4 Reasons to Choose a Soft Cooler for Day Hikes

Lighter and easier to carry A soft cooler is significantly lighter than a hard one and straps to your backpack or slings over your shoulder. Hard coolers are bulky and awkward to carry any real distance.

Packs more conveniently You can shove a soft cooler into your pack or strap it on without hassle. Hard coolers take up too much space and don’t compress.

Keeps food cold long enough For a few hours on the trail, a soft cooler with a decent liner and a frozen water bottle will keep lunch cold. You don’t need 24-hour ice retention for a day hike.

Costs less for adequate performance A good soft cooler with at least 0.5 inches of foam costs around $30–50. Skip ultralight foil bags that barely insulate, but don’t overspend on a hard cooler you won’t need.