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Whether you’re a fan of day trips to the beach, multi-day camping trips, road trips, or social gatherings in your backyard, you’ve likely needed a cooler at some point in your life. They’re awesome for keeping drinks on ice anywhere, anytime, and they’re absolutely crucial for keeping food safe when you don’t have a fridge handy.
A cooler is one of the most portable, durable, and reliable ways to transport drinks and food. Some are small and easy to carry, others can be packed for days and roll along on handy little wheels. Some have soft shells, some have hard shells. And some are even powered by electricity so you don’t need to constantly replace ice. Convenient, eh?
If you’re convinced that you need your first (or a replacement) cooler, we’d love to help you pick the best one for you. They will vary in a lot of ways—things like price, capacity, shell type, wheeled vs. carried design, and more can all impact how useful a cooler is to you.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best coolers in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme 5-Wheeled Cooler
Top Soft Pick: Hydroflask HCM461 20-Litre Carry-Out Soft Cooler
Top Electric Pick: Bodega 53-Quart Car Refrigerator/Portable Freezer
Upgrade Pick: Yeti Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler
Budget Pick: Coleman Chiller 16-Quart Hard Cooler
We have so many exciting things to share with you about the Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme 5-Wheeled Cooler. The capacity is perfect for large social gatherings or extended trips, and the insulation is perfect for that too—your ice can stay ice for up to five days if you pack the cooler right. Pretty awesome, huh? The telescoping handle and puncture-proof wheels make it super easy to move around, too.
Aside from how much we love this cooler’s ability to keep all the heat out, our favourite feature by far is the lid. It’s a special Have-A-Seat lid, meaning it can support up to 250 pounds as a chair, but it also has four recessed cup holders to double as a tip-proof table. Nice touch, right? Speaking of nice touches, we can’t leave out the leakproof drain. It makes it so easy to drain water when the ice melts or it’s time to clean it.
There’s only one thing that we need to mention before we let you fully fall in love with this cooler. The durability of the handle and drainage spout aren’t quite up to our standards. You’ll need to be a bit gentler with these pieces than the main cooler body, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not much of a dealbreaker.
Reviewers have tons of good things to say about the Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme 5-Wheeled Cooler. Many of them have used this cooler for 4-5 day trips, and the ice stayed ice the entire time. They really like the durability of the lid and the fact that it has recessed cup holders. Their only concerns are the handle and the drain—they aren’t as durable as the cooler itself.
Dimensions: 22.6” x 17.6” x 17.7”
Weight: 14 lbs
Colour: Black
Capacity: 47 L
Wheeled or Carried: Wheeled
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Keeps ice frozen for up to five days
Has a telescoping handle and puncture-proof wheels for easy transport
Leak-resistant drain makes it easy to dump water
Have-A-Seat lid supports up to 250 pounds to double as a chair and has four recessed cup holders
Cons:
Handle and drainage spout aren’t super durable
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Overall, the Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme 5-Wheeled Cooler is pretty much as good as coolers can get. We would prefer that the handle and drain were as durable as the rest of the cooler, but we suppose you can’t have everything. Its overall performance is flawless. And the bonuses are a nice touch.
There are so many things to like about the Hydroflask HCM461 20-Litre Carry-Out Soft Cooler. The affordable price tag is only the beginning. This thing weighs only two and a half pounds when it’s empty, so it’s super comfortable to carry around even once it’s full. You have two carrying options, too. You can use either the two short handles or the long shoulder strap—whatever makes you happy.
We’re big fans of the water-resistant material on the outside too. Unlike other soft shells, this one won’t get saturated with water if it gets rained on. Trust us, it makes life so much easier. We also really appreciate that the lid and base are both compression-molded. It offers extra stability to keep your food and drinks exactly where they should be.
There are only a few low points to mention before we wrap up. The first couple of things really go together—the capacity is a bit small and the insulation is a bit light. Both of these things mean that this cooler is better suited to day trips instead of multi-day adventures. The other issue is with durability—since it’s a soft shell, it won’t resist damage as well as a hard option.
Reviewers are quite happy with the Hydroflask HCM461 20-Litre Carry-Out Soft Cooler. It’s perfect for full-day trips for drinks and snacks. They absolutely love how lightweight it is when it’s empty, and it’s very easy to pack and clean. It doesn’t have enough insulation for multi-day trips, but people knew that going in. They don’t have any other issues with it at all.
Dimensions: 13.5” x 14.5” x 10.75”
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Colour: Baltic blue
Capacity: 20 L
Wheeled or Carried: Carried
Pros:
Compression-molded lid and base provide extra stability
Has two short handles and a long shoulder strap for two carrying options
Fabric is water-resistant for use in all weather
Cons:
Capacity is a bit small
Insulation isn’t perfect
More vulnerable to damage than hard coolers
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
All in all, the Hydroflask HCM461 20-Litre Carry-Out Soft Cooler is our favourite soft shell cooler right now. It has a pleasing design, can be used in all weather types, fits a good amount of food and drinks, and can compete with other options in terms of stability…do we need to go on?
We are big fans of the Bodega 53-Quart Car Refrigerator/Portable Freezer. It’s got a pretty large capacity at 50 litres, and since it can be used as either a fridge or a freezer (wide temperature range for the win!), you’ll be able to bring any type of food you want when you hit the road. Even ice cream. This thing has a handle and wheels to make sure you don’t need to struggle too much bringing it from one place to the next.
One of our favourite features is the companion app. That’s right, it has an app. You can use it to monitor the internal temperature and make adjustments as needed. Pretty handy, right? We also love that it has a bottom drain (for easy cleaning!) and a non-slip bottom (to stay still in the car). Clearly, a lot of thought was put into this one, and we certainly appreciate it. We bet you will too.
When it comes to the actual quality and performance of this option, we have no complaints. Zero. That’s a pretty rare thing. We do want to make it very obvious, though, that this is a very expensive cooler. Many people won’t want to spend so much on a thing that stores drinks, but for some people, it’ll be a no-brainer investment. It all depends on how much you’ll use it.
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Bodega 53-Quart Car Refrigerator/Portable Freezer. They really enjoy that they can use it as a fridge or freezer depending on what foods they’re storing in it, and they also like that they can plug it in in the car or at a regular outlet. Super convenient. The size is perfect for all kinds of situations, too! Most of them don’t use the app, but it’s a nice option to have.
Dimensions: 28.5” x 18” x 14.1”
Weight: 26.5 lbs
Colour: Blue and white
Capacity: 50 L
Wheeled or Carried: Wheeled
Warranty: 5 years on compressor, 1 year on everything else
Pros:
Can plug into a car or regular outlet for constant temperature management without ice (between -4ºF and 68ºF)
Has a Wi-Fi-enabled companion app to make adjustments to the cooler settings
Has a bottom drain hole for easy cleaning
Non-slip bottom for extra stability in the car
Cons:
Very expensive
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 2/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the Bodega 53-Quart Car Refrigerator/Portable Freezer is the best electric cooler you’ll find right now, and that’s why it’s one of our top picks. It’s durable, has a great temperature range, is easy to use, and trucks along with wheels and a handle to make your life that much easier.
We really love the Yeti Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler. It’s one of the most durable coolers around—it’s been tested against fireworks, among other things, and comes out on top. It’s perfect for rough camping and accident-prone owners. The wheels are super durable, too. They’re a never-flat material and will roll well on every surface. Even gravel. Even when it’s full of heavy drinks.
This cooler also takes first place for temperature-maintaining performance. Whether you’re resting hot meat or travelling with multiple days worth of cold food and drinks, you won’t have any problems. And that’s all thanks to the extra-thick walls and Permafrost insulation. We also really like the handle design. It’s easy to raise up and down and makes towing the cooler a breeze.
There are only two things we want you to be aware of before you commit to this one. First of all, the price is high, so make sure you’re prepared to invest a little extra. It won’t be worth it for everybody, but the cooler really is worth the money. Also, the extra-thick wheels are a little deceptive when it comes to interior space, so make sure you get a good idea of its true capacity before you buy.
Reviewers really like the Yeti Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler. Whether they’re resting freshly barbecued meat or towing around food and drinks for days at a time, the cooler does a great job of maintaining the interior’s temperature. It’s pretty easy to wheel around, and they really like how durable it is—they want to keep it forever.
Dimensions: 28.25” x 19.5” x 18.6”
Weight: 37 lbs
Colour: 11 options
Capacity: 52 L
Wheeled or Carried: Wheeled
Warranty: 5 years
Pros:
Never-flat wheels are reliable and move well on every terrain type
Extra thick walls with Permafrost insulation eliminate heat transfer
Insanely durable—nearly indestructible
Handle quickly folds up and down
Cons:
Very expensive
Wall thickness takes up a lot of the interior space
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 2/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the Yeti Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler is one of the absolute best coolers money can buy. It’s got a lot of interior space, it’s insanely durable, and it wheels around (with minimal effort on your part) on any terrain. What more could you ask for?
We like a lot of things about the Coleman Chiller 16-Quart Hard Cooler. It’s insanely durable—most people could probably use it as a chair or step and be just fine. It’s also really easy to clean (inside and out), which is super important for keeping it shiny on the outside and food-safe on the inside. It has a 15.1 litre capacity, meaning it can hold 11 drinks and eight pounds of ice.
One of our favourite features on this one is the handle. It’s a large bail handle that makes it really easy to carry with one hand, even when it’s full and heavy. Its TempLock insulation is another noteworthy feature—whether you’re carrying hot food or cold drinks, this cooler does its job right. There won’t be much change in temperature, even if you leave it alone for hours.
The main issue we have with this one is the small size. While it’s great for use as a lunch box or solo trips, it won’t be the best choice if you plan on chilling drinks for large family get-togethers or multi-day trips to a cottage or campsite. Just make sure you’re aware of the limitations before you buy so you don’t end up disappointed.
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Coleman Chiller 16-Quart Hard Cooler. They’ve used it for things like solo camping trips, for resting meat after barbecuing, and even as a lunch box. They love how portable and easy to carry it is, and they don’t have any trouble keeping it clean, either. A couple of people expected it to be a bit larger, but it suited most people’s needs just fine.
Dimensions: 12” x 15.75” x 11.25”
Weight: 3.6 lbs
Colour: Blue
Capacity: 15.1 L
Wheeled or Carried: Carried
Pros:
TempLock insulation keeps drinks cold all day
Large-grip bail handle makes it easy to balance and carry a full cooler with one hand
Can hold up to 11 cans with eight pounds of ice
Very easy to clean
Cons:
Small capacity
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Coleman Chiller 16-Quart Hard Cooler is our favourite budget-friendly option right now. It’s made to last, it’s easy to carry and clean, and it has a decent capacity for solo adventures or small groups. All the essentials, right?
Some coolers can be purchased for less than $50, but others will cost upwards of $550. In general, more expensive coolers will be more durable, will have a larger capacity, and/or will be electric. Most people won’t need to spend more than $200 for an awesome cooler that suits their needs.
Typically, the capacity of a cooler will range between 15 litres and 50 litres. Obviously, a larger capacity means there’s more room for drinks and food, but they’ll also be heavier and more expensive. For single-day trips, a 20-litre capacity will be plenty.
Some coolers will have wheels and long handles, and others will need to be carried. This is mainly something to pay attention to when buying a larger cooler, as no small coolers will have wheels. If you will need to walk long distances or you don’t want the hassle of two-teaming a heavy cooler, you’ll want to make sure that you choose one that has wheels and a comfortable handle. There are plenty of large coolers that don’t, so it’s something to prioritize if it’s important to you.
Most coolers have a hard shell, and these will be better at insulating your food and drinks and they’ll also be a lot more durable. However, soft shell coolers exist, too, and they have their benefits. Soft shell coolers are a lot lighter and easier to carry. Plus, many of them can collapse down for easier storage.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.