For most people, coolers with wheels are a must-have for camping trips, and are the backbone of most camp kitchens. When you don’t have electricity and the nearest refrigerator is back at home, a cooler is the only way to keep drinks cold and food fresh. The first coolers were invented in the 1950s (though they were called “portable ice chests” at the time) and Coleman popularized them when they developed a galvanized ice chest in 1954.
Today coolers have come a long way and you can find one in nearly any size and to fit any budget. The newest coolers on the market are roto-molded which means that they’re made with a process called rotational molding. This manufacturing process insures that the insulation of the cooler is completely uniform without an gaps or imperfections. The end result is an incredibly durable cooler.
When shopping for a cooler, it’s important to consider three main factors: durability, insulation, and portability. (In our experience, the most portable coolers have rugged wheels and a sturdy handle.) With that in mind, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best coolers with wheels that deliver on all three. These are the prefect way to make sure that your camping food and favorite ice cold beverages make it to your campsite safe and sound.
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Outdoor brand Yeti first made its name designing high-end coolers for serious outdoor enthusiasts—particularly hunters and anglers like the company’s founders. Today its line has expanded to many categories of outdoor gear but their roto-molded coolers are still in a class by themselves. For this model, YETI has taken its popular Tundra cooler and added wheels—the first wheeled cooler the company has ever made.
Igloo coolers have been around since 1947. (You can see a visual evolution of their products here.) Today they offer a wide range of cooler styles from insulated lunch bags to rugged trail-ready models. Igloo’s Trailmate Journey model is a tough cooler with oversized wheels that are designed to handle varied terrain from beach sand to rocky trails. More importantly, Igloos claims its insulation will keep ice from melting for up to 4 days.
This Igloo model is less rugged than the Trailmate but is the perfect model for car camping or day at the lake. First, it’s budget-friendly and gets high marks from reviewers. And second, it offers helpful features like a telescoping handle and soft wheels that cushion the impact as you roll it along. Its 60-quart capacity also gives you a plenty of room for your weekend necessities.
For shorter trips or when you’re tight on space, this 28-quart Igloo model has most of the Ice Cube’s features in a smaller size.
Coleman is another outdoor brand with some history. (It got its start around the turn of the 20th century with their TK the Coleman Lantern.) But today the company produces everything from camp stoves to dog toys. The Coleman Xtreme Wheeled Cooler is from its larger class of coolers with a 50-quart capacity and guaranteed ice retention of up to five days. Not to be overlooked is the fact that it comes with a leak-proof drain hole, a particularly important feature for coolers of this size.
If you prefer a soft style to save on weight and space, Coleman’s Soft Cooler with wheels is another highly rated model. Its upright style and telescoping handle make it feel more like a suitcase than a clunky cooler. It also comes with a removable—and sturdy—liner that prevents the contents from being crushed. The dry storage pocket and exterior bungees provide storage options for dry goods or utensils.
Most of the coolers with wheels on our list are large-capacity but sometimes, you don’t need to bring your whole refrigerator with you. This 16-quart model from Coleman has a retractable handle, recessed wheels, and the assurance that your food and drinks can be kept cold for two days.
Pelican was founded in 1976 by a scuba diver who saw a need for durable cases that wouldn’t leak. Today the company still specializes in cases including insulated coolers and phone cases. Its ProGear Elite cooler comes in 45-quart and 80-quart sizes.
It’s hard to find details about this cryptic brand yet its products—including this particular model—are highly rated. Its features seem comparable to Yeti and other heavy-duty coolers of this class: rotomolded construction, T-latches, heavy-duty wheels. Some reviewers even report that it’s sturdy enough to stand on but we’ll just take their word for it.
“Sleek” isn’t usually a word you’d use to describe a cooler, but with Evolution’s Rolling Cooler, it seems to fit. This 50-quart model may have a minimalist look compared to its competitors, but it comes with all-terrain wheels, a welded retractable handle, and a waterproof zipper closure.
