Best Fishing Coolers: Keeping your catch and beverages cool

Our Top Picks:

Best Fishing Cooler with rod holders: Engel Cooler and Dry Box

A multipurpose marvel, Engel Cooler combines top-grade cooling performance with integrated rod holders. Its lightweight design and sturdy construction make it the perfect companion for avid anglers.

Best Fishing Cooler with wheels: Pelican Elite Coolers with Wheels

Maximizing convenience, the Pelican Elite Cooler on wheels offers impressive insulation for long fishing trips. Its heavy-duty wheels allow for effortless portability, letting you move your catch with ease.

Best Budget Fishing Cooler: Igloo Heavy-Duty 25

For the budget-conscious fisherman, the Igloo Heavy-Duty 25 delivers unbeatable value. Its robust construction ensures durability, while its superior insulation maintains your catch’s freshness without breaking the bank.

A fishing cooler is not a luxury when you go fishing. Rather, it is a necessity. It helps to keep your food and drinks chilled and fresh and it can also be used to keep your bait and catch fresh. Did you know that fresh chilled fish tastes better than fish on a stringer? Also, it is much easier to clean and fillet fish that has been chilled. You will find that heavy-duty fishing coolers can also function as makeshift stools and seats when you want to rest your tired feet. So, having a fishing cooler can be a blessing in disguise and you always want one when you are going fishing.

Of course, it is necessary that you find the best fishing cooler that serves your needs. This can take a fair amount of research. Thankfully, you don’t have to bother as we have done the groundwork and shortlisted the top five best fishing coolers to help you find the right one. Also, take time to read our buying guide that helps you understand the features you should be looking at when buying a fish cooler.

The 5 Best Fishing Coolers

Cooler and Dry Box by Engel

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This airtight cooler and dry box is perfect for keeping your fish, food, and drinks properly chilled. It is made from PP copolymer and insulated with the help of molded polystyrene foam. It comes with a carrying handle as well as a shoulder strap.

The lid of the cooler is hinged and has durable and high-quality stainless steel screws. It comes with an EVA gasket that ensures that there are no gaps to let air in or out. The interior of the cooler is non-absorbent and that makes it very easy to clean. Also, it is resistant to odors and stains.

This cooler comes with rod holders so if you are kayaking to your favorite fishing stop or you enjoy shore fishing, you will find that it is an ideal companion. The fishing rod holders allow you to carry your rods without worries and as a result, you can carry more gear.

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BMX Fishing Cooler by Igloo

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

In case you are looking for a fisherman cooler, this one by Igloo fits the bill. It is a heavy-duty cooler that is designed to be durable and long-lasting. We found that while it is solidly constructed, the cooler is lightweight. It comes with a reinforced base that adds to its strength.

It comes with a comfortable grip and the way the handle is designed, you can easily carry the cooler using one hand. It comes with excellent insulation, allowing the cooler to retain ice for up to four days. The hinges are made from stainless steel and hence, they are rust-proof. It has a molded base that keeps the cooler elevated and this boosts its performance.

We liked that the cooler has UV protection and that means exposing it to long hours of sunlight will not damage or adversely affect the cooler. We also thought that the tie-downs for securing the cooler during transportation are a fantastic feature and extremely utilitarian. It also has an integrated ruler that lets you measure your catch. What more could you ask for in a cooler?

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Aerated Fishing Cooler by Frabill

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are looking for a fishing cooler that can keep your live bait safe and secure, this is the one that you should buy. It comes with storage for live bait and has an integrated aerator. If you do not want to use it for live bait, you needn’t worry; it can function as a regular cooler for your food, beverages, catch.

The aerator comes with a 12V power adapter but you can even operate it from a couple of D batteries if you do not have a power source. The pump is integrated with the lid so you do not have to worry about it hanging at the side. We really liked this feature.

This cooler is definitely heavy-duty and hence, you do not want to be carrying it for long durations. It is sturdy and strong enough for an adult to sit on it without the cooler collapsing. The molded base is non-slip so the cooler does not slip and slide. Also, we found the large handle quite convenient to grip.

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Leak-proof Fishing Cooler by Engel

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

We love this fishing cooler as it functions as a cooler and a dry box. It is completely airtight and keeps food and beverages chilled to perfection. It also does not let moisture in; hence, if you want to store away your electronics and gadgets and keep them safe from water during your fishing trip, this dry box serves the purpose.

While the cooler’s construction is solid, it is lightweight and we could easily carry it from the car to the boat, a distance of about 10 minutes by foot. The handle is ergonomic but we found the shoulder strap extremely useful. It also comes with a tray for accessories. We also liked the fact that it has attachments to hold fishing rods.

The lid can be securely shut with the help of latches that do not get undone by accident. The hinges have stainless steel screws, so they do no risk getting rusted when exposed to water. The interior of the cooler-cum-dry box is resistant to stains and odors, and it very easy to clean.

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Pelican Elite Coolers with Wheels

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Your search for large fishing coolers with wheels ends with this one by Pelican. It can easily accommodate 15 cans of beverages or 3 wine bottles. It comes with thick insulation that ensures optimal ice retention. The lid has a freezer-grade gasket that does not allow cooled air from inside to escape outside or hot, moist air to enter inside the cooler. It can keep beverages cool for up to 3 days.

This cooler is made in the USA and comes with a lifetime guarantee. That makes it a worthwhile investment. If the cooler gets damaged, Pelican will replace it. What a wonderful feeling! The base has non-skid rubber feet so there are no worries of the cooler sliding around on the boat. Also, it has 4 cup holders that come with channels to drain the condensation and spills.

We also loved the tie-down slots that make transporting the cooler easy and convenient. The handle is strong and the integrated bottle opener is a blessing. We found that the latches are strong and the lid has a reliable and resilient hinge system.

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Buying Guide for the Best Fishing Coolers

When you are looking for the best-fit fishing cooler, you need to consider are a few factors to help you decide. Some of them are as follows:

Quality of Insulation

Consider the quality of the insulation as it will affect how long the cooler can retain ice and keep the content fresh and chilled. The best fishing cooler is one that can keep everything that you store in the cooler chilled and fresh throughout your fishing trip.

The best fishing coolers have about two to three inches of insulation. Also, they should have freezer-grade gaskets to prevent them to retain ice for a longer duration. The fishing coolers reviewed here fulfill this criterion and ensure optimal insulation for up to 3 days of ice retention.

Construction of the Cooler

Build quality is also an important factor when choosing a cooler. You want a fishing cooler that is built with high-quality and tough materials so that it can carry loads without breaking into bits. The cooler should be able to withstand impacts, rough terrain, and the elements without showing signs of damage.

Most fishing coolers are made from heavy-duty plastic and are either roto-molded or injection-molded. Since you will be outdoors, the cooler should be not only resistant to UV rays but also corrosion. The latches should be strong and not break easily. Pay attention to the handles, straps, and hinges. You want a cooler that uses superior-quality hardware that lasts long and can withstand rough usage without breaking.  

Size of the Cooler

Consider the exterior dimension of the cooler as it should be convenient to carry and also be able to fit into the storage space on your boat and vehicle. While large fishing coolers can be attractive but may not be convenient to carry and store.

The fishing coolers reviewed here are big enough to suit your purpose but not too big that you cannot conveniently store them on your boat. You will also find that we have selected coolers that are lightweight and you will not find it cumbersome to carry them from your vehicle to your favorite fishing spot. So, they fit the bill as the best fishing coolers on the market.

Load Holding Capacity

Just as the exterior dimensions are important, so also the holding capacity of the fishing cooler. It should be large enough to hold ice as well as anything else that you want chilled during your fishing trip. If you are going for a multi-day trip, you may want to have a closer look at large fishing coolers that have high holding capacity. On the other hand, if you are going for a single-day trip, you can check out the regular fishing coolers.

Also check out: Fishing cart

The coolers that we have reviewed here have high to medium holding capacity and will fit your fishing needs. You can rest assured that can retain ice for a long duration, keeping your food, drinks and even catch fresh for up to three days.

Manageability of the Fishing Cooler

It is essential to find a fishing cooler that is easy to manage. So, size and weight have an impact on this. It is advisable to opt for a lightweight cooler that is well-insulated so that you can trek with it without a problem.

While a fishing cooler with wheels may sound attractive and tempting, it may not be the most practical choice. If the terrain is bumpy, you will end up having an issue. So, it is best to look for a fishing cooler that has a durable handle and/or a strap. That will make it easy and convenient for you to carry the cooler. A couple of coolers that we have reviewed also have fishing rod holders that can be an added convenience as you can carry other essential items and gear that you require for your fishing trip.

Drainage Feature in the Fishing Cooler

Since you will be storing ice in the cooler to keep the content fresh and chilled, you have to remember that the ice will melt and result in water. So, look for a cooler that allows you to drain the water quickly and easily.

The bottom of the cooler should have drain holes or recessed channels for this purpose as it will do away with the need to lift and tilt the cooler to get rid of the water. Of course, the drainage mechanism should be sealed when you are not using it to ensure that the cooler is well insulated and leak-proof.

Most of the coolers that we have reviewed here have a drainage mechanism and that makes it very convenient to get rid of the water without removing anything from the cooler. So, check them out and make your choice.

Maintenance of the Fishing Cooler

It is important to clean the fishing cooler after each trip. That way, you will not have to contend with odors and a fishy smell. The cooler that you select should be easy to clean. Typically, you should rinse out the cooler with clean water (check out this video) and then use half a cup of baking soda and one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to scrub the inside. Rinse well and then spray some food-safe bleach. Let the bleach stand for 5 minutes and then rinse it off. Allow the cooler to air dry. This could get rid of odors.

You will notice from our reviews that are there are coolers that do not need so much maintenance as they are resistant to odors. So, if you are worried about a smell, those could be the perfect coolers for your need. However, you should still drain, wash and rinse them thoroughly to maintain them.

FAQ

Final Verdict

Now you know which are the best fishing coolers on the market. You can read our reviews and select one that suits your needs. Alternatively, use our buying guide as a benchmark to find the right fishing cooler for you. You can be certain that by following this guide, you will make the right choice.