Searching the best coolers for camping can yield many results. Like many products, there are various sizes, styles, and of course, prices. If you’re always on the road like us, then you may want at least two coolers in different sizes. In this article, we explore two different cooler sizes that we think you’ll agree are well… pretty cool! We feature the RTIC 52 quart and the RTIC Lightweight Backpack Cooler. We’ll share what we like about these coolers, breaking them down with a pros and cons list. First up is a cooler so efficient, it’s basically our second refrigerator.
Best Coolers for Camping – The Campsite Option
First on the list is an RTIC Cooler. Specifically, this one is the RTIC 52 quart hard cooler. Since we are full time RVers, our fridge is always full. Instead of upgrading our RV refrigerator, or even buying a new RV with a bigger fridge, we saved our money and bought this camping cooler. It has been a great supplement to our RV fridge!
One thing that makes it one of the best coolers for camping, is how long it’ll keep your contents cold. When ice is packed in, it can last at least a couple of days. Of course, this depends on the size of your ice cubes and the outside temperature (especially if you leave the cooler in the direct sun (not recommended)). But overall, it will save you trips and money for ice. It also comes with a handy basket that can be stored above the ice, as well as a divider. The divider is an ice pack itself! We love the basket as it’s great for storing our vegetables. Finally, what’s nice is that it’s very comparable in quality to a Yeti cooler, but not as expensive!
Pros:
Ice Retention (usually 2-3 days, depending on the type/amount of ice and outside temperature)
Great value for the quality
Large – can hold our vegetables, canned beverages and even a few larger bottles
Basket for storing vegetables or anything you desire
Very durable
Nice rope handles for ease of carrying
Doubles as a bench or even a cutting board
Cons:
A bit heavy (but come on, it’s a pretty big cooler!)
Somewhat pricey for the casual camper (but cheaper than most competitors)
Best Coolers for Camping – The Traveler
Next up, “the traveler.” No, that’s not it’s proper name. However, it seems fitting as this cooler is very lightweight and is essentially a backpack. The RTIC Lightweight Backpack Cooler can keep your drinks and food cold a bit longer than you may expect. They advertise that it will keep contents cold for up to 24 hours, and we’d have to agree.
We bought this cooler after owning the RTIC 52 quart. We wanted something very portable, yet well insulated for those hot beach days. We were pleased with the bigger RTIC cooler, so why not stick with a brand that works? We’ve used it many times for our trips to the beach. We normally pack in six cold ones, a couple of sandwich containers, and some fruit. It holds it all with enough ice to keep things cold. It may seem a little pricey for a smaller cooler bag, but when compared to others, it’s a very good value!
Pros:
Very lightweight/portable
It’s a backpack
Quality construction
Keeps contents cold – at least half a day
Has plenty of storage with side pockets
Stylish
Cons:
A bit small for a larger family (works great for a couple)
A bit pricey if you don’t day trip often – but consider you pay for quality and ice retention
Final Thoughts
Finding the best camping coolers can involve trial and error. We’ve gone through quite a few before we got our RTICs. But don’t let price deter you too much. If you’ll know you’ll be camping and/or day tripping often, then we’d suggest going with an RTIC. Had we made the decision to buy better quality coolers sooner, we would have saved money in the long run. Thanks for reading, and stay cool!