Cheap soft coolers beat expensive ones for picnics.

Yes. A $20 soft cooler from Coleman or Igloo is the best lightweight option for a picnic.

The expensive Yeti and RTIC soft coolers are overbuilt for carrying sandwiches and drinks to a park. They weigh more, cost more, and don’t keep things cold any longer than a basic insulated bag for a few hours. A picnic isn’t a weeklong