10 Best Kayak Coolers In 2023

With a 16 cans capacity and YETI's superior Coldcell insulation, the YETI Hopper Flip kayak cooler is game for full days on the water even with the sun blazing hot. It's a very compact cooler for kayak and it guarantees everything will stay cold and fresh. Beyond this, it's equipped with a hitch point grid that allows you to attach anything you want within easy reach. 

Capacity and Cold Retention

Perfect for day-long kayaking excursions, the Hopper Flip 18 has enough space to hold 16 cans plus ice. To ensure everything stays ice cold all day, it's equipped with closed-cell rubber foam insulation and an airtight zipper that doesn't let out the cold air. 

Material and Features

Featuring a DryHide shell, the YETI Hopper Flip is waterproof and doesn't puncture easily, develop mildew, or degrade due to the sun's rays. For safety, the lining is an FDA-approved food-grade material. As for features, it has a leak-proof Hydrolock Zipper, a heavy-duty carry strap, and a hitch point grid. 

The Creekkooler towable kayak cooler is the best floating cooler for kayaks. Designed for towing behind a kayak, it’s one of the best coolers for kayaking to go for if you don't have storage space for a cooler inside your kayak. The good thing is that it floats incredibly well even when fully loaded and doesn't create too much drag.   

Capacity and Cold Retention

With a 30 quart capacity, you can pack the CreekKooler with 30 12oz. cans and 20lbs. of ice. Two inches of insulation injected into the hull and deck and a watertight locking lid with an O-ring seal will ensure everything stays ice cold for 48 hours.  

Material and Features

Featuring dual-wall, blow-molded construction, the CreekKooler is a rugged all-terrain cooler built to take all kinds of beatings. It can withstand saltwater and UV rays and survive frequent bumps. It's even designed for dragging across dry ground. Features include reinforced tow points and four drink holders.

The K2 Coolers Summit 20 kayak cooler is big enough to accommodate everything you need for a kayaking day trip yet compact enough to stow in a kayak. It's also incredibly robust and has sure-grip rubber feet so you can use it as a seat. Best of all, it's capable of retaining ice for 3 days. 

Capacity and Cold Retention

The key to the excellent cold retention of the K2 Summit 20 quart cooler is its roto-molded build with no seams, extra-thick foam insulation, and an ICE vault lid gasket. All these work together to ensure ice stays frozen for days even under the hot summer sun. 

Material and Features

When it comes to building quality, everything about the K2 Summit is professional-grade. It boasts a one-piece roto-molded polyethylene body, POSITRAC lid latches, an ENDURA integrated hinge system, and a padded carry strap. Above all this, it's backed by a 7-year warranty making it one of the best kayak coolers for reliable durability. 

Compact and equipped with rod holders, the Engel drybox kayak cooler is the best kayak cooler for fishing kayaks. Besides keeping your refreshments cool and fresh, it gives you a convenient place to secure your fishing rods. Beyond this, the airtight design makes it very handy as you can also use it as a kayak dry box or lunch box.

Capacity and Cold Retention

This 19 quart fish kayak cooler is big enough to hold 30 cans plus ice. In addition to this, it comes with a hanging accessory tray that fits over the top. Equipped with molded polystyrene foam insulation and an EVA gasket that creates an airtight seal, the Engel will keep your things cold through a hot day out on the water. 

Material and Features

Engel is one of the best rated cooler brands when it comes to ruggedness and durability. Living true to this reputation, this kayak deck cooler is made of injection-molded PP copolymer and features marine-grade stainless steel latches and screws, self-stopping hinges, a carry handle, and a shoulder strap. Due to this, it manages to be both lightweight and long-lasting.

The best affordably priced kayak fish cooler bag is the Seattle Sports deck top kayak cooler. Strapped to the front of your fishing kayak, it provides a convenient place to preserve your catch separate from your refreshments. It's spacious enough to accommodate even large fish and comes with a removable fish dry bag.  

Capacity and Cold Retention

Despite being a soft-sided cooler, the Seattle Sports cooler bag is a very effective insulator. It's proven to keep fish cold for about 8 hours in 90-degree weather. This is due to the combination of a heat-reflective exterior and closed-cell foam insulation. As for size, it measures 19 x 12 x 5 inches and has an 18 liters capacity.

Material and Features

The Seattle Sports cooler is well-made and holds up well. For effective insulating power and ease of cleaning, it's made of plastic with a thermally efficient exterior. It features clips for ease of attaching the bag to the deck of your kayak and a removable fish bag and lining for ease of cleaning

Measuring 36 inches long and 20 inches at its widest point, the Reliable Fishing Products kayak fish bag is the best kayak cooler bag if you go for big fish like redfish, sheepshead, and flounder. Six D-rings on the bottom of the bag allows you to tie it down to the bow of your kayak for ease of slipping in your catch. 

Capacity and Cold Retention

At 36 x 8 inches and tapering from 10 to 20 inches in width, the Reliable Fishing Products bag is one huge fish cooler. For reference, it's the equivalent of a 70 quart ice chest. Closed cell foam insulation holds ice incredibly well to keep your catch cold all day long even on the hottest of days.

Material and Features

Made in the USA, this is a top-rated kayak cooler when it comes to heavy-duty quality. One of the best things about it is the liner. It's thick, leak-proof, and easy to clean. Furthermore, the bag is UV and mildew resistant and doesn't hold fishy odors. At the end of the day, the three handles make carrying your catch a breeze.

If you own a Wilderness Systems sit-on-top kayak, the Wilderness Systems catch cooler is a perfect fit. Equipped with multiple compartments and two separate access points, it allows you to keep fresh fish and foodstuff separated making it the ultimate kayak cooler bag. You can secure it to the front of your kayak using the D-ring lash down points or slip it in the back well. 

Capacity and Cold Retention

The wilderness Systems cooler has a 27.6 liters or 1,700 cubic inches capacity. As for the layout, the bag features a large catch storage area, a smaller storage area for food, ice pack pockets, and mesh nets on the top. It's well-insulated to retain ice and keep your catch fresh and your drink cold for a full day of fishing in direct sunlight. 

Material and Features

Made of a TPU-coated 420-denier ripstop nylon, the liner is leakproof, easy to clean, and you can rest assured that sharp fish fins won't puncture the cooler. Capping off this best kayak cooler for fishing is a rigid bottom with elevated beams for ease of drainage and backpack-style straps for a comfortable carrying experience.