10 Best Portable Beer Cooler Reviews And Comparison (2021)

We’re sharing our roundup of the ten best portable beer coolers this 2021. We wanted to identify the top products in the market today, as many of us are planning to have a lot of friends and colleagues over for some drinks and outdoor parties across the next few weeks. After all, it’s Christmas, and we’re expecting a lot of festivities and events leading up to 2019.

Best Portable Beer CoolerSo we went through our standard step-by-step process to finalize our list of the top 10 portable beer coolers of the year. In case you’re already familiar with our procedures, then you can go ahead and skip below to our roundup of the ten best outdoor beer coolers today. Otherwise, you’re recommended to learn about our step-by-step process. This way, you’ll be able to use similar things as you go through our collection of the top beer coolers this 2021.

So we collected their test results, evaluated these details, and finalized our shortlist of the top 10 portable beer coolers of 2021. And here’s our list:

Portable Beer Cooler Review Center

ImagePortable Beer CoolerRating
Earth Pak Heavy Duty Waterproof 20-Can Soft Cooler Bag for Camping, Sports, Fishing, Kayaking, Beach Trips - Mesh Tote Insert Included#1 - Earth Pak 20-Can Soft Cooler94%
ENGEL Cooler/Dry Box 19 Qt - White#2 - ENGEL Cooler/Dry Box 19 Qt92%
REYLEO Cooler, Rotomolded Cooler 30-Can, 3-Day Ice Retention, 21-Quart, Heavy Duty Ice Chest, Built-in Bottle Opener, Cup Holder, Fishing Ruler, Drain Plug - A21#3 - REYLEO Rotomolded Cooler 21-Quart90%
Pelican Elite 30 Quart Cooler Light Blue#4 - Pelican Elite 30 Quart Cooler88%
YETI Roadie 20 Cooler, White#5 - YETI White Roadie 20 Cooler86%
Lifetime 55 Quart High Performance Cooler, Grey, 90820 (55-Quart) (55-Quart)#6 - Lifetime 55 Quart Cooler86%
RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels (60 qt.) (Powder)#7 - RovR Camping Rolling Cooler86%
RTIC Cooler (RTIC 65 White)#8 - RTIC 65 Cooler84%
UPHA 80 Quart Rolling Outdoor Patio Cooler Cart on Wheels, Portable Drink Beverage Bar for Patio Pool Party, Ice Chest with Shelf and Bottle Opener, Silvery#9 - UPHA 80 Quart Cooler Cart80%
Igloo Maxcold Cooler#10 - Igloo Maxcold Cooler80%

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And of course, we’ve provided below our more detailed test results, comments, and feedback for each of these portable beer coolers. So here you go:

#1 – Earth Pak 20-Can Soft Cooler

Earth Pak Heavy Duty Waterproof 20-Can Soft Cooler Bag for Camping, Sports, Fishing, Kayaking, Beach Trips - Mesh Tote Insert Included

Whether you are going fishing, kayaking, hiking, or picnicking, the Earth Pak Heavy-Duty cooler is a worthy beer cooler to have. Just as the name suggests, this beer cooler is heavy-duty, and it can carry up to 20 bottles. It is also easy to move around and keeps beer cold, thanks to the beer cooler NBR foam that will ensure beer remains ice-cold for up to 72 hours. Moreover, its construction with the IPX-8 leak-proof material and the use of an airtight zipper are designed to maintain the right temperature for your beer.

With the Earth-Pak cooler coming with a detachable shoulder strap, an extensive mouth opening, and its carrying capacity of a maximum of 20 bottles, you can easily carry it around, put in drinks quickly, and not worry about them slipping off the cooler while on transit. If you are going on a hiking trip with friends, each could easily carry one having 20 bottles of beer for the road!

What We Like About It:

We like the fact that this cooler can hold up to 20 beers, and it’s coming with a padded, fully detachable shoulder bag. The latter feature makes it easy for anyone to carry it around on a picnic, a hike, a road trip, etc.

With the beer cooler made of durable materials, starting from its padded detachable zipper, along with its exterior enforced with heavy TPU, and it being chemical as well as UV-resistant — You can expect to be able to use this product for a long time. Additionally, with the Earth-Pak base cooler made of a thick base — You can put it on any surface and rest assured that it will remain sturdy.

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#2 – ENGEL Cooler/Dry Box 19 Qt

ENGEL Cooler/Dry Box 19 Qt - White

. ENGEL is known for producing the best products and the ENGEL cooler… is no different as it keeps food as well as drinks cool for a long time. The airtight EVA gasket is one of its prime features that ensure maximum ice retention.

The beer cooler also comes with a recessed central carrying handle as well as an adjustable shoulder strap feature, making it easy to carry. Other features of this air cooler include a non-absorbent surface that makes it easy to clean, the cooler fittings being secured with stainless steel screws, and it being stain as well as odor-resistant.

What We Like About It:

We like the fact that this beer cooler is easy to carry, making it a perfect choice for those looking for a beer cooler to use for an outdoor trip. Even though it does not feature wheels, it has a steady handle made of ABS material as well as Integrated Shoulder Strap. You can choose to carry it by its handle or the shoulder strap.

If you’re looking for a cooler to use at your outdoor trips, then its durability is something to consider as you’re likely to be moving around, risking the cooler to fall to the ground. However, this beer cooler is made of extra-durable materials, starting from its hinges, having fittings firmly secured with screws, and it comes with front latches made of stainless steel.

Another feature we like about this product is that it’s affordable. With it being virtually indestructible and efficiently keeping food cold, it will just cost you a reasonable price. Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to pick your preferred color.

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#3 – REYLEO Rotomolded Cooler 21-Quart

REYLEO Cooler, Rotomolded Cooler 30-Can, 3-Day Ice Retention, 21-Quart, Heavy Duty Ice Chest, Built-in Bottle Opener, Cup Holder, Fishing Ruler, Drain Plug - A21

The REYLEO Cooler is a perfect beer cooler that does more than just cooling beer! With it having a carrying capacity of up to 15 cans and its ability to keep beer ice cold from 3 to 5 days, this product will get the job done when going on a hike, a picnic, or on a weekend trip.

This beer cooler’s exterior is sturdy. Its construction style makes it a durable product and provides an assurance that it won’t easily break when it accidentally falls down. Other features that keep it virtually indestructible include the cooler construction style with excellent insulation, the integration of pressure-resistance, and a design that allows it to accommodate more than 700 lbs. Also, its latches are easy to use, and it also has a plugged pressure relieve valve. Meanwhile, its non-slip feet gives you the assurance that it won’t unnecessarily move with a slight bump.

What We Like About It:

So far, the REYLEO is the best cooler with a sturdy handle, according to many of our testers. Even though it does not come with a detachable shoulder strap, it has a steel handle solid enough to carry more than700 pounds. With this handle, you can easily clean it up, move it around, making it easy to prepare for your next trip.

Our testers also liked the fact that REYLEO beer cooler uses the state of the art technology in beer cooling. As previously stated, it uses secure and tighter latches that are not easy to damage, no matter how many times you’re going to open and close its lid. It also comes with a sturdy sealing gasket, a rotomodeled construction style, and with a state of the art drainage system that ensures rapid drainage as well as pressure relief.

Another feature we like about this product is that it isn’t just a beer cooler. Rather, it offers users an opportunity to do other things. It comes with a ruler that makes it easy for you to measure the size of your fish, meat, and other things. Plus, it comes with a stainless steel opener, and you won’t need to worry even if you forget to carry a cooler around.

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#4 – Pelican Elite 30 Quart Cooler

Pelican Elite 30 Quart Cooler Light Blue

Even before reviewing the salient features of this cooler, it looks sturdy and attractive from a distance. If you want the sky blue model, then it’ll nicely match your sunny outdoor trips. But you get plenty of colors to choose from.

This 30-quart cooler comes with a maximum of 4 draining cup holders as well as non-skid rubber feet. You can easily place your cups on it, and you can rest assured that the cooler won’t slide even with slight bumps and nudges here and there.

Other salient features of this cooler include its over-molded carry handle, which is sturdy enough to carry 30 quarts of food and drinks, a perfect reinforced lockable hasp, stainless steel bottle opener, as well as its anti-shear hinge system.

What We Like About It:

We found out that the product offers extreme ice retention, compared to other beer coolers we reviewed so far. Thanks to the 2 inches of polyurethane insulation as well as 360-degree freezer gasket, you can get that extreme ice retention needed for any outdoor trip. Adding the latter feature to its true 30-quartz internal retention volume, you can have the much-needed drinks for your trip.

Another feature we like about this product is its handle, which is designed to withstand its 30-quart carrying capacity. With this, you can easily carry the cooler around. You’ll have an easy time locking as well as unlocking it because of its integrated mechanisms.

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#5 – YETI White Roadie 20 Cooler

YETI Roadie 20 Cooler, White

YETI is not only known for high-grade manufacturing earphones but also beer coolers as well. The YETI Roadie is an excellent cooler for your road trip, just as its name suggests. And with its carrying capacity of 14 cans, you can use it for your hiking, picnicking, and weekend trips.

Its 2-inch Permafrost insulation is one of its salient features as it’s designed to keep your beer cold for a long time effectively. Also, this product’s extra thick wall is designed to be bear-resistant.

Its rotomodeled construction material adds to its sturdiness and durability. And since latches are a good addition to any cooler, this one from YETI is made of heavy-duty rubber that won’t easily break. Plus, it’s integrated with patented keeper technology, which will keep your drinks cold. Also, with the product being 19 inches long as well as 14 inches wide with a carrying capacity of 15 lbs., you can use it to carry 14 standard-sized beer cans without issues.

What We Like About It:

YETI has a solid reputation when it comes to producing high-grade equipment, and they’ve been in the market for a long time. This makes it much easier to trust this product.

And the first thing that our testers liked about this product is its extra thick wall design, which offers 2 inches of insulation and ice retention. Our testers also noted the product’s permasoft insulation as another noteworthy feature of this cooler.

Its rotomolded construction style proves to offer the right sturdiness, ensuring the durability of this cooler. The other unique features of this product that ensures its sturdiness and durability include its lip grip handles, double haul handles, interlock Lid grid system and its never-fall hinge system.

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#6 – Lifetime 55 Quart Cooler

Lifetime 55 Quart High Performance Cooler, Grey, 90820 (55-Quart) (55-Quart)

This cooler can hold up to 24 standard-sized beer cans, making it perfect for a party or an outdoor trip. It’s also ICGB-certified, providing assurance that it’s a genuine product with capabilities that are designed to last for a long time.

One feature of this cooler that makes it a good buy is its elephant-roped handles. These are sturdy to the touch, even though the product could be even sturdier if it was integrated with rotomodeled construction materials. Nevertheless, its dual locking lid latches, built-in bottle opener, and its carrying capacity of 62.4 quarts are some of its most notable features.

What We Like About It:

This is among the most affordable products in our roundup of the ten best beer coolers of 2021. And another feature we like about this product is its sturdiness. It’s made out of high-grade material that is extremely durable. Also, its sturdy handle prevents this cooler from slipping from your grip easily, and if it does, then its contents will be safe, thanks to its locking mechanisms.

So if you’re looking for a stylish cooler for your outdoor trips, then this product is a worthwhile investment. Plus, it comes in different colors.

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#7 – RovR Camping Rolling Cooler

RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels (60 qt.) (Powder)

RovR is not just any other ordinary cooler, but one that comes with lots of useful features. This product might not be the most inexpensive one in our collection of the top 10 coolers of 2021, but many of our testers say that this product’s well worth your time and money.

One feature of the RovR that makes it stand out from the others in our selection is its wheels, making it quick and easy for you to bring it along with you wherever you go. It’s also equipped with an additional bike attachment, which makes it easy to carry around on your bike. Plus, this cooler is made of high-grade materials.

It’s integrated with high-performance puncture tires, which are designed to work on rough terrain. Meanwhile, its rotomodeled construction body is elevated, providing assurance that this product will last for a long time and be able to resist normal wear and tear.

What We Like About It:

Of course, the presence of its additional bike attachment adds a touch to the high-grade capabilities of this cooler. Aside from storing beers and other drinks, which will stay cold for a long time ( our tests indicate that this lasts for more than ten days ), you can conveniently pull it around with you because of its wheels. Also, you don’t need to worry about handles or detachable shoulder straps with this product, which sometimes makes it daunting to carry a cooler for long distances.

The RovR also has a large carrying capacity, and it is able to carry more than 40 cans of beer as well as 10 lbs. of ice. You won’t only get to carry 10 lbs. of ice, but also keep your drinks and food ice cold for ten days. You also get a compartment for deep-freeze storage. We really like these features as it ensures maximum storage for families or large groups.

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#8 – RTIC 65 Cooler

RTIC Cooler (RTIC 65 White)

If you’re looking for a cooler that converts as a bench while still keeping your drinks cold, then you’re advised to take a closer look at RTIC. You can sit or stand on it, which is a testament to its durable materials and sturdy design.

The RTIC cooler also comes with a rotomodeled body structure, along with heavy-duty – T-latches, Grade Gasket, and Tie Down Slots, which ensure the safety of your beers and other drinks. Other salient features that make this product well worth your money include the presence of 3 insulated walls, a cool lift design, and molded side handles.

What We Like About It:

Rotomolded coolers are always some of the sturdiest products today, often regardless of its manufacturer. And we found this to be an interesting feature of the RTIC cooler. This product has sturdy hinges and a high-grade Gasket. This means you can easily carry it without worrying about the potential damages that could arise if it falls down.

Another feature we really like about this product is that it comes with three insulated walls, which can ensure that your drinks are kept cold for the rest of the day. This also prevents moisture from getting out. Lastly, we like the 1-year warranty for this product.

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#9 – UPHA 80 Quart Cooler Cart

UPHA 80 Quart Rolling Outdoor Patio Cooler Cart on Wheels, Portable Drink Beverage Bar for Patio Pool Party, Ice Chest with Shelf and Bottle Opener, Silvery

UPHA has a steel body, and it also features rolling wheels. Its ability to hold more than 100 standard-sized beer cans makes this cooler an ideal product for any outdoor trip with your family and friends or colleagues, as well as for parties and get-togethers. With this cooler’s uniquely designed top, you can open as well as close it with ease when needed. Plus, getting and storing drinks and food won’t be a nuisance.

What We Like About It:

Even though products made out of steel aren’t as strong and durable as those designed with rotomodeled construction styles, we found this cooler quite sturdy and stable. With its rolling wheels, you can easily move it around without worrying about damaging it.

The best beer coolers are usually ones that store lots of cans and bottles. That’s why we really like this cooler’s 100-can or 50-bottle capacity.

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#10 – Igloo Maxcold Cooler

Igloo Maxcold Cooler

Who said that a beer cooler should be that expensive and complicated! If you’re searching for a simple to use and carry beer cooler, then many of our testers recommend the Igloo cooler, which is made out of high-grade plastic. It can keep your drinks ice cold for a maximum of 5 days, according to our test results. Plus, its reinforced handles make it a joy to carry around comfortably.

What We Like About It:

This beer cooler is simple to use. Meanwhile, its pressure fit lid holds the cooler perfectly well. You can be assured that your drinks will be safe and cold while on the move.

Also, another feature we really like about this product is that it’s sturdy enough to be used as a seat. Plus, its insulation lid can nicely keep food and drinks cold.

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And this concludes our roundup of the ten best portable beer coolers of 2021. Don’t forget to carefully consider each of the most important factors that we mentioned earlier. This checklist will allow you to get the best bang for your buck as you go through our collection of the top 10 outdoor beer coolers today.

How We Selected Top 10 Portable Beer Coolers

Our first step, as always, is to identify the most popular outdoor beer coolers in the market today. So we went to the world’s largest online shopping platforms this year, which primarily included Amazon, eBay, and Lazada, among others. Then, we reviewed their best-sellers for this particular category. We also looked at overlapping product categories, just to be sure.

Next, our second step was to ask for the feedback of our friends, family, and peers regarding the beer coolers in our shortlist at this point. Of course, only those who have direct experience in using these particular products responded to our request. As there weren’t too many of them, we also went to the social groups and online communities where we frequently hang out to discuss food and drinks, among other related matters. A lot of our fellow members at these communities are home cooks, pro chefs, foodies, culinary enthusiasts, beer lovers, hikers, campers, and so on. And this is where we got a lot of helpful insights, comments, and opinions about the products in our shortlist.

While gathering their feedback, we used this data to develop a checklist of the most crucial aspects to consider when looking for the best outdoor beer coolers. And here it is:

Factors to Consider When Buying Portable Beer Coolers

  • Size & Capacity — The size of your portable beer cooler dictates the amount of beer that you can store, obviously. So that’s, of course, an important factor to consider, isn’t it? Imagine getting an outdoor beer cooler that’s too small for the volume of beer that you and your buddies can drink for the duration of your camping trip. How would you be able to take turns going on beer runs every now and then? So you’re advised to look a the size and capacity of the beer coolers in your shortlist, and compare this against the average volume of beer and drinks that you need each time you go out camping, hiking, fishing and so on;
  • Portability & Ease of Use — You surely wouldn’t want to carry around a ridiculously heavy beer cooler with you on your camping and hiking trips, would you? Remember, even if bigger beer coolers can accommodate large quantities of food and drinks, think of the energy that you need to carry it around with you. But certain brands and models are integrated with particular features that can make it simpler and more convenient for you to carry it around. So don’t forget to compare the beer coolers in your shortlist in terms of this aspect, as many products with the same size and capacity usually have different portability features;
  • Temperature Retention Capabilities — Always make sure that your shortlisted portable beer coolers are guaranteed to keep your food and drinks cold for a long time. No two portable beer coolers are created equal. Each is integrated with its own technology and unique mechanisms. So take a closer look at these features before you include or cross-out the coolers in your shortlist;
  • Visual Design — A portable beer cooler should look good as you’ll be carrying it around with you. So carefully choose the right color theme and visual design to nicely match the look and feel of your usual camping, fishing or hiking gear, truck or van and so on;
  • Form Factor Design & Durability — Be careful as there are some beer coolers that aren’t integrated with a sturdy form factor. This means a light bump can cause it to topple over and break your beer bottles. So pick one that’s sturdy enough to withstand light bumps and the like. These are often brands and models that are made out of high-grade materials. You’ll also notice that these tend to be more durable than others;
  • Safety Design & Food-Grade Materials — Harmful plastics, chemicals, and rust don’t have any place in your beer cooler. So make sure to choose a product that’s free from these harmful components. And carefully check its safety design features before buying an outdoor beer cooler;
  • Warranty — A manufacturer usually offers a warranty for their products that’s primarily dependent on the results of their thorough tests. This is also directly relevant to the durability of the materials and components that are used to produce the portable beer cooler. For example, if a manufacturer’s test results point out that their outdoor beer cooler can last for more than a year or so even with prolonged heavy use, then you can expect the manufacturer to slap up a 1-year warranty to their product; and
  • Price & Value-Added Benefits — Once you go through the items above as you review the products in our list of the ten best portable beer coolers of 2021, don’t forget to compare and contrast its prices. Plus, keep in mind that many manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and vendors offer certain rewards, incentives, and promotional deals, especially during the Christmas season. These are often discount vouchers and coupons for their outdoor beer coolers and their other related products.

So now back to our procedural approach for finalizing our list of the ten best outdoor beer coolers today. Third, we analyzed the data that we gathered at this point to formulate a set of testing guidelines and evaluation systems. We also used the same data to shape our strategies and tactics for forming a test group. We know for a fact that our test group should consist of a good mix of both beginner and pro beer drinkers, dinner party hosts, campers, hikers, and the like. That way, our test results would be able to represent as many possible relevant groups and real-world situations.

Fourth, we contacted our friends, peers, colleagues, and fellow members in the online communities and social groups mentioned earlier. We asked if they’re interested in participating in our test group, and many of them agreed.

Do You Need a Portable Beer Cooler?

If you often go camping, hiking, or host outdoor barbeques with your buddies, then you’re likely to benefit from having an outdoor beer cooler handy greatly. And don’t forget that these coolers are also designed to store and keep food cold. Plus, many of the portable coolers in our roundup are integrated with technologies and mechanisms that allow them to keep your food and drinks cold and fresh for days.

Just keep in mind to go through the checklist that we provided earlier when you browse through our collection of the top 10 outdoor beer coolers this year. You’ll be able to spot the most suitable options for your particular use case, and you’ll then have a quicker and easier time deciding on which product can provide you with the best value for your time and money. For example, if you often go camping in rough terrain, then you’d be able to pinpoint a portable beer cooler in our list that’s designed for this particular purpose. Plus, remember to stay away from outdoor beer coolers that are made out of components with harmful materials as these might mix in with your food and drinks. But no need to worry about this if you’re browsing our collection of the ten best portable beer coolers this 2021, as we made sure that only safe products are on our list. After all, we also finalized this list for ourselves.