Best Coolers with Wheels of 2025

If you’ve ever had to lug cold drinks across a beach or drag food for a long weekend into a walk-in campsite you know how helpful having coolers with wheels can be. But within this category there are a wide array of performance and price points to sift through. To help you decide whether you should opt for a $400 rotomolded option or something simpler, I put six options from Yeti, RovR, Coleman, Magellan, RTIC, and Brumate to the test to find the best cooler with wheels. 

Best Coolers with Wheels: My Top Picks

Best Overall: Yeti Roadie 48

The Yeti Roadie 48 was the cooler with wheels already in my gear closet, so I wondered: Would another, better cooler come along and replace it?

Nope. Although it was close, with other coolers with wheels beating the Yeti in any given category. But when it came to sheer overall performance — ice retention and capacity and ease of use and maneuverability over all manner of terrain — this one is still my favorite. The latches were easy to use, the telescoping handle came up and down without issue, it was reasonably easy to pull across even the sandiest section of my testing area. It didn’t do quite as well on the ice retention test as I would have hoped, but its actual capacity compared to its insulation abilities was impressive.

Of course, this is Yeti, so that means that you’re going to pay a premium compared to other of the picks on this list. Fortunately, the best value pick is also a standout performer, even if it lacks the brand reputation.  

RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler

The RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler looks very similar to my best overall pick, and, in many ways, it is. So let’s look at the key differences. 

The biggest difference of them all is price. The RTIC 45-AT Ultra-Tough Wheeled Cooler is over $100 less expensive than the Yeti 48 Wheeled Cooler. And Yeti’s coolers rarely go on significant discount, so that price difference is real. So what do you lose by going with the RTIC? Mainly ice retention. In side-by-side testing with a seven-pound bag of ice, the Yeti lasted 7 hours longer than the RTIC. 

Other differences were less noticeable. The latches on both are easy to use. As are the telescoping handles. The wheels on the RTIC are slightly bigger, which should be better for portability (although I didn’t notice a difference testing) but it’s slightly worse for fitting into your camping vehicle of choice. One of my favorite parts about the Yeti 48 Wheeled Cooler is that it just fits in my back seat. (Anything to not have to root around in the actual rear storage area until I get to my destination.) Finally, the haul handles on the RTIC Ultra-Tough are uncomfortable when moving the cooler in and out of your car. 

But these are quibbles. If money is no object, the Yeti Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler is my top choice. If you prefer scoring a deal, then the RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough will give you the bragging rights you want.

Best Wheels: RovR RollR 45

I’ll be honest, most of the wheels on wheeled coolers are a little lackluster. They’re mostly made from plastic, and often not even very good plastic. But that wasn’t the case with the RovR RollR. These tires are made from rubber, they are inflated, and they have serious traction. Over my test course, the RollR bopped around with ease; it was a joy to pull and fun to use. The telescoping handle is both sturdy and lengthy, which dramatically increases leverage, and the tight compact size of the 45 liter model was the opposite of unwieldy. If you’re looking at dragging a cooler across a quarter mile of beach or to a tough to get to dispersed camping site, this is a must-have. 

While this cooler with wheels did well on the ice retention test, it’s worth noting that it had less capacity (relative to its overall size) and weighed more than other coolers I looked at. If you’re packing up the family car for a long weekend of camping, this one may not have the space efficiency that you need.

One thing I didn’t love about the RovR RollR was the latches. They are difficult to pull down. Children will not be able to use this cooler by themselves and you may have to remind adults to be sure to finish latching the cooler after use. On the plus side, the excessive force needed to close the latches means one was closer to waterproof than other options I looked at. 

Best Value: Magellan Outdoors Pro Explore Icebox 45-QT

If this had just been a test of the best coolers, then the Magellan Outdoors Pro Explore Icebox 45-QT would have easily won the day. It held a single bag of ice for over three days. It had excellent haul handles — the only ones in my test that made it comfortable to carry the cooler down stairs or haul it up into my SUV. The latches on the Magellan Outdoors Pro Explore ended up being some of the best of any cooler I’ve tested. In addition to being unusually simple to use, they are also on both sides of the cooler. As someone who is habitually loading her cooler backwards into the SUV before heading out for a long weekend, this is a gamechanger. And it was very affordably priced, at half the cost of my best overall pick. This is really a great cooler. 

In the end it was lugging this cooler with wheels around my testing loop that was the Magellan Outdoors Pro’s downfall. Even with limited weight inside of it, this cooler was a bear to drag across sand, and was less steady pulling down a short series of steps than anything else I looked at. The haul handle was also shorter than I would have liked, to the point that I was forced into an awkward stance to pull it. If you know that you’ll only be pulling this cooler a short distance across a parking lot or other paved surface, it’ll work just fine. But if you’re looking for a cooler that can handle being dragged across more rugged terrain then look elsewhere. 

Best Buy-It-For-Life: Pelican 45QW Elite Wheeled Cooler

Yeti can throw as many coolers off of buildings and cliffs or whatever as they want: if you want to really impress me with the durability of your product, give it a lifetime warranty. And that’s what Pelican did with their 45QW Elite Wheeled Cooler. That alone puts it in a class of its own. 

While this cooler impressed me with its ease of use — I especially liked its secure and straightforward latches — it fared less well in other testing categories. Its ice-retention result was decidedly middle of the road. And while the wheels did just fine on my testing course, the shorter handle made it less comfortable to maneuver around, as it kept hitting the back of my legs. 

Best Budget: Titan 60 Can Wheeled Cooler

If you need your wheeled cooler to do a little less, and cost a lot less, than other picks on this list, then the Titan 60 Can Wheeled Cooler is one that is worth looking at. While its wheels are not suitable for rugged ground or even a beach (I was effectively dragging it across certain sections of my testing circuit), they’ll take you across the parking lot and along the sidewalk to your picnic table just fine.

Its ice retention capacity might not be right for multi-day outings at remote campsites, but for a day trip in the dog days of summer, it’s a great choice. I also appreciated the modularity of this wheeled cooler. You have the option to disconnect it from the wheeled chassis and treat it just like any other soft cooler. 

The number of features on this wheeled cooler were frankly dizzying: multiple pockets, bungee straps, haul handles and a shoulder strap in addition to a telescoping handle, a quick easy velcro lid in addition to a zippered opening. I’d recommend this one especially for individuals with mobility or back issues who need a low-price option for more casual use. 

Best Portable Air Conditioner: Solo Windchill 47 Cooler + Mobile A/C

Note: We tested the original version of this cooler, when it was under the brand name Icy Breeze, back in 2024. It has since been acquired by Solo Stove who recently released a new version with some improved features. We have not had a chance to test this new model; however, the tech that makes this cooler unique remains unchanged. As such, we’re leaving this review up for the time being and will add in our fresh review of the second gen of this cooler once it is released.

If you’ve ever been sweating it out at a campsite, sporting event, or fishing spot and had to resist the urge to dunk your head into the ice chest for some relief, this is the wheeled cooler for you. Instead of starting a game of bobbing for beer cans to cool off, you can gather around the Icy Breeze. This 38-quart cooler with 7-inch all-terrain wheels doubles as a portable air conditioner.

There’s a fan on the underside of the lid that pushes cold air out of a detachable tube or a vent on top. Fill it up with your favorite snacks, beverages, and ice; then enjoy around 3 hours of cool, dry air flow. There’s also a small interior hose to suck up the cold water from the bottom of the cooler after the ice melts for a misting function. 

I took the Ultimate on a camping trip in August and relished cracking open an ice cold beer in front of the cool breeze. I placed a tape measure inside the vent and walked backwards until I couldn’t feel the air anymore. It took 7 feet. Though if you aren’t in line with the vent, the cool air radius doesn’t expand outward very far. 

You could even zip the flexible hose attachment into your tent to cool off when it’s too hot to sleep. The plastic wheels are large and beefy to roam around your campsite. I successfully rolled this cooler up and down a dozen brick stairs, too. The handle could be longer, and I’d prefer if it were on the opposite side. It’s currently on the same side as the drain hole which makes it awkward to tilt the water out.

I put a 7-pound bag of ice in the Ultimate to time how long it would take to melt while running the fan on high. The Icy Breeze’s results aren’t included in the ice retention test table because the ice lasted less than seven hours. This cooler shouldn’t replace your go-to camping cooler. It’s bulky, doesn’t hold ice very long, and you can’t sit on top of it thanks to the hose and battery. But if you’re looking to cool off and store up to 48 cans, the Icy Breeze is a fun luxury item or surplus beverage cooler. —Ashley Thess, OL associate editor

Best Coolers with Wheels: The Rest of the Field

Igloo Trailmate Journey 70 QT Cooler

While the Igloo Trailmate Journey 70 didn’t have the ice retention capabilities that I look for in a truly great wheeled cooler, there were some pros to it that are worth considering if you are looking for a mid-priced option. 

My favorite aspect of this particular wheeled cooler was its telescoping handle. Every other wheeled cooler I’ve tested that had a handle on the side of the cooler, rather than the back, has been too short, so that I’m hunched over or otherwise uncomfortable while lugging around a heavy cooler. But this handle gave me the leverage I wanted. And while the wheels weren’t my favorite in the test (that goes to the excellent RovR RollR), they were entirely serviceable and handled my obstacle course just fine.

Where I struggled with the Igloo Trailmate Journey 70 QT Cooler was in ease of use. It’s a strangely unintuitive cooler. For instance, it took me a few minutes to figure out that the telescoping handle deployed via double latches underneath the housing bars. The lid opened up easily enough (no latches in sight), but in a different direction than is standard for coolers. And that’s before I get to all the plastic bits and bobs that came with it. You might get some use out of an extendable tray that connects onto the handle bars, but the majority of people are going to end up tossing this in the trash. 

Brumate Brutank 35-Quart Rolling Cooler

The best coolers with wheels should have great ice retention, and that is where the Brumate Brutank shines. It took 77 hours for a 7-pound bag of ice to fully melt, which was the best result in my test. One caveat to this is that, despite being one of the heavier coolers I looked at, it had less interior volume than anything else. 

For the first half of testing, I was convinced that the Brumate Brutank had only a half size telescoping handle. As hard as I tried to pull on it, it just wouldn’t pull out further than a foot and a half or so. This made it surprisingly awkward to lug. But when I went to try and force the cooler up over a curb, the rest of the telescoping handle popped out. Now it’s easy to pack away and pull out again, but it’s worth noting that this model has an exceptionally sticky handle to start.

Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme Hard Cooler with Wheels

While the RTIC 52-Quart was impressively lightweight for a rotomolded cooler, nothing in my test was as light weight, or less expensive, than the Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme. I could easily pick up this cooler with wheels with one hand. Because it was so light, it handled better than I expected in my portability circuit. If you fully loaded this cooler up, however, you might start to see problems due to the fact that it only has half wheels. 

This was the only cooler in my test that didn’t have a latching mechanism but it was still one of the most difficult to open, even when there wasn’t a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the cooler. It was also notable for having the worst ice retention performance in my test, lasting less than two days. But, if you are only planning to use your wheeled cooler for the occasional picnic or beach outing, what this cooler does offer at this price point makes it absolutely worth it. 

RTIC 52-QT Ultra-Light Cooler 

Test enough rotomolded coolers and one thing becomes clear: These suckers are heavy. No wonder they need wheels. So I was pleasantly surprised when I first lifted the RTIC. Despite having the largest capacity of any wheeled cooler I looked at, it was also the second lightest. 

While the RTIC Ultralight Cooler was easier to pull across my testing circuit than the Magellan Outdoors Pro Explore (which also has a haul handle) it, unfortunately, did not do as well in the ice retention test. If you need to keep your items cool for a long period of time, this could mean that you need more ice than with other coolers with wheels, negating some of the capacity and weight benefits of this cooler.

How I Tested the Best Coolers with Wheels

In my initial test, I evaluated six coolers from Yeti, Coleman, RovR, Brumate, Rtic, and Magellan Outdoors for ice retention, portability, price, warranty, and features.

Ice Retention Test  

My first big test was of each cooler’s ice retention potential. To evaluate this, I purchased six 7-pound bags of ice and put one in each of the coolers with wheels. I then closed the lids and waited to see how long it would take each to melt. 

While I aimed, as much as possible, to call in coolers with wheels that were of a similar size, you can generally expect a 52-liter cooler to struggle more with this test than a 35-liter cooler. While I did check during this test to see whether the coolers with wheels were waterproof, ultimately none of them were, and I removed that testing metric from consideration. 

Read Next: Best Ice Packs for Coolers

Portability

Next I looked at portability — this thing has wheels, after all. In this test, I pulled each cooler around a small circuit with a few different surfaces: a parking lot, a muddy field, a sandy beach, and down a set of stairs. I looked at both how much effort I needed to use to move the cooler over the different surfaces, how easily they got stuck, and whether I was forced into an uncomfortable posture. I rolled the coolers with 7 pounds of ice or water inside (depending on where the cooler was at in my ice retention test). 

As part of my portability testing, I also looked at the comfort of the handles for both pulling the cooler along the ground and lifting it up and taking it down from a car. Finally, I considered price and warranty, and other features that can affect user experience. 

The Icy Breeze (now Solo Windchill) was tested by OL associate editor Ashely Thess near Salt Lake City in the summer of 2024. In May 2025, I tested four new wheeled coolers — the Titan 60 Can Wheeled Cooler, Igloo Trailmate Journey, Rtic 52-QT Ultra-Light Cooler, and Pelican 45QW Elite Wheeled Cooler — utilizing the same testing protocol as above, including the same testing circuit. I included the Yeti Roadie 48 (which I use for camping) as a control for the ice-melt test. Results have been adjusted accordingly.

Read Next: Best Backpack Coolers

Things to Consider Before Choosing the Best Cooler with Wheels

Ice Retention of the Best Coolers with Wheels

How much ice retention potential you need depends in large part on what you are doing. If you’re just looking to keep some beverages cool during a weekend picnic it’s much less important than if you are planning to head off grid for the long weekend. Generally, the coolers with the best ice retention will be more expensive and heavier. See the testing results in this story before making a final purchase

Portability of the Best Coolers with Wheels

The whole point of a cooler with wheels is that it’s easy to move around. But there’s more to portability than just the wheels: There’s also the handle, size, and weight. Consider how much lifting you are planning to do with your cooler (off your front steps, into your car, etc.) and choose a weight and size that you can easily manage. 

Read Next: Best Small Coolers

Ease of Use

There are a surprising range of features that came with the wheeled coolers, from telescoping handles to different latching styles to side handles. Consider which features are most important to you. If you travel with children, you may want to focus on how difficult or easy to use the latches are. If you are hauling your cooler longer distances, focus on the wheels and the length of the handle (which will impact your leverage). Keep the comfort of the haul handles in mind if you use your cooler for a lot of short trips in your car. 

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Coolers with Wheels

After testing the best coolers with wheels, I’m confident that one of the models on this list will fit your needs. Whether you’re looking for best-in-class wheels or excellent ice retention or something affordable and lightweight, there is something for everyone.