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REI Co-op Pack-Away 24 Review

An easily stored cooler that leaks readily but is comfortable and useful enough to be a good solution for casual and infrequent usage
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REI Co-op Pack-Away 24 Review
Credit: REI Co-op
Price:  $55 List
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Manufacturer:   REI Co-op
By Genaveve Bradshaw, Maggie Nichols, and Rebecca Glades  ⋅  Sep 22, 2023
63
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#13 of 19
  • Insulation - 30% 5.3
  • Convenience - 25% 9.0
  • Portability - 25% 3.6
  • Packability - 10% 7.7
  • Durability - 10% 7.7

Our Verdict

The REI Pack-Away 24 is a low-cost, intriguing soft cooler that transforms into a flat tote for easy storage. As a cube, it's flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of contents and fairly comfortable to carry. It's smaller than we expected, but to get more volume requires using it as an oversized, less comfortable tote. The zippers are standard, yet surprisingly water resistant during our soak test. Though it's not as protective, insulative, or burly as many of its competitors, this inexpensive unit is a solid option for day trips and infrequent cooler needs, especially because it folds away flat to take up little space. See how this model compares against other top-ranked soft coolers.
REASONS TO BUY
Flexible body is comfortable and convenient
Folds flat
External pocket is large
Easy to use
Very lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Smaller than expected
Unimpressive insulation

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Best Buy Award
Best Soft Cooler on a Budget
Best Buy Award
Best on the Tightest of Budgets
Top Pick Award
Top Eco-Friendly Cooler
Top Pick Award
Best Multi-use Backpack
Price $55 List
$54.95 at REI
$63 List
$62.99 at Amazon
$30 List
$19.99 at Amazon
$40 List
$39.98 at Amazon
$40 List
$35.97 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
63
71
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A handy model that won't stop meltwater leakage but is a useful and comfortable solution for infrequent and casual useThis budget-friendly cooler lacks a zipped top, yet keeps its contents fresh among the restThis 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 adventurersA budget-friendly soft cooler that has plenty of storage, comfy straps, and decent insulation performance
Rating Categories REI Co-op Pack-Away 24 Arctic Zone Titan D... Lifewit Large Insul... CleverMade Pacifica... Maelstrom Backpack 35
Insulation (30%)
5.3
5.2
3.4
4.5
4.3
Convenience (25%)
9.0
9.5
9.0
9.3
6.6
Portability (25%)
3.6
7.9
7.0
6.5
5.9
Packability (10%)
7.7
7.5
9.1
7.7
9.4
Durability (10%)
7.7
4.0
7.3
2.4
4.0
Specs REI Co-op Pack-Away 24 Arctic Zone Titan D... Lifewit Large Insul... CleverMade Pacifica... Maelstrom Backpack 35
Measured Capacity in Cans 44 cans 30 cans 24 cans 38 cans 36 cans
Measured Capacity 27.6 L 19.4 L 13.2 L 18.5 L 20.0 L
Food Shelf Life (Measured Days Below 40ºF) 2.2 2.1 1.6 1.9 1.8
Cold Beverages (Measured Days Below 50ºF) 2.3 2.3 1.8 2.1 2.0
Carry Style Pack Lunchbox Lunchbox Lunchbox Pack
Can a standard sized wine bottle fit? Yes Yes Yes, but can only fit small bottles horizontally Yes, but only horizontally Yes
Measured Dimensions L x W x H 24" x 9" 18" 15.1" x 11.3" x 12.1" 10" x 6.7" x 8.3" 16" x 9.8" x 13" 13.3" x 8.3" x 18.4"
Measured Weight 1.5 lbs 3.6 lbs 0.8 Ibs 1.7 Ibs 2.4 lbs
Closure Method Zipper Zipperless Zipper Zipper Zipper
Available in Different Sizes? No Yes Yes Yes No
Exterior Fabric Recycled polyester shell and abrasion-resistant recycled nylon bottom Polyester Ripstop Oxford fabric with PU coating Recycled polyester High-density insulation material
Additional Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Removable Liner? No Yes No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

The REI Pack Away 24 is a messenger bag cooler that converts between a flat tote and a roughly 20L cube. It has an adjustable shoulder strap and two duffel-style handles. It features a medium-sized external zippered pocket and two short daisy chains on each side.

Performance Comparison


The Pack-Away is a great option to take on your next beach trip or picnic as it has great capacity and is easy to carry.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Insulation


While this flexible bag cooler converts between two different configurations (with different capacities), we only tested its insulation as a cube because we find it to be the more convenient, though smaller, way to use this cooler. As a (slightly under) 20-quart cube, the Pack-Away 24 lasted 50 hours below 40° F, the recommended food-safe temperature by the FDA. It managed 55 hours under 50° F, which is roughly the temperature at which beer is still refreshing. This is just about the average performance among the models we tested. If we'd tested it as a flat tote bag, with its 34-quart volume, it would have contained more ice (we scale the amount of ice and cans in each cooler to match their capacities) and might have lasted longer. However, we chose not to test it as a tote, as we found it more than a little bit awkward to use it this way. It's also worth noting that it closes with just a regular zipper—not a waterproof one.

rei co-op pack-away 24 - insulation results for small capacity coolers.
Insulation results for small capacity coolers.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Convenience


If you enjoy using a classic, slightly floppy duffel bag, the Pack-Away is a solid choice. It has a removable and adjustable shoulder strap and duffel-style handles (though no way to clip the two together). Two zipper pulls allow you to open the cooler at any given point along the top. The rather flexible cooler body makes it easy to pack completely to the brim or accommodate awkwardly shaped items. A fairly large zippered pocket on the outside holds a small selection of your dry goods and has a clip for your keys (or favorite bottle opener), and four short daisy chains provide additional attachment points. The main feature of this soft cooler is that it folds flat for easy storage. We tried using it as a flat tote bag and it doesn't not work, but its elongated body and lack of a flat bottom make for a heavy, unwieldy package that jumbles everything together in transit. We prefer it as a cube, despite the loss of volume. The only real downside to using it as a cube is that by clipping corners where they need to go to make it a cube, the zipper actually runs up both ends and over the top. Since it's not a waterproof zipper, we found ice water sometimes sloshes out the sides and gets us a little bit damp.

rei co-op pack-away 24 - the rei pack-away folds up flat and easily stores in tight places.
The REI Pack-Away folds up flat and easily stores in tight places.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Portability


Completely empty, the Pack-Away weighs 1.6 pounds, which makes it one of the lightest coolers we tested of any size. Even when it's completely full, it carries comfortably over your shoulder or across your body. Despite the shoulder pad being fairly small and insignificant looking, it does a more than adequate job helping your shoulder be as comfortable as you can expect, carrying a cooler full of picnic supplies. Once again, the flexible body of the cooler comes in handy, conforming to the shape of your side rather than bashing rigidly like so many other models.

rei co-op pack-away 24 - the top corners of the bag can be extended to more resemble a tote...
The top corners of the bag can be extended to more resemble a tote and allow more internal capacity.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Packability


The Pack-Away is large enough to hold a whopping 44 cans. Adding to this overall packing functionality are exterior pockets and gear loops. Extra items like keys or a travel mug can easily be clipped on to keep your hands free. Because it's a soft tote-style bag, it naturally wants to close, which isn't ideal during loading or unloading. However, due to its soft body, variously shaped items can fit in, with the walls conforming to whatever item it's carrying.

rei co-op pack-away 24 - the rei co-op pack-away 24 includes a small exterior pocket that's...
The REI Co-op Pack-Away 24 includes a small exterior pocket that's perfect for a phone or keys, along with daisy chains for clipping on extra gear.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Durability


Made of rugged polyester, the Pack-Away did well in this metric. During our soak test, some beads of water managed to find their way inside to cause some minor dampness. However, it mostly remained dry. The bottom of the cooler is also reinforced with an extra layer of material, so it can handle a scrape or two against a rock. Unfortunately, we read a lot of other Pack-Away owners reporting similar experiences in their online reviews. If it weren't for that leak, the rest of the cooler seems good enough to be a casual or infrequently used piece of gear in your summertime arsenal.

rei co-op pack-away 24 - the bottom of the rei pack-away is reinforced for resistance against...
The bottom of the REI Pack-Away is reinforced for resistance against rocks or touch surfaces.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should You Buy the REI Co-op Pack-Away?


The Pack-Away 24 is one of the cheaper models we tested, and in this case, we think you get what you pay for. It does an okay job and is certainly good enough for a single day of use on the beach for a family that only needs it every now and then. This infrequent usage is reinforced by how easy it is to pack it flat and tuck it away on a shelf or in a closet. If that sounds like your ideal cooler, then this just might be right for you.

rei co-op pack-away 24 - the pack-away's straps can fit over the shoulder to carry more like...
The Pack-Away's straps can fit over the shoulder to carry more like a purse.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

What Other Soft Coolers Should You Consider?


If you're hunting for a bag that does it all, take a peak at the Engel HD30. This cooler does well in all of the metrics and manages to keep its contents fresh for longer. If you're set on a non-rigid tote style cooler, the AO Coolers 24 Pack Canvas Cooler is another well-priced option. Find out more about the best soft coolers in our comprehensive cooler review.

rei co-op pack-away 24 - the rei co-op pack-away 24 folds up flat so you can store it in...
The REI Co-op Pack-Away 24 folds up flat so you can store it in tight places when not in use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Genaveve Bradshaw, Maggie Nichols, and Rebecca Glades