The Best Coolers for Camping, Beach Days, Picnics, and More

Hard coolers don’t work for long drives. You need something lightweight that can sit on top of other luggage and be reached easily when it’s snack time. The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 can hold more than a dozen canned drinks, and, unlike its iconic plastic counterparts, is designed to be portable for travel. Plus, its signature looped exterior is perfect for clipping on hand sanitizer or wipes to clean hands before snacking.

The name of the game with a road trip is maximizing your space, and this tote from Hydro Flask is like the Mary Poppins bag of all coolers. It features the same technology as the brand's mega-popular water bottles and, unlike hard coolers the same size, can easily swing over your shoulder for a quick pit stop. Plus, it comes in cheerful colors such as alpine and red snapper.

Organization is key when road tripping, especially with kids and teens. These mini cooler cubes from Fjällräven are perfect for stacking in the backseat or packing individual lunches and snacks—that way you don’t have to rummage through a larger cooler when someone gets hungry. And just like the company’s line of daypacks and outerwear, the coolers come in a handful of waxed fabric colors, from peachy pink to frost green.

The chairs, umbrellas, and coolers of this outdoor accessory brand have caught the eye of Anthropologie, Lulu & Georgia, and other design-forward retailers for its preppy pastels and soft linen colorways. The Premium Cooler Bag is like an insulated duffle with a long rectangle shape and sturdy crossbody strap, making it perfect for roadside attractions and picnic stops. There are so many pretty patterns to choose from, from classic cabana stripes to this gorgeous chinoiserie-inspired print.

Part purse, part cooler, this little bag has a water-resistant lining and comes in several trendy hues, from orchid to lemonade. It’s perfect for packing a couple of canned bubbles or seltzers for a beach day. It also makes a great ice bucket for a bottle of wine in the park, on the beach, or at a campsite.

This Yeti-on-wheels is a godsend for walking down long beach boardwalks with a very full, very heavy cooler. The Tundra Haul Hard Cooler features the same patented technology as any other Yeti hard shell cooler, meaning your drinks and snacks will stay cold all day long. It’s available in several classic Yeti colors including beachy seafoam and coral.

The customizable pouch empire has finally expanded to outdoor essentials such as travel games and this ballerina pink nylon cooler. It features the same signature Stoney Clover Lane gold hardware and can be customized with the brand’s patches, like any other SCL bag. Make it your own with these matching pastel letters or a crystal cherry bag charm.

This rainbow plaid tote from Kate Spade is perfect for family gatherings like a clambake or a beach bonfire—it can hold multiple dishes that need to lay flat. The insulated bag is also great for grocery shopping and keeping frozen foods like ice cream from melting on the way home from the store or farmers market.

This whimsical tote is as Instagrammable as it is efficient. Don’t let the wedge shape fool you, it’s large enough to hold a full picnic meal plus dessert and beverages. Even better, the leatherette material is water resistant and easy to wipe clean.

Summer means movies in the park, and this puffy cooler from Baggu is the perfect size for the accompanying wine, cheese, and chocolate. It's made from the same recycled ripstop nylon as the brand's signature shopping bags and features the same funky prints and patterns, too.

This chic backpack from drinkware brand Corkcicle can hold up to 12 canned beverages or eight cans and two bottles of wine. There’s even a zippered pocket in the back for your phone, wallet, and keys. And the gorgeous silver vegan leather is easy to wipe clean.

While vintage wicker picnic baskets are romantic, they’re not very practical. However, this cooler bag from Anthropologie marries old-school style with modern functionality. The straw tote features a shoulder strap and an insulated insert that will keep beverages and snacks chilled for hours. This bag is also great for toting fresh produce and flowers home from the farmers market.

Coleman has been in the cooler business for nearly 70 years, and, while the brand has evolved with more modern, sporty styles, the best Coleman cooler is still the original steel-belted design complete with a bottle opener on the side. Dark green may be the brand’s signature color, but the classic cooler also looks great in retro pink and teal.

The brand-new, giant V Series cooler from Yeti has a much more sophisticated look than the brand’s rough-and-tough counterparts. The stainless steel design is as sleek as gourmet kitchen appliances and perfect for backyard entertaining. It’s a patio mainstay that feels less sporty and more like furniture.

This vibrant throwback is just the right size for a pool day or backyard staycation. There’s enough room for canned drinks, on-demand popsicles, and frozen dog treats, so you can stay outdoors soaking up the sun for longer stretches of time.

There’s something about a Pendleton throw that makes camping—even car camping—more comfortable and luxurious. The brand’s national parks-inspired collection, which features apparel and bedding with a specific color palette for each park, has become a go-to gift for outdoorsy travelers. Marmot collaborated with Pendleton to expand the Yosemite line with more accessories, such as hats, totes, and this cooler bag. The insulated lining is completely waterproof, so even if all of the ice melts or a drink spills, it won’t leak.