I Tried the Rolls Royce of Coolers and Was Shocked by the Results (Totally Worth the Splurge!)

Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine having a pricey “performance cooler,” but Oyster’s Tempo opened my eyes. Its unique thermal design makes it stand out from standard hard coolers because it not only cools down faster but also gets even colder than usual and maintains that chilly temperature for longer — which helped out tremendously when I was forced to empty our refrigerator due to an emergency. The Tempo is a 23-liter cooler (roughly 24 quarts) that’s compact on the outside, but holds much more than it seems on the inside, thanks to its thin vacuum-insulated walls, sealed lid, and ice-free chill. While you obviously can put ice into the Tempo, I personally stick with the ice packs. They fit neatly at the bottom of the cooler and make it as cool as a refrigerator in under a minute. Oh, and that cool temperature will last for days on end. Plus, the lack of ice leaves much more room for bottles, cans, and food without a mess. The complete bundle comes with a cooler, aluminum handle, carry strap, two ice packs, and a canvas tote. However, the Tempo Cooler can also be purchased on its own for $395 without the aluminum handle or ice packs.

Brumate is the brand behind my favorite water bottle and shaker bottle, so loving one of its coolers was a natural next step. Growing up, whenever I’d think of soft coolers, those leaky, flimsy zippered bags would immediately come to mind. The MagPack soft cooler is anything but that. To keep its structure, it has a solid and durable frame that maintains the integrity of its soft, puncture-proof shell. The lightweight cooler is not only insulated and leakproof but also zipper-free (outside of the integrated dry storage pocket on top), sporting instead a magnetic lid that keeps it securely closed. It’s also equipped with a removable strap as well as Repel Waterproof and Ice Shield technologies that protect it against the elements, bacteria, and mildew. Available in three sizes ranging from 12-24 cans, the MagPack soft cooler keeps contents cool for over 24 hours and comes with a five-year warranty. You also have your choice of four colors in muted and neutral shades.

I call the East Oak Round Ice Chest my “party cooler.” It has a stylish round shape and comes in two sizes for indoor and outdoor use. It’s also strong enough to use as an extra seat if you find yourself needing one. Rope handles with an ergonomic grip make the cooler highly portable, and thanks to a strategically placed plug, you don’t even need to tilt it over to drain it. The cooler is equipped with a leakproof lid and thick insulation that keeps drinks cool for more than four days. Plus, since the lid comes completely off, beverages and ice are accessible from every direction without having to stretch over the cooler to reach them. Available in two colors, this cooler was made for gathering around it — literally — which is why it’s one of the first items I pull out of storage when hosting get-togethers.

Who doesn’t love a cooler that looks great in photos? The picnic-perfect (and highly giftable) Tag Along Too cooler from Igloo comes in a variety of aesthetically pleasing colors from navy and red to apricot. Mine, however, is in Lilac Breeze. With an 11-quart capacity (up to 14 cans), it’s your classic portable cooler, which is why it’s my favorite to take for laid-back outings to the park with friends, my dogs, or just solo. It’s also great if you’ve been tasked to bring anything cool to a small function and want to keep it in something a bit nicer than plastic bags. The cooler comes with an adjustable crossbody shoulder strap for hands-free carrying, and it locks shut by flipping the ends of the strap to a vertical position. The Tag Along Too is deep enough for sports drink bottles to stand upright and keeps beverages cold for up to two days. The lid also seals shut to prevent spills.

As someone who’s often attending sporting events for the kids in my family, I instantly saw all the benefits of the Ninja FrostVault Cooler. The one feature that stands out the most is the built-in drawer that serves as a refrigerated dry zone to separate food from the drinks and ice. That means no digging around in crushed ice to find sandwiches, ingredients, or snacks! I have the 50-quart cooler, so we primarily take this out for larger events, but a 30-quart model is also available that’s just the right size for smaller gatherings. The durable cooler has heavy-duty integrated handles that make it possible to tie down for extra security while traveling, a lockable lid (padlock not included), and a latch closure to seal it shut. Without drinks, the 50-quart cooler holds up to 45 pounds of ice, and the 30-quart version holds up to 28.5 pounds of ice. Equipped with three inches of insulation, it keeps drinks cool for up to 6 days.