A great cooler is quietly one of the most-used pieces of outdoor gear you’ll own — at the campsite, on the boat, at the trailhead, or in the truck for a long haul across the province. Pelican, best known for its bombproof protective cases, builds coolers to the same standard, in two very different formats: soft coolers and hard coolers. Knowing which one fits your trip saves you from hauling more cooler than you need — or watching your ice melt before lunch.
Optimal Cases and Lights Inc., a Calgary supplier of Pelican gear, stocks both. Here’s how to choose.
Soft Coolers: Light, Packable and Grab-and-Go
Soft-sided coolers trade some ice life for portability and convenience. Pelican’s Pelican Dayventure soft coolers come in sling, backpack, carry and tote formats — each built for a different way of carrying. The backpack version frees your hands for a hike; the sling swings around for quick access without taking it off; the tote and carry models are perfect for day trips and quick runs.
Soft coolers shine when:
- You’re moving on foot. A backpack or sling cooler is far easier to carry over distance than a rigid box.
- Space is tight. Soft coolers pack down and squeeze into a full trunk or canoe more easily.
- It’s a day trip. For a few hours to a full day, a quality soft cooler keeps drinks and lunch cold with ease.
- You want convenience. Lighter to lift, easier to store, and quick to grab on the way out the door.
The trade-off is ice retention. A soft cooler won’t hold ice as long as a thick-walled hard cooler, so it’s best for shorter outings.
Hard Coolers: Maximum Ice Life and Toughness
When you need cold for days — a long weekend at the lake, a fishing trip, or a hunting camp — a hard cooler is the tool. Pelican’s hard-sided coolers use thick insulated walls and a strong gasketed lid to hold ice dramatically longer than soft models, and their rugged roto-molded construction shrugs off rough handling.
Hard coolers are the right call when:
- You need multi-day ice retention. Thick insulation is what keeps ice solid through a long trip.
- You’re basecamping or boating. A hard cooler doubles as a seat, a step or a table, and stands up to abuse.
- You’re storing more. Larger hard models carry enough food and drink for a group over several days.
- Wildlife is a concern. Rugged hard coolers are far more resistant to determined animals than soft bags.
The trade-offs are weight and bulk. A loaded hard cooler is heavy, and it takes up fixed space whether it’s full or empty.
Insulation Basics: How to Get the Most From Either
No cooler performs well if you fight it. A few habits help both types:
Pre-Chill Everything
Start with a cold cooler and cold contents. Adding warm drinks to a warm cooler wastes ice fast. Chill the cooler overnight or with a sacrificial bag of ice before you load it.
Manage Ice Smartly
More ice, in fewer large blocks, lasts longer than a thin scatter of cubes. Keep the cooler full — empty air space melts ice quicker — and keep the lid closed and out of direct sun.
Which Should You Choose?
Match the cooler to the trip, not the other way around:
- Day hikes, paddles and quick outings: a soft cooler for easy carry.
- Weekend camps, boat days and fishing trips: a hard cooler for long ice life.
- Do a bit of everything? Many Alberta adventurers keep both — a hard cooler as the basecamp workhorse and a soft cooler as the mobile, grab-and-go option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will a hard cooler keep ice compared to a soft one?
Hard coolers with thick insulation hold ice substantially longer — often for multiple days — while soft coolers are best suited to single-day or short outings. Pre-chilling and keeping the cooler full extends both.
Are soft coolers leakproof?
Quality soft coolers are built with water-resistant liners and sealing closures to control leaks, but for full submersion or very long ice storage a hard cooler is the safer choice. Check the specific model’s design.
Which cooler is best for hiking?
A soft backpack or sling cooler is the clear winner for hiking because it distributes weight and keeps your hands free on the trail.
Can Optimal Cases and Lights Inc. help me pick a size?
Yes. Tell the team how many people, how many days, and how you’ll carry it, and they can match you to the right soft or hard model.
The Bottom Line
Soft coolers win on portability and convenience; hard coolers win on ice life and toughness. For a lot of Alberta outdoor lovers, the smartest kit includes one of each. Whichever way you lean, Optimal Cases and Lights Inc. stocks the full Pelican cooler range in Calgary to keep your food and drinks cold wherever the trip takes you.
