Camping coolers

If you need to keep your drinks cool and your pre-made meals tasting fresh, you need a cooler to bring on your picnics, camping trips and beach days. Coolers are often quite large, so they aren’t recommended for trips that involve a long hike, but more so for packing away in your car to carry a short distance so your drinks and food stay fresh nearby. The most common type of camping coolers are either hard or soft, and MEC has a wide variety of both available at our stores. Stop by your local MEC to check out our selection of coolers from brands like Igloo, Hydro Flask, Yeti and more.

Frequently asked questions

What size cooler do I need for camping?

The size of cooler you need depends on how many people you’re camping with and how long your trip is. For a weekend getaway with two people, a 25–45L cooler usually does the trick. For longer trips or bigger groups, a 50–75L cooler gives you enough space to store food, drinks and ice. If you need to keep things cold for extended periods without restocking, go bigger to ensure you have room for enough ice.

How long do camping coolers keep things cold?

Most high-performance coolers can keep items cold for 2 to 7 days, depending on the outside temperature, how often the cooler is opened and how much ice is inside. Hard-sided coolers with thick insulation tend to keep contents cold the longest. For best results, pre-chill your cooler, keep it in the shade and limit how often you open it.

What’s the difference between a soft and hard cooler?

Hard coolers offer more insulation, better ice retention and are generally more durable—ideal for base camps or car camping. Soft coolers are lighter, easier to carry and great for day trips or short outings where portability matters more than long-term cooling power.

How do I pack a cooler for camping?

Use a mix of block ice and cubed ice or ice packs to keep things cold. Store raw meat and dairy near the bottom where it’s coldest, and keep frequently used items near the top. Try to fill any empty space with more ice or cold items to slow melting and maintain a stable internal temperature.

Camping cooler buyer’s guide

Hard-sided coolers

If you want a larger, more durable cooler and heavy insulation, a hard-sided cooler is the better choice. These coolers provide a longer lasting cold retention, sometimes even lasting up to a few days (provided you have a good amount of ice or cooling packs). They’re best for extended trips or if you’ve got several people in your party. Hard-sided coolers are often much heavier, so you may need a friend to help you carry them, while some come with wheels and an extendable handle. Some also come with latches that lock easily, making for a secure closure that holds the lid firmly in place.

Soft-sided coolers

Often a lot easier to carry around, soft-sided coolers are made from polyester and lighter materials as opposed to their heavy plastic counterparts. They’re also collapsable, which makes them easy to pack away in your backpack once you’ve eaten all the contents inside. Soft-sided coolers usually come with large handles or shoulder straps, making for an easy carry as you walk through the park or hike to a perfect picnic spot. They’re usually a lot smaller than hard-sided coolers however, so they’re best used for you a few items you need to keep cool like cans or sandwiches.

Extra features

A lot of the coolers available at MEC come with special tech in their design to keep your food and drinks fresh for as long as possible. Advanced tech like Yeti’s Permafrost insulation helps keep ice frozen for even longer. Thick walls, airtight seals and lock lids helps to ensure maximum temperature retention, so read up on your cooler’s special features to know what you’re getting. Another factor to consider is size; camping coolers come in a range of capacities, from small 10L options for personal use to large 100L coolers suitable for big groups.