The Best Portable Coolers You Should Buy This Summer

The other day, I went to the beach with some friends, and I noticed that not one, but two of them had cooler backpacks strapped to their bodies. Having simply tossed my drinks into my tote bag with my towel and sunscreen, I felt silly asking if I could store them in their coolers instead-but when we got to the beach and my seltzer was cold, I realized I've been missing out for many summers in a row.

I've always associated the idea of a cooler with those big, wheeled monstrosities dads haul out for backyard parties, but in this day and age, you can get some really convenient ones that can drastically improve your summer outings without weighing you down.

Why you should get a little cooler

Beyond keeping your drinks cold, a little cooler is a great summer investment, especially for longer day trips. Don't want your deodorant or makeup to melt? Little cooler. Want your sunscreen and aloe to feel nice and cool when you apply them? Little cooler. Want to put on refreshing, cold clothes when you exit the beach? Little cooler. Want to keep your phone from overheating and becoming unusable? Little cooler!

Everything you're hauling with you could stand to be stored in a cool container instead of a regular bag. You're going to be hauling something anyway, right? Might as well be a little cooler.

The best little coolers you can buy right now

The backpack cooler that both of my new beach-going friends had was this one from Target:

Titan by Arctic Zone 16qt Eco Backpack Cooler with Ice Walls - Sharkskin Gray $49.99 at Target Shop Now Shop Now $49.99 at Target

I can attest that, surrounded by two ice packs stuffed into designated pockets, my drinks stayed cold all day. It's leakproof and even comes with a bottle opener, which is the kind of innovation I can get behind. You could also try this insulated backpack with a USB port ($39.59) that will keep your phone running and your stuff cool for up to four hours. Throw in an ice pack and you're good all day. For maximum chill, this one from Scothen ($33.99) comes with 12 ice packs and two separate compartments.

You can also get collapsible coolers, which are a lot handier than their hard-sided counterparts. This one from Maelstrom comes in a variety of sizes and colors and features a convenient cross-body strap.

Maelstrom Soft Cooler Bag,Collapsible Soft Sided Cooler,24/30/60/75 Cans $38.68 at Amazon $42.99 Save $4.31 Get Deal Get Deal $38.68 at Amazon $42.99 Save $4.31

On the other hand, a little rigidity can be a good thing. This one, for instance, is also collapsible but has a hard insert with four cup holders, so you can use it as a little table for eating.

Collapsible Beach Cooler Bag with Hard Insert & 4 Cup Holders - ADDIMOR 40 Cans $36.98 at Amazon $49.99 Save $13.01 Get Deal Get Deal $36.98 at Amazon $49.99 Save $13.01

I'm a fan of this multi-compartment design because staying organized and keeping your stuff separate is important. If you do decide to chill your sunscreen, you don't want it leaking on your food or your phone, right?

Maelstrom Soft Cooler Bag,Collapsible Soft Sided Cooler,24/30/60/75 Cans $38.68 $42.99 Save $4.31 Learn More Learn More $38.68 $42.99 Save $4.31

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't suggest a cute one. Functionality is great, but personally, I'm not hauling anything with me unless it looks nice. Say what you will, but I know there are people out there who agree with me, so for those of you who get it, consider something nice like this:

Igloo MaxCold Duo Backpack 20 Cans Soft-Sided Cooler $49.99 at Target Shop Now Shop Now $49.99 at Target

Whether you get one with compartments or not is up to you, but if you don't, consider getting a few organizing bags to keep everything within the cooler bag separate. Swimsuits, sunscreen, phone chargers, and anything you don't want to get covered with some possible condensation will do well in their own containers.

Meetory 10 Pcs Clear Waterproof Cosmetic Bag with Zipper $14.59 Shop Now Shop Now $14.59