Coleman’s all-terrain cooler has 8-inch wheels and enough clearance to roll over roots and rocks en route to your lakeside campsite—plus, it’s strong enough to withstand the weight of 84 cans. The sturdy lid has molded cup holders and doubles as a seat.
[$100; coleman.com]
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The smallest of Pelican’s rugged coolers is made from two layers of leakproof plastic lined with two inches of polyurethane insulation, all backed by a lifetime guarantee. We packed for a long weekend, used the molded tie-downs to lash the cooler to our truck bed, and then negotiated some California desert roads. After four days of food storage, along with popping tops on its built-in bottle opener, we still had ice. Our one complaint: Without a pressure-regulating, water-draining port, the cooler was sometimes hard to open.
[$150; pelicancoolers.com]
This sling-pack roll-top is as rugged as a soft cooler gets, and it kept a 12-pack chilled for more than 24 hours. Half-millimeter vinyl walls, which sandwich half-inch thick polyurethane foam, form a tough-as-nails shell that withstood scraping through a slot canyon and being hauled up a rock face. Reinforced seams made it through a summer of hard use without springing a leak.
[$60; icemulecoolers.com]
Pressure-injected insulation kept the Grizzly’s contents icy during our six-day camping trip in New York’s High Peaks, an area filled with inquisitive black bears. Padlocked shut, this made-in-the-USA cooler kept our food secure and our trip bear-free. Unlocked, the rubber clasps opened effortlessly for thirsty humans.
[$225; grizzlycoolers.com]
Most lunch-box coolers are poorly made—and perform just as poorly—but this one has a robust build and packs 2.5 times as much insulating foam as similar units. Laced lid bungees allow you to securely strap on a thermos or a paperback book.
[$45; stanley-pmi.com]
With walls up to 2.75 inches thick filled with polyurethane insulation, this 30-lb beast can keep food cold for five to ten days at a time. Skid plates, tie-downs, and a lockdown top all make the 128-can Outfitter 75 abuse-proof, whether it’s tossed in a pickup bed or a pontoon boat.
[$270; canyoncoolers.com]
If you’re taking a long ride in the searing heat, use this slanted, soft-sided saddlebag. It not only holds 15 cans or several sandwiches, but also doubles as a duffel bag and can haul clothes and other gear for when you’re off the road.
[$55; aocoolers.com]
Multiple-day rager? No problem. This nearly indestructible, open-top, 20.8 gallon cooler holds a full size keg or 96 cans, along with plenty of room for ice. Two inches of pressure-injected insulation will keep your brews cold through endless rounds of cornhole and croquet.
[$250; yeti.com]
