The 6 Best Wheeled Coolers To Help You Chill Out While On The Move

Type: Hard-sided | Capacity: 45 quarts | Dimensions: 30 x 16.65 x 16.75 inches | Interior height: 11.25 inches | Weight: 30 pounds | Warranty: 1 year

Pros:

• Separate storage for wet (ice) and dry goods
• Bargain price for such a quality cooler
• Easy-to-use latches

Cons:

• Heavy when full
• Could be better across uneven ground

This versatile design tops Forbes Best Coolers Of 2024 list because of its strong performance, ease of use and unbelievable value. It sailed through a 60-hour insulation test with consummate ease, while happily keeping up with the bigger brands such as Yeti and RovR.

It’s well-designed, with simple latches on all sides, so you can open this cooler easily from either side or remove the lid completely. The seal is also strong, thanks in part to an integrated automatic pressure-relief valve.

Other thoughtful and nice touches include a solid plastic dry bin and a divider that doubles as a cutting board (Yeti charges $30 extra for these). There’s a built-in bottle opener, too, and the drain plug has a chain, which just makes practical sense.

It’s a great cooler, but the oblong design, relatively short pull handle and thin wheels means it’s not the best across uneven surfaces, especially sand. It’s not a disaster though, and you’ll appreciate the wheels as it is very heavy given the medium-size capacity. And if you’re not fussy about color, the bold orange design is currently on sale for just $159, which is beyond generous.

Type: Hard-sided | Capacity: 65 quarts | Dimensions: 29.5 x 15.5 x 19.5 inches | Interior height: 15 inches | Weight: 22 pounds | Warranty: 1 year

Pros:

• Light when empty
• Large capacity
• Solid value

Cons:

• Minimal ground clearance for wheels
• Ice retention not as good as Yeti

By far the most established name on this list, Coleman has been making outdoor gear since 1900, and while the Convoy is not the most popular cooler, I was impressed, especially with the weight-to-capacity ratio. At 22 pounds empty, but with 65 quarts of cold space, this cooler is surprisingly easy to lift and pull. And I still had some ice left after two full days, and cans remained delightfully cold throughout.

The brand estimates its build is twice as light as roto-molded coolers, although from our tests, the latter kind is heavier, but holds onto ice longer. This is a great cooler though, and the TempLock fully insulated lid helps keep the cold in—and is strong enough to act as a seat, which is neat. The design is very stable, and the combination of a metal pull handle and rope lifting handles is well thought out. There’s minimal clearance for the wheels, however, which could cause some dragging if you’re short. Many coolers with similar capacities, such as the Yeti, are better in some ways than this Coleman. But, they’re also much more expensive, and you don’t find premium coolers with this much space at this price.

Type: Hard-sided | Capacity: 98 cans / 60 quarts| Dimensions: 23.7 x 20 x 20.5 inches | Interior height: 15.8 inches | Weight: 31 pounds | Warranty: 5 years

Pros:

• Superb insulation
• Best telescopic handle design
• Easy rolling across varied terrain

Cons:

• Expensive
• Heavy (even empty)

I’m often asked if I believe Yeti coolers are worth the money, and in the case of the Roadie 60, the answer is, if you can afford it. Available in 32, 45 and 60 quart sizes—my test sample was the larger Roadie 60. It can hold 53 (12 ounce) cans, with 2:1 ice, or a vast number of cans if you pre-chill properly, plus dry goods in the included tray insert. And if you prep before your trip—and keep the lid shut—you can expect your contents to stay frosty for at least the weekend, and possibly still drinkably cold after four days.

The telescopic handle is robust, and the orientation of the cooler makes it feel more like you’re wheeling luggage (really heavy luggage) than a typical chest cooler. The wheels can handle uneven terrain, too. The latches are easier to use than the typical T-shaped rubber designs found on other models. All in all, a class act.

Type: Hard-sided | Capacity: 45 quarts | Dimensions: 22.5 x 21 x 20.5 inches| Interior height: 11.1 to 14.1 inches | Weight: 34 pounds | Warranty: 5 years

Pros:

• Real tires
• Practical accessories
• Great for tall bottles

Cons:

• Heavy to lift
• Rubber latches hard to open

RovR’s aptly named RollR coolers (available in 45, 60 and 80 quart sizes) feature large, puncture-resistant pneumatic tires that are near impossible to ignore. The difference between these wheels and more typical plastic designs is vast, and once you’ve tried them, there will be no going back.

The squared-up proportions of the RollR—similar to the Yeti Roadie—also make it easier to load, carry solo, pop into a variety of vehicles and wheel around with fewer wobbles. The internal layout also impresses, as it can be split into wet and dry zones using the included DeepFreeze Dry Bin. This means food and tall bottles can be kept away from the ice, but still leave space for 22 cans and 10 pounds of ice.

Cooling is as good as you’d hope for a premium design, but it’s the accessories that complete the package. The LandR bin topper ($40) enables you to use the cooler to also carry blankets, pillows, sleeping bags and other key accessories. There’s also a Beach Wheel Kit ($170) for dune adventures, and even a BikR kit ($69) which allows you to attach the cooler behind your bike.

Type: Hard-sided | Capacity: 70 quarts | Dimensions: 34.6 x 19.7 x 23.6 inches | Interior height: 11.5 inches | Weight: 34.7 pounds | Warranty: 1 year

Pros:

• Huge capacity
• Versatile features
• Easy pulling

Cons:

• Build quality issues
• No latches for the lid

It’s big, has a massive 112-can capacity and looks like a prop from Star Wars. It also has large 10-inch wheels and a road clearance some trucks would be proud of. Thankfully, this huge cooler has a solid locking telescopic handle that makes hauling it surprisingly easy, even when full. I was impressed by the towing, and loved that I could also bungee-tie a large gazebo on top using handy hooks and still pull it to the park with ease.

While not part of an official timed test, I was also extremely pleased to find a couple of cans of cold IPA left inside, four days after a garden party. The ice was long gone, but the foam insulation certainly did its job.

It comes with plenty of handy accessories, including a tray that stores inside the lid, a floating dry basket, four cup holders, two pole holders (umbrellas or fishing rods), a lockable water-resistant dry box and a mesh pocket for stashing sundries. The build quality feels a touch flimsy in places, and while I experienced no specific issues, I found several customer reviews complaining about weak plastics and snapped-off bits and pieces. It may look more rugged than it actually is, so treat it accordingly and remember it costs significantly less than many smaller designs.

Type: Hard-sided, injection-molded | Capacity: 52 quarts | Dimensions: 29 x 18.3 x 18.8 inches | Interior height: 12.5 inches | Weight: 30 pounds | Warranty: 3 years

Pros:

• Very light when empty
• Great wheel design

Cons:

• Doesn’t stay chilled for as long as some others

Rather than rotomolding like most coolers here, RTIC uses traditional injection molding. The upside to this is, it’s the same weight as the Magellan, but offers 12 more quarts of cold storage. The downside to closed-cell foam insulation is that it isn’t quite as tough as its weightier, more expensive cousins.

This may become an issue if you’re planning on taking 78 cans (only) or 53 pounds of ice on tactical maneuvers, but for most casual use, it takes all the bumps and knocks with ease, and thanks to the large (almost, but not quite as good as RovR) wheels, it’s easy to bump down trails to the campground.

The rubber latches are easy to pull shut, too, creating an excellent seal, and insulation and ice retention are good for the weekend, but it’s not as deep-freeze as the best buys in our list. You can boost the chill, though, with the $12 freezable divider, which is an neat idea.

And last but not least, the 12.5-inch internal height means you can carry wine and big soda bottles vertically, while two drain ports make it easier to clean and maintain.