Best Small Coolers

Small coolers to carry a few beverages or lunch

Personal coolers, which are designed to hold lunch for one or two, have capacities between 6 and 8 quarts. Six-quart coolers can hold up to six soda cans, while 8-quart coolers can hold 10 cans, plus ice packs. These coolers are generally made of plastic or insulated fabric. Plastic coolers of any size are strong and rigid, while still being lightweight. Plastic will protect your food from being squashed, but it also takes up a lot of space when stored. Insulated soft-sided coolers do not offer as much protection as plastic, but they collapse for easy storage and they are lighter in weight.

The hard-plastic Coleman FlipLid 6 Personal Cooler (*Est. $15) is a basic model that holds six cans plus ice. Reviews say that this cooler is lightweight, and the lid reverses to become a serving tray that holds two drinks in molded beverage holders. The handle is said to be comfortable and well designed. Reviews say that food placed in this Coleman cooler stays cold for hours, even with a single icepack. The simple FlipLid 6 comes in red or blue with a white top. Coleman also makes this style of cooler in 8-quart (Est. $20) and 16-quart (Est. $25) sizes. The lid doesn't flip in the same way, however -- it's just a regular lid.

The soft-sided Thermos American Classic Six-Can (*Est. $9) kept fresh fruit cold for more than 12 hours in Real Simple's tests. This cooler, which comes in red or blue easy-to-clean polyester fabric, has a leak-proof lining, a shoulder strap and front pocket and an easy-access zippered hatch at the top. You'll often find this cooler emblazoned with sports-team logos or NASCAR themes.