13 Best Coolers for Sunshine and Nighttime (2026)
Key takeaways
- Cooler manufacturers aren't necessarily lying about how long ice will last in their coolers, but they are testing under ideal conditions that are never going to exist in the real world.
- For your other outdoor needs, be sure to check out our other buying guides, like the Best Portable Grills, Best Camping Gear, Best Camp Cookware, Best Tents, and the Best Binoculars.
- Updated April 2026: We've added new coolers from Dometic and Rovr, reformatted this guide, removed a few older picks, and ensured accuracy throughout.
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
Courtesy of Yeti Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story We've been hunting down the best coolers for years. Whether you're heading out for an evening picnic, a weekend adventure, or a weeklong overlanding trip, you need to chill—your food and drinks, that is. There's a wealth of options these days, from little soft-sided coolers perfect for a day trip to heavy-duty, high-performance wheeled coolers with ice retention times that seem to defy the sun—like our top pick, the Yeti Tundra Haul.
Cooler manufacturers aren't necessarily lying about how long ice will last in their coolers, but they are testing under ideal conditions that are never going to exist in the real world. We've been testing coolers for more than four years now, and we've stored them under the sun, in bike trailers, and in cars, all while trying to keep food and drinks cool and edible. Below, you'll find our top picks for each category, as well as a few alternatives, plus general buying tips if none of these capture your fancy.
For your other outdoor needs, be sure to check out our other buying guides, like the Best Portable Grills, Best Camping Gear, Best Camp Cookware, Best Tents, and the Best Binoculars.