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Abby Ferguson
Whether you’re entertaining at home, traveling, camping, or tailgating, a cooler with wheels is a game-changer. Having temperature-controlled beverages (and food) on hand can be the difference between joy and sadness. But lugging around a heavy cooler is just pure misery. You want to work up a thirst from whatever fun activity you’re undertaking, not from roping in some poor friend or family member to carry the heavy cooler with you. The best coolers with wheels—like our best overall, the YETI Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler—allow you to be self-sufficient without compromising quality.
Best overall: YETI Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler
Best compact: RovR Roll R 45 Wheeled Cooler
Best with battery: BLUETTI MultiCooler | Portable Fridge
Most durable: ORCA 65–Quart Wheeled Cooler
Best value: RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler
Best 35-quart for mixing drinks: BruMate BruTank 35-Quart Rolling Cooler
Best features: Igloo 70-Quart Premium Trailmate Wheeled Rolling Cooler
Best budget: Coleman Chiller Series Insulated Soft Cooler
How we chose the best coolers with wheels
As a freelance journalist for over 10 years, I’ve reviewed home and tech products for publications including Forbes, CNN Underscored, NBC News Select, Popular Mechanics, Architectural Digest, Tom’s Guide, The Daily Beast, USA Today’s Reviewed, TechRadar, Better Homes & Gardens, Bob Vila, and, of course, PopSci. My recommendations for the best-wheeled coolers are based on a mix of hands-on testing and research. I weighed the quality of build, size, features, and price.
The best coolers with wheels: Reviews & Recommendations
Whether your old cooler wore out, you need a larger or more advanced model with wheels, or you’re looking for your very first wheeled cooler, we’ve got you covered. One of these wheeled coolers will make it easier to entertain at home, tailgate, go camping, or bring beverages to the team.
Best overall: YETI Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler
Specs
Dimensions: 28.25 x 18.62 x 19.5 inches
Weight: 23 pounds
Capacity: 82 cans or 64 pounds of ice
Pros
Puncture-resistant wheels
Includes dry goods basket
Keeps hot items hot
Bearproof design
Compatible with dry ice
Various colors to choose from
Cons
Expensive
YETI is well-known for its drinkware, coolers, and more. In fact, the YETI Hopper Flip 18 tops our list of the best cooler bags, and the YETI Gallon Jug is our best overall choice for best gallon water bottles. The company has been building coolers since 2006, but the Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler was its first cooler with wheels—and it was worth the wait.
The YETI Tundra Wheeled Cooler features two inches of insulation combined with pressure-injected polyurethane, an interlock lid system, and a freezer-quality gasket. These components lock in cold temperatures and keep heat out. Unless you’re packing hot items, in which case the cooler works in reverse to keep the heat in. The wheeled cooler can also be used with dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide that provides more cooling power than regular ice).
The wheels are virtually indestructible, so the cooler can easily withstand rocks, gravel, and even splintered marine docks. The wheels can also handle sand, but it may be difficult to roll over such soft terrain. Also, the handle is made of welded aluminum and offers grips that are comfortable to handle.
The vortex drain system makes it easy to drain water from the cooler, and the bearproof design keeps your goods (if not you) safe from hungry carnivorous mammals. And the color choices are plentiful, including navy, canopy green, charcoal, cosmic lilac, camp green, Nordic purple, rescue red, tan, and white.
Need to haul a few dozen fewer cans but still want that legendary YETI build? We’re also big fans of the more recent Roadie line, including the Roadie 60 shown here.
Best compact: RovR Roll R 45 Wheeled Cooler
Specs
Dimensions: 22.5 x 218.9 x 19.3 inches
Weight: 39 pounds with land bin, 34 pounds without
Capacity: 60 cans or 10 pounds of ice
Pros
Sporty, space-saving design
8-day ice retention
All-terrain wheels
DeepFreeze dry bin
Bearproof design
Plenty of color choices
Cons
Handle is slightly flimsy when fully extended
The sporty-looking RovR Roll R 45 Wheeled Cooler looks like a miniature version of my mid-engine MR2 Spyder—which, admittedly, looks like a miniature version of a full-size vehicle. It also happens to make our list of the best coolers. The 45-quart cooler is the perfect size for my two-seater car and is also ideal when space is either limited or you don’t need a giant cooler. (Note: Rover does make 60-quart and 80-quart wheeled coolers, and in addition to glacier and chili pepper, other color choices include desert, magic hour, midnight, powder, moss, and Gobi.)
The deep freeze-dry bin is deep enough to hold wine bottles upright, or it can also be used to store clean ice for beverages. The wheeled cooler also offers compartments to store various types of items (meat, veggies, etc.) separately—but also below food-safe temperatures recommended by the FDA. The latches are tight enough that it takes a minute to open them, and the drain plug makes it easy to channel the water out. Also, the custom rubber gasket seals the cold air inside, which allows the cooler to provide up to eight days of ice retention.
In addition, the telescopic handle lets me find the right height for comfortably wheeling the cooler around. When the handle is fully extended, it feels rather flimsy, but at lower heights, it’s fine. The 9-inch all-terrain wheels are puncture-resistant and make the cooler easy to navigate.
There are also a lot of cool RovR Roll R 45 accessories that you can purchase separately and attach to the anchor points, like a prep board, double cup holder, umbrella/rod holder, collapsible bin, and bike trailer kit.
Best with battery: BLUETTI MultiCooler | Portable Fridge
Terri Williams
Specs
Dimensions: 29.1 x 17.3 x 18.7 inches
Weight: 52.9 pounds
Capacity: 50 quarts (refrigerator: 42 quarts, ice maker 9.5 quarts, battery: 6.3 quarts)
Pros
Makes ice (and has ice basket and ice shovel)
LED touchscreen control panel
Smartphone control and monitor
Two baskets for food and drinks
USB ports
Removable lid
Rapid cool down (15 minutes)
Charges via solar panel, AC, car, and battery
Ice maker is self-cleaning
Cons
Quite expensive
Can’t use freezer and fridge simultaneously
You may be accustomed to seeing Bluetti on our lists of the best solar generators and best portable generators. However, with the Bluetti MultiCooler|Portable Fridge, the company has officially entered the wheeled cooler market—and entered it with a bang. The 3-in-1 cooler is a refrigerator, freezer, and ice maker—and it’s powered by an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery that’s rechargeable, compatible with solar charging, and can last up to 10 years. In addition to solar charging, the MultiCooler can be charged via a car socket and AC wall jack, and it is an all-around amazing pick for van-lifers.
The B70 Modular Battery is also hot-swappable, meaning it can be used in Bluetti’s AC180T Power Station as well. The battery can power the MultiCooler for 3 to 6 days (depending on the temperature selected) in order to keep food refrigerated or frozen. The MultiCooler uses rapid cool-down technology, combining a powerful compressor and VIP (vacuumed insert panel) thermal isolation to drop the interior temperature from 85 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit in 15 minutes flat. However, you’ll have to choose between freezing your food or refrigerating it since the MultiCooler can’t do both simultaneously.
To make ice, just fill the ice-making compartment, and the MultiCooler creates ice cubes (small or large, depending on the setting) in single mode (24 pieces) or continuous mode, then drops the ice cubes into the ice basket—and there’s also a convenient ice shovel included. In addition, the ice-making compartment has a self-cleaning mode, which takes around 24 minutes from start to finish, and this helps to ensure that the water/ice is always clean.
The MultiCooler has USB-A and USB-C ports for charging a phone, tablet, or laptop as well. The LED touchscreen displays buttons for power, setting, temperature setting, ice-making, and self-clean, along with the refrigeration mode area. By downloading the app to my iPhone, I could remotely start the ice-making or self-clean functions and view the temperature and other stats. The cooler also uses anti-tilt protection. When tilted more than 45 degrees, it shuts down to protect the compressor. A removable lid makes the MultiCooler more convenient to use, as does the drain outlet. And while the MultiCooler is heavy, weighing 52.9 pounds, the handle makes it easy to navigate.
Sure, it’s expensive; the cooler is $999 MSRP (though typically offered for $699). And the B70 Modular Batteries + AC180T Power Station are an additional $1,499 MSRP (typically offered for $999). And then there’s the cost of solar panels if that’s the recharge route you want to take. But if you want to keep your food at its optimal temperature for days on end, it’s the best premium pick.
Most durable: ORCA 65-Quart Wheeled Cooler
Specs
Dimensions: 32 x 20 x 19 inches
Weight: 41 pounds
Capacity: 54 cans
Pros
Durable roto-molded construction
Large but lightweight wheels
Cargo net
Plenty of color choices
Cons
Bulky
Expensive
ORCA’s 65 Quart Wheeled Cooler is large enough for all of your needs. The generously sized cooler is certainly big. However, the large wheels are lightweight enough to make it relatively easy to transport, and the wheels are designed for any type of terrain. The pull handle is also large enough for up to two people to comfortably pull the cooler—although it can also easily be towed by one person as well.
The 41-pound cooler can hold up to 54 cans, or the equivalent amount in other types of foods and beverages. Its roto-molded construction makes it strong enough to serve as seating, and it’s also rugged enough to stand on.
The cooler can retain ice for eight days, and the molded drain channel drains quickly. In addition, it features a cargo net, which provides additional storage. The padlock fastening hole can accommodate a padlock to keep the cooler’s contents secure. Cooler color choices include blaze orange, charcoal, navy, seafoam, tan, and white.
Best value: RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler
Brandt Ranj / Popular Science
Specs
Dimensions: 23 x 20.5 x 20.75 inches
Weight: 33 pounds
Capacity: 41 pounds/60 cans
Pros
Built-in bottle opener
Puncture-proof wheels
Almost three inches of insulation to retain ice
Smooth-feeling handle
Cons
May not have a high enough capacity for you
Hardshell wheeled coolers can be a significant investment, but RTIC has bucked that trend with its 45 QT Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler, which is normally well under $300 and can be gotten for as little as $230 on sale through the company’s website. The company’s emphasis on relative affordability is clear, but it didn’t cut corners to get there; this cooler is comparable to models that cost significantly more.
There’s nearly three inches of insulation between your drinks and the outside world, which is enough to retain ice for several days. The company is confident its thick wheels are sufficient for us on all types of terrain, from pavement and grass to sand and mud. Indeed, the cooler was very easy to roll around on grass and pavement in our tests. Its outer shell didn’t get damaged during extended periods in the rain or direct exposure to strong sunlight for several weeks.
We were pleased with this cooler’s compact size, especially when its handle was fully retracted, which made it easy to take into and out of a car’s trunk. When fully extended, the handle was comfortable to use for a person over six feet tall. Another feature RTIC managed to fit seamlessly into this cooler’s compact design was a bottle opener, which acts like a padlock when it’s inserted into the cooler’s front side. Two rubber latches flank the bottle opener to keep the cooler from accidentally opening.
In our tests, we filled this cooler up with 36 12-ounce cans and 20 pounds of ice. When left outside in 85-degree heat for multiple days, it was able to retain ice for 36 hours. The water inside the cooler remained ice cold for almost 72 hours. RTIC says its cooler can retain ice for up to five days by prechilling your cooler, starting with cold drinks, and using a 2:1 ice-to-beverage ratio. We followed none of this advice and the Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler was still performant enough to be used during an entire long weekend party.
RTIC’s 45 QT Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler isn’t the least expensive model we’re recommending, but it hits a sweet spot between features and price. If you need a fully featured hard cooler that won’t break the bank, this one is your best value.
Best for mixing drinks: BruMate BruTank 35-Quart Rolling Cooler
Why it made the cut: The 1.8-gallon drink tank with tap makes it easy to mix and dispense drinks into glasses, mugs, and tumblers.
Specs
Dimensions: 21 x 21 x 19 inches
Weight: 31 pounds
Capacity: 25 pounds of ice, 36 12-ounce cans, or nine bottles of wine/liquor (with Drink Tank installed)
Pros
1.8-gallon drink tank with built-in tap
Built-in bottle opener
Puncture-resistant all-terrain wheels
Handles on side
7-day ice retention
Variety of color choices
Cons
Tap is on bottom, so cooler may need to dispense drinks
Admittedly, at some point, rolling coolers can start to look alike. However, the BrüMate BrüTank 35 Quart Rolling Cooler has a unique feature: the BrüTank is a 1.8-gallon removable drink tank with a built-in tap. This allows you to pour (or mix) your favorite beverages into the tank. When you want a drink, you can put your cup/mug/tumbler under the tap and turn the dial to easily pour the beverage—adjust the flow rate. However, be advised that the tap is at the bottom, so you may want to put the cooler on a table or some other elevated surface. Otherwise, your beverage container will be in the grass or on the concrete pavement—which isn’t the most hygienic location.
Also, while almost any type of drink can be used in the BrüTank, hot drinks and slushy-style drinks are not recommended. The waterproof cooler also has a built-in bottle opener for popping the top off of glass bottles. These components make it an ideal choice for adult drinks.
I like this 35-quart model because it’s smaller than even the 45-quart cooler that is our Best Compact choice. (However, that cooler retains ice for one day longer, has a Deep Freeze Dry Bin, and also a bearproof design). However, the BrüMate BrüTank has the same level of sturdiness and is just as convenient to transport. The all-terrain wheels are puncture-resistant and can roll over any type of surface, including sand. Also, the telescoping handle can be adjusted to the right size, making it convenient when pulling the cooler behind me.
There are handles on the side, particularly useful when two people are carrying a cooler. However, since this cooler is so light, I can also pick it up by the handles myself to place in spaces where there’s not enough room to roll it (like the back of my garage). Color options include denim, lilac dusk, charcoal, ice white, mocha, and neon pink. The cooler is also available in a 55-quart size, and BrüMate also sells Black Ice packs, dry racks, and other accessories.
Best features: Igloo 70 Quart Premium Trailmate Wheeled Rolling Cooler
Specs
Dimensions: 34.59 x 19.7 x 23.61 inches
Weight: 34.7 pounds
Capacity: 112 cans
Pros
Dry storage
Umbrella/fishing hook holders
Bottle opener
Butler tray
All-terrain wheels
Cons
May be too small for some people
At first glance, it looks like one of NASA’s cadre rovers or something on PopSci’s list of best dual-fuel generators, but the Igloo 70 Quart Premium Trailmate Wheeled Rolling Cooler is, indeed, a cooler. And it’s loaded with features, like a lockable storage compartment that’s water-resistant and can keep a phone, sunglasses, car keys, and other small items dry and secure. Underneath it is a storage pocket that can securely hold sunscreen and other items.
There’s also a food basket inside of the sporty-looking cooler to keep food items dry (such as a sandwich and some fruit). The removable butler tray can be mounted on the handle and has two built-in cup holders to hold cans or bottles, as well as space for other items. When not in use, the tray can be stored underneath the cooler’s lid. There are four self-draining cup holders, in addition to a bottle opener, and two accessory slots to hold umbrellas or fishing rods.
The oversized (10-inch) wheels can be used on any terrain, and the telescoping handle can adjust to the most comfortable height. This cooler also has a threaded drain plug that’s compatible with a garden hose for easy cleanup. The tie-down loops can accommodate bungee cords, allowing you to tie down blankets, towels, and chairs. It is available in rugged blue, spruce, carbonite, bone, olive/black, white/black, and gray/black.
Best budget: Coleman Chiller Series Insulated Soft Cooler
Specs
Dimensions: 13.32 x 13.32 x 19.97 inches
Weight: 7.2 pounds
Capacity: 42 cans
Pros
Holds up to 42 cans
Lightweight
Handles on the side
Extra storage
Cons
Only two color choices
12-hour insulation limit
When you hear the brand Coleman, you might think grills and camp chairs, maybe lanterns or tents. But, eventually, a childhood memory of one of their coolers will flicker through your mind. The brand has been producing affordable, dependable outdoor accessories for a long time, and the Coleman Chiller Series Insulated Soft Cooler is an economical option. And since we like to provide a range of choices, we chose this one because it’s also one of the best soft-sided coolers with wheels. It only weighs 7.2 pounds when empty and can hold up to 42 cans—or the equivalent. The exterior is eco-friendly and made from recycled polyester fibers. It looks like a piece of carry-on luggage—except it’s insulated.
The cooler uses TempLock insulation, which is designed to keep drinks cold for 12 or more hours. That is far short of the almost-week-long timeframe of many hard coolers. However, we realize that some people may find hard coolers too heavy to lift and even navigate with wheels. This Coleman soft cooler offers a telescoping handle that easily adjusts, and there are also handles on either side for easier lifting. It sits upright, and the wheels are on the back, so the cooler is gently tilted backward to use the wheels. There’s also plenty of additional storage with the zippered front compartment and the inside mesh pockets. It’s leakproof, and the hard plastic liner is removable to clean. The color choices include deep ocean and black.
What to consider when buying the best coolers with wheels
Use
How you plan on using the cooler is an important factor to consider. For example, if you’re just rolling it around your patio or backyard, your needs will differ from someone pulling the cooler up a steep, rocky hill. Likewise, if you just want to keep your cans and bottles cold for a few hours, your needs will be different than if you need to keep items at the desired temperature for several days.
All wheeled coolers have handles. However, when transporting the crate long distances, a telescopic handle can allow you to find the most convenient height.
Weight
Wheels make coolers significantly easier to transport. However, keep in mind that after you load ice, cans, and bottles, the cooler will be significantly heavier, even when wheeling it around. Also, unless you’re only using it in your backyard, you may need to lift and lower the wheeled cooler to get it in and out of your vehicle, so keep this in mind as well.
Capacity
Some wheeled coolers can hold the equivalent of 40 cans, while others can hold the equivalent of over 100 cans. So always note the capacity limit when choosing the right option for your needs.
Other features
All of the hard coolers on our list have seal-tight gaskets, excellent insulation, and tight latches, so we didn’t feel the need to highlight this every time. However, some wheeled coolers have other built-in features, such as butler trays, bottle holders, and bottle openers, as well as exterior storage. These features may be built-in, or they may be accessories that you can purchase separately.
In addition, some coolers can accommodate dry ice, which can keep food and drinks colder/frozen for a longer time frame than regular ice.
FAQs
Q: How long can a wheeled cooler keep the contents cold?
How long a wheeled cooler can keep content cold varies depending on the cooler. However, many wheeled coolers promise a seven to 10-day ice retention rate.
There are some steps that you can take to help the wheeled cooler work at maximum efficiency. For example, before you plan to use it, RovR recommends bringing the cooler inside of the house (assuming you normally store it in the garage or outdoors) and leaving the lid open. YETI suggests pre-chilling your cooler by loading it with ice a few hours prior to loading it up. How you pack your cooler also makes a difference, so you may want to study up on that if you need your ice to last as long as possible.
Q: How can I stop the wheeled cooler from developing bad smells?
Be sure to clean your cooler immediately after use. Usually, soap and warm water are sufficient. For heavy-duty cleaning, instructions may vary by manufacturer. For example, YETI recommends a 6:1 solution and warm water and bleach, used with a sponge or mildly abrasive rag.
Q: Do wheeled coolers really keep bears out?
Some wheeled coolers (like YETI and RovR), when used with manufacturer-recommended locks, are approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee as a bearproof design.
Final thoughts on the best coolers with wheels
Best overall: YETI Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler
Best compact: RovR Roll R 45 Wheeled Cooler
Best with battery: BLUETTI MultiCooler | Portable Fridge
Most durable: ORCA 65-Quart Wheeled Cooler
Best value: RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler
Best for mixing drinks: BruMate BruTank 35-Quart Rolling Cooler
Best features: Igloo 70-Quart Premium Trailmate Wheeled Rolling Cooler
Best budget: Coleman Chiller Series Insulated Soft Cooler
Don’t get us wrong; we love our insulated water bottles. But sometimes you need drinks to share, not to mention ingredients to cook. The best cooler with wheels will make it a lot easier to transport ice and beverages from one location to the next or just out to that new grill (go on, you deserve it). Some coolers even provide separate compartments for food, storage spaces for umbrellas, fishing rods, butler trays, and even a place to store your smartphone and keys. The best option for you depends on usage scenarios and budget, but we’ve narrowed this crowded field down to help you zoom in on the best wheeled cooler for your needs.
Source : Popular Science