WIRED has published its updated 2026 buying guide to the best coolers, covering everything from small soft-sided models for day trips to heavy-duty wheeled coolers designed to keep ice frozen for days. The guide is based on more than four years of real-world testing, including leaving coolers in direct sun, bike trailers and cars, and aims to cut through manufacturer ice-retention claims that are typically measured under unrealistic lab conditions.

The top overall pick is Yeti's Tundra Haul (£450/$450), a rotomolded hard cooler with thick insulated walls that reportedly kept ice frozen for five to six days in hot, humid conditions, though it is heavy and requires two people to lift when full. A cheaper alternative, the RTIC Ultra-Tough Cooler ($239), offers similar rotomolded performance at 20-40% less cost and a genuinely larger 45-quart capacity than Yeti's equivalent size. The August 2026 update added new entries from Owala and Arctic Zone, with further testing of Rovr, Coleman, Pelican and Solo Stove products planned.

– Yeti Tundra Haul ($450) — best cooler overall, durable but heavy
– RTIC Ultra-Tough Cooler ($239) — cheaper "Yeti dupe" with true-to-size capacity
– Guide updated August 2026 with new Owala and Arctic Zone entries