The Most Innovative Hard-Sided Cooler in Years Could Change the Course of the Industry Forever

When it comes to transporting ice-cold beverages and perishable foodstuffs to and from your adventures — be that camping, a beach bonfire, a backyard party or whatever else — hard-sided coolers are damn near impossible to beat. However, they do have one significant downside: they take up a lot of space.

However, that might all be over, as an absolute legend of the outdoor industry has just introduced an innovation that could alter the hard-sided cooler industry forever (and for the better). The all-new Coleman Snap ‘N Go has the potential to be a serious game-changer.

Welcome to Moonshots: A series exploring the big ideas that could reshape the future of products. Discover more here.

Coleman

More than meets the eye

Let’s not beat around the bush, here: the Snap ‘N Go’s big innovation is its collapsibility. A world first, this cooler expands into a full-sized, fully-featured hard-sided cooler when you need it. But when you don’t, it collapses into a fraction of its expanded size.

There are two significant benefits to this. First, it makes storing this cooler between uses vastly more space-efficient. You don’t need a dedicated area, and you don’t need to store stuff inside the cooler to make use of the available space. You can simply slip it in between your other gear or under a shelf, a bench or wherever.

Coleman

The second benefit is transportation. While you could expand it and fill it up to ensure all your drinks and food are nice and cold for when you arrive at your destination, you can also collapse it down once you’ve emptied it out. That makes hauling it from place to place way easier than other, more traditional hard-sided coolers. You could feasibly just tuck it under your arm and go.

And yet, the act of transforming it from one format to the other is equally simple and speedy. According to the brand, it takes under 10 seconds to pop it open and another 10 to collapse it back down. Convenience? Check. Speediness? Check.

But what about performance, you say? Double-check…

Coleman

Engineering and performance in tandem

If you know about how hard-sided cooler insulation works, your main query is likely the same one I had: Is the brand sacrificing performance for convenience? Short answer: Not necessarily.

Despite its collapsible nature and hinge points, which are natural weaknesses for insulation (just like doors in a home), this cooler still performs remarkably well. In fact, it offers up to 64 hours of ice retention (about 2.6 days).

Coleman

While that may not quite compare to the most hardcore rotomolded coolers out there (some can retain ice for a full week), it’s still plenty enough for the average adventurer, especially for day trips or weekends away. And its a small price to pay for the additional convenience.

The Snap ‘N Go is also available in three sizes (35, 45 and 55 quarts) and three colorways: Blue Sky, Sapphire, and Mussel (although only the 35-quart size is presently available in Sapphire). Best of all, all three of them are still cheaper than the average rotomolded coolers of similar sizes.

Coleman

Availability and pricing

The Coleman Snap ‘N Go is now available on the brand’s site in three sizes, starting at $200 and going up to $240.

Coleman

Coleman Snap ‘N Go

• Starts at $200

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