If you’ve ever tried dragging a sloshy cooler across a rocky trail or pulled out a waterlogged sandwich because your ice melted too fast, you know just how make-or-break a good hard cooler can be. As someone who spends a lot of time outside—fishing, camping, boating—I’ve developed strong opinions about hard-sided coolers over the years. I know what works, what doesn’t, and what features are actually worth paying for. I’ve used them to hold my drinks, sure, but also as casting platforms, fish storage, campfire seating, and even as makeshift prep tables. Hard coolers are cool! If you invest in the right one.
Our top picks
- Best flat cooler: Yeti Tundra 45
- Best wheeled cooler: Rtic 52-Qt. Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler
- Best small cooler: Oyster Tempo Cooler
- Best dry storage: Ninja FrostVault 45-Qt. Wheeled Cooler
I put some of the most popular coolers to the test in real-world conditions: hauling them across sandy beaches, leaving them in the sun for days, and enlisting other outdoorsy types to stress-test every latch, wheel, and drain plug. From cult-favorite rotomolded beasts to sleek, minimalist iceboxes, these are the hard coolers that are worth the space in your truck bed or your backyard.
Best flat cooler: Yeti Tundra 45
Pros:
- Durable and sturdy
- Holds ice for days
- Convenient dry storage basket
- Easy to drain and clean
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy and hard to move once filled
- Handles can be annoying to close
Size: 25.6″ x 15.9″ x 15.5″
Capacity (standard soda cans): 54 cans
Weight: 24.60 lb.
Special features: Removable dry storage basket
What we love: There’s a reason Yeti’s Tundra 45 is a staple on boat decks and truck beds; it delivers on both premium insulation and durability. And frankly, it’s very nice to look at.
It held ice longer than almost everything else in its size class, even when I left it in direct 95-degree sun for days. After filling it with 25 pounds of ice, it still had about a sixth of ice remaining day six. Most important, the drinks were still frosty, like they had been pulled out of the fridge. It’s built like a tank: A rotomolded construction means it can handle whatever thrown its way, be it jostling around the back of an SUV (which mine has done) or doubling as a seat at a campsite (which mine has also done). The nonslip feet and built-in tie-down slots make it perfect for more rugged adventures, from fishing trips to car camping. Cleaning it is easy too. There was nothing better than the Vortex Drain System—a quick twist drains melted water in seconds.
As for size, I think the 45-liter capacity is the sweet spot for folks looking for a product for backyard parties and tailgates where you don’t want to constantly refill;
