3 Things to Know About Beach Coolers

Hard-sided coolers keep ice frozen for 12–24 hours Thick insulation and sealed lids make them ideal for long beach days. Soft-sided coolers lose ice in 3–4 hours in direct sun.

Soft-sided coolers are lighter and easier to carry They work fine for a quick afternoon trip. But they crush easily if you sit on them and leak cold fast.

Choose based on how long you’ll stay For a full day with lunch, chairs, and kids, go hard-sided. For a short dip with a sandwich, soft is fine.