Finding the best cooler with wheels for your needs can be tricky – how can you find a decent, durable cooler in your price range? What are the key features you should look for, and how can you figure out if they are easy to transport?
We’ve covered 5 coolers at different price points and capacities – so hopefully you can find the best one for you.
The bottom line up front: we really like the Igloo 110-Quart Glide Pro Portable Cooler with Wheels for how easy it is to move around. Keep reading to find out why we like it so much.
We also recommend:
- RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels – ideal for keeping your food and drinks organized
- Coleman 42-Can Soft-Sided Cooler – a great soft-sided cooler
We’ll be looking at:
- What to look for in a cooler with wheels
- Our top 5 picks, including their key features, pros, and cons
- Some frequently asked questions
- Our final thoughts on which coolers we like the best
Let’s start by comparing all the coolers we’ll be looking at today.
Table of Contents
- Best Coolers with Wheels Compared
- What to Look for in a Cooler with Wheels
- Top 5 Coolers with Wheels
- 1. Igloo 110-Quart Glide Pro Portable Cooler with Wheels – Easiest to Use
- 2. YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler – Most Durable
- 3. RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels – Most Versatile
- 4. Coleman Quart Xtreme Rolling Cooler – Best for Beach Trips
- 5. Coleman 42-Can Soft-Sided Cooler – Best Soft-Sided Wheeled Cooler
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Final Thoughts … Which Cooler with Wheels is Best?
Best Coolers with Wheels Compared
What to Look for in a Cooler with Wheels
Before we get into some of the best coolers with wheels, let’s take a look at some of the key features to look out for:
Cooling Power
There are a few factors to consider when looking at how well a cooler performs. Firstly, there’s rotomolding. Rotomolding is a manufacturing process that involves an object (like a cooler) being made from one thick, continuous piece of plastic. This is great for keeping warm air out and cold air in, as well as increasing durability. Rotomolded coolers tend to be injected with insulating foam, which helps to keep the contents cold once you’ve added some ice.
Some coolers come with other features like heavy-duty latches, which help to seal the lid tightly shut, as well as a thick rubber gasket and tightly sealed drains – all of which help to keep warm air from getting in.
Soft-sided coolers, as a general rule, won’t keep your food cold for as long as a hard-sided cooler. They work well for a day out or to use for a lunch at work.
Then there’s ice retention time to consider. Not all manufacturers advertise this. It refers to how long ice will last in a cooler before melting. The longer the ice retention time, the better. However, ice retention tests may not be completely accurate, as they are normally done under ideal conditions. Ice will melt faster if you’re leaving your cooler in the sun all day, as opposed to leaving it in a dark room, for example.
YETI has a guide on How to Keep Your Yeti Hard Cooler Cold for Longer which has some good tips generally on increasing ice retention.
Durability
Coolers vary a lot in durability. If you’re just using your cooler for road trips or a day out, you won’t necessarily need it to be super-tough like the high-end cooler brands (for example YETI and Pelican). But, if you’re going on a hunting trip or you’re camping in pretty harsh conditions, you might want to seriously think about investing in a more expensive model.
As well as thick walls to help prevent cracks from forming, it’s always a good idea to look at the components like hinges, latches, handles, and wheels. Strong, rust-resistant components are crucial because if you can’t close your cooler properly or the handle snaps mid-trip, that’s going to be tricky to deal with.
Super-durable coolers can get expensive, but you can get some decently durable coolers for a lower price. If you’re interested, you can see what’s inside different coolers in the What’s Inside? video ‘What’s Inside a $400 vs $50 Cooler’.
Capacity
Hard-sided coolers measure their capacity in quarts (with 1 quart equivalent to 1.13 liters). They range hugely in size from just big enough for one person’s lunch, right through to a huge chest cooler perfect for hunting or fishing trips.
Soft-sided coolers measure their capacity in cans – the more cans, the bigger the cooler.
Extra Features
Some coolers come with extra features, including:
- Built-in bottle openers
- Fish rulers built into the lid
- Storage baskets
- Built-in cup holders for water bottles or tumblers
- An extra-large drain for easy emptying
- Pockets on the side or top (usually found in soft-sided coolers) for valuables
It’s also a good idea to look at the design. The more intricate, the harder it will be to get into the smaller grooves to clean out dirt and grime (coolers can get dirty pretty quickly).
Top 5 Coolers with Wheels
Let’s look at 5 of the best coolers with wheels. We’ll be looking at their key features, as well as their pros and cons. We’ve tried to cover a wide price range with different capacities, so hopefully, you can find something that suits you!
1. Igloo 110-Quart Glide Pro Portable Cooler with Wheels – Easiest to Use
Key Features
- Capacity: 110 Quarts (104 Liters)
- Materials
Outer: Polyethylene
Insulation: Polypropylene - Wall thickness: Not stated
- Ice retention: 5 days
- Color: White
- Weight: 25.4 Pounds (11.52 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 36.76 x 18.5 x 19.69 Inches (101 x 45 x 50 Centimeters)
The Igloo 110-Quart Glide Pro Portable Cooler with Wheels is on the larger side at 110 Quarts (104 Liters). As you can expect, this makes it a heavy cooler. However, the wheels and handle are designed to work together to make it easy to move around.
Igloo advertises a 5-day ice retention time. That’s pretty good, and it has thick insulation in the walls and the lid. It has a drain for dumping melted ice, but not a lot in terms of extra features – it doesn’t have any way of organizing the contents, for example.
It’s not the toughest cooler out there, but for the price point, we think it’s a good option. It may not last as long as some more expensive brands.
However, the wheels are excellent. They’re designed to be smooth and easy to use on different surfaces. It has a telescoping handle which is very smooth to pull in and out, making this the best cooler on this list in terms of how easy it is to use.
Pros
- Smooth to steer
- Large capacity
- Good cooling power
Cons
- Lacks extra features
2. YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler – Most Durable
Key Features
- Capacity: 55 Quarts (52 Liters)
- Materials
Outer: UV-resistant polyethylene
Insulation: Insulating foam - Wall thickness: 3 Inches (7.62 Centimeters)
- Ice retention: Not stated
- Color: Blue, tan, white
- Weight: 32 Pounds (14.5 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 28.25 x 18.63 x 19.5 Inches (72 x 47 x 50 Centimeters)
The YETI Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler is a good mid-sized cooler. What makes this stand out is how durable and tough it is.
YETI doesn’t state ice retention time for its coolers. However, they do have a good reputation in terms of cooling power, using pressure-injected commercial-grade foam in the thick walls and lid, as well as an interesting interlocking lid system that helps to squeeze the gasket tightly. It doesn’t have any extra features.
The main draw of this cooler is how durable it is. It has tough hinges, robust handles, and durable non-slip feet. Again, YETI has a good reputation here, and their coolers are known for surviving all kinds of tough conditions.
The wheels and handle are also super-durable, so you won’t have to worry about them failing in the middle of a trip.
Pros
- Very durable
- Good cooling power
- Strong wheels and handle
Cons
- Doesn’t have extra features
3. RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels – Most Versatile
Key Features
- Capacity: 50 Quarts (57 Liters)
- Materials
Outer: Plastic
Insulation: Insulating foam - Wall thickness: Not stated
- Ice retention: 7-10 days
- Color: Grey
- Weight: 45 Pounds (20.41 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 27 x 22 x 21 Inches (69 x 56 x 53 Centimeters)
The RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels is another mid-sized cooler. We like this one because it allows you to keep the contents organized.
The ice retention time is 10 days. Like all ice retention tests, this may not be accurate for real-life use, but it’s still pretty good in terms of cooling power. It’s rotomolded, with thick insulated walls, and an airtight gasket to help to keep warm air firmly locked out. We also like that it has anchor points to attach to a bike, and a storage basket to help to keep your contents organized inside.
It’s pretty durable but not as durable as some of the high-end brands.
Plus, the tires are puncture-resistant and the handle is super tough.
Pros
- Good cooling power
- Easy to keep contents organized
- Tires and handle are strong
Cons
- May not be as durable as more expensive brands
4. Coleman Quart Xtreme Rolling Cooler – Best for Beach Trips
Key Features
- Capacity: 50 Quarts (57 Liters)
- Materials
Outer: Plastic
Insulation: Insulating foam - Wall thickness: Not stated
- Ice retention: 5 days
- Color: Black
- Weight: 13.44 Pounds (6.1 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 23 x 18 x 18 Inches (58 x 46 x 46 Centimeters)
The Coleman Quart Xtreme Rolling Cooler is another mid-sized cooler. We’ve chosen this one because it’s the ideal cooler for super hot weather. It’s designed to cope with temperatures up to 90°F/32°C. (You can find more similar recommendations in our guide to the Best Beach Cooler with Wheels).
Coleman makes good coolers, with a thick lid and walls, with insulated foam to keep things cool. This particular model performs well. It also has built-in cup holders, which are perfect for keeping your drinks steady on a road trip. You can also use the lid as a seat, which is useful.
This Coleman is a fairly durable cooler. It’s on the cheaper end of the spectrum, and it’s not going to last as long as a Pelican, ORCA, or YETI cooler, for example. It’s a great cooler for camping and day trips.
The telescoping handle is tough and durable and has strong wheels that can cope with different types of terrain.
Pros
- Good for hot weather
- Has a built-in seat and cup holders
- Strong wheels and handle
Cons
- Not as durable as more expensive brands
5. Coleman 42-Can Soft-Sided Cooler – Best Soft-Sided Wheeled Cooler
Key Features
- Capacity: 42 Cans
- Material: Plastic
- Wall thickness: Not applicable
- Ice retention: Not stated
- Color: Blue and black
- Weight: 3.30 Pounds (1.5 Kilograms)
- Dimensions: 11.81 x 14.96 x 9.84 Inches (29.99 x 37.99 x 24.99 Centimeters)
The Coleman 42-Can Soft-Sided Cooler is a smaller cooler, ideal for picnics or day trips for an individual, a couple, or a small family. We think it’s a great soft-sided wheeled cooler.
As it’s a soft-sided cooler, it’s not going to keep the contents as cool as the other coolers on this list. Still, it’s great for day trips. It has heat-welded seams, which helps to prevent leaks but also helps to keep cold air locked inside. The lining is removable for easy cleaning and has antimicrobial treatment, which means it can resist odor, mold, mildew, and fungus. It has smaller zippered compartments to keep the contents organized.
For a soft-sided cooler, it’s durable, with strong zippers.
It also has durable wheels and a telescoping handle, both of which work well.
Pros
- Good for days out
- Easy to clean
- Storage pockets for organization
- Strong wheels and handle
Cons
- Won’t last as long as a hard-sided cooler
Frequently Asked Questions
Now, let’s take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about coolers with wheels.
Can I pre-chill a cooler?
Yes, you can load it up with ice the night before you need to use it – this will help to make it nice and cold before you put food and drinks inside. Millets go into this in their guide: Camping Coolers Top Tips.
How can I clean my cooler?
Using hot, soapy water, you can use a soft cloth to wipe down the inside and outside. You can also use baking soda to remove stains and odors, which can build up after a lot of use – read more in The Kitchn’s guide on How to Clean a Dirty Cooler. Mier Sports also has a guide on How to Clean Insulated Lunch Bags.
How can I tell the difference between cooler brands?
Cooler brands vary in pricing and quality. Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest brands:
- Ozark Trail – a great budget-friendly brand, these coolers perform well given the price. You can find out more in our Ozark Trail Cooler Review.
- Coleman – like Ozark Trail, this is a great brand to look into for those on a budget. They make good coolers for day trips and camping. See our Coleman cooler with wheels review.
- ORCA – jumping further up the price scale, ORCA is ideal for those wanting something a bit more durable. You can find out more in our ORCA vs YETI comparison.
- Pelican – Pelican manufactures great, high-quality coolers that are designed to last for a long time. You can read more about it in our Pelican Wheeled Cooler review.
- YETI – one of the most expensive cooler brands out there, YETI makes super-tough, durable coolers ideal for all kinds of situations. You can find out more in our guide to YETI cooler sizes.
Our Final Thoughts … Which Cooler with Wheels is Best?
So, which cooler with wheels is the best?
If we had to pick, we’d go for the Igloo 110-Quart Glide Pro Portable Cooler with Wheels. The wheels and handle work perfectly to make it super easy to move around. However, it’s on the large side, so may not suit everyone.
We also like the RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler with Wheels, as a smaller option with good organization.
If you need a soft-sided wheeled cooler, the Coleman 42-Can Soft-Sided Cooler is great for picnics and days out.
If you have another wheeled cooler to recommend, leave us a comment letting us know what you like about it. We hope that you’ve found this guide helpful – if you have, please feel free to share it on social media.
