Hard Cooler vs Soft Cooler: Which Do You Need? (October 2026)

On this page (9 sections)

1. Hard cooler vs soft cooler: what’s the main difference?
2. Which cooler is easier to carry?
3. Which one has more room for food and drinks?
4. Which cooler is better for a longer trip?
5. Which one gives your cargo more protection?
6. Which cooler works better for camping, boating and day trips?
7. RTIC 32 Ultra-Light: is this hard cooler a fit?
8. RTIC 20 Can Soft Cooler: is this soft cooler a fit?
9. How should you choose between a hard and soft cooler?

Choose a hard cooler for a firm box and larger loads, or a soft cooler for lighter carrying. In the hard cooler vs soft cooler choice, think about how far you’ll carry it, what you’ll pack and how much room you need.

The RTIC 32 Ultra-Light is a 32 qt hard cooler with up to a 48-can capacity. The RTIC 20 Can Soft Cooler is a 3.5 lb bag with a shoulder strap for a smaller load.

Neither style is right for every trip. Use the comparison below to match the cooler to your route and cargo.

Hard cooler vs soft cooler: what’s the main difference?

A hard cooler has a rigid box shape, while a soft cooler has a soft shell. For these RTIC models, capacity and empty weight are also key differences.

The RTIC 32 Ultra-Light has a polypropylene shell and weighs 14.7 lb empty. Its firm shape gives you a solid container, and RTIC says it can double as a bench, step stool or tabletop.

The RTIC 20 Can Soft Cooler has a heavy-duty nylon exterior and weighs 3.5 lb. It includes a shoulder strap, and RTIC says it floats.

The hard cooler holds its shape when empty and can serve as a tabletop. The tradeoff is that its rigid box still needs storage space when your trip is over.

The soft cooler starts 11.2 lb lighter than the hard cooler here. Its shoulder strap adds a carrying option, but its soft shell doesn't give your cargo a rigid box around it.

Which cooler is easier to carry?

Choose the soft cooler for a lower starting weight on a longer walk. Its 3.5 lb empty weight and shoulder strap give it a carrying advantage over the 14.7 lb hard cooler.

Your loaded weight matters once you pack drinks, food and ice. A 20-can load can still become heavy, so think about the full route, stairs and whether you’ll need a free hand.

RTIC says the hard cooler can be carried by 1 person, but its empty weight is higher. Check how much space you have to move a loaded box through doorways or crowded areas.

Is a soft cooler better for a beach walk?

The RTIC soft cooler's lower empty weight and shoulder strap make it worth considering for a beach walk. The strap gives you another way to carry it alongside a chair, towel or other gear.

RTIC also says the soft cooler floats. Treat that as a cooler feature, and secure the bag rather than relying on it to stay within reach in the water.

If you’re bringing a larger group’s drinks, the hard cooler’s greater capacity may matter more than the weight difference. For more options by trip type, see our guide to the best soft coolers.

Which one has more room for food and drinks?

The 32 qt hard cooler has the larger capacity of these 2 choices. It holds up to 48 cans, while the soft cooler is a 20-can model.

Can counts are a guide to size, not a packing plan for every trip. Food containers, ice and oddly shaped bottles take up space, so compare the available room with the items you bring.

The hard cooler’s interior measures 17.5 x 11 x 9.75 in. The soft cooler's overall dimensions are 9.49 in deep, 13.71 in wide and 13.67 in high; those aren't interior packing measurements.

If you regularly bring meals alongside drinks, don’t plan around a can count alone. Measure your food containers and leave room for the ice you expect to pack.

Our cooler size guide can help you estimate the capacity that fits your group. If you’re comparing larger options, see how many cans fit in a cooler.

Which cooler is better for a longer trip?

Choose the hard cooler for a larger load, but don't assume it keeps ice longer from these specs alone. RTIC describes the 32 Ultra-Light as having long-lasting ice retention and up to 2.5 in of closed-cell foam insulation.

RTIC doesn't give a day count for the hard cooler here. Insulation thickness alone doesn't establish how long either cooler will keep your particular load cold.

RTIC says its 20 Can Soft Cooler can keep contents cool for up to 2 days when you follow the brand’s cooling tips. That cooling claim doesn't establish how long perishable food will stay at a safe temperature.

Plan your ice supply and check perishable food temperatures throughout the trip. Our guide on how long ice lasts in a cooler covers planning for ice retention.

What about hard cooler vs soft cooler insulation?

The hard cooler has up to 2.5 in of closed-cell foam insulation. The soft cooler has up to 1.5 in of closed-cell foam.

Those figures describe insulation thickness, not a direct ice-retention comparison between the 2 models. They don't establish a cooling time for the hard cooler or a food-storage deadline for either one.

Which one gives your cargo more protection?

Choose the hard cooler when you want a rigid shell around the contents. Its polypropylene box gives you a firm container, though that doesn't establish a tested level of crush or impact protection.

RTIC says the hard cooler can also serve as a bench, step stool or tabletop. Follow RTIC's instructions for those uses rather than treating that claim as permission to stack any load on it.

The soft cooler uses a nylon exterior instead of a rigid box. Avoid packing heavy gear on top if it could squeeze food containers or damage what’s inside.

Neither shape removes the need for careful packing. Keep raw food sealed away from ready-to-eat items, and check perishable food temperatures rather than judging by whether ice remains.

Which cooler works better for camping, boating and day trips?

Pick the soft cooler for lower carrying weight and the hard cooler for more capacity and a rigid box. Your route and packing list can change which feature matters more.

For a campsite, the hard cooler’s 32 qt capacity can suit a larger food and drink load. If you’re deciding among camping setups, our best coolers for camping guide compares more options.

For a boat or lake day, the soft cooler’s shoulder strap and floating design may suit a smaller load. If you need more room, explore coolers for fishing and boats before choosing a size.

For a short picnic, either model may fit your plans. Choose the soft bag if carrying weight matters most, and the hard box if you want more room near your vehicle.

RTIC 32 Ultra-Light: is this hard cooler a fit?

The RTIC 32 Ultra-Light fits trips where you want a 32 qt hard cooler with a rigid shell. RTIC says it is more than 30% lighter than rotomolded coolers of the same capacity.

It weighs 14.7 lb empty and can hold up to 30 lb of ice. Its capacity is up to 48 cans, but don't read those separate maximums as a combined packing allowance.

RTIC says the cooler can double as a bench, step stool or tabletop. Its main drawback in this comparison is carrying weight: the soft option starts 11.2 lb lighter before either is packed.

RTIC 20 Can Soft Cooler: is this soft cooler a fit?

The RTIC 20 Can Soft Cooler fits smaller loads where empty weight matters. It weighs 3.5 lb, includes a shoulder strap and has a nylon exterior.

RTIC says it can keep contents cool for up to 2 days when you follow its cooling tips. The brand also says it floats and that its waterproof zipper prevents spills and leaks.

This bag starts lighter than the hard cooler here, but it has a smaller capacity and a soft shell. Choose it for a walk, picnic or lake visit where a 20-can model fits your food, drink and ice plan.

How should you choose between a hard and soft cooler?

Choose the hard cooler for capacity and a firm shell, or the soft cooler for lower empty weight and a shoulder strap. Your route and packing list can settle the hard cooler vs soft cooler question quickly.

Pick the RTIC 32 Ultra-Light when you want a 32 qt box and the option to use it as a bench or tabletop. Pick the RTIC 20 Can Soft Cooler when its smaller size works and the 3.5 lb empty weight makes carrying more manageable.

For a broader look at formats, browse camping coolers by style. Match the space to your food, drinks and ice, then plan temperature checks for any perishables you bring.

Frequently asked questions

Which keeps ice longer, a hard cooler or a soft cooler?

There isn't enough information to say which of these coolers keeps ice longer. RTIC describes the hard cooler as having long-lasting ice retention without a day count, and claims up to 2 days of cooling for the soft cooler when following its cooling tips.

Those claims don't establish a direct comparison.

Are soft coolers easier to carry?

The RTIC soft cooler starts lighter: it weighs 3.5 lb and includes a shoulder strap, while the hard cooler weighs 14.7 lb empty. That gives it an advantage for a walk from parking to a picnic spot.

Compare filled weights too, since food, drinks and ice add to the load.

Is a hard cooler better for camping?

A hard cooler suits camping when you want a firm container and space for a larger load. The RTIC 32 Ultra-Light has a 32 qt capacity and can double as a bench or tabletop.

For a smaller load carried farther from your car, the soft cooler's lower empty weight may matter more.

Can you take a soft cooler on a boat?

The RTIC 20 Can Soft Cooler can suit a boat trip when you want a smaller bag with a shoulder strap. RTIC says it floats and has a waterproof zipper that prevents leaks.

Secure it aboard, and choose the hard cooler if your load calls for more capacity or a rigid shell.

What size cooler should you buy?

Start with the drinks, meals and containers you need to carry, then leave room for ice. The RTIC hard cooler holds 32 qt, with up to a 48-can capacity, while the soft cooler is a 20-can model.

Don't assume either can count leaves enough room for your planned ice and food.