The 9 Best Backpack Coolers of 2024

I’m in a hurry! What are the best backpack coolers of 2024?

Is it time for a backpack cooler?

Our Coleman Cooler has served us admirably for over 2 decades. We happened to see some new backpack coolers and were intrigued by the possibilities. First of all, every serious camper needs a cooler. That’s a given. So we figured, “Hey, Loonies, why not take a look at some of these fancy backpack coolers, and do a little research so that we can figure out some good ones?”

Okay, on some hiking trips, our cooler was just too bulky and heavy to schlepp around, so we have done without. The hard cold fact, though (Get it? Heh, heh, heh, cold fact) is that for most of our camping trips, a little luxury is welcome, and that means keeping our food and drinks cold. In addition, we also freeze a lot of our favorite dishes which serve as ice until it’s time to eat dinner. (You can read about that and other cool (heh) hacks in our article Camping Tips and Tricks.)

A certain amount of roughing it is fine, but we have also been known to kick back with a cold beverage and relax from time to time. The best backpack coolers make this easy, which is pretty cool. (Ya see what we did there? Whoo-hoooo!)

The Pros and Cons of Backpack Coolers.

ProsCons
  • Free use of arms and hands
  • Easy to carry
  • It keeps our stuff cold
  • You have to wear your real backpack on your front
  • They’re too heavy for backpackers
  • Generally, a little smaller than what we are used to.

We’re absolutely in love with them. As you may have noticed, our old Coleman cooler has been through the wars with us and has been terrific. We resisted the idea of a new cooler for quite a long time, believing that there was still a lot of life in the old Coleman, and that another cooler would be unnecessary. The Backpack cooler is just a horse of a different colour.

Having free hands for other stuff is great! Cycling to the beach? We’ll probably keep our old Coleman, but the backpack coolers are a game-changer.

What are the economics of backpack coolers?

We aren’t made of money, so we’re not gonna review anything over $100.00. On the other hand, you don’t want to go too cheap, because that’s a false economy. You may end up replacing it, which doesn’t save you bupkis.

If it’s well made, it will last longer, which makes it much more reasonable, especially if you use it a lot. It’s also great if you like cycling. So, no matter if you use it when car camping, on canoe trips, or just a day at the beach, its value is going to be greater. For example, we don’t remember what we paid for the Coleman 20 years ago, but it doesn’t matter, because we’ve used it so much. As a matter of fact, It’s paid for itself.

So we’re gonna keep the reviewed backpack coolers ranging from between $50.00 and $100.00. That’s the sweet spot for us.

How we know what we know about backpack coolers

To test these, we did a basic variation on this:

After about an hour or so of pre-cooling, we loaded up our frozen Chili, frozen scrambled eggs in a plastic bottle, snacks, and drinks. We drove for about 45 minutes to our favourite campsite, set things up, got out the guitar, and took out the Chilli to thaw. (We did this for everything, except we changed the chili for stews, Japanese nabe and spaghetti. We still froze them and used them for ice, it’s just that you can only eat so much chili. “Variety is the spice of life”.)

In all cases, the ice and eggs were still mostly frozen in the morning, which is pretty good. So if that’s what you’re really looking for in a backpack cooler, just pick up one of these based solely on price. You can’t go wrong. All of these will do the job. But some really shone, and we wanted to point out some extra value and mention them in this article.

The 9 Best Camping Backpack Coolers of 2024

(For between $50.00 and $100.00)

Igloo Lightweight Maxcold Insulated Gizmo 30-Can Backpack Cooler

ProsCons
  • It worked great
  • We liked the pockets (convenient)
  • Comfortable backpack and front straps
  • We’re not big on Camo
  • It isn’t really “lightweight”, but what cooler is? (Small quibble)
  • The side pockets were a little bulky

We liked this one a lot. We didn’t know about the Igloo company, but it turns out they make quite a range of backpack coolers. This is the entry-level item. Check Amazon for current prices. They seem to often be on sale.

We weren’t crazy about the look, but that’s a small quibble for what you get. As always with any cooler, (and all of the coolers in this article) we “pre-cooled” it with a 500ml plastic bottle of drinking water that we put in the freezer the night before. (This is in our Tips and Tricks article, too.)

It kept the ice and the frozen scrambled eggs frozen for about 24 hours, which is all you can ask for, really. There are also some other boxes that it ticked: it seems to be well-made and durable, which is an important consideration for these times. The outside pockets are always welcome, although as noted above, the side pockets were a little bulky.

All that being said, we liked it a lot.

Columbia PFG Thermal Pack Cooler

ProsCons
  • Large Capacity
  • Lots of pockets
  • Looks tough as a Spring Bear
  • At 3.17 kg it’s A little heavy
  • Not cheap (There’s a “Columbia tax”)
  • See Amazon for prices

Columbia is a company that has earned itself a reputation for quality outdoor gear. This was no exception. Its got a pleasing design (not that that’s very important to us, when we’re looking for a cooler) but it doesn’t hurt. This one too had some convenient pockets, but we really liked the large capacity cavity.

On the other hand, with the capacity comes weight, so it’s great for car camping, or a day at the beach but you wouldn’t want to hike any distance or portage with it. But, as we said, it does the job, kept things cold and hands free for other stuff.

The Columbia marketing was awesome, filled with classics like “ThermaCool high performance insulation with Therma-Flect radiant barrier”, and our favourite: “Exterior is constructed of Slime-Tech durable, gunk, muck, and goo resistant material”.

Somebody at Columbia needs a raise. But seriously, like all their stuff, it’s well made and will likely last for years, which makes it a pretty good value.

Stats At A Glance:

Brand
Columbia
Color
White Cap
Material
Polyester
Package Information
Bag
Capacity
30 Liters
Product Dimensions
8″D x 9″W x 15.6″H (20.3cmD x 22.8cmH x39.6)
Item Weight
2.7 Pounds (3.17kg)
Special Feature
Insulated
Included Components
Backpack Cooler
Model Name
ColumbiaPFG

Carhartt Insulated 24-Can Cooler Backpack

ProsCons
  • Combines a normal compartment with a cooler compartment
  • Lots of pockets
  • Very well made and comfortable
  • It doesn’t really do either of these things well
  • The actual cooler is pretty small
  • We just couldn’t find the problem it solves

This backpack cooler was interesting because it was the only one we reviewed that combines a traditional backpack on the top, with an insulated compartment on the bottom.

It’s an interesting idea to do the 2-in-1 thing, but we already have a perfectly good backpack. There might be some situations where this might come in handy, but it seemed to us that it compromises both things. You get a small cooler, and a small backpack.

That being said, it’s well-made and looks very sturdy. It holds about 12 cans, but that’s without ice or frozen stuff, so realistically that drops down to 9 or 10.

It does have lots of pockets which hold useful things. It might be good for concerts or a day at the beach, (We just thought of one good use: a job site) but we think there are better options for camping, whatever kind of camping you like to do.

Stats At A Glance:

Brand
Carhartt
Color
Black
Package Information
Bag
Capacity
12 cans
Product Dimensions
21” X 16.5” X 10”(90cm x 467.7cm x 283cm)
Item Weight
2.7 Pounds (3.17kg)
Special Feature
Combines a cooler with a backpack

Iculbag 48 cans Backpack Cooler

ProsCons
  • Really large capacity
  • Beer Bottle Opener!
  • Carabiners on the side.
  • Durable looking

  • The large capacity makes it heavy
  • Only one (waterproof) pocket
  • It’s not suitable for hikers


We really liked this one for its simple yet practical design. It does everything that we wanted it to do and nothing that we didn’t.

Iculbag was a new brand for us, but some of our buddies knew it well and spoke highly of it.

One of its greatest strengths is one of its greatest weaknesses. The large capacity (great!) makes it heavy. But you can’t have one without the other. It’s a package deal.

We found this to be useful in almost every application we tried. We cycled to the beach with it, took it car camping, and put it in the canoe (surprisingly stable).

The weight makes it unsuitable for long hikes, but it would be great in a base camp situation for day hikers. This one ticked all the boxes for us. It took a while to figure out how to close it, but we managed it soon enough and it became second nature.

The ice and frozen stuff lasted long enough for us to remark about it – longer than our old Coleman, which is no slouch in that department. So, yeah, we liked this a lot.

Stats At A Glance:

Brand
Iculbag
Color
Blue
Package Information
Bag
Material
Waterproof 500D PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
Capacity
48 cans (or 35 litres)
Special Features
Waterproof, Leakproof, Cooling 24 hours, Collapsible, Insulated (And the beer bottle opener!)


Arctic Zone Titan Guide Backpack Cooler

ProsCons
  • Big Capacity
  • Stain resistant
  • Solid construction
  • Lots of compartments and pockets

  • The large capacity makes it heavy
  • There aren’t very many outer pockets
  • It’s not cheap


This was one of our favourites. We liked the design right away. It was only after reading the included material that we realized that the good folks at Arctic Zone put some thought into this. One example: Sometimes bags containing food can break and make coolers pretty messy. (Once we had a freezer bag full of Chili start to leak, and we were cleaning that Coleman for a week!) We’re gonna come right out and say it: Cleaning coolers suck.

Therefore, when we read about the antimicrobial protection, that sounded great to us.

As we say in Nova Scotia: “Keep your fork, Duke, there’s pie!” (That means, but wait, there’s more!)

A litre bottle of drinking water that we froze in the freezer lasted for damn near two days, which is remarkable. (Although we have to note that this was in the early Spring, and the weather was not that hot yet. But still.)

In addition, the main bag holds 30 cans – but you have to allow for ice, so for practical purposes you can probably only fit 25 or so. If you take it all around, that’s still a pretty big capacity. The Pros definitely outweigh the Cons, to us.

The straps were comfortable, and there was a Sternum strap for the front, which is always nice. However, if this thing is full of food and beer, you’re not gonna want to take a long hike with it. (Just calling balls and strikes, here.)

Still, this is one of our favourites.

Stats At A Glance:

Brand
Arctic Zone
Color
Blue and black
Package Information
Bag
Capacity
30 cans
Special Features
Waterproof, Leakproof, Antimicrobial Protection, Preserves ice for over 24 hours

Double Leaves Backpack Cooler

ProsCons
  • Big Capacity
  • Stain resistant
  • Solid construction
  • Lots of compartments and pockets
  • Detachable Cutlery Bag
  • Lifetime Quality Support

  • The large capacity makes it heavy
  • There aren’t very many outer pockets
  • It’s a little pricey, but you have to factor in the Lifetime Quality Support.


This is one tough-looking backpack cooler! We loved the design, and there are some really thoughtful features. We were knocked out with the convenience of the detachable bag for cutlery or O-hashi. (Chopsticks. It’s big enough for several chopstick boxes, too.)

As a matter of fact, when we noticed that Double Leaves offers something called “Lifetime Quality Support”, we started to get really interested.

Another thing we liked was the reinforced bottom, which feels different from the main body and inspires confidence. We don’t often take wine when camping, but the side pockets inspired us to pack some red for our yakiniku. (Barbecue). It’s useful for packing out the empty, too. (“Leave No Trace”).

Another backpack cooler with a bottle opener! (But don’t forget your cork screw! We were inspired to pick one up just for the camp kitchen box!) We’re gonna start making that a habit.

It has a large capacity and lots of pockets. We really liked it.

Stats At A Glance:

Brand
Double Leaves
Color
Black
Material
Polyester
Package Information
Bag
Capacity
54 cans
Product Dimensions
6.69″D x 13.39″W x 17.72″H (189.6cmD x 379.6cmW x 502.3cmH)
Item Weight
1.4 Kilograms
Special Features
Portable, Waterproof, Leak Proof, Detachable Cutlery Box

Maelstrom Cooler Backpack

ProsCons
  • Large Capacity
  • Compartments for organization
  • Comfortable with adjustable straps
  • Lots of pockets


  • The large capacity makes it heavy
  • We weren’t crazy about the color (White stains easily)
  • We didn’t love the zippers. (YMMV)


This backpack cooler has a useful amount of pockets, but the one that we really liked was the “secret” pocket on the back for your wallet or keys.

It has a large capacity and separate compartments for food and drinks. That’s pretty useful for keeping things organized.

It’s a durable-looking backpack cooler, made of strong, confidence-inspiring nylon. We liked the fact that the straps can be adjusted, and the foam back was pretty comfortable. Here’s another backpack cooler with a bottle opener! All of you manufacturers should be looking into that. Great. But where’s our corkscrew? Huh? Huh?

Stats At A Glance:

Brand
Maelstrom
Color
White and Black
Material
Polyester/Nylon
Package Information
Bag, Cans (50)
Capacity
36 Liters
Product Dimensions
8″D x 21″W x 13.5″H(226.8cmD x 595.3cmW x 382.7cmH)
Item Weight
2.67 Pounds (1.2kg)
Special Features
Insulated, Lightweight, Foam Back for comfort
Model Name
50 cans cooler backpack

See Amazon for the price.

Coleman Backroads Backpack Cooler

ProsCons
  • Large Capacity
  • Comfortable with padded, adjustable straps
  • Lots of waterproof, zippered pockets



  • The large capacity makes it heavy
  • We weren’t crazy about the look
  • Smaller capacity than some of the other backpack coolers we looked at.


Okay, so you must have known we were gonna throw in a Coleman product somewhere! You’re probably thinking “You’ve been flapping your gums about your old Coleman so much the company ought to be paying you a commission!”

Guilty. We have a brand loyalty after 20 years of great service. We’re gonna review this honestly, however.

Okay, we think it looks durable, with a waxed canvas exterior. It’s not a beauty queen, but that’s not what we need, to be frank. (Have you seen our old Coleman?) The capacity was not as much as some of the others reviewed here, but it ought to be enough for anyone.

It has padded shoulder straps that can be adjusted, a sternum strap, and waist straps that were pretty effective in distributing the weight. It kept the food and drinks cold for about a full day.

There’s a large front zippered pocket for whatever you need to put there, and the wax exterior looks pretty waterproof to us. Holy mackerel! Here’s another backpack cooler with a bottle opener, this one in a front zippered pocket.

It looks durable, and given our experience with this company, we think it’s certainly worth your consideration. It seems to be on sale from time to time, so check Amazon for the price regularly.

Stats At A Glance:

Brand
Coleman
Color
Gray
Item Weight
2.03 Pounds (0.92kg)
Special Features
Waist and sternum straps
Included Components
Backpack Cooler
Recommended Uses For Product
Camping
Model Name
Heritage
Product Care Instructions
Hand Wash Only
Pattern
Solid

ICEMULE Classic Collapsible Backpack Cooler

ProsCons
  • Rugged, cool design
  • Collapsible
  • Waterproof, floats even when full



  • Small capacity (9 cans!)
  • One over-the-shoulder strap
  • Smaller capacity makes it less practical



When we first saw this, we thought “This is cool”. The design was completely unique to us. First, it’s not truly a backpack cooler. To us, a backpack has two straps, and this has one. One strap causes it to slip around. You might have experienced that with your gig bag for your guitar or your over-the-shoulder carry-all. It’s no fun to be shoving it back into place all the time.

On the plus side, it feels very well-made. In fact, extremely tough looking. In addition, we liked that it was collapsible; storage when not in use is something to always consider with a cooler, so we appreciated that.

Here’s another company that was new to us, but we expect big things from them. This cooler has an interesting design, it’s just that we’re all about practicality, and the capacity was a little too small. ( I know a lot of picnic people who might find this perfect. But we’re campers, and this is simply not large enough.)

There’s nothing wrong with the performance, it kept things cold for a long time, just not that many things. It just felt like a one-meal cooler. If that’s what you’re after, the quality of this thing is unbelievable.

Check Amazon for the price.

Stats At A Glance:

Brand
IceMule
Color
Many
Material
MuleSkin
Package Information
Bag
Capacity
10 Liters (9 Cans)
Product Dimensions
9”L x 9”W x 18”H (255.1cmL x 255.1cmW x 510.2cmH)
Item Weight
1.6 Pounds(0.72kg)
Special Features
Insulated, floats even when full
Included Components
Backpack Cooler
Recommended Uses For Product
Picnics, day trips
Model Name
Classic Small 10L

In Conclusion:

We hope you find this article helpful. It was a lot of fun to write and research. We will continue to produce content like this, so if you find it useful, tell your friends.

Here are some other articles you might find useful:

See you out there!