Pros:
- The top is very secure, so once your backpack is closed, nothing is going to come out
- The shape is easy to store and pack in the back of a car
- It can keep food-safe temperatures for 24 hours (with 3.5lbs of ice)
Cons:
- It’s not as comfortable to wear on hikes as some competitors
- The zipper is difficult to open and close
- Its capacity and insulation lags behind at least one other similarly priced competitor
When the dog-days of summer hit, a man can never have too many coolers.
Which is why when I started researching backpack coolers, I had to find out which was the absolute best.
So I picked up the RTIC 20-Can Backpack Cooler along with the YETI Hopper M20, the Icemule Pro, and backpack coolers from Igloo and Tourit.
In this review, I’m looking specifically at the RTIC Backpack Cooler and comparing it to the others so by the end, you know whether the RTIC 20-Can is right for you.
SKIP AHEAD
RTIC 20-Can Backpack Cooler Overview
The RTIC 20-Can Backpack Cooler can hold—wait for it—20 cans. Well, it actually holds 30 cans perfectly, but that would be with no ice. So if you account for a few pounds of ice, 20 is a more reasonable number.
It’s a zipper style soft cooler—basically a rectangle that opens at the top. The shell is made from a sort of rubberized fabric and the shape is formed with two inches of insulation around the entire bag.
There are straps on the side, back, and top of the cooler so you can carry it three different ways, which is pretty convenient. The backpack portion has a few low density foam inserts that help pad your back for when you’re trudging around with this cooler strapped to you.
I picked mine up in the Tan colorway, but at the time of writing you can also get Black (not recommended, due to the absorption of heat), Coral, and Slate Blue.
This insulated cooler backpack is perfect for a day hiking, camping, picnic, fishing, a day on the beach, or at the pool. A hands-free carry cooler bag that straps comfortably to your back, leaving both arms free for what your adventure calls for. It will keep your food and drinks cool wherever needed.
Things to Consider Before Buying an RTIC Backpack Cooler
I tested five different coolers, but I’m really just going to focus on the RTIC, YETI, and Icemule in this review. Because the Igloo and Tourit aren’t on the same level (the Igloo is a decent budget pick, if a little ugly—the Tourit Cockatoo just isn’t worth it).
So when comparing the RTIC Backpack Cooler against the YETI Hopper M20 and the Icemule Pro XL 33L, there are a few major considerations.
The Hopper M20 Backpack Soft Cooler allows you to put the day on your back — literally. This hands-free soft cooler keeps you mobile, while an ultra-strong magnet strip keeps the cold locked in and the hot air out.
Each of these backpack coolers have a different closure: RTIC has the zipper, YETI has the magnetic seal, and Icemule features a rolltop style closure. All are waterproof and can float, so no method is better than another in terms of being airtight.
But the opening method does make a big difference just for opening and closing the cooler to get to your frosty brews and snackies.
The Icemule Pro XL is my top pick for backpack coolers. I love the way it looks, the insulation is fantastic, and the price is right. It can hold its own against YETI despite being less than half the price.
The RTIC Backpack Cooler (with the zipper) is the hardest to open and close. It takes legitimate effort, and if you have a bad right shoulder, it’s not a great feeling.
The Icemule and YETI backpack coolers require a bit more finger strength because they use plastic clips, but both are much easier to open and close than the RTIC.
The other major consideration is price: The RTIC is a little more expensive than the Icemule, but it’s less than half the cost of the YETI Hopper M20.
Why You Should Trust Me
I tested the RTIC 20-Can Backpack Cooler against the YETI Hopper M20, the Igloo MaxCold Voyager, the Icemule Pro XL 33L and the Tourit Cockatoo—five of the most popular backpack coolers available today.
The Tourit Cockatoo isn't great with insulation. It's better to think of it as a backpack with insulation rather than a cooler. If you need a lot of compartments and only need to keep a chill for six hours or so, the Tourit Cockatoo is great. But for all-day frostiness, you'll want something more robust.
I tested each cooler by placing 3.5lbs of ice and measuring the internal temperature over the course of 40 hours.
Each test was done in a temperature controlled room in the dark to try and minimize any outside temperature inconsistencies.
I bought each of these coolers myself—none of them were provided by the brands.
I’ve also taken each of these backpack coolers on a trip and worn them around to get an idea of how they feel and what they’re actually like to use regularly.
I even dropped the RTIC backpack out of an offroad golf cart while charging up a hill (it kept the two very expensive bottles of wine safe).
This insulated cooler backpack is perfect for a day hiking, camping, picnic, fishing, a day on the beach, or at the pool. A hands-free carry cooler bag that straps comfortably to your back, leaving both arms free for what your adventure calls for. It will keep your food and drinks cool wherever needed.
RTIC Backpack Cooler Review
Value
Value is tough to judge—you might value different things than I do. And for the things that I want to see in a backpack cooler, I think the YETI and the Icemule offer better value.
But the RTIC is the best value-for-money you can get if you’re looking for a backpack cooler that you can easily pack in your car and take with you on a pool day or a relaxing day at the beach.
I tend to do rigorous hikes and don’t mind scrambling over boulders—for that kind of adventure, I prefer the YETI Hopper M20—it has a high density fabric that’s abrasion resistant, and it also feels much more secure on my back than the RTIC does.
So while the YETI is priced high, for very active folks who don’t mind a little danger in their hikes, I think the YETI is a better value in the long run.
And I also really like the Icemule Pro—that’s become my go-to watersports bag for when I go kayaking or fishing. It packs flatter and is more buoyant (just because you can get more air in it—the RTIC floats, too).
So between the RTIC, YETI, and Icemule, the RTIC is my least favorite. But that’s only because I don’t do a lot of chill pool or beach days. I think if that was my main use case, the easy “pick-up-and-go” style and shape of the RTIC would be ideal.
Capacity
One thing I learned when I tested a bunch of 20 quart hard sided coolers is that not all liquid quart measurements are created equal. Depending on the internal shape and dimensions of the cooler, some fit more practical goods in them, despite having the same liquid capacity.
So I measured what I call the “space efficiency ratio,” which is just the liter capacity divided by the number of cans the cooler can hold with ice.
RTIC’s ratio rating is 1, which is a little above the average of the five coolers I tested.
The Igloo MaxCold Voyager was the clear winner in this category because it has two pockets. It can technically hold more cans, though I have to note that the insulation on the outer pocket is probably not nearly as good as its main compartment—and even that wasn’t great comparatively.
Still, the Igloo’s ugly design is great for holding a lot of cans.
The Igloo MaxCold Voyager offers solid value for money, and if you need a cooler backpack for an upcoming trip, it's not a bad choice. I don't see this lasting more than 5 years though, and I personally would rather get something that I know will last a decade or longer.
With the RTIC 20-Can Backpack Cooler, you could pack a picnic for 4, including 8 cans, sandwiches, and some fruit to go along with as well as a few pounds of ice.
It’s a great family-size day-pack cooler.
Both the YETI and the Icemule can hold more, though.
The Icemule has the most liquid capacity, but it’s not as efficient with the space as the RTIC. Still, both are large enough that you should also take into consideration the weight—these things can get over 50 lbs when fully loaded.
Because it’s a backpack, I don’t think that’s too much for a young man to carry all day, but it might be a little heavy for other folks.
Insulation
The RTIC 20-Can Backpack came in third (of five) in my insulation tests.
I ran my test for 40 hours, at which point all the other coolers had been sitting at room temperature. Only the YETI was still below room temperature at 40 hours, but not by enough that it was worth continuing the test.
The RTIC 20-Can held its contents below 40 degrees (the food-safe temperature limit) for 24 hours. The Icemule held that temperature for 27 hours, and the YETI held that temp for 28 hours.
How long does the RTIC Backpack Cooler hold ice for?
My RTIC Backpack Cooler held ice for 20 hours, and it held below 40 degrees for 24 hours.
The Igloo and Tourit held at or below 40 degrees for 19 hours.
And if it’s frosty beers you’re after, the RTIC kept cans at or below 50 degrees for 28 hours, compared to the YETI’s 33-hour performance.
Durability
Durability is harder to test, but I can say with confidence that the RTIC 20-Can Backpack Cooler is plenty durable for most uses.
I was helping a friend with a video project at a nice winery and we were riding around the vineyard with two super nice bottles of wine loaded in the RTIC. We charged a hill on the golf cart and the RTIC flew off the back, tumbling end over end down the entire hill.
This insulated cooler backpack is perfect for a day hiking, camping, picnic, fishing, a day on the beach, or at the pool. A hands-free carry cooler bag that straps comfortably to your back, leaving both arms free for what your adventure calls for. It will keep your food and drinks cool wherever needed.
Not only was the RTIC unharmed, but the two bottles of wine (the winery’s best stuff poured straight from the fermenter) were fine and ready to drink.
I’d say the most durable of the backpack coolers is the YETI Hopper M20 because of its high density fabric shell. The RTIC and Icemule are both made with a sort of rubberized fabric, which, while tough, I could see getting snagged and tearing.
That said, I did break glass inside my RTIC (my fault) and the shards didn’t puncture the inside, so it’s not like the rubber fabric is a liability—you’d have to try to destroy it.
But I’d be more comfortable scraping the harder shell of the YETI against a rock than I would be my RTIC or Icemule.
Portability
Backpack coolers are inherently portable. Especially when you compare them to their hard-sided cousins.
The RTIC Backpack Cooler has a bit of an awkward shape if you’re carrying it on a hike. Because it’s a big rectangle, it doesn’t shift as naturally with your back when you bend over.
That’s one of the main reasons why I prefer the YETI Hopper: it keeps the weight evenly distributed when scrambling over a boulder, which makes the experience both easier and safer.
Again, I don’t think this is that big of a deal for folks who don’t regularly scramble over boulders, but that’s what I do.
But in terms of tossing in the back of your car or throwing on your back, the RTIC is extremely portable.
Features
The RTIC has a lot of handles, which I love. It makes the cooler easy to shift around or toss on your back in a hurry. There’s a nifty elastic web in the front you can hook your keys to, or you can cinch down a water bottle in there.
Probably the most frustrating thing about the RTIC Backpack Cooler is the zipper: it’s stiff. I’ve found my right shoulder straining when getting this thing open, and I can only imagine it being painful if you have banged up shoulders.
It’s not a total deal-breaker for me—the zipper does loosen up with time, but it’s always going to be more difficult to open and close when compared to the other backpack coolers.
What do Other Reviewers Say?
Over 200 reviews on the RTIC website give the Backpack Cooler a 4.6-star rating. The 30-Can definitely seems to be the most popular of the two (I got the 20-Can to more accurately compare against the competition in terms of liter capacity).
The zipper is one consistent negative where there are complaints, and a few guys mentioned the straps being a bit small.
But the vast majority of reviews are five-star for the RTIC Backpack Cooler.
This insulated cooler backpack is perfect for a day hiking, camping, picnic, fishing, a day on the beach, or at the pool. A hands-free carry cooler bag that straps comfortably to your back, leaving both arms free for what your adventure calls for. It will keep your food and drinks cool wherever needed.
RTIC Backpack Cooler Alternatives
Icemule Pro XL 33L
The Icemule Pro XL 33L is the best alternative to the RTIC Backpack Cooler in my opinion.
The Icemule carries the most, so if you’re packing a lot, it’s a fantastic option. The Icemule Pro is also a little easier to carry on my back compared to the RTIC.
I think the two big difference makers though is that the Icemule is a roll-top closure that’s easy to use, and it’s even less expensive with better insulating power compared to the RTIC.
The size might be too large for your needs—I love my Icemule for kayaking and fishing, but I don’t think it’s as good of a pool-side or picnic cooler as the RTIC.
The Icemule Pro XL is my top pick for backpack coolers. I love the way it looks, the insulation is fantastic, and the price is right. It can hold its own against YETI despite being less than half the price.
YETI Hopper M20
The YETI Hopper M20 is my top pick of all the backpack coolers because it keeps the weight distributed evenly across your back and makes treacherous hiking conditions a little safer.
I tend to get into treacherous hiking conditions often so that’s pretty important to me.
I also like that the YETI has a high density shell that’s stiffer and more abrasion resistant than the rubberized RTIC and Icemule. I think that’ll contribute to the longevity of the cooler. But it does cost over twice the amount of the RTIC, so that’s a major consideration.
The Hopper M20 Backpack Soft Cooler allows you to put the day on your back — literally. This hands-free soft cooler keeps you mobile, while an ultra-strong magnet strip keeps the cold locked in and the hot air out.
My Thoughts Overall On the RTIC Backpack Cooler
What I Like
- With the stiff zipper, the top is very secure (and watertight), so once your backpack is closed, nothing is coming out.
- The shape makes it easy to store in the back of the car and the handles make it easy to shift around.
- With 3.5lbs of ice, the RTIC maintains food-safe temperatures for 24 hours.
What I Don’t Like
- It’s the least comfortable backpack design of the five I tried.
- The zipper can be extremely difficult to open and close.
Who is RTIC Backpack Cooler for?
Do you plan on bringing your backpack cooler to the beach and just chilling? Or maybe carrying along for a pool-side hang? The RTIC is an excellent cooler backpack for low-impact, low-intensity days (but not so much for high-intensity days).
The Verdict
I like the RTIC Backpack Cooler, but when I compare it to the YETI Hopper M20 and the Icemule Pro, it falls a little flat for me.
But there’s a specific reason.
Whenever I go anywhere that I would usually bring a cooler along, it’s usually some intense hike with boulder scrambling, kayaking, or some other high-impact activity.
For land-based adventures, I’m happy with the extra money spent on the YETI Hopper M20 because it’s so comfortable, and the way it fits across my back makes it feel a lot safer when I’m off-balance. Plus the stiffer outer shell is more abrasion-resistant, which bodes well for durability.
For water-based adventures, I’ve been bringing my Icemule Pro because the roll top allows for more air and I like the soft sides for strapping down to my kayak.
When I do bring my RTIC Backpack Cooler along, it’s because I’m hanging out with my friends and their kids at the pool. It’s a great cooler, but maybe because I like the other activities better, I have an affinity for the YETI and the Icemule.
This insulated cooler backpack is perfect for a day hiking, camping, picnic, fishing, a day on the beach, or at the pool. A hands-free carry cooler bag that straps comfortably to your back, leaving both arms free for what your adventure calls for. It will keep your food and drinks cool wherever needed.
FAQs
Can you put ice in a RTIC Backpack Cooler?
Yes, you can and should put ice in your RTIC Backpack Cooler.
Does the RTIC Backpack Cooler leak?
No, the RTIC Backpack Cooler is airtight and doesn’t leak water, nor does it allow air out when fully sealed.
Can you sit on the RTIC Backpack Cooler?
If the cooler is fully loaded with cans, you can sit on it—it might not be comfortable if the contents aren’t even placed at the top, but you won’t damage the cooler by sitting on it.
