For any short trips (road or camping), I’d recommend the Gigatent Lime or Cooluli. They are both pretty compact, light, and functional.

Honestly, both are equally good. The only difference here is durability and ice retention. The hard ones will be more stable and keep the cold temperature for longer, while soft ones are way more portable and easier to use.

Apart from the obvious choice – the Wildhorn Tortuga – I’d recommend the Yeti hopper. They are both very mobile and provide enhanced ice retention.

Stainless steel coolers are more durable in usage than plastic coolers and can hold the temperature more accurately, despite the fact that hey are less affordable. However, steel coolers come in at about $180 vs. plastic coolers that are normally priced at $30-$70.

If you are just looking for a cooler for yourself, or for a friend who is going to use it by himself, then take a look at the smaller coolers. We think any model around the 8-20-quart capacity is a good generic cooler size for various purposes.