Hard coolers usually deliver the best cold-retention as they often have extra-thick walls, rigid construction, and solid seals. Soft coolers are popular because they provide cold-retention in a more user-friendly format with coolers that are more flexible, lighter, and easier to carry. Many can be worn as a backpack or slung over a shoulder. Heavy-duty hard coolers usually need wheels or two people to hold them and are limited in how far you can travel without a vehicle. Neither type of cooler is “better.” Hard coolers work well when you need long-lasting cooling and don’t need to carry them much more than a hundred yards. They’re also great to double as seating when car camping or boating, unlike soft coolers, which are usually just bags. Soft coolers are “better” if you need something lightweight or just want something more straightforward and don’t need a week-plus of cold retention. Some soft coolers are collapsible, making them ideal for constrained journeys where space is at a premium and can be conserved by compressing the cooler when not in use.