Glacière rigide ou souple : laquelle est faite pour vous ?

Hard or soft cooler: which one is right for you?


Whether you are planning a family getaway, a kayaking adventure or a weekend camping trip, a cooler is the essential equipment to keep your food and drinks cool. In order to meet all the needs of outdoor enthusiasts, the market mainly offers two options: the hard cooler and the soft cooler. Considering their capacity, insulation features and practicality, this article will guide you to determine which of these two solutions is best for your getaways. Ready to discover the pros and cons of each type of cooler to make the right choice according to your preferences and favorite activities?

Let's embark on this exploration together to help you make an informed purchase and thus fully enjoy your time outdoors without a single worry related to the conservation of your provisions.


Introduction

In the world of outdoor activities, the cooler is an essential piece of equipment. Whether you are a seasoned camper, an adventure-seeking traveler or a kayaking enthusiast, having a hard cooler or an insulated soft cooler that fits your needs is essential for keeping your food and drinks fresh. With so many models available on the market today, it can be difficult to choose. That's why we're here to guide you through the range of options available.

The goal of this article is to help you decide between a hard cooler and a soft cooler based on your specific needs. Both types of insulated equipment offer distinct advantages in terms of transport, capacity, and ability to keep your products fresh. Whether you are planning a long camping trip with lots of bottles and food, or you need a practical cooler bag for a picnic or kayaking trip, you will find essential information here to help you make your decision.

We're going to review the differences between hard and soft coolers to help you make the right choice. Each type has its advantages depending on the use: do you need a sturdy cooler to keep things cool for hours or a lighter, more practical model to carry? Whether it's for a picnic, a kayaking session or a road trip, we'll explain everything so that you leave well equipped and your next adventures stay as cool as your drinks!


What is a hard cooler?

Advantages of the hard cooler

Hard coolers are popular for their strength and durability, making them essential for long-term outdoor activities. Their high thermal insulation keeps drinks and food at an ideal temperature for up to 48 hours, an essential feature during family picnics or extended camping trips. In addition, these models offer a large capacity, allowing you to transport a large volume of bottles and drinks, ideal for satisfying a family or a group of friends. Hard coolers also stand out for their ability to withstand shocks, thus ensuring the protection of your contents.

Disadvantages of the hard cooler

However, their sturdiness comes with a heavier weight and larger footprint than soft-sided models. Fortunately, they often come with ergonomic handles or shoulder straps for easy carrying, making them still practical for many outdoor adventures.


Use of coolers : what activities?

Camping and picnicking

When embarking on outdoor adventures, whether it’s for an extended camping trip or a simple family picnic, choosing between a hard cooler or a soft cooler is essential. The hard cooler is distinguished by its superior isothermal insulation, providing prolonged freshness for your food and drinks during long stays. With its large capacity, it is the ideal ally for transporting large provisions, including bottles and other culinary delights. Although this option may seem more cumbersome, its solidity ensures unmatched durability for camping activities where space and robustness are required.

Travel and travel

For those who enjoy short stays and frequent trips, the soft cooler is a wise choice. Easy to carry thanks to its shoulder strap or backpack options, it offers unmatched carrying comfort, particularly for use as an insulated lunch bag. While its average capacity may seem like a drawback, it is largely offset by its compact storage and light weight, allowing you to easily transport drinks and small dishes. Equipped with smart compartments, it is perfect for organizing bottles and food needed when traveling.

Kayaking and water sports

When it comes to water activities like kayaking, choosing the right equipment takes on a whole new importance. With a soft cooler, its lightness and flexibility are major assets. It fits easily into the tight spaces of a kayak, while providing effective insulation for your refreshing drinks. If you need a larger capacity, some models of rigid coolers are designed for kayaking, with adapted compartments and a lid that stays in place to protect your provisions. The waterproof HARD COOLER rigid cooler from FeelFree is precisely designed to be transported safely on a kayak, without hindering the stability of the board. A real plus for keeping your food and drinks cool during your outings. In these activities, transporting your meals and drinks becomes child's play!


Use of coolers: what activities?

Camping and picnicking

When it comes to family camping or long outdoor trips, the hard cooler stands out for its robustness and isothermal capacity. With a generous capacity, it allows you to keep your food and drinks cool for several days. This type of cooler is ideal for transporting bottles, large quantities of picnic food or even provisions for several days. Compared to the soft cooler, the hard cooler offers superior thermal insulation, which is crucial to ensure the freshness of food during your extended getaways.

Travel and travel

For short trips or frequent travel, the soft cooler proves to be an essential ally. Easy to carry thanks to its lightness and its carrying options such as the backpack or the shoulder strap, it is perfect for those looking to optimize space. Space-saving, it easily transforms into an insulated meal bag, allowing you to keep your drinks and food fresh during your trips. For those who prefer flexibility, the SOFT COOLER waterproof soft cooler from Feelfree is perfect for versatile use, whether you're exploring a new city or taking a nature stroll.

Kayaking and water sports

For a kayak trip, the choice between a hard or soft cooler depends above all on your needs and the space available on your boat. A soft cooler fits easily into tight spaces and remains light to carry, ideal for short trips where practicality is paramount. Conversely, a hard cooler like the HARD COOLER from FeelFree offers optimal insulation and great robustness, perfect for keeping your provisions cool for longer. Its integrated bottle opener makes it an ally of choice for your fishing trips or your relaxing days on the water, with cold drinks at hand. It's up to you to choose according to your desires and your style of adventure!


Tips for Choosing the Best Insulated Cooler

Assess your needs in terms of capacity and activities

No matter what activity you are undertaking, whether it is camping, traveling or kayaking, it is essential to choose between a hard cooler or a soft cooler depending on your specific needs. These pieces of equipment are essential for transporting your food and drinks while maintaining their insulated freshness. If you are planning a long camping trip, a hard cooler is ideal because of its large capacity and its ability to keep your bottles cold for longer. On the other hand, for a quick excursion, opting for a soft cooler could be more advantageous. This type of cooler bag is easy to carry thanks to its lightness, often accompanied by a shoulder strap or in the form of an insulated backpack.

Brand and technology: What to choose?

When looking for a reliable insulated cooler, FeelFree stands out as a compelling choice. With advanced insulation and cooling technologies, our coolers ensure optimal performance to keep your food and drinks cool during your outdoor activities. If you are looking for performance, while maintaining great ease of use, our electric coolers are an ideal option, offering efficient cooling while remaining easy to transport, even during your kayaking adventures.

One of the keys to our products is their ability to think to meet your specific needs. By choosing a FeelFree cooler , you benefit from well-designed compartments, maximizing storage and isothermal efficiency, while facilitating access to your goods during your moments of relaxation or adventure.


In conclusion, choosing between a hard cooler or a soft cooler depends mainly on your lifestyle and specific needs. If you are a seasoned camper, a hard cooler will provide you with sturdiness and storage capacity for extended stays with your family. Conversely, the lightness and portability of a soft cooler are better suited to travelers and water sports enthusiasts who are looking for a compact solution without sacrificing practicality. Consider evaluating your priorities in terms of capacity, ease of transport and thermal insulation for an investment that will accompany you on all your adventures.

Whatever your passion, the right cooler will make your leisure time more enjoyable. Go for it with the confidence of making the right choice for a successful excursion every time!