When Otterbox branched out into coolers some time last year, it took a good load of people by surprise. We mean, how do you go from making phone cases to ice boxes? This year, they’re expanding the line with two soft coolers and the OtterBox Trooper 20 is our favorite of the pair.
No, this isn’t one of those soft coolers that people will mistake for a regular bag. Instead, it looks like a proper cooler, albeit at a size and profile that makes it easy to carry using a shoulder strap similar to a regular bag. And, yes, we would have preferred a backpack form factor, but this works well enough.
The OtterBox Trooper 20 has a capacity of 20 quarts, which should offer enough room to accommodate around 28 cans of beer, making it an ideal size for tailgates, beach outings, or a day of recreational fishing. It comes fitted with thermal insulation that boasts the ability to keep ice for at least three days, so you can use it to keep food and drinks cold for an entire weekend without any problem. This makes it ideal for extended time on the road, whether you’re car camping with the family or going on a road trip with friends.
It has an exterior made from TPU-coated nylon that should shrug off punctures, UV rays, and chemicals, with both the rim and lid cut in a hard plastic material that provides an airtight seal, helping keep all the cold temperatures inside. They pair that with a heavy-duty base that should withstand rocks, branches, and all sorts of other stuff littered on the ground, along with an IP65 rating for water-resistance, so it won’t be penetrated by water, even when you bring it fishing amid torrential rain and pounding waves.
The OtterBox Trooper 20 has a wide opening to allow easy access to all of its contents, making both loading and unloading a convenient affair. A food-grade liner keeps all the water in, ensuring there are no leaks from any part of the cooler, while a water-resistant pocket on the exterior allows you to stash small gear along with your food and drinks. Yes, the pocket comes with a water-resistant zipper, too, so anything you put inside will never get wet no matter how much spills it ends up taking.
A compound latch allows you to lock and unlock it using just one hand, while a pair of exterior mounting hardware allows you to strap on a couple of accessories for holding cups, snacks, and condiments. You can also do the same with three loops on the rear of the ice box, although doing so will probably make it hard to carry it on your shoulder. It has a two-inch wide padded carrying strap for comfortably toting it along, with Duraflex hardware ensuring the straps stay in place no matter how heavy the cooler gets. And, yes, it comes with a bottle opener squared away in the pocket.
Available now, the OtterBox Trooper 20 is priced at $249.99.