RTIC SoftPak 20 Review

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.

Performance Comparison

Insulation

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.

Convenience

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.

Portability

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.

Packability

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.

Durability

A puncture and tear-resistant heavy-duty nylon shell makes the SoftPak a rugged container. However, glued seams cover a ton of the surface of this cooler, to a degree that feels over the top. RTIC specifically says not to leave this cooler on hot surfaces, as the bottom will melt. Tons of other online users have made complaints of the bottom seams coming apart after about a year of use. We tested this cooler over several months and didn't have this issue, but most testimonies we found state their durability issues start after an entire year of use - right when the SoftPak is no longer covered by RTIC's 1-year manufacturer's warranty. Again, we did not experience this during our testing, but we read too many statements from other users to not mention it.

Should You Buy the RTIC SoftPak 20?

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.

What Other Soft Coolers Should You Consider?

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.