 This Product
RTIC SoftPak 20 | |||||
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| Awards |  Best for Most People | Best Budget Backpack | Best Soft Lunchbox | ||
| Price | $99 List Check Price at Amazon | $70 List Check Price at Amazon | $37 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $40 List Check Price at Amazon | $24 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | It looks impressive but it doesn't quite live up to that expectation | A unique flip-top cooler that keeps its contents cool and is convenient to use, all while keeping your wallet happy | Sleek and budget-friendly, this pack gets the job done for day trips, but it wouldn't be our first pick for water activities, as it gets wet fast | A tote-style cooler made of recycled materials for conscious adventurers | An excellent choice for those with a strict budget looking for a daily lunchbox |
| Rating Categories | RTIC SoftPak 20 | Arctic Zone Titan De... | Sparter 30-Can Backpack | CleverMade Pacifica... | Lifewit Large Insula... |
| Insulation (35%) | |||||
| Convenience (25%) | |||||
| Portability (25%) | |||||
| Packability (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | RTIC SoftPak 20 | Arctic Zone Titan De... | Sparter 30-Can Backpack | CleverMade Pacifica... | Lifewit Large Insula... |
| Measured Capacity in Cans | 24 cans | 30 cans | 35 cans | 38 cans | 24 cans |
| Measured Capacity | 13.1 L | 19.4 L | 17.5 L | 18.5 L | 13.2 L |
| Food Shelf Life (Measured Days Below 40ºF) | 2.0 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| Cold Beverages (Measured Days Below 50ºF) | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Carry Style | Lunchbox | Lunchbox | Pack | Lunchbox | Lunchbox |
| Can a standard sized wine bottle fit? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, but only horizontally | Yes, but can only fit small bottles horizontally |
| Measured Dimensions L x W x H | 14" x 9" x 13.8" | 15.1" x 11.3" x 12.1" | 10.8" x 7.5" x 17" | 16" x 9.8" x 13" | 10" x 6.7" x 8.3" |
| Measured Weight | 3.1 lbs | 3.6 lbs | 1.2 lbs | 1.7 lbs | 0.8 lbs |
| Volume to Weight | 4.2 L per lb | 5.4 L per lb | 14.6 L per lb | 10.9 L per lb | 16.5 L per lb |
| Closure Method | Zipper | Zipperless | Zipper | Zipper | Zipper |
| Available in Different Sizes? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Exterior Fabric | Vinyl | Polyester | High-density scratch-resistant nylon material with extra PU coating | Recycled polyester | Ripstop Oxford fabric with PU coating |
| Additional Storage | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Removable Liner? | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Available in Additional Colors? | Yes; 8 | Yes; 7 | Yes; 5 | Yes; 3 | Yes; 5 |
The RTIC SoftPak is a medium-sized, messenger-carry cooler with an over-the-shoulder strap and end handles. It features a watertight zipper and welded seams.
RTIC claims the SoftPak “keeps food and drinks colder longer” with a minimum ice retention of two days. However, the fine print includes stipulations for that performance that include only opening the cooler once a day and only using it in temperatures cooler than 80ºF. In our test, we set the cooler in a temperature-controlled room without opening the cooler at all. It managed 48 hours of sub-40ºF temps, which is the FDA-recommended food-safe temp. If you're only after chilled drinks, the RTIC lasted 48 hours under 50ºF.
This cooler comes in numerous dark to medium colors, which could further detract from potential insulation in the hot sun. We recommend keeping your cooler out of direct sun, but that can be a tough ask on a beach. That said, we appreciate the watertight zipper and exterior of this little cooler.
As with any waterproof zipper, it's hard to open. The SoftPak comes with a stick of lubricant that does help, but will never make it as effortless as a regular zipper. Beyond that, it isn't any more or less challenging to use than the watertight zippers of other models we tested. Once it is open, the flip-top design makes it easy to load and unload. Because it's a rigid soft cooler, it doesn't collapse when empty. This makes it easier to clean the inside but poses a challenge when finding storage. The RTIC is available in a handful of colors, and it floats on water.
In terms of sheer size, the SoftPak is reasonably portable. The size we tested is a bit on the smaller side, striking an acceptable balance between capacity and carry weight. Completely empty, it weighs just 3.0 pounds — on the lighter end of coolers we tested — and we measured it with a 14 quart (13.5 liters) capacity. Two end handles are straightforward to use and the shoulder strap is padded, adjustable, and long enough for crossbody wear. We're not big fans of the shape and rigidity of the RTIC for this type of carrying, however. The top and bottom edges are unpleasant if they ride against your side while you walk. To avoid that, two duffel-style handles can be joined together to carry it at your side instead.
The 24-can size we tested isn't quite large enough inside to fit taller objects, though we were able to barely squeeze in a wine bottle. And if you try to force it, this “soft” cooler is rigid enough that you can easily break the zipper or bust the seams trying. The SoftPak has a single exterior zippered pocket that's so small and thin that it's only functional for bringing something tiny like a bottle opener.
We retested the RTIC SoftPak 20 to compare it to the massive influx of rather impressive competition. Unfortunately, it doesn't stand out from the crowd for its performance. If you really want a watertight cooler of this size and shape and you've found a great deal, it's still a decent choice. But for your money, you can also purchase better insulators, easier-to-carry options, and coolers with less complicated functionality.
RTIC also makes a backpack-style soft cooler, the RTIC Backpack 30. This backpack did quite well in our tests and is our go-to for portability. Another great option that floats is the IceMule Pro 33. This dry-bag style cooler is great for days on the water, though it's versatile enough to take just about anywhere a cooler is needed. See our top-ranked soft coolers review for more comparison.
