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Head-to-head · Best Soft Cooler Bags

RTIC Soft Pack 20 vs YETI Hopper Flip 12

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

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The short answer

YETI Hopper Flip 12 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.1 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about Boaters, anglers, and beachgoers who want a bombproof, truly leakproof personal cooler and will pay a premium for it. — read the strengths below before deciding.

RTIC Soft Pack 20
Ranked #3 in Best Soft Cooler Bags
RTIC Soft Pack 20
3 sources1 derived$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 that the cooler looks more capable than it ultimately performs. The zipper is stiff like the rest of the RTIC line. 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 AmazonFull review →
YETI Hopper Flip 12
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Soft Cooler Bags
YETI Hopper Flip 12
3 sources2 derived$250as of Aug 1

When leakproofing and durability matter more than price, the Hopper Flip 12 is what most testers reach for. GearJunkie named it Best Overall, and CleverHiker logged just under four days of ice retention in a melt test. The rigid cube holds 24 cans, and the HydroLok zipper is genuinely watertight once you accept that it takes two hands. It costs a lot; it also survives the most abuse.

Strengths
  • — Held ice for just under four days in CleverHiker's controlled melt test before reaching 50F internally
  • — Leakproof HydroLok zipper kept water in even when tipped or carried sideways
  • — DryHide shell shrugged off scrapes, punctures, and UV after seasons of beach and boat use
Watch-outs
  • — At $250 it is one of the most expensive 12-liter soft coolers sold
  • — HydroLok zipper is stiff and needs two hands plus zipper lube to slide smoothly
  • — Boxy footprint takes up more car space than a collapsible duffel-style cooler
$250 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

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.

YETI Hopper Flip 12

More leakproof and abuse-resistant than the RTIC Soft Pack 30 or RTIC Soft Pack 20, but holds far less than the tote-style YETI Hopper M30 2.0 and costs more than twice the AO Coolers Canvas 24 Pack.

Specs side-by-side

SpecRTIC Soft Pack 20YETI Hopper Flip 12
Capacity20 cans24 cans / 16 lb ice
Empty Weight3 lb3.1 lb
Outside Dimensions13.5 x 13.75 x 9.5 in14.3 x 10.7 x 12 in
InsulationUp to 1.5 in closed-cell foamColdCell closed-cell foam
ClosureWaterproof zipperHydroLok leakproof zipper
Cold Hold~2 days (tested)~55 hours food-safe (tested)
FloatsYesYes
CarryRemovable shoulder strapHandles + removable strap
Shellheavy-duty coated fabricDryHide high-density fabric
Ice Retentionup to 2 days~4 days (tested)
ConstructionWelded seams—
Inside Dimensions13.5 x 13.8 x 9.5 in12.6 x 10 x 11.5 in
Linerwaterproof interiorWelded TPU, abrasion-resistant
MaterialVinylFoam
Volume—13 L
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