The Best Coolers with Wheels of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

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The Best Coolers with Wheels of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

Whether tailgating, road-tripping, or dawdling at the beach, a cooler is essential for keeping food and drinks ice-cold. And when you’re lugging heavy cases of soda or a full picnic, you’ll want that cooler to have wheels. Testing 18 of the top-selling rolling coolers on the market, we found the best have easy-to-retract handles, wheels that tackle different terrains, and insulation that slows ice from melting. Other factors that set our favorite coolers apart were lightweight builds and extra features, such as cupholders, that maximized convenience. Read on for our top picks.

This cooler is virtually indestructible, and the telescoping handle and tall profile make it easy to maneuver even when full.

Campers should know it’s not bear-proof.

The YETI Roadie 60 earned its spot as Best Overall for its insulation, maneuverability, and thoughtful design. It combines rugged wheels with a collapsible handle, similar to what you’d find on wheeled luggage, which makes it easy to roll almost anywhere. Tie-down slots allow you to anchor the cooler to your truck bed, trailer, or boat, and the latches are easy to open with one hand. The lip handles help with easy lifting. The cooler also comes with a dry goods basket to let you keep items like bread or marshmallows away from moisture. Built to hold over 50 cans plus ice, it’s also tall enough to accommodate most standard wine bottles. (If you don't need a cooler to hold as much, I can vouch for the smaller version of the Roadie 60, the Roadie 48, which I tested for Food & Wine.)

In our tests, we found that the cooler worked best when primed (that is, cooling it with ice before filling it). Without priming, we were still able to keep contents cold overnight, with plenty of ice still frozen after 24 hours. The telescoping handle and tall profile made it easy to maneuver the cooler, even while it was packed. We also noted that despite its taller silhouette, it’s very stable thanks to the rubberized grips on the bottom. Lastly, cleaning was easy — the drain spout allowed us to empty the cooler without having to tip it over, and the screw-in plug ensured zero leaks. While this cooler is expensive, it also comes backed with a five-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Capacity: 50 cans | Dimensions: 23.7 x 20 x 20.6 inches | Weight: 30.6 pounds

Food & Wine / Molly Blanco

It’s spacious and offers great insulation for the value. Bonus: it can double as a seat.

It doesn’t have latches, and it can be difficult to maneuver on tight turns. `

No need to spend more than $100 on a cooler to get great all-day insulation and great features. With the capacity for up to 101 cans, this roomy cooler has a sturdy lid that doubles as a seat, molded cup holders, and swing-up handles for easy lifting. We just wish it had latches to ensure it would stay closed. The long handle may feel too long if you’re on the shorter side, and we had to make wider turns when pulling it. Still, we give this cooler points for its lower weight, which makes all the difference when it’s full.

We loaded the cooler with food, juice, wine, and ice, and tested it during a road trip that lasted a few days. The ice stayed frozen for the first day and melted a little after 24 hours — draining off the excess water via the integrated spout allowed the remaining ice to remain solid. After three days, the cooler contents were still nice and cold. We found it durable for its value, and its one-year warranty against defects and workmanship makes us feel good about bringing it along on trip after trip.

Capacity: 101 cans | Dimensions: 28 x 18 x 16 inches | Weight: 16 pounds

Food & Wine / Kevin Schmitz

Built to last with impeccable insulation, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

It’s pretty heavy, even when empty.

Pelican has been making equipment for emergencies and scientific expeditions since 1976, so it’s no surprise that its coolers have a similarly robust technical performance. The Elite wheeled cooler features a freezer-grade seal, heavy-duty wheels, and molded handles for secure handling. Other touches, like molded-in tie-downs and a built-in ruler for measuring fish further equip this cooler for serious outdoor use, whether fishing, hunting, or camping.

The cooler’s insulation impressed us: we added cans right after the ice, and without priming the cooler, it chilled room-temperature beer and seltzer in under two hours. Moreover, most of the ice remained frozen at the 24-hour mark. We like that the lid stays open on its own, making it easy to pack and access. The clasps on this cooler keep contents secure, and the handle is very sturdy, allowing you to easily tow the cooler with one hand. We also love how easily it empties using the drain spout. If you’re willing to splash out on a cooler, this is the one — it’s also backed by a limited lifetime warranty against breakage or defects in workmanship.

Capacity: 44 cans | Dimensions: 36.5 x 19.6 x 20 inches | Weight: 46.8 pounds

Food & Wine / Michelle Edelbaum

It’s especially durable, spacious, and easy to clean. It also comes in a variety of colors.

Lifting it may be challenging for someone with strength issues.

Yeti’s hard coolers have an A+ reputation for good reason. Built to last, they utilize the same type of single-piece construction used for kayaks for an extra durable exterior. The Tundra Haul features impact and puncture-resistant tires, an aluminum handle, and comfortable grips for transporting. Campers, rest assured: it’s certified bear-proof (just use an extra-long MasterLock Padlock for security). Large enough to serve a party, this 50-liter model holds up to 82 cans or 19 bottles.

The Tundra Haul is easy to pack with food, drinks, and ice, and it kept the ice completely frozen through our testing period and even 24 hours later. Maneuvering the cooler around tight turns felt awkward, but the tires moved easily and quietly across various surfaces, including brick and grass. The lips around the lid function like handles, helping us lift the cooler in and out of a trunk. It was also one of the easiest coolers to clean thanks to its drainage spout, as we didn’t have to tip the cooler over to empty it. While the Tundra Haul has a spendy price tag, its top-notch construction and insulation make it worth the investment. Plus, Yeti offers a five-year warranty to protect against defects and workmanship.

Capacity: 82 cans | Dimensions: 28.1 x 18.6 x 19.6 inches | Weight: 37.5 pounds

Food & Wine / Kaylene Konigsmark

It’s sturdy and well-insulated; it comes at a great price for the size.

The handles aren’t as comfortable as others, so lifting it can feel awkward.

If you’re camping for several days or want the maximum cooler space to keep drinks flowing at your next barbecue, this 90-quart Igloo cooler is for you. Its exterior is made from post-consumer recycled resin, and it has a thick foam lining in the lid and body for optimum insulation. The lid has four molded cup holders, a ruler to measure fish, and a media slot to keep your phone or tablet off the ground.

We packed this cooler with drinks and food and tested it on a weekend camping trip. We found the clips easy to pop open, and thanks to its wide opening, it was easy to pack and access. The large wheels made it easy to roll across pavement and grass, though wet grass and muddy conditions were more difficult to maneuver. We found a large amount of ice stayed frozen in the cooler even after 24 hours, and the contents were well insulated. It took 48 hours for the ice to melt completely, and the screw-open drainage spout on the back made emptying the liquid effortless.

Capacity: 137 cans | Dimensions: 31.8 x 18.9 x 17.2 inches | Weight: 22.25 pounds

Food & Wine / Brit Haines

It’s exceptionally lightweight, on top of being easy to pack and store.

The insulation isn’t as effective as a typical hard-sided cooler’s, and the cloth exterior is harder to keep clean.

For a park picnic, a kid’s soccer game, or a day at the beach, a compact cooler may be all you need to tote around drinks and snacks. This collapsible model from dbest weighs less than three pounds and folds flat for storage, so it’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a ton of space at home. It has room for 36 cans, plus ice. We like its mesh exterior pockets and zipped pocket for holding keys, a wallet, or other valuables.

In our tests, this insulated cart was easy to pack thanks to a flexible, zip-around lid, though we found it held its structure best when it was at least half full. The telescoping handle felt comfortable in our hands and was easy to steer across concrete and asphalt. And because the loaded cooler is bottom-heavy, it felt stable. It’s important to mention that this cooler does not keep items ice-cold. While the ice remained frozen for hours, it was about half water and ice 24 hours later, so we think this is a better choice for day trips versus a multi-day excursion.

Capacity: 36 cans | Dimensions: 13.5 x 13.5 x 10.75 inches | Weight: 3 pounds

Food & Wine / Henry Wortock

Food & Wine / John Somerall

Its oversized wheels allow it to move easily across rugged terrain, and its weight is a good middle-of-the-road option.

The handle retracts when you let go of it; we’d prefer if it stayed upright.

The RTIC Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler is an excellent choice for the beach. True to its name, it feels relatively lightweight but sturdy, and its large, all-terrain wheels handle uneven surfaces with ease. The cooler features stainless steel hardware, an aluminum handle, secure latches, and tie-down points to anchor it to a boat, truck bed, or trailer. The underside of the lid has a built-in silicone cargo net to keep items out of the ice, and we found it easy to empty by unscrewing the drain spout.

We were impressed with how cold this cooler kept contents — drinks were icy cold throughout the testing period, even though over half the ice had melted 24 hours later. We found the RTIC’s silicone-gripped handle comfortable to hold, which made rolling it over various surfaces easy. Lifting the cooler when full might be difficult for one person, but the built-in lips on the side provide a nice area to grip. We also like that the latches open easily but also provide a very secure seal, and the lid stays open for easy packing.

Capacity: 78 cans | Dimensions: 29 × 18.25 × 18.75 inches | Weight: 30 pounds

Food & Wine / Steph Hunter

It moves easily across various surfaces, and its insulation is top-notch.

It doesn’t hold as many cans as similarly-sized coolers.

Mix a batch of sangria or lemonade, or simply fill the 1.8-gallon drink tank with water, and you’ll have drinks on tap with this cooler from BruMate. Even with the tank installed, you have plenty of room for canned beverages, bottles of wine, or other food and drink. It features oversized all-terrain wheels, a telescoping handle, and a built-in bottle opener. Its tight seal keeps contents well-insulated for days.

Rolling the full cooler across different terrains felt easy. Drinks stayed very cold during our tests, with very little ice melting in 24 hours (there was still ice in the cooler after a couple of days). We emptied and cleaned the cooler without having to tilt it thanks to a drainage spout at the back. We also appreciated that the handles made it easy to lift and carry, even when full, and its body can serve as a seat.

Capacity: 36 cans | Dimensions: 21 x 21 x 19 inches | Weight: 31 pounds

Food & Wine / Heather Adams

Blue Coolers 60-Quart Ice Vault Roto-Molded Cooler with Wheels ($250 at Amazon) This spacious cooler performed very well in our tests, keeping ice intact and the drinks very cold even after 24 hours. We wish this cooler were just a bit lighter, as it is hard to lift when it’s full (depending on your strength limits).

Canyon Coolers Mule 30-Quart Cooler ($290 at Amazon) The cooler’s narrow, compact build saves space in your trunk, but it also makes it harder to see inside and access. It keeps items very cold and is fairly easy to roll around, so it’s a solid option for someone who wants a high-performing cooler that doesn’t take up a lot of space.

Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme Hard Cooler with Wheels ($55 at Amazon) The official cooler of the National Park Foundation, this 50-quart model holds up to 84 cans. It did an excellent job keeping contents ice-cold for over 24 hours. It also has four drink holders molded into the lid, plus a telescoping handle for easy maneuvering. It’s also very affordable.

Roam 46-Quart Rolling Rugged Cooler ($444 at Backcountry) Built similarly to the YETI Roadie, this Roam cooler features a telescoping aluminum handle, sturdy rubberized wheels, thick stainless steel hinge pins, a built-in bottle opener, and two cup holders in the lid. We found it incredibly sturdy (albeit heavy) and well-insulated, retaining over 80% of ice after 24 hours.

We liked the versatility of the SDLINR 72-Can Large Rolling Cooler ($55 at Amazon), but its insulation didn’t measure up to that of other models. The LAKA 30 Cooler ($240 at Amazon) got our attention for its compact size and selection of several cheery colors, but its durability didn't compare to that of other models. Though the Koolatron Electric Portable Cooler ($219 at Amazon) is a great value for an electric cooler, the wheels seemed too small and the sliding lock was difficult to move

We liked the design and insulation of the Igloo 52-Quart Marine Ultra Cooler ($63 at Amazon), but we wish it had a water-tight seal – it leaks when tipped on its side. Finally, the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze 60-Can Collapsible Rolling Cooler ($70 at Amazon) was easy to use and did well with keeping things cold, but it also had issues with leaking if tipped since the seal is a zipper and not a gasket.

We picked 18 top-rated wheeled coolers to test outside of our lab, from park picnics to road trips to camping excursions. We had our testers fill each cooler with food, drinks, and ice, and took note of how easily we could load and wheel them various terrains while full. We also monitored ice retention — how much ice melted (or didn’t) over time — and how cold drinks felt after 24 hours in each model. We emptied and cleaned the coolers to gauge their maintenance. Lastly, we noted if the coolers got damaged after regular use.

When selecting a wheeled cooler, you’ll want to consider your capacity needs. If you’re heading out for a few days on the road or need a large supply of chilled beverages for a backyard soiree, you may want to spring for a larger model, 60 quarts or above. If your needs are more moderate, a 50-quart (or less) option may be plenty of room for you. Always factor in a few pounds of ice or room for ice packs in addition to the cooler’s contents.

Another important factor when selecting a cooler is its starting weight. If a cooler is heavy to begin with, it will become much heavier once it is loaded. Be sure you have the strength (or extra help) to lift and load your cooler when it’s full.

Two important components of wheeled coolers are the handles and wheels. If you’re toting your cooler over sand, grass, or other non-pavement terrain, look for larger, more rugged wheels to help navigate uneven ground. If you’re only planning on wheeling your cooler on pavement and asphalt (think tailgates or patio barbecues), you can go with less rugged wheels. You’ll also want to be sure that the cooler’s handles, whether pull-up or telescope-style, feel sturdy and comfortable to hold, while also being appropriate for your height.

We paid special attention to ice retention, as it indicates effective insulation. The longer ice stays frozen, the longer you can keep the cooler’s contents cold. If your ice melts too quickly, it means that the internal temperature of the cooler is rising and the insulation isn’t great.

Some extra features we appreciate on a cooler are molded cup holders, integrated bottle openers, drain spouts, and tie-down slots, especially if you’re putting the cooler on a boat, trailer, or truck bed. Another consideration for campers is bear-proof certification — if you’re taking your cooler camping in an area with bears and other wildlife, this will help keep you and your food supply safe.

In short, a fully-stocked (heavy) cooler with wheels is much easier to transport from place to place than a cooler without wheels. Another advantage is that it keeps one hand free to hold other items, like folding chairs. Some wheeled coolers can also act as dollies to carry additional items.

It depends on its size and contents. If your cooler fits the maximum allowed size for carry-on luggage and doesn’t contain more than the authorized amount of liquids, you should be fine. To be on the safe side, you should always double-check with your carrier before you get to the airport with your cooler.

As a general guideline, you’ll want to empty the cooler of food, drinks, and ice, then drain off any remaining liquid. If the inside of your cooler is wet, you can use a microfiber cloth to wipe it down and leave the cooler open to dry completely before storing. For spills or residue, consult your owner’s manual for specific cleaning instructions.

Casters And Wheels Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, cookware, and other kitchen and home products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight. She owns and has personally tested the YETI Roadie 48, a smaller version of the YETI Roadie model in this article.

The Best Coolers with Wheels of 2024, Tested &amp; Reviewed

The Best Coolers with Wheels of 2024, Tested & Reviewed