I tried budget outdoor brand Coleman’s first collapsible cooler — here’s what I thought

Is the Coleman Snap ‘N Go one of the best coolers you can buy? If you don’t have storage space for a massive plastic box during the 50 weeks of the year you’re not using it, then, yes. 100%.

Not only does the Snap ‘N Go fold to just 3 inches thick between uses, but it’s also surprisingly easy to clean thanks to the removable inner lining. True, the lack of a drain plug means you’ll need some muscles to empty it, but at least you won’t have to go to the gym afterwards. My only major qualm with this cooler is that it’s still 20 pounds, which makes it less portable than a traditional cooler with wheels, but, again, as long as you’ve got a muscly friend, this won’t be an issue.

So, would I recommend the Coleman Snap ‘N Go for all camping fanatics? Spoiler alert: yes, but to find out the full story, keep reading this Coleman Snap ‘N Go review.

Coleman Snap 'N Go review: Specs

Coleman Snap 'N Go review: Price & availability

The Coleman Snap ‘N Go starts from $199 at Amazon U.S. and £142 at Amazon U.K. This is for the smallest 35-quart version. The biggest 55-quart model is $240 / £189.

This is much cheaper than Yeti’s line, which can set you back as much as a grand (Yeti Tundra 210-quart, $995), but starts from $200 (Yeti Roadie 15, but I tested the 32 with wheels).

I’ve also tested the Engel Cooler ($89 for 19 quarts) and the Coleman Classic Cooler ($84 for 70 quarts). Both of these are much cheaper than the Snap ‘N Go, but take up a lot of space between uses.

I’d recommend the Snap ‘N Go if you’re short on space and want a functional, relatively affordable cooler, but don’t mind sacrificing style and portability. I’ll get into this more below, but what the Snap ‘N Go has in collapsibility it lacks in transportability.

Coleman Snap 'N Go review: Design & portability

The Coleman Snap ‘N Go is a unique cooler — the clue’s literally in the name. As you might’ve guessed, it’s a collapsible cooler. You can fold it into a 25 x 14 x 3-inch rectangle between uses. If you don’t have a spacious attic or basement, you’d be better off with the Snap ‘N Go or the Engel 19-quart (16.8 x 11 x 12.8 inches) than, say, the Coleman Classic Cooler (31.1 x 16.1 x 17.3 inches).

In terms of looks, the Snap ‘N Go is unassuming and basic. It looks like a cooler, but is there anything wrong with that? If you want something Instagrammable, you’d be better off with a Yeti. People will know how much money you have then, too. Those Yetis don’t come cheap.

Folding and unfolding the cooler was painless and easy. All you have to do is unclip the side pieces and squash it — the cooler does the rest.

However, carrying the cooler might be another issue in and of itself. The cooler is quite heavy, even when empty, at 20 pounds. I struggled to carry it by myself, as it’s still 25 inches long when collapsed. I’d recommend transporting it while empty if possible, or roping in your strongest friend to help lug it around. I wouldn’t be able to carry it alone.

Coleman Snap 'N Go review: Performance

I tested the Coleman Snap ‘N Go as I’d test any other cooler: fill it with cans and ice and start the timer!

Here’s a photo of the Coleman at the beginning of my testing period.

I used around 5 pounds of ice, 24 cans of varying sizes, and a bottle of prosecco. I wanted to reflect real-world usage: in reality, you’re not going to arrange the cans in perfect lines, and you’re going to have different-sized products.

The ice melted in 30 hours, but the cans remained cold for 48 hours. This is a little short of Coleman’s “over two days cold” claim, but not miles behind. When I tested the Coleman Classic Cooler, it fell short of the suggested “5 days chilled” by a full day.

Here’s a photo after the said 30 hours.

As you can see, all the ice has melted, but the water was still cold enough to keep the cans cool. At this point, I wouldn’t necessarily trust this with perishables, though. If I were taking meat, fish, or dairy camping, I’d probably entrust this task to my Yeti Roadie — it managed to keep ice solid for over 72 hours — or Ninja FrostVault, which has a separate section to avoid cross-contamination. The Engel 19-quart cooler kept ice solid for 24 hours and drinks cool for 48.

But none of these can beat the Ninja FrostVault, which kept drinks cool for 8 days. Yes, 8 days. I’d always recommend the Ninja if you want serious performance.

Coleman Snap 'N Go review: Maintenance

After removing all the cans, I was disappointed to see there’s no drain plug. I had to manually pour out the water, which is fine if you’re strong enough to lift a 20-pound cooler, but I’m not. Again, this is where you’d summon your muscled friend (or, if you’re your own muscled friend, this is where you’d summon your inner strength). The Yeti Roadie has a drain plug, as does the Ninja FrostVault ($299).

After emptying the water, I cleaned the Snap ‘N Go by removing the inner liner, washing it, and hanging it up to dry. Once it had dried, I put it back in and folded the cooler down. That’s it. I didn’t need to make space in my attic — I just slotted the cooler between other objects. Again, if you’re short on space, this is a no-brainer. Get the collapsible cooler, not the huge plastic box!

Coleman offers a 3-year warranty as standard, which is nice, but still not as long as Ninja's and Yeti's 5-year warranty. However, it’s better than Engel’s 2 years, so take from that what you will.

Coleman Snap 'N Go review: Verdict

If you’re short on space at home but don’t want to drink nasty warm beer on camping trips, the Coleman Snap ‘N Go is a great cooler. It snaps down to 3 inches thick and can be stored in even the tightest spaces.

While it has a few flaws — no drain plug, still 20 pounds, and isn’t hugely portable for fellow weaklings — the collapsible form and cool time outweigh this.

I would have no reservations about using the Coleman Snap ‘N Go as my drinks cooler on camping trips. It keeps ice solid for 30 hours and drinks cool for 48 hours — definitely good enough for a weekend trip.