The 7 Best Kayak Coolers For Your Drinks, Snacks and Catch

One of the reasons boaters like kayaks is the minimalist aspect. It's just you and the water. Maybe a duck or two. You pack some drinks, lunch and maybe even your rod to catch some fish. You may even pack a tent and gear for camping, which, unfortunately, means less space onboard for necessities like bulky coolers, especially if you have a sit-in 'yak. So whether you plan to take a day paddle or spend multiple days in a remote paddle-in site with just you and that family of ducks, chances are you'll need one of the best kayak coolers to keep everything cool and preserved. And since storage space on a kayak is at a minimum, the first thing to consider is how much space you have to work with, as well as what you'll be using it for. Is it just for fish and bait? Or do you want to carry food, drinks and snacks for yourself? Read on to explore the considerations to make before investing in your personal kayak cooler, as well as some of the best kayak cooler models available today.
Types of Kayak Coolers
From hard-sided and soft-sided to a roll-top dry bag, available are several types of kayak coolers. Let's go over a few of each type's characteristics and benefits.Soft-sided Kayak Coolers
Soft-sided coolers are like a lunch bag but bigger and a bit sturdier. And they are often made of softer fabric material. These types of kayak coolers work nicely because they can squish into narrow spaces and sometimes offer straps for carrying on your back.Hard-cased Kayak Coolers
This is your typical cooler from days at camp. Available in a variety of sizes and shapes, a hard-case cooler typically keeps ice lasting much longer, which is fantastic when you plan to spend several days in a paddle-in campsite. Additionally, you can find ones specially made for kayaks with tie-down straps.Dry Bag Cooler With Roll Top
I've found a dry bag works great as a snack holder for day trips, especially if you don't really need to keep anything cold. If you do need cold containment, you could always throw in one of those cold freezer packs. Just keep in mind that the dry bag won't insulate as well as a typical cooler.Features of the Best Kayak Coolers
Compact and portable immediately come to my mind when I think of the best kayak cooler. But you'll also want to throw in water and mildew-resistance. While we're at it, let's go for the stainless steel latches and built-in tie-downs. Here is a thorough breakdown of everything to consider:- Compact Small to medium is the size to go for when shopping for the best kayak cooler. As much as you'll be tempted, you just can't carry that Yeti 45 Tundra on your kayak. But I'd love to see a photo if you do.
- Portable You'll spend a lot of time carrying your kayak cooler to and from the kayak, so portability is a must.
- Water-resistant Water resistance is a no-brainer. Choose something with stainless steel latches and hardware for rust-free use.
- Mold and mildew-resistant This is an absolute must with any products or boating accessories you use on or around water.
- Easy to clean Polypropylene is an easy-to-clean material. You can find an endless supply of hard and soft-sided coolers made out of polypropylene.
- Drainage plugs With bigger coolers, drainage plugs are a lifesaver when it comes to getting out all of the excess water. Even with the smaller size of a kayak cooler, it's nice to be able to open the plug and let it drain on its own.
- Easy to open latches and zippers You don't want to fumble with (and risk a tumble into the water) latches and zippers while you're underway.
- Handles or backpack straps Handles of any sort are a blessing when it comes to toting a cooler full of ice, drinks, food or bait. And wearing it as a backpack frees up your hands for fishing rods and paddles. Or even the kayak itself.
The 7 Best Kayak Coolers For Your Drinks, Snacks and Catch
Soft-sided Kayak Coolers
Seattle Sports Kayak Cooler
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Seattle Sports Kayak Insulated Deck Top Catch Cooler for Fishing and Food Items, Silver, Small
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Perception Kayaks Splash Seat Back Cooler
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Perception Splash Seat Back Cooler - for Kayaks with lawn-chair style seats
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Perception Kayaks Splash Tankwell Cooler
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Perception Splash Tankwell Cooler - for Kayaks
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PROYAKER ICY Kayak Catch Bag Cooler
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PROYAKER ICY Catch Bag 48" Closed Cell Foam Insulated Kayak Fish Bag Cooler
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Hard-case Kayak Coolers
Engel Cooler/Dry Box
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ENGEL Cooler/Dry Box 13 Qt - Grassland
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CreekKooler Outdoor Insulated Floating Cooler
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CreekKooler - Floating Insulated Cooler - 30 Quart
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Feelfree 25-Liter Cooler
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Feelfree 25 Liter Cooler (Blue Camo)
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Handy Accessories For Your New Kayak Cooler
- Ice packs Your typical lunchbox version works great, like these slim, long-lasting ice packs (check price on Amazon).
- Re-usable sandwich bags/boxes (check price on Amazon) I love these re-closable plastic baggies for storing all sorts of things. However, I've found re-usable boxes (check price on Amazon) work best when there's limited space. I've had more than one sandwich squished into a colorful bag of strawberry jelly and peanut butter. Lesson Learned? Limited space = sturdy accessories.
- Bungee cords Carabiners Bungee cords (check price on Amazon) and carabiners are an outdoor enthusiast's best friends. You can use the bungee cords (check price on Amazon) to tie down kayak coolers. Use a carabiner (check price on Amazon) to clip the cooler to a fastener or D-ring in the kayak.