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The 7 Best Coolers Money Can Buy
Guaranteed to keep your beverages and food chilled through any heat wave.
There’s nothing worse than a warm drink on a hot day. Only exception is if you’re a hot black coffee every morning type of fella, otherwise you’re never craving a lukewarm beer or slightly hot Coca-Cola. That fundamental truth is why the cooler is the summer essential that will never go out of style. It’s simply too useful.
Whether you’re ditching an old hand-me-down or it’s finally time to upgrade to that Yeti, you’re here because you need to find a new cooler that is right for you. The scale goes from Coleman to Oyster, with Yeti falling somewhere in between. These are all good brands, to be clear, but you get what you pay for at the high and low ends. These seven coolers represent the best of what Esquire’s favorite cooler brands have to offer. All handpicked from experience, you can’t go wrong with any of ‘em.
It’s not as high-tech as the Oyster cooler, but in terms of pure durability and volume, it’s hard to beat a Yeti Tundra 45-quart cooler. It can survive 48 hours in the heat of Death Valley, which might as well be Hell for all intents and purposes. Truly, nothing can penetrate this absolute unit. The rubber lid latches are a spark of Yeti’s genius. Easy to use, yet secure, they have spawned a ton of copycats in the space.
Coleman 316 Series Insulated Portable Cooler
Coleman 316 Series Insulated Portable Cooler
You don’t need to spend over $100 to get something that has wheels, a handle, and insulation. Coleman coolers are a classic choice that still get a lot of love for good reason. Does this also mean we’ve been technically testing them since the beginning of time? Yes, and it’s always worked as a cooler and makeshift seat. But with a classic cooler comes classic cooler problems. A lot of ice is always required to keep anything cold and that’s going to make it a heavy load. That’s why we recommend the one with wheels.
In terms of pure cooling proficiency, the Oyster Tempo cooler is as good as it gets. It is an essential piece of gear for campers and soccer dads alike. Built with minimalistic Norwegian design principles in mind, it is lighter than most of the competition of a similar size, holds more thanks to thinner walls, and keeps the contents colder for hours if not days longer. That’s the foundation of the Oyster Tempo Pro, which adds one ingenious feature to the mix.
The Tempo Pro is equipped with an internal temperature reader and display so you know exactly what temp your food and drinks are at, at all times. This helps you know when to add more ice, or take some out lest your beer freeze into a slushy.
Pelican Elite 45 Quart Wheeled Cooler (Tan)
Pelican Elite 45 Quart Wheeled Cooler (Tan)
We associate Pelican with heavy-duty storage. From camera cases to hard-sided luggage and everything in between, this is a name that means protection, but never at the expense of aesthetics—as evidenced by this tan and orange cooler on wheels. A little chunky, sure, but not ugly.
Pelican takes insulation very seriously too. This is freezer-grade lining that will keep your shit cold all day long.
Yeti Hopper M20 Backpack Cooler
Yeti Hopper M20 Backpack Cooler
Yeti is also guilty of making great soft-sided coolers as well. Or should we say innocent of not messing them up? The Hopper backpack cooler makes a case for a category we normally shrug off because it’s just inferior to hard coolers; the extra portability is rarely worth it.
Not here. The temperature retention is impressive and the MagShield enclosure is genuinely as secure as any cumbersome zipper—quicker and easier too. Just know that max capacity here is what you can carry on your back.
BrüMate BrüTank Wheeled Hard Cooler
BrüMate BrüTank Wheeled Hard Cooler
This isn’t your ordinary wheeled cooler. The BrüTank has an ace up its sleeve that goes beyond multi-day ice retention, wheels, and a drain plug. You can turn this cooler into your literal water cooler with its built-in drink tank and dispenser. Fill it with a gallon of water, or whatever beverage you prefer, and you now have anything you could dream of on tap, for the whole party to enjoy.
Totally removable, by the way, so if you just want the extra space for a day trip instead that’s easy to make happen. If you choose to utilize the drink tank and tap, it will take up a good amount of space. Consider that space you would’ve just been taking up with bottled water anyway, and the trade-off makes sense. Oh, did we mention it also sports a bottle opener on the top lid? Both smart and fun!
RovR RollR 30 Quart Wheeled Hard Cooler
RovR RollR 30 Quart Wheeled Hard Cooler
Some people don’t ever need to carry around 45-quart coolers. If you’re going as far as from your studio apartment to the park, this small cooler makes it easy with two large wheels and a retractable handle. Inside, an included Dry Bin helps with organization and lets you separate cans from sandwiches and keep both the perfect temperature for enjoying.
The specific dimensions of this cooler mean you can store wine bottles (or liquor, if you’re so inclined) upright—up to six bottles if that’s all you’re storing. As a summer party accessory, this is the RovR cooler’s biggest advantage.
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