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6 Best Small Coolers, Tested by Our Experts

We tested six popular portable coolers from Carhartt, Coleman, Igloo, RTIC, Titan, and Yeti

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Small coolers: Coleman Chiller, Yeti Hopper Flip soft cooler, Igloo Playmate Cooler, RTIC Everyday Cooler, Titan by Arctic Zone Zipperless Hardbody Cooler, Carhartt Deluxe Lunch Cooler
CR tested small coolers in a temperature-controlled lab to help you make the right pick.
Photo: Scott Meadows/Consumer Reports

Every summer, I plow through three essentials: sunscreen, bubbly water, and ice cream, which are all way more enjoyable on a hot day when they’ve been chilled on ice.

More on Outdoor Living

With a small cooler in hand, I can take all of them to the beach or a picnic in the park without lugging a heavy trunk with me. Heck, a personal-sized cooler even sits perfectly atop my paddleboard, so I never need to oar back to shore—or share.

But as with all things, I needed to know whether I was using the best, so Consumer Reports purchased six popular models, and CR lab tester José Amézquita put them to the test in our temperature-controlled lab to see which ones could handle the heat and keep their cool. Some were soft-sided and some were hard-sided, but all were easily portable and could fit a six-pack and a couple of pounds of ice.

Best Everyday Essentials

Multipurpose glues, flashlights, invisible tapes, and other household products are among the household basics that can make your days easier, more comfortable, and safer.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.


Perry Santanachote

Perry Santanachote

As a multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports, Perry Santanachote covered a range of trends—from parasite cleanses to pickleball paddles. Perry was also a main producer of our Outside the Labs content, evaluating products in her tiny Manhattan apartment.