Soft coolers are fine for day trips.

For most trips to the beach or park, a soft-sided cooler works perfectly well.

The real difference is how long you need ice to stay frozen. Soft coolers have thinner insulation and lose cold faster when left in the sun or opened often. But for a typical 4–6 hour outing—sandwiches, drinks, snacks—a decent soft cooler keeps things cold enough. The key is pre-chilling everything and keeping it