Head-to-head · Best Soft Cooler Bags

RTIC Soft Pack 20 vs YETI Hopper M30 2.0

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

YETI Hopper M30 2.0 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Groups and families who want a wide-mouth tote with effortless loading and YETI cold-hold, and don't mind the weight or the 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 #3 in Best Soft Cooler Bags

YETI Hopper M30 2.0

4.5

$350as of Jun 7

The Hopper M30 2.0 is the group-haul tote in YETI's soft lineup, swapping the zipper for a magnetic MagShield mouth that loads like an open bag and snaps shut on its own. GearJunkie awarded it best magnetic-closure tote and Treeline logged strong ice retention in direct sun. It is heavy and very expensive, and the closure is leak-resistant rather than leakproof, but nothing else here carries 42 cans this easily.

Strengths

— MagShield magnetic opening stays open for loading then seals with a gentle push, with no zipper to fight
— Held ice in 90F direct sun for more than 10 hours with about half remaining frozen near 24 hours in Treeline's test
— Huge 42-can / 32-lb-ice tote capacity for groups and weekend trips

Watch-outs

— At $350 it is the most expensive cooler on this list by a wide margin
— Magnetic closure is leak-resistant, not fully leakproof if the bag tips over
— Heavier than the Flip 12 at nearly 7 lb empty

$350 · 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.

YETI Hopper M30 2.0

Carries far more than the YETI Hopper Flip 12 or either RTIC Soft Pack, but is the heaviest and priciest here; the magnetic mouth is easier to load than the RTIC Soft Pack 30's stiff zipper but is leak-resistant rather than fully leakproof.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	RTIC Soft Pack 20	YETI Hopper M30 2.0
Capacity	20 cans	42 cans / 32 lb ice
Empty Weight	3 lb	6.8 lb
Outside Dimensions	13.5 x 13.75 x 9.5 in	25.2 x 11.9 x 17.3 in
Insulation	Up to 1.5 in closed-cell foam	ColdCell closed-cell foam
Closure	Waterproof zipper	MagShield magnetic with quick-release buckles
Cold Hold	~2 days (tested)	—
Floats	Yes	—
Carry	Removable shoulder strap	—
Volume	—	30 L (13 wine bottles)
Shell	—	DryHide high-density fabric
Ice Retention	—	48+ hours (tested)

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