If you and your family enjoy outdoor activities, the major problem faced by almost every outdoor enthusiast is not only to carry food and drinks along but also to keep them fresh and cool. That is why it’s essential to have a cooler even if you’re going fishing, hunting, swimming, camping, tailgating, beach picnic, or a BBQ party outdoors. However, you may wonder that it will be hard to move it around during a recreation trip.
Fortunately, there are coolers with wheels that make transportation super-easy. Wheel coolers are simple to carry by a single person even if they are filled with food, beverages, or ice, thanks to the wheels and an easy-carry towing handle. Take it any place you want, cooler with wheels offer portable storage for your food and drinks. Enjoy chilled beverages and fresher food!
With tons of best options available, choosing a wheeled cooler is a hard decision to make. Don’t worry, this guide is for you! Scroll down to know about the best cooler with wheels on the market.
| Best Coolers with Wheels Reviews | |
| Best Value – RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler | |
| Best Budget – Coleman 60 Quart Wheeled Cooler |
View all the 6 Best Coolers with Wheels on the Market Below
1. Igloo Glide Pro Roller Cooler
If you’re looking for the best heavy-duty wheeled cooler, the Igloo Glide pro can be a great option. Thanks to its 110 Quarts storage capacity; the largest cooler box with wheels.
Ultratherm thick foam insulation in lid and body offers ice retention up to 5 days at 90°F. Moreover, the Igloo’s exclusive Maxcold technology keeps your food and drinks ice cold anywhere you go. The 39.76 x 18.5 x 19.69 inches white cooler box performs well even if kept under the sun, infrared and UV inhibitors protect cooler from sun damage.
It features stainless steel hinges across the back of the lid while has plastic hinges at the front for the locking mechanism. This 5-day cooler comes with a drain plug that helps to drain melted ice or water. For smooth and easy transport, it features 2 soft-ridge wheels.
What’s unique about this Igloo cooler is the telescoping horizontal extendable handle with cushion grip as compared to vertical handle. Not only to be used for recreational purposes, but the Igloo glide pro is also ideal for the marine industry as well.
PROS
- Large storage capacity
- Horizontal handle
- Maxcold technology
- Threaded drain
CONS
- Weak latch construction
Why do we like it?
What we like most about this is the horizontal slide-out telescopic handle that is 50% easier to pull with maximum grip even when fully loaded with stuff. It’s best to carry around beach or fishing trips.
2. RovR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler
A top rated cooler with wheels for camping, tailgating, and picnic! The RovR cooler is designed to make your outdoor experience better. All other pack goods into the same storage space but the RovR, you c can organize and separate food items the way you want just like in the refrigerator. Separate water-tight compartments give you the versatility to store grilled and picnic foods within FDA regulated food-safety temperature.
The 80 Quarts internal bin storage comes with a stepped floor design guides melting ice around the storage bin and maintains a temperature below 36 degrees for 7-10 days. Thanks to the quick-flow drain plug, the water is drained quickly in seconds. RovR cooler has a roto-molded durable body that offers long-term ice retention and keeps food contents cold. Another notable feature is the roller patented anchor point system gives you a prep station that is fixed to cooler’s body allowing access to the contents of cooler. Plus, you can use these points to fix camping or tailgating accessories in place.
To create an air-tight seal, this roller cooler comes with a refrigerator-grade rubber gasket. This not only retains ice but also locks the smell of food items out of the campsite. Due to its durable built, it is heavy but comes with puncture-resistant pneumatic 2 large tires that are fitted to double ball bearings. Plus, rubber grips on the aluminum handle offers improved leverage. Perhaps the best feature of RovR cooler is its ability to hitch it to the bike.
PROS
- Ice retention up to 7-10 days
- Offset handle
- 80 Quarts storage
- Durable pneumatic tires
- Roto-molded body
CONS
- Relatively pricier than other roller coolers
Why do we like it?
Roto-molded construction is what gives this cooler its extended ice-retention, versatility, and strength. Plus, wheels fixed on a full axle and paired with an offset aluminum handle, a fully loaded RovR cooler is easy and smooth to move or tow even on rough terrain.
3. Coleman 60 Quart Wheeled Cooler
The Coleman wheeled cooler is a great product for regular campers, and fishermen. This 9.40 x 7.04 x 6.89 inches cooler can hold ice up to 4 days at a temperature of 90 °F to keep drinks and food cold and fresh. Thanks to the large 60 Quarts capacity, it can hold up to 94 cans. You get plenty of space to store beverages and refreshments for the whole camp crew. Using the best Xtreme technology, the plastic body and lid feature additional temperature-controlling foam insulation to keep inside temperature as cool as possible. Plus, it doesn’t add excessive weight. Opening and closing the lid is simple and easy! Besides, an innovative freezer-grade gasket creates a seal that’s airtight to preserve what’s inside longer.
Transport is a breeze, thanks to the heavy-duty large 2 wheels. You can take this cooler on the roughest terrains from concrete, dirt, grass, or gravel. Not to worry about melting ice, a leak-resistant drain spout quickly empties put excess water. Also, an adjustable lock telescoping handle allows effortless rolling; easy push, or pull on any surface. Additionally, the cooler features molded handles on each side for easy lifting from the car.
What’s more, is that the cooler with lid also acts as a seat that supports 250lbs for you to sit and relax. Moreover, there are 4 molded cup holders into the lid to keep drinks off the ground and avoid spillage.
PROS
- High 60 quarts storage space
- All-terrain wheels
- Telescopic adjustable handle
- 4-5days ice retention
- 4 cup holders molded into lid
CONS
- No padlock or locking system
Why do we like it?
The large sturdy wheels work great even on irregular terrains. When fully loaded, it’s still lightweight to carry around the campsite or beach. Make sure to consider this option if you’re want to keep things secure on your next hiking trip.
4. YETI Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler
Another durable wheeled cooler that features rotomolded construction! The YETI Tundra Haul is one big cooler that offers superior internal insulation to all food items ice cool. Although big in size, it requires only 55lbs of ice to maintain lower internal temperature for days. Nobody likes soggy food and warm drinks at a fun outdoor trip, so YETI Tundra is a mobile hub for your campsite, picnic, tailgating, or any outdoor location. Unlike super-heavy clunky wheel coolers that are bug hassle to move around, this rotomolded constructed cooler features most-advanced all-terrain tires that puncture and impact-resistant.
Take this cooler anywhere, the large wheels won’t go flat. It rolls easily along with you on the most rugged terrains. Moreover, welded aluminum double-grip T handle allows extremely easy leverage and comfortable pulling on both ends. Thanks to the Permafrost insulation, it offers one-week ice retention. The lid and walls have pressure-injected polyurethane foam to keep inside frosty.
In an event that a wild animal finds your cooler, lock points that secure the cooler keep it impenetrable even to monkeys and bears.
PROS
- Puncture-resistant rugged wheels
- Large capacity to 45 beer cans
- Rotomolded construction
- Comfortable aluminum handle
- Polyurethane foam insulation
CONS
- No separate compartments
Why do we like it?
The indestructible solid construction and polyurethane foam insulation is a great thing to have in a portable cooler. Plus, the large wheels make sure to smooth and roll easily on any rugged surface.
5. Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Rolling Cooler
If you’re tired of lunch spoiling or non-chilled drinks by the time you get the chance to eat it on a camping trip, the Arctic Zone rolling cooler can help you. This soft wheeled cooler features deep freeze insulation with 5-layer technology. Layer-1 is the stain and water-resistant Rhino-tech exterior. Cooler features a Therma-Flect radiant interior barrier and leak-proof lining. The 13.25″ x 12″ x 14.75″ cooler can hold up to 60 cans of your favorite drink easily. With a top easy-access lid, you don’t even have to open the whole cooler to get a drink. This cooler can carry more than just drinks, the front, and side additional insulated compartments to hold other food items.
To move this from one place to another, the cooler comes with a cart featuring extra-wide rugged wheels and a retractable telescopic handle to save your back from heavy lifting. Plus, Titan rolling cooler has an adjustable shoulder strap with non-skid shoulder pad. You’ll also find side grab handles for easy carrying. Storing this soft cooler is not a problem; both the cooler bag and cart are collapsible when not in use. Titan rolling cooler will be great for tailgating, camping, BBQ, and outdoor events.
PROS
- All-terrain wheels
- Deep freeze technology
- Weather-resistant exterior
- Leak-proof
- 2-in 1; backpack and wheeled cooler
CONS
- Less storage capacity
Why do we like it?
The cart and cooler fold down, this allows for space-saving and easy storage. Equipped with deep freeze insulation and Microban silver protection makes it a great cooler to store food items on the go.
6. K2 Coolers Wheeled Cooler
A high-end cooler that’s built to last! The K2 cooler offers 30 Quarts storage bin size and has 20.25 x 18.25 x 16.38 inches dimensions. Its rotomolded construction makes it a must-have piece of camping equipment to enjoy chilly drinks and fresher food. For maximum ice retention up to one week, the K2 cooler has polyethylene double-layer thick insulation. Unlike regular ice chest that’s not well insulated, the single-cast rotomolded body is not only rugged and durable but also UV-resistant. Also, the lid recessed liner with the gasket that creates a really tight seal. The latch on the front also locks it tightly to prevent any air from entering the cooler.
The K2 wheeled cooler will slide and roll effortlessly across any surface, thanks to the rugged 2 black wheels. Plus, a telescopic aluminum handle offers a good comfortable grip while rolling. There are easy-lift side handles as well so you can lift it into a truck or car. Padlocks at sides offer security and protection when you have to leave cooler unattended for a while; your inside food contents will be safe.
You can get this in three different colors; steel grey, glacier white, and Duck boat green. A great cooler wheeled for camping enthusiasts, fishermen, hunters!
PROS
- Tough roto-molded construction
- Polyethylene thick insulation
- Sturdy wheels
- Telescopic large handle
- 7-year warranty
CONS
- No partition in the storage bin
Why do we like it?
The snow-blown insulation and lid plus the latches ensure the maximum ice retention to keep inside temperature cool.
Cooler with Wheels Buyer’s Guide
Before you purchase a wheeled cooler, it’s important to consider some of the important factors to get what’s best suitable for your needs.
Wheel type and size
When it comes to wheeled coolers, wheels are something you definitely have to consider. This merely depends on the terrain you plan to move the portable cooler. Coolers with small-sized wheels work well on smooth even terrains. Smaller wheels on cooler are ideal if you plan to take them in the backyard, parks, beach, or car camping. However, small wheels aren’t a suitable choice for rough surfaces.
This is where large bigger wheels come in. Some cheap coolers have luggage-style wheels that perform well on smooth surfaces and sidewalks only. Opt for bigger wheels if you plan to go camping on rough topography. Huge off-road wheels roll over mud, dirt, grass, gravel, or rocks easily. Plus, the material of wheels is as important as their size.
Handle Height and type
A great advantage of wheeled coolers is portability and ease of transportation. So, handle height is a significant consideration. The wheel coolers come with different handle heights and types. The most common type is telescopic handle with height adjustment. However, some coolers feature rope or molded handles.
This is not a good choice if you need to drag cooler for longer distances. You wouldn’t want a back and shoulder pain on your camping trip. Besides, it’s also important to have a good grip handle. When pulling a heavy cooler, it’s important to have a handle designed to provide comfort and free movement to your feet. An offset handle pulls behind you at an angle and stays out of the way of your heels.
Although telescopic handles work best, a short length handle can be annoying to carry up the hilly terrain. Taller people should choose the wheel cooler that comes with adjustable handle height to move cooler comfortably on any surface. Also, additional carry handles on each side allow for easy lifting up and out from your vehicle.
Cooler capacity and size
The size and capacity depends on how much space you require to store your food items. If you plan to bring the whole feast for the camp party, a bigger-size cooler is what you need. A roller cooler with 50-80 quarts storage space is considered bigger in size. However, they might be difficult to fit into your vehicle. Look for a size that not easily fits into the car but also at home. On the other hand, if you need a cooler to store some sandwiches and a few drinks for a beach day-trip, a small capacity will work fine. A 25-quart cooler is ideal for one person or one night. A storage capacity between 25-45 Quarts can serve a single person for 4 days or 2 campers for 2 days. 45-80 quarts cooler will serve 2 campers over a week or a family of 4-6 people over a weekend.
Also, keep in mind that the interior capacity depends on the thickness of the materials; there may be some non-insulated and insulated storage area.
Material and construction
Roller coolers are mostly made out of a mixture of metal and plastic while some entirely feature metal construction. This construction plays a great deal in how well the cooler is going to perform. If you need a highly durable cooler, then we suggest the one with rotomolded construction that is mostly found on premium wheeled cooler. Made from a single piece of plastic, the cooler is sturdy and tough. Besides, it also has great weather-resistant and insulation properties. However, rotomolded coolers are heavier, moving a loaded cooler would mostly require a 2-person team.
The cooler with wheels comes in two styles; soft and hard-sided. Many soft coolers have both non-chilled and chilled compartments with a fabric lining while fitting into any space; compact. Hard-casing coolers are more durable and retain shape and size when empty or filled.
Ice retention
The reason to buy a wheeled cooler is to keep drinks or food cool for a long time so it goes without saying that ice retention property is an important thing to consider.
The ice retention ability is different for every cooler you’ll see in the market. Keep in mind that a cooler with longer ice retention period isn’t always the best option to go for.
Insulation Type
When buying a cooler, it’s better to know what insulation options are available to you. This is an incredibly important point as insulation determines the cooler’s efficiency to retain ice and keep drinks or other food items at a lower temperature during a hot sunny day. The two main insulation types used in roller coolers are:
Polystyrene
It’s the most common insulation system that almost all portable wheeled coolers use since polystyrene is effective and lightweight. This form of plastic prevents heat transfer and keeps the inside temperature lower, thus keeping drinks cool for an extended time period. Thicker the polystyrene walls, better will be the insulation.
Foam
Another rare type is foam insulation that is particularly used in soft-sided or less expensive wheeled cooler options. Although foam also does well to retain ice for a few hours, it is not a good option if you need cooler ice for a long time. However, being less expensive, foam-insulated coolers are fine for very short trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a wheeled cooler?
It’s a portable cooler that has an insulated ice chest and comes with wheels and carry-handles attached. A wheeled cooler comes in handy and useful if you want to enjoy a fresh meal with cold icy drinks at camping, hunting, hiking, beach, or other outdoor recreation trips.
Are they easy to roll?
The heavy-duty large-size coolers are heavy and can be a little tricky to roll by a single person. However, a good offset or T-handle and large wheels like YETI Tundra and RovR Wheeled cooler make rolling heavy-duty coolers very smooth and easy.
Can they roll off-road?
Not all wheeled coolers are designed to roll off-road. Small plastic wheels are not all-terrain wheels and are prone to puncture or breakage when comes in contact with rocks, gravel, sand, or even grass. Larger pneumatic wheels that are rugged and puncture-resistant can smoothly roll off-road and considered as all-terrain tires.
Conclusion
Now, you know all about the best-wheeled coolers and their features! Choose the one that best suits your needs during outdoor activities. Keep beers, soft drinks, juices, sandwiches, BBQ, or other condiments fresh and cool in roller cooler just like they are in your home refrigerator. Bon appétit!
Expert tip
The experts suggest using larger ice blocks to get maximum cooling time. Smaller ice cubes or crushed ice has more surface area and tends to melt quickly than large ice pieces.
Did you know?
Although dry ice is used for refrigerating transportation, it is not to be used with wheeled cooler. Adding dry ice can damage cooler.
Amazon Recommends:
- FULLY INSULATED: Lid and body Keeps the Ice up to 5 days in temperatures as high as 90°F; logo color on cooler may vary
- FOR THE LONG HAUL: Heavy-duty 6-inch wheels and durable tow & swing-up handles designed for easy transport
- EXTENDED ICE RETENTION: Using Xtreme technology, this ice chest cooler with wheels helps maintain ice longer, acting as an efficient beer cooler for up to 5 days, even at 90°F
- LARGE CAPACITY: Acting as both a large cooler with wheels and an insulted can cooler, this portable cooler holds up to 84 cans, perfect for beach or camping coolers
- ICE RETENTION: TempLock insulation keeps drinks ice cold
- PORTABLE: Recessed wheels and a retractable handle with comfort grip make it easy to move
