The 6 Best Coolers of 2023 Reviews by Wirecutter

The Coleman Xtreme 50-quart Wheeled Cooler is a favorite “everyday” cooler option for beach days, local ball games, and other warm-weather outings with friends and family. Its combination of light plastic body, nearly all-terrain wheels, and a retractable, telescoping handle allow for a leisurely stroll-along with your refreshments in tow. Made with environmentally friendly, patented Thermozone insulation, the walls are insulated to prolong ice, and the chest can carry an impressive 84 cans. The lid is also insulated, though fairly easy to open and close, which could indicate that it’s not the most airtight cooler on the market. On the positive side, there’s no visible gap between the lid and body, unlike many affordable cooler models. The “have-a-seat” lid can support up to 250 pounds and also conveniently features four cup holders.

The Igloo MaxCold (teal) managed to outperform coolers that cost more, including some rotomolded models like the Bison Gen 2 (red) and the Rovr Rollr 60 (orange). Our tester appreciated the “excellent” turn radius and “secure seal” provided by the latches which kept the contents “really cold even after 24 hours,” with minimal melted ice or temperature change. If you are feeling tired, take a seat on the cooler or use it as a table at your tailgate if you’re running low on room.

Coolers are undoubtedly expensive, but having a generous warranty can help ease some of the buying anxiety. And a look at the market reveals a surprisingly wide range of available manufacturer guarantees. At the top end are ORCA and ROAM, igloo electric cooler which offer lifetime warranties that cover defects, while most others range from one to 10 years. It’s also important to point out that some companies provide different warranties for their hard-sided versus soft-sided offerings.

This results in reduced insulating performance and means you need to keep a close eye on the lid to make sure it doesn’t pop loose or fall off in transport. When it comes to portable coolers, especially those with large capacity, you need to make sure that the wheels are built to withstand carrying ice, cans, and anything else you pack. For stability, the size of the wheels doesn’t matter too much, but they should be large enough to support the weight of the fully packed cooler. The dbest compact igloo cooler with wheels cooler weighs under 3 pounds, can fit 36 cans or 4 gallons in volume, and handily carts everything from beers and wine to ice cream and frozen pops to your destination of choice. All of your treats will stay fully insulated and chilled for barbecues and backyard parties or while boating, beaching, hiking, and on other short excursions. This compact cooler’s telescope handle and back wheels make it stable and easy to maneuver, and it conveniently rolls up or folds flat for storage.

Also, make sure your wheels are made of durable materials (think rubber or sturdy plastic) and offer traction to get you across any terrain at any weight. With extra-thick 1.5-inch foam-insulated walls and an insulated lid, you’ll get dependable, long-lasting ice retention, so your essential food and drinks stay chilled. Previously, we tested hard coolers in the summer in Baltimore through a week that saw highs of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 64 to 72 degrees. And more recently we tested most of our picks again throughout the year in Hawaii.

This lightweight construction and design mean that it is one of the more portable coolers on our list. The best part is that this portability does not sacrifice the durability that the cooler provides. It is leak-proof, sturdy, and has all-terrain wheels that have all been designed to withstand quite a bit of abuse. Astoundingly, this cooler claims to be able to keep its ice retention for up to 10-days which makes it the ideal choice for longer trips. Furthermore, because it is made of strong polyethylene for the actual cooler and has heavy-duty wheels, it will be perfect for even the roughest of terrains. Features such bottle openers, locking plates, drink holders, cutting board divider, and a basket is just the icing on the cake.

igloo cooler with wheels

Well, it’s not too bad as you will still be able to sup on up to 72 cans of beer on your trip. As for how long this cooler will keep those cans dry, you’re talking a good couple of days up to a heat of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. These coolers are equipped with sturdy wheels and handles, allowing you to easily transport them to your destination. Whether you’re heading to the beach or a picnic, a wheeled cooler from Igloo ensures that you can bring along all the refreshments you need. In addition to their practicality, Igloo’s wheeled cool boxes are also stylish and come in a range of sizes and colours to suit your personal choice. Most major brands have their own designs that work well in their coolers, and the best part is that you can use them repeatedly without ever having to drain melted ice.

Once loaded with ice, drinks, and food, a 37-pound cooler can more than double in weight. When someone then tilts the cooler up, all that weight goes into the wheelbase or leans into the handle hinge. Similar to any other true roto-molded cooler, the RTIC 65 is practically indestructible, which makes it great for tougher outdoor environments. In our testing, the RTIC 65 kept ice frozen for 10 days with some periodic draining. We’ve also used this cooler for nearly five years for grocery runs in Hawaii, and it’s still going strong.

We know you’ll not regret your decision whichever one you finally decide to go for. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of the many different coolers lgloo Cooler that are out that have the added benefit of having wheels. This will allow you to make a more informed decision as to which of them to go for.

That said, if you don’t need multi-day ice retention, even a cheaper hard-sided cooler should be around for many years as well. These coolers are simply made by inserting hot plastic into a defined mold, given time to cool, and then removed. The process is simpler and cheaper than rotomolding and allows for greater precision because of the molded shapes. But they’re made with multiple pieces—unlike the single, uninterrupted form with rotomolding—which can lead to a drop in durability and added susceptibility to cracking.