We were looking for a soft cooler that wouldn’t hog all the trunk space or get buried under bags and gear. The Igloo Trailmate delivered. It’s compact enough to ride up front or in between seats. But it’s spacious enough to pack snacks and drinks for our family of three.
On our weeklong desert road trip, it became our go-to cooler for easy access to cold drinks, fruit, and the occasional chocolate bar. Everything kept perfectly cool even in the sun.
Unlike slouchy soft coolers that collapse when half-empty, the Trailmate holds its shape thanks to a crushproof EVA top and base. That structure made it easy to organize and stack gear in the car. And the wide zippered opening made grabbing food quick and hassle-free, even while our car was en route.
In short: This isn’t a cooler built for multiday ice retention — but it doesn’t need to be. The Igloo Trailmate 18-Can Cooler Bag ($80) shines as a reliable, affordable, easy-to-pack cooler for road trips, river hangs, or quick getaways. It’s lightweight, simple to carry, and performs well, keeping the snacks and drinks cold. If you’re looking for a larger version, it comes in a 30-can size.
To see how it stacks up against other soft coolers, check out the Best Soft Coolers.
Igloo Trailmate 18-Can Soft Cooler Bag Review: Big Takeaways
Some coolers feel like a chore to lug around, but the Trailmate keeps things simple. Lengthy side handles made it easy to swing in and out of the car. The removable, adjustable padded shoulder strap helped with longer hauls. I wouldn’t want to carry it miles down a trail. But for short walks to picnic tables, trailheads, or the riverbank, it worked great.
The exterior material held up well through dust, sun, and a bit of rough handling. During a weeklong road trip through the Utah desert, it was tossed around in dry, sandy conditions. But afterward, a quick wipe-down had it looking clean again.
While we didn’t expect to love it, the built-in bottle opener stashed in the front pocket ended up being surprisingly handy.
Prior to our road trip, I actually saw someone using the same cooler as a lunchbox at a construction site. It’s larger than a traditional lunch box, but the size works great if you need to bring food for a long work day.
Ice Retention During Field Testing
While the Trailmate’s MaxCold Ultra insulation doesn’t quite rival premium coolers, it had no trouble keeping our lunches and drinks chilled from morning until evening.
On shorter road trips, we often opted for ice packs instead of loose ice to avoid soggy packaging, and the cooler still performed well.
Ice Retention: In-House Test
We have a standard in-house ice retention test that each soft cooler and backpack cooler goes through for our GearJunkie reviews and buyer’s guides.
For the in-house ice retention test, I filled this cooler two-thirds with store-bought crushed ice. The cooler sat inside at a steady 67 degrees F. Then I checked the melt rate, taking notes every 12 hours or so.
The last of the ice fully melted at the 60-hour mark — 2.5 days in. In real-world use, the ice melted more quickly, especially with us opening and closing the lid throughout the day. But it still kept the contents cold for well over 24 hours.
Zippers & Flip-Top Lid
The water-resistant zippers with oversized pull tabs were another highlight on this soft cooler. They were easy to grab and even easier to use, gliding smoothly without snagging.
The zippers did a solid job of sealing out dust and light splashes. And we appreciated how they kept rain from seeping into the cooler during a quick downpour.
That said, it’s important to note these are water-resistant, not waterproof. If the cooler tips over or gets submerged, water will find its way in or out. I fully dunked it during testing to see just how much. Sure enough, water entered the main compartment. But that’s expected — it’s designed to deflect moisture, not serve as a dry bag.
The absence of a waterproof zipper is also reflected in the lower price tag. If you prefer a waterproof zip, you’ll need to spend more to get a cooler with one.
Initially, I wasn’t sure I’d like the wide pull tab on the lid, but it was surprisingly useful. Since there’s no built-in handle to lift the lid, the tab made opening the cooler easy and intuitive.
On shorter road trips while we were snacking, and when we weren’t too worried about a little cold air escaping, we often left the cooler unzipped with the lid set down until we were full.
Improvements
As with any cooler in this price range, there are a few compromises. The strap padding could be a bit more generous — it started to feel uncomfortable during longer carries.
And while the insulation is perfect for day trips, it’s not built to keep ice for days on end. But for what it’s designed to do — short-term cold storage on the go — it nails the objective.
Conclusion: Igloo Trailmate 18-Can Soft Cooler
The Igloo Trailmate 18-Can Cooler Bag won us over by doing exactly what we needed it to do: to keep our snacks and drinks cold and accessible during road trips and short day-long outings.
Its compact footprint meant it didn’t take over our trunk or backseat, and I am excited to use it on my SUP. Its structured shape and wide top made organizing and grabbing items easy while we were in transit. From long drives through the desert to quick stops by the river, it delivered dependable cooling without the bulk or cost of a high-end model.
The removable shoulder strap, multiple grab handles, and smooth-operating zippers all add to the convenience factor. Little touches — like the built-in bottle opener and easy-to-clean exterior — help make it one of our favorite grab-and-go coolers.
I’d recommend the Trailmate as a daily-use, adventure-ready cooler or for an oversized lunchbox. If you’re looking for a durable, no-fuss cooler that’s easy to keep nearby in the car or pack along for short adventures, the Igloo Trailmate 18-Can Cooler Bag is worth checking out. For me, it’s earned a permanent spot in the car — up front, packed with snacks and ready for the next trip.
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