     https://www.aocoolers.com/


I have bought many over the years & I never have been happy with any. As a boater I wanted one that would last a weekend & I did not need it to be bear proof. I have never found one that lasts that long.

Now that being said I have not bought any in the last five years (still recovering)*** except a $12.00 one this year that lasted 6 hours. It was for my family for a beach day.
Lasted six hours.

My therapist says it is time to buy a new one

I am in a market for one also for my little air boat if I ever get it in the water. So let is know what you get? In the mean time I will check the fall boat shows for what is new on the market.


I still feel the best cooler for value IMO is a hard cooler the Coleman six day cooler I have used it for tailgating, work parties & it has held up very well but I take care of it. It is a great cooler even if you can't throw it off a mountain or let a bear play with it. but again it is a hard cooler.


The problem with soft sided coolers is they smell, leak, fall over & don't keep things cold for long enough.  Plus, they are not easy to empty the melted water when things are still in them.

[Tailgating is my game]

I guess this would be in the one I would buy today if I was buying but not in my budget so I will keep looking LOL

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YKDIA8/?tag=thesweethome-20&linkCode=xm2&ascsubtag=SH4155

[stalag]

You get what you pay for.  However I might suggest Engel.

[RAD]

Not Coolers but I've been very happy with the cheap WM Ozark mountain cups and they compare to Yeti for 1/4 of the price. Lots of stuff online with guys comparing the tumblers and coolers.