Yep if I buy another soft cooler it will be an ozark trail! I can get 6+ of them for the price of a yeti, and Wally world will swap out if you have an issue, no shipping needed.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Tr...407699832&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkqvH36PB4wIVg43ICh1anA00EAkYBiABEgKZp_D_BwE

 

I have Walmart's Ozark Trail soft cooler. The zipper sucks and my drinks were cold but sitting icy water after 5 hours of FL July sun on Tuesday. However, I still haven't replaced it. My boat has a seat cooler that keep ice all day if I need it.

What I don't recommend is the Ice Mule I got a couple of years ago. It's easily stowable but more of a dry bag than a cooler.

 

Lol, I quit reading the thread and didn't notice you said this about the ice mule. You must have the classic though, as mine will retain solid ice for at least 1.5 days, a good slush for 2 days, but mine is the pro, not the dry bag-esque one.

 

I have one of these and I love it, keeps ice almost as long as my yeti (which doesn't seem to "Yeti" as much as it used to) and my favorite thing is, it doesnt retain fish smell at all. I will add that I no longer use it as my main fishing rig since I got a skiff and can haul my big cooler, so it isn't getting its durability tested as much, but it was a great Kayak cooler. Also, I think they changed their product offer and dropped some of the fish bags, but this is the closest thing to what I have: https://icemulecoolers.com/collections/pro-coolers

 

Just received a 50% off RTIC link if your interested
https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/coolers/softpak/Soft-Pack-40-Grey

 

Best deal going for the $, I have 2 of them. No doubt Yeti makes the best ones and I would say Engle is next but the Monoprice line is the best value I think.

Pure Outdoor by Monoprice

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=31258

 

I used one of the Walmart Ozarkwhatever branded ones a few days last weekend. Worked fine for a bunch of water bottles and held ice decent for a couple of days fishing. Considering all of the problems I'm reading in this thread about high end ones breaking I wonder if there's not some logic in buying a knockoff.

I bought a tall 30qt Ozark Trail for $39.95 and a soft Coho 24 can at Costco for $59. Both are very good coolers and don't have steal me written all over them. Yeti uses exotic DGP, darn good plastic, and a lot of seductive marketing.

 

I think theft is a definite valid concern considering how/where I use these soft coolers most. Picnics, canoe trips, day travel... I have to believe Yeti is really losing a lot of market share to all these generic brands. If you can get a bag that's still damn good for 2/3 of the price you'll have to think pretty hard about it, warranty or not. But if price is no object you just can't beat Yeti's quality.

 

For food and drinks? Whatever will keep it edible and cold. Cheap will do just fine by me.

For fish I plan to kill and eat, Canyon fish bag, or something that will keep ice forever.

 

I've had good luck with my polar bear h2o 48pk. I use it for kayak/fishing/camping trips. Packed with food and filled with hot fish over a weekend trip, 20-25lbs of ice usually lasts a good 2-2.5days sitting in the sun in the back on my yak.

 

Rtic is running a 50% of sale today on their soft cooler just as an FYI

https://www.rticcoolers.com/

 

My buddy has the COHO from costco and it seems like a really nice soft cooler. I like the large front pouch and the back has a water resistant clear sleeve that you can put your phone in and still be able to use the screen. I almost got one but the Yeti flip 12 was on sale during prime day because they discontinued the tan color so I picked up one of them instead. The other good thing is if something breaks, Costco takes it back no questions asked.

 

I just got the rtic version. The Yeti is far superior if you want to spend the coin. The ice barely lasted a day on my trip.

 

Walmart Ozark Trail yeti knockoff was about 35. The zipper is a little tough but it's a good cooler for the money.

 

Walmart Ozark Trail yeti knockoff was about 35. The zipper is a little tough but it's a good cooler for the money.

Lubricate the zipper with wax.

 

I use chapstick for zipper lube. Except last time I grabbed some that was mint scented and it smelled all day.

It's just a tough zipper

 

I still can’t grasp needing a soft side. A small hard side will hold ice longer and or need less ice/ less weight assuming you buy a good one. Soft side may weigh less but would need more ice. Hard side can be used a seat or as a place to set something on. I could see a soft side to wedge into a hatch. That’s about it. I don’t own one so it’s just an opinion.

 

1. They are lighter (my polar bear 48pk is 6lbs vs 20-30lbs of a rotomolded cooler of similar size)
2. They are malleable
3. They are a great 1-2 day cooler that holds a regular amount of ice fine that long.
4. They are easier to carry (carry like a duffel bag, carry with shoulder strap, carry with side handles)
5. They are more comfortable to carry (they are padded and do not dig into you like a hard cooler)

These attributes make them a better option for me in many/most situations.