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IceMule Jaunt 15 Review

This is one of the best options for a personal adventure pack for those solo day trips
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IceMule Jaunt 15 Review
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Price:  $110 List
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Manufacturer:   IceMule
By Genaveve Bradshaw and AnnaMarie Houlis  ⋅  May 2, 2024
72
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 19
  • Insulation - 30% 7.6
  • Convenience - 25% 8.0
  • Portability - 25% 6.4
  • Packability - 10% 6.1
  • Durability - 10% 6.9

Our Verdict

The IceMule Jaunt 15 is a great option for a solo adventurer hitting the road for a day trip. Whether you're going on a day hike or checking out a new beach, taking this backpack-style cooler with you won't disappoint. But, if you're looking for a different style, check out other options in our best soft cooler review.
REASONS TO BUY
Well insulated
Comfortable
Water-resistant
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey for its small size
Limited storage

Compare to Similar Products

 
icemule jaunt 15
This Product
IceMule Jaunt 15
Awards Top Pick Award
Best Personal Adventure Pack
Best Buy Award
Best Soft Cooler on a Budget
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Soft Cooler
Best Buy Award
Best on the Tightest of Budgets
Top Pick Award
Top Eco-Friendly Cooler
Price $81.93 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
$63 List
$62.99 at Amazon
$86 List
$85.95 at Amazon
$30 List
$19.99 at Amazon
$40 List
$39.98 at Amazon
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Bottom Line This is a top pick as an all-around personal adventure packThis budget-friendly cooler lacks a zipped top, yet keeps its contents fresh among the restA great cooler that's simple, easy to use, and less expensive than mostThis soft cooler has the lowest price tag of the soft coolers we've tested. While it isn't going to give you everything you need, it'll get the job done for quick and easy tripsAn eco-friendly option that is ideal for conscious adventurers
Rating Categories IceMule Jaunt 15 Arctic Zone Titan D... AO Coolers 24 Pack... Lifewit Large Insul... CleverMade Pacifica...
Insulation (30%)
7.6
5.2
5.8
3.4
4.5
Convenience (25%)
8.0
9.5
7.7
9.0
9.3
Portability (25%)
6.4
7.9
6.7
7.0
6.5
Packability (10%)
6.1
7.5
8.8
9.1
7.7
Durability (10%)
6.9
4.0
7.3
7.3
2.4
Specs IceMule Jaunt 15 Arctic Zone Titan D... AO Coolers 24 Pack... Lifewit Large Insul... CleverMade Pacifica...
Measured Capacity in Cans 28 cans 30 cans 36 cans 24 cans 38 cans
Measured Capacity 15.7 L 19.4 L 23.4 L 13.2 L 18.5 L
Food Shelf Life (Measured Days Below 40ºF) 2.7 2.1 2.3 1.6 1.9
Cold Beverages (Measured Days Below 50ºF) 3.0 2.3 2.5 1.8 2.1
Carry Style Pack Lunchbox Lunchbox Lunchbox Lunchbox
Can a standard sized wine bottle fit? Yes Yes Yes Yes, but can only fit small bottles horizontally Yes, but only horizontally
Measured Dimensions L x W x H 9" x 8.5" x 17" 15.1" x 11.3" x 12.1" 17" x 9" x 12" 10" x 6.7" x 8.3" 16" x 9.8" x 13"
Measured Weight 1.8 Ibs 3.6 lbs 2.8 Ibs 0.8 Ibs 1.7 Ibs
Closure Method Roll Top Zipperless Zipper Zipper Zipper
Available in Different Sizes? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Exterior Fabric Ultra-Tough Muleskin™ Exterior Polyester Canvas Ripstop Oxford fabric with PU coating Recycled polyester
Additional Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Removable Liner? No Yes No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

At 9 by 8.5 by 17 inches, the IceMule Jaunt 15 has 15.7 liters of capacity. That's a decent amount of space, and it weighs only 1.8 pounds, so it is light on the shoulders. This is the ideal amount of space to take your lunch or some snacks on the road with you—or to keep a bottle of wine chill for a beach adventure at sunset. While this cooler won't carry everything you need for a full picnic with the family, it's an ideal backpack-style option for solo day trips.

Performance Comparison


icemule jaunt 15 - the icemule jaunt 15 is a great adventure pack for solo trips.
The IceMule Jaunt 15 is a great adventure pack for solo trips.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Insulation


We took a look at what the USDA Safe Food Temperature scales say for food safety. And we were not too impressed with the IceMule Jaunt 15's ability to meet those standards—but it wasn't the worst soft cooler we tested in terms of insulation. This cooler remained below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 2.7 days and below 50 degrees for three days, which gave it an average score. We have seen worse, but we have also seen better.


The mediocre insulation is the only reason why we wouldn't recommend this cooler for multi-day trips. It is not big enough to store enough food and beverages to last you much longer than a day trip. And, even if it could fit more inside, you won't last longer than a short weekend with it. However, for a day trip, this cooler is the best option.

icemule jaunt 15 - the inside of this dry-bag style cooler.
The inside of this dry-bag style cooler.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Convenience


The IceMule Jaunt 15 is a highly convenient soft cooler. The dry bag-style opening at the top is easy to open and close; you only need to roll it a few times and buckle it shut. The exterior material feels thick and sturdy, and you can puff some air into the bag with the valve in case you want to give it a nicer, rounded shape to keep it upright. There is also a pocket with a waterproof zipper on the front of the pack that can easily fit a phone and keys.


The pocket on the IceMule Jaunt will easily hold your extra items.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Cleaning this cooler is fairly easy, and the inside is easy to wipe down. It's worth noting that the bag needs some help staying open in order to dry out completely. We found that flipping the pack over is the easiest way to air it out. And, when you're all done with it, you can simply squish the air out and fold it flat. If you need help getting more air out, you can use the same valve you use to puff air into it. The base of the pack is thicker than the walls, and it gets folded over them so you can pack it down into a relatively flat profile that takes up very little storage space.

icemule jaunt 15 - of all the metrics, the icemule jaunt 15 scored its personal best in...
Of all the metrics, the IceMule Jaunt 15 scored its personal best in convenience.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Portability


The IceMule Jaunt 15 is easily portable because it can be carried like a backpack. The straps, however, are thinly padded. Still, they come with an adjustable waist strap. There is no back padding for this cooler, but if it's uncomfortable for you, you can also carry it by grabbing the shoulder straps or the loop from the rollover top.


This is not the most comfortable backpack-style cooler we have ever tested, and the material can feel sweaty against the skin. But because it is small, it's easy to lift. It's important to pay mind to how you carry this cooler, however, because we noticed some bouncing around inside. We found that using a jacket, towel, or another soft layer helped absorb some of the impact while we were on the move.

icemule jaunt 15 - this is not the most comfortable pack cooler we tried, but it has...
This is not the most comfortable pack cooler we tried, but it has plenty of adjustable straps.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Packability


The IceMule Jaunt 15 is quite easy to pack. The base is wide, and some padding at the bottom allows this cooler to stand upright. However, the top does flop over, whether it's loaded or not. This can make adding ice to the cooler frustrating for some.

The small size of this cooler does make it easy to pack as you can touch the bottom without having to reach too far. Since you can only open the cooler from the top, this is a major plus. You can load it up with 28 cans and a wine bottle with no problem.

icemule jaunt 15 - this cooler can fit 28 cans and a bottle of wine.
This cooler can fit 28 cans and a bottle of wine.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Durability


The IceMule Jaunt 15 is decently durable in our tests. We were a little disappointed with the cooler's performance as a dry bag, but as a cooler in and of itself, we consider it adequate. That's because the cooler didn't necessarily crush our dunk test with flying colors. When we soaked it in water, it did get soggy and damp. While it didn't soak totally through, the inside of the cooler did get moist. The outside of the cooler, including the shoulder straps and back padding, was wet and felt heavier. However, the cooler did dry in 30 minutes, and the outside zipper pocket somehow stayed 100% dry. We think that giving this roll-top an extra roll might help keep water out, though you will lose some storage space.


As for wear and tear, this cooler stood firm in our tests. While ours didn't sustain any damages during our testing, some report leaks and liner tears. However, the IceMule Jaunt seems to handle the elements quite well overall. For day trips, it shouldn't pose any problems.

This cooler didn't sustain any damage during our durability testing and floats well on water (when properly sealed).
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Should You Buy the IceMule Jaunt 15?


The IceMule Jaunt 15 is a great option for anyone going on a quick day hike, picnic in the park, or active outdoor adventure on their own. It won't fit food or beverages for all of your friends and family, but if you only want to use it as a sort of lunchbox for yourself—and want to carry that lunchbox for a longer distance—this cooler is a solid pick. If, however, you need a cooler that can fit a lot more items for others, this isn't going to cut it.

icemule jaunt 15 - this cooler works well as a solo-use adventure pack.
This cooler works well as a solo-use adventure pack.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

What Other Soft Coolers Should You Consider?


If you are hooked on having a backpack-style cooler, we have tested plenty of them. Another backpack-style cooler that we really like is the Yeti Hopper M20. This is a top-quality cooler that will last a long time due to its top-notch durability. It also is the most well-insulated of the soft coolers that we tested, so you can take this on longer trips than you would take the IceMule Jaunt. Another great backpack cooler is the Engel Roll Top BP25 Backpack. It is just as packable, significantly more portable, and substantially more durable. It also doesn't fall too far behind in regards to insulation.

icemule jaunt 15 - with an exterior zippered pocket, the icemule jaunt 15 is a...
With an exterior zippered pocket, the IceMule Jaunt 15 is a functional piece of adventure gear.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Genaveve Bradshaw and AnnaMarie Houlis