Head-to-head · Best Soft Cooler Bags

RTIC Soft Pack 20 vs RTIC Soft Pack 30

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

RTIC Soft Pack 30 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about Road trippers and budget-minded campers who want YETI-level leakproofing and capacity without the YETI price. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Soft Cooler Bags

RTIC Soft Pack 20

4.4

$129as of Jun 7

The RTIC Soft Pack 20 is the smaller sibling for solo use, day trips, and lunches. OutdoorGearLab logged about two days of food-safe cold and praised the waterproof construction and watertight seal, while noting the cooler looks more impressive than it ultimately performs. The zipper is stiff like the rest of the RTIC line, but at this price it is a sensible compact pick.

Strengths

— Compact 20-can size is ideal for solo day trips, lunches, and small loads
— Welded waterproof construction with a watertight seal and good straps
— Up to 1.5 inches of closed-cell foam holds cold for about two days

Watch-outs

— OutdoorGearLab measured only about two days of food-safe cold, behind the leaders
— Stiff zipper is hard to operate one-handed
— Look-and-feel sets expectations the cooling performance does not fully meet

$129 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Soft Cooler Bags

RTIC Soft Pack 30

4.6

$129as of May 29

The RTIC Soft Pack 30 is the value pick that keeps showing up in head-to-head tests against YETI. GearJunkie called out its leakproof design and easy-to-pack exterior, and CleverHiker measured about four days before the ice fully melted. The zipper is stiff and it does not quite match the Flip 12, but for roughly a third of the price it is the best bang-for-buck technical soft cooler on the market.

Strengths

— Roughly a third the price of comparable YETI models while matching most of the performance
— EZ waterproof zipper and welded seams kept the bag leakproof and floating in CleverHiker's testing
— Held cold for about two days in real-world high-desert use

Watch-outs

— Tight-sealing zipper is stiff and tricky to open and close, especially when new
— Ice retention trails the YETI Hopper Flip 12 by a day or more in head-to-head tests
— Fabric finish scuffs more visibly than YETI's DryHide shell

$129 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

RTIC Soft Pack 20

A smaller, cheaper take on the RTIC Soft Pack 30 for solo use; it cannot match the ice life of the YETI Hopper Flip 12 or the capacity of the YETI Hopper M30 2.0, but undercuts the AO Coolers Canvas 24 Pack on weatherproofing.

RTIC Soft Pack 30

Far cheaper than the YETI Hopper Flip 12 with similar ice life, holds more than the RTIC Soft Pack 20, and is more weatherproof than the canvas AO Coolers Canvas 24 Pack, though it lacks the tote capacity of the YETI Hopper M30 2.0.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	RTIC Soft Pack 20	RTIC Soft Pack 30
Capacity	20 cans	30 cans
Empty Weight	3 lb	4 lb
Outside Dimensions	13.5 x 13.75 x 9.5 in	—
Insulation	Up to 1.5 in closed-cell foam	Up to 1.5 in closed-cell foam
Closure	Waterproof zipper	EZ waterproof zipper
Cold Hold	~2 days (tested)	Up to 2 days
Floats	Yes	Yes
Carry	Removable shoulder strap	Removable shoulder strap
Construction	—	Welded leakproof seams

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