Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.
RTIC 20 Can Soft Pack comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about day-trip buyers wanting Yeti-class performance at value price — read the strengths below before deciding.
The AO Coolers Carbon 24 is the USA-made pick — AO's domestically built soft cooler.
The 20 Can is the day-use value pick — RTIC's smaller cooler matches Yeti Flip at lower price.
USA-made. Smaller brand. Carbon series.
Beats Yeti Flip on value. Day-use size.
| Spec | AO Coolers Carbon 24-Pack | RTIC 20 Can Soft Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | USA | — |
| Capacity | 24 cans | 20 cans |
| Foam | Closed-cell | — |
| Brand | AO Coolers | RTIC |
| Ice Retention | — | Yeti-equivalent |
| Price | — | $99 |