A cooler bag is the easy way to take cold drinks and lunch out without hauling a hard esky. The five bags below cover the three jobs people really buy them for: a day out on your back, a big group at the beach or campsite, and lunch at work.
Every fact below comes from the product listing, and cooling times are the listings' own wording, not our testing. We have put the rating and the rating count next to each pick so you can see how much evidence sits behind it.
Best cooler backpack: ATRIPACK 25L Tactical Backpack Cooler
Best cooler backpack: the ATRIPACK 25L Tactical Backpack Cooler, because it carries hands free and its listing describes a dual compartment design in waterproof 900D oxford fabric.
The listing describes a dual compartment design with an expandable top compartment, so wet and dry items can be kept apart. The outer fabric is waterproof 900D oxford material, said to bear weights up to 10 kg. Insulation is 10 mm thick foam with a food grade aluminium liner, and the listing words the cold time as up to 8 to 12 hours. It also lists seven pockets, MOLLE webbing on the front, a removable bottle opener, a carabiner and a flag patch. It holds 4.6 stars from 888 ratings, the most of any cooler backpack here.
It suits day trips, beach outings, picnics and hiking where you want both hands free. The honest catch: the listing words its cooling time as up to 8 to 12 hours, so it suits day trips rather than long stays. The rating may be pooled across variants.
Best large collapsible cooler backpack: INSMEER 40L Cooler Backpack
Best large collapsible cooler backpack: the INSMEER 40L Cooler Backpack, because its listing describes a collapsible body with a hard lid and a bottle opener in a 40L size.
The listing gives the size as 38 by 30 by 35 cm and says it holds up to 60 cans. It describes 5 mm EPE foam insulation with a PEVA fabric lining, a 600D scratch resistant nylon interior and a reinforced PP top cover. The bag folds flat, has a front pocket, large mesh pockets on both sides and adjustable padded shoulder straps plus a top handle. The listing words the cold time as up to 12 hours. It holds 4.7 stars from 232 ratings.
It suits beach, camping, picnic and BBQ days when a group needs one big bag. The honest catch: the listing words its cold time as up to 12 hours and it only has 232 ratings so far.
Best value: Coleman Soft Cooler 30 Can
Best value: the Coleman Soft Cooler 30 Can, because it is the lowest priced pick here and its listing describes a shoulder strap, a front zippered pocket and a 30 can capacity.
The Coleman listing describes an adjustable shoulder strap for carrying hands free, a front zippered pocket, interior mesh pockets and lid bungees. The title says it is fully insulated, leakproof and keeps contents cold up to 12 hours, and the listing calls it portable and versatile for outdoor activities. It holds 4.7 stars from 49 ratings.
It suits a simple, low cost soft cooler for a picnic or the cricket. The honest catch: it has only 49 ratings so far, and its title words cold keeping as up to 12 hours.
Best for lunch and the work site: Carhartt Deluxe Dual Compartment Lunch Cooler Bag
Best for lunch and the work site: the Carhartt Deluxe Dual Compartment Lunch Cooler Bag, because it has by far the most ratings of any bag here and its listing describes a rugged dual compartment build for work and camping.
The listing describes a tough and durable lunch cooler for a work site, a camping trip or a tactical environment, with sturdy handles and dual compartments that keep containers and beverages organised and separated. The size is listed as about 25.4 by 21.6 by 10.2 cm. It holds 4.8 stars from 26,428 ratings, the highest score and the biggest count on this page.
It suits packing sandwiches, snacks and drinks for a long workday. The honest catch: it is a lunch sized bag, so it will not hold a day of drinks for a group.
Best leakproof lunch cooler: ATRIPACK 12L Tactical Lunch Cooler Bag
Best leakproof lunch cooler: the ATRIPACK 12L Tactical Lunch Cooler Bag, because its listing describes a waterproof and oil proof lining, five compartments and cooling worded as more than 7 to 8 hours, with 4.6 stars from 6,548 ratings.
The listing gives about 27 by 20 by 24 cm and up to 12.3L, roughly 18 cans. It has five compartments, two large front zippered pockets, a side mesh pocket for a water bottle and MOLLE webbing. The lining is 3 layers of 8 mm thick PE foam, described as waterproof and oil proof, and the exterior is 900D water resistant oxford fabric. An adjustable shoulder strap about 167.6 cm long is included. It holds 4.6 stars from 6,548 ratings.
It suits work, campus, picnics and the beach when you want a lunch sized bag with plenty of pockets. The honest catch: it is a 12L lunch size and the ratings may be pooled across variants.
How to choose a cooler bag
Start with how many people and how many hours
Capacity is the first filter. A lunch bag such as the Carhartt or the ATRIPACK 12L is for one person. The Coleman holds 30 cans per its listing, the ATRIPACK 25L is a day trip size, and the INSMEER 40L holds up to 60 cans. Pick the size for your biggest outing, not your average one.
Backpack, shoulder strap or handle
If you walk from the car park to the beach, a backpack keeps your hands free, which is what the ATRIPACK 25L and INSMEER 40L offer. The Coleman has a single shoulder strap, and the lunch bags have handles plus a strap on the ATRIPACK 12L. A heavy load is easier on two straps.
Read the cold time as a claim
Every listing here words its cold time as up to a number of hours, from more than 7 to 8 hours to up to 12. Those are the sellers' words, and a hot car or full sun will change the result. Use them to compare bags against each other, and choose the bigger bag for a longer day.
Insulation and lining
Thicker foam and a good lining are what the listings lean on. The ATRIPACK 25L lists 10 mm foam with an aluminium liner, the INSMEER 40L lists 5 mm EPE foam with PEVA, and the ATRIPACK 12L lists three layers of 8 mm PE foam. The Coleman listing gives the claim but not the foam detail.
Leakproof and waterproof claims
Look for what the listing actually says. The INSMEER 40L is described as 100% leakproof, the ATRIPACK 12L has a waterproof and oil proof lining, and the Coleman title says leakproof. The ATRIPACK 25L describes a waterproof outer fabric, not a leakproof lining.
Pockets and extras
Extra pockets keep keys and snacks out of the cold space. The ATRIPACK 25L lists seven pockets and a removable bottle opener, the INSMEER 40L adds mesh side pockets and its own bottle opener, and the ATRIPACK 12L has a bottle pouch. For a bigger hard sided option, see our esky guide.
When a bag is not enough
A cooler bag suits a day. For a long camping stay look at the camping fridge guide, and for the food that goes in the bag, the picnic basket guide has ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cooler bag in Australia?
For most outings the ATRIPACK 25L Tactical Backpack Cooler is our pick: it has a dual compartment design, waterproof 900D oxford fabric and 4.6 stars from 888 ratings. If you need more room, the INSMEER 40L holds up to 60 cans per its listing, and the Coleman 30 Can costs the least.
What is the best soft cooler bag?
The Coleman Soft Cooler 30 Can is the simplest soft cooler here, with an adjustable shoulder strap, a front zippered pocket and a 30 can capacity. For a bigger soft cooler, the INSMEER 40L folds flat and has a hard lid. The Coleman has only 49 ratings so far, so treat its score as early.
What is the best insulated cooler bag?
The ATRIPACK 25L lists 10 mm thick insulation foam with a food grade aluminium liner and words its cooling as up to 8 to 12 hours. The INSMEER 40L lists 5 mm EPE foam and up to 12 hours. Both are listing claims, so use them as a guide rather than a guarantee.
What is the best backpack cooler bag?
The ATRIPACK 25L is the best backpack cooler here, with the most ratings of any cooler backpack on this page. The INSMEER 40L is the bigger choice: its listing describes adjustable padded shoulder straps, a top handle and a collapsible body. Pick the ATRIPACK for a day out and the INSMEER for a group.
What is the best small cooler bag?
The ATRIPACK 12L Tactical Lunch Cooler Bag is the small pick, a leakproof lunch cooler with up to 12.3L of space, five compartments and 4.6 stars from 6,548 ratings. The Carhartt Deluxe is the other small option, a lunch sized bag with dual compartments and 4.8 stars from 26,428 ratings.
What is a good cooler bag for work or lunch?
The Carhartt Deluxe Dual Compartment Lunch Cooler Bag is the work pick: its listing describes a rugged build for work sites, with dual compartments to keep containers and drinks separate, and it has 4.8 stars from 26,428 ratings. The ATRIPACK 12L is the alternative if you want a leakproof lining and more pockets.
Is a cooler bag as good as an esky?
A soft cooler bag is lighter to carry and folds or stores smaller, which is why the INSMEER 40L collapses flat. A hard esky keeps its shape and is the choice for longer stays. The cooler bags here word their cold time as up to 8 to 12 hours, so they suit day trips more than long stays.
How long does a cooler bag keep things cold?
Each listing words it differently. The ATRIPACK 25L says up to 8 to 12 hours, the INSMEER 40L and Coleman Soft Cooler say up to 12 hours, and the ATRIPACK 12L says more than 7 to 8 hours. These are the listings' own claims, so expect shorter times on a hot day.
Which cooler bag is the best value?
The Coleman Soft Cooler 30 Can is the lowest priced pick here, with a shoulder strap, a front zippered pocket, interior mesh pockets and lid bungees. Its catch is only 49 ratings so far. If you want a bigger bag with more ratings behind it, look at the INSMEER 40L.
