Are you planning on a vacation with your loved ones? If so, a good quality cooler will be essential to store your eatables and beverages and enjoy them fresh! In this article, we are going to find out the 10 best coolers under 100 in 2022.

This guide will contain the following information as well:

• Types of outdoor activities you may need a cooler for
• Ways of food storage for outdoors
• Types of coolers and their uses
• Recommendations for the best affordable coolers

The variety of coolers has increased over the years. However, people do not like to spend huge amounts on them since they tend to focus more on what is inside the cooler! Do not worry if you are looking for the best budget cooler for your picnics or camping trips. Stay with us and you will find out everything!

What is a Cooler?

A cooler is a box or compartment used to store items at a specific temperature. The box happens to be insulated and mostly filled with ice to keep the things cool inside. Therefore, it is known as a cool box or icebox as well. Most of the coolers are made of plastic and the walls are lined with foam inside to keep it insulated. There are disposable coolers as well constructed from polystyrene foam.  Similarly, coolers can exist in bag styles or make into large containers that can be transported using vehicles.

The most common form of cooler is a box style with a handle on the top. It is built from plastic and lined inside with insulated materials. Modern coolers also feature wheels on the bottom and a movable handle on sides which makes them highly portable. The wheels and retractable handle significantly increases the versatility and usability of coolers. Another form of cooler is a soft bag style cooler. The difference lies in materials. These are made from leak-proof cloth which makes them lighter and easier to carry around. You will find all 3 types of coolers in our review below. After that, we will recommend the best coolers under 100based on its type and purpose.

Main Uses of Coolers

Many people may consider coolers to be just another kind of box used for storage. This is true to an extent. The common uses of coolers are listed below:

• Food and drinks storage
• Raw meat/fish storage
• Carrying emergency health kits
• Carrying tools
• Carrying liquids

People use coolers as storage boxes which means they may store anything inside it. The common point is that it is used for different outdoor activities which we will find out below.

Types of Outdoor Activities You may Need a Cooler for

Now that we have seen what a cooler is and what are its uses, let us explore the types of outdoor activities where you may carry a cooler with you.

Picnics

The most common outing for families and friends is a picnic. People go to recreational spots to spend time with their loved ones. Naturally, they take food with them or eat outdoors. When carrying foods and drinks, people are always on the look for the best inexpensive cooler. Sandwiches, grilled chicken, brownies and fruits are few of the popular food items people take on picnics all over the world. The drinks can be soda, soft drinks or just plain water. All these things require a practical cooler which serves as a perfect companion for these outings.

Hiking/Trekking

Hiking trips are fun only if you keep yourself hydrated. Almost every professional hiker carries along with sticks and snacks in a backpack which is easy to carry around. However, for larger groups, a medium-sized cooler is recommended which can keep the things fresh.  Mountain top picnics or BBQs are a new trend which people enjoy all over the world. During hiking and trekking, it is really important to keep a good supply of drinks and snacks to avoid exhaustion or dehydration. You can accomplish this task b carrying a cooler with you.

Fishing

Fishing is a popular outdoor activity, especially in coastal regions. Enthusiasts enjoy fishing with their loved ones because it combines boating and picnic as well. Coolers play an important role in this activity because you have to store the caught fish. It is compulsory to store raw fish in coolers, once you extract it from the river. Fish may start rotting if left unattended outside a fishing compartment. Therefore, fish hunters always search the top-rated coolers to store their captured items.

Hunting

Adventure lovers highly cherish hunting and related activities. People wait for the right season all year to practice hunting and make most out of their time. Professional hunters always carry the right equipment with them including cooler. Hunting is a full day activity which means carrying food and drinks is necessary for the participants. This is where coolers can come to your rescue. If the animals are small in size, they can be put in coolers and transported easily. Other than that, you can also place tools, health kits, and edibles inside the cooler to enrich the overall experience.

Camping

Unlike most other activities which are completed in a day, camping that people spend more than one night outdoors. This is usually done in far off areas where people can spend time away from the congestion of city life. Camping can exist along with mountaineering where participants stay in specific locations before climbing the mountains. Therefore, mountain bases are popular camping spots all over the world as well.

There are different forms of camping like river camping, car camping or simply backpacking. In all cases, people travel for several days outdoors and spend the nights in tents or sleeping bags. Participants also try to keep the best cheap camping cooler with them to store essentials such as foods and drinks. When the number of participants is large, they can share the coolers to allow ease in transportation. Camping mostly involves lots of activity on foot; therefore the soft coolers on wheels are an excellent option.

10 Best Coolers under 100 Dollars

Let us begin review by our experts of the top rated coolers!

Image	Product Name	Details	Check Price
	Coleman Rolling Cooler	High Capacity with Heavy Duty Wheels	Check Price
	Igloo Polar Cooler	188 Cans Capacity with Secure Lid Closure	Check Price
	Arctic Zone Cooler	4 Layers of Insulation	Check Price
	Cubix Coolest Cooler	3 Inches of Extreme Insulation	Check Price
	Coleman Performance Cooler	3-day ice retention at temperatures up to 90 °F	Check Price
	Rubbermaid Cooler	Superior thermal retention with Top Swing Handle	Check Price
	Stanley Adventure Cooler	Available in Multiple Sizes and Colors	Check Price
	Engel Coolert	Dry Box 19 Quart Boating Cooler	Check Price
	EchoSmile Cooler	35QT rotomolded cooler Keeps cold for 3 days	Check Price
	Lifewit Collapsible Cooler	Double Decker Portable Cooler 32 Cans Capacity	Check Price

1.    Coleman Rolling Cooler

The Coleman rolling cooler is a state of the art cool box that can store the items for up to 5 days. The lid and walls are well insulated which keeps the food and drinks cool even if the outside temperature reaches 90 °F. The storage capacity is 50 quarts which can roughly accommodate 84 cans. The cooler has a very practical design as you can use the lid as a seat which can support 250 pounds of weight. The strong wheels make the box easy to carry around as well. Therefore, experts classify it as one of the best travel coolers on the market in 2021.

The adjustable handle supports the cooler so that you can move it around like a rolling bag. Place your glasses or bottles on the lid in the cup holders and enjoy the picnic in full ladder and spirit. The cooler costs only $35 and thus, qualifies as one of the best rated coolers under 100.

Coleman Rolling Cooler| Source: Amazon

2.    Igloo Polar Cooler

Igloo Polar Cooler is a high capacity white-colored icebox which can store food and drinks for up to 5 days.  Having a 120 quarts capacity, this box keep can store 188 cans at one time.  You can host huge parties with this single cooler because of it so large in size.  The two handles on the side help you pick up the cooler easily. With the drain hose at the bottom, you can remove the water quickly or if you wish, store soft drinks in it as well.  Costing merely $50, this is one of the best inexpensive coolers.

Igloo Polar Cooler| Source: Amazon

3.    Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Rolling Cooler

The Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Rolling Cooler is unique multi-layered storage equipment. It has a front pocket and a larger back compartment. Both of them are heat and leak-proof and can be opened if required. The cooler bag has straps on the bag so that you can use it as a backpack. It includes two wheels and a handle to increase its portability and versatility in different situations. It stores 60 cans and has two cup holders on the outside as well. 

Planning a family picnic, camping trip, hiking plan or just going out in your car, this rolling cooler will suit all your needs.  Purchase this cooler for $40 if you want a cheap cooler with wheels. 

Arctic Zone Titan Rolling Cooler| Source: Amazon

4.    Cubix Rotomolded Coolest Cooler

Do you want a strong, handy cooler for your vacations? The Cubix Coolest Cooler will solve your problem! Being one of the best coolers under 100, it comes in 3 sizes: 10, 20 and 45 quarts. The storage capacity in terms of cans is 8, 14 and 26 respectively. The latches on the front side securely hold your edibles. At the top, users can find a ruler to keep track of measurements and two cup holders to keep your drinks always ready. Cubix cooler offers excellent insulation for 3 days using its 3 inch layers in the interior.

Throw this cooler around your place without any worry because it’s the tough to build quality is there to protect your belongings. Overall, the cooler is one of the best small cooler in the market in 2020 and starts from only $40 for the smallest variant.

Cubix Coolest Cooler| Source: Amazon

5.    Coleman 48-Quart Performance Cooler

The Coleman 48 Quart Performance Cooler is a stylish 48-quart cool box. It is available in red and blue colors and can hold up to 63 cans at a time. This cooler can hold full-size 2-liter bottles in a standing condition.  Users can pick up the box with 2 handles on the sides. The hose at the base allows easy drainage from the cooler so you shouldn’t bother cleaning the cooler after your trips! This cool box costs only $20 so it goes without saying that it is the best cooler under $100.

Coleman 48 Quart Performance Cooler| Source: Amazon

6.    Rubbermaid Cooler

The Rubbermaid Cooler keeps the old style but serves the purpose of keeping the items cold and fresh quite well.  The sizes start from 10 quarts and move towards 20 and 24 quarts. The smallest variant holds 12 cans while the largest one stores 30 cans of drinks. You can hold the container with the sturdy handle and move it away when you do not need it. On top of that, Rubbermaid is a trusted brand known for making the best coolers under 100 dollars regularly.

Do you like to keep your items simple? If so, we would recommend this Rubbermaid cooler because it is among the best travel coolers available in 2020. Choose your favourite color from the 5 choices that are red, blue, yellow, pink and brown. You will have to pay only $22 for the smallest package which is an amazing bargain.

Rubbermaid Cooler| Source: Amazon

7.    Stanley Adventure Cooler

Are you looking for adventure with friends or family? The Stanley Adventure cooler will serve as a perfect companion on your trips. Made from strong plastic, this cool box offers high durability as well as multiple sizes and color options. Users can secure their belongings with the sturdy latches and carry the cooler using its extra-long handle.  The 3 options in size are 7, 10 and 16 quarts.

The price ranges from $34 for the smallest variant to $100 for the highest option.  The unique thing in this cooler is that the lid contains 4 bars that can be used to place items during camping, trekking or picnics. The bars keep them from falling out. If you are a hunter, this is one of the best hunting coolers out there!

Stanley Adventure Cooler| Source: Amazon

8.    Engel Cooler Dry Box 19 Qt

Are you worried that your cooler might break during your adventurous trips? If so, the Engel Cooler keeps boast conventional briefcase-style but are large enough to store your food and drinks. You have the option to choose from 4 sizes: 7.5, 13, 19 and 30 quarts. It is essentially a dry as well as the cool box. This means it is fully insulated from the outside air and you can keep your precious belongings without any worry.

With the two latches on the front and a compact handle on the top, it is a breeze to carry your box easily to your camping, hunting, hiking or fishing trips. Users can select 6 different colors and spend only $30 to $80 depending on the models. Overall, this is one of the best cheap camping coolers on the market today!

Engel Cooler| Source: Amazon

9.    EchoSmile 35 Quart Rotomolded Cooler

The EchoSmile 35 Quart Cooler is a great option to store your eatables outdoors.  It is rotationally molded which means the entire cooler is made of a continuous process where plastic is poured and structured into a box. It becomes highly rigid due to this. The insulation layer is 2.2 inches which keeps the items safe for 5 days straight. Users can hold it easily by the cloth handles on the sides and lock the items securely by using strong latches. All these features combine to make it one of the best coolers under 100 dollars

Drain opening at the bottom allows for easy flow of the water or other liquids from inside the compartment. You can keep your drinks on the 2 cup holders present on the lid. The capacity is almost 40 cans along with ice. Costing only $50, this is truly one of the best medium-sized coolers in 2020. 

EchoSmile 35 Quart Rotomolded Cooler| Source: Amazon

10. Lifewit Collapsible Double Decker Cooler

If you are looking at the cooler’s picture, you would probably not believe that this is actually a cooler and not a luggage bag! The product is made of oxford fabric, a leak-proof and easily cleanable substance. Users can store items in multiple pockets. The larger one is below the top one which is a bit smaller in size. In addition to this, the bag has 2 side pockets and 1 front pocket as well that can store essentials on the go. You can carry the bag from the top handle, shoulder straps or the removable long strap.

The size options are 27, 32 and 48 cans. You have only one color option which is grey.  The biggest benefit of this bag is its portability because it can be folded into a very small bag and thus, it becomes easily transportable. Priced at $45, this is one of the best soft coolers under $100.

Lifewit Portable Double Decker Cooler| Source: Amazon

What type of cooler should you choose?

It is observed that the cheap coolers with wheels offer more practicality due to their ease in transportation. However, most products are available in a simple format that is without wheels. There are a few important things to consider in this regard. If you are a traveler who wanders a lot, a rollable cooler will suit you. This is because it is not easy to carry heavy boxes on rough terrains for long distances. However, if you are a person who likes to go on picnics, camping or fishing trips, and simple cooler which has decent storage capacity and strong build quality will be good for you. Our list of the best coolers under 100 dollars contain many such coolers.

Ultimately, users will put the cooler in one place and consume the eatables inside it which means it does not matter if it has wheels or not. Moreover, there are soft coolers like the LifeWit Double Decker which can be carried around like a bag. Users are generally not comfortable in storing ice and drinks in bag coolers because they feel it may spill out at any time. Due to this, we would recommend our readers to purchase a hard, plastic cooler that is tough and durable so that you do not worry when you put drinks inside it! You must also ensure that you are able to clean it easily once your outing is over. Drain hose at the bottom will help you in this regard.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best soft coolers on wheels?

The soft coolers have the advantage of being lightweight and practical. They become easier to transport. If combined with wheels. Most soft coolers are made of leak-resistant fabric and lined inside with similar materials. The best soft coolers on wheels are listed below:

• Coleman Rolling Cooler
• Arctic Zone Titan Rolling Cooler
• Igloo Maxcold Cool Fusion
• LA Chargers Rolling Cooler
• Columbia Rolling Cooler

2. What is the best inexpensive cooler?

There are a number of good, inexpensive coolers on the market. Some of them are discussed in this guide but there are many others as well. Listed below are few of them which are also among the best coolers under 100 dollars.

• Igloo Quantum
• Igloo Maxcold
• Coleman Rolling Cooler
• Rubbermaid Cooler
• Arctic Zone Titan Rolling Cooler

3. What cooler is better than a Yeti?

Yeti coolers have an established brand name. They have excellent features but they are also very expensive.  You cannot find a Yeti cooler for less than $100 whereas you can purchase good coolers from a brand like Coleman and Igloo for $50 for the same size and features. The Coleman Rolling Cooler is one of the best cheap coolers available today. The Igloo Polar Cooler is another excellent product that offers huge storage at a low price.

Conclusion

The demand for outdoor equipment is constantly on the rise across the globe. This has prompted outdoor gears’ manufacturers to introduce innovative new features to their products. People prefer outings on weekends and they spend a lot on keeping the required items for an enjoyable trip. Whether its sports equipment, food, drinks, camping chairs, tables or disposable cutlery, people invest in these things regularly. Coolers are no exception in this regard because after all, everyone needs storage for these items. In this article, we have explored the types of coolers and the 10 best coolers under 100. Price is a significant point to be considered because no one wants to spend over $100 just for a cool box.

We have primarily focused on features like storage capacity, practicality, size color options, and cost. Overall, the best travel coolers can exist in any form. It is up to the user to decide which cooler he needs based on family size and eating habits. Contrary to electronic items judged based on their internal specifications, the cooler’s physical appearance matters a lot as well.