Igloo Trailmate 25 Qt Cooler, Sportsman

Why it's worth it

The Trailmate 25 Qt packs 1.5-inch foam walls into a cooler small enough to sit on a back seat. It holds 38 cans, keeps ice well for its size, and owners repeatedly compare its cold retention to coolers costing several times more.

Small coolers usually cut insulation first, and this one doesn't. The walls are 1.5 inches of foam and the lid is insulated too, which is why owners keep reporting ice that's still solid — sometimes frozen into a block — after a long drive. It's the cooler for someone who wants real performance without hauling a 52-quart box everywhere.

The size is the whole point. At about 14 by 20 by 17 inches and under 11 pounds empty, it fits on a truck's back seat or in a compact trunk without swallowing the space. Igloo makes it in the USA with USA and imported parts. Cool Riser Technology raises it off hot surfaces, which helps when it's riding in a bed liner in the sun.

From our review of 7 igloo coolers

What we like

• +Small coolers usually cut insulation first, and this one doesn't
• +The size is the whole point
• +The lid has a locking plate and gasket, so it seals properly and can take a padlock if you're leaving it in a campsite or a…
• +If you already own a big cooler, this is the useful second one — drinks at the campsite while the food cooler stays shut, or a…

What to know

• –The latches are the weak spot
• –Thirty-eight cans is the no-ice figure