Holds 12 Pack Soft Cooler

I bought this cooler on the recommendation of a lot of kayak anglers who think it is just wonderful. I must have gotten a bad one because it won't keep ice frozen for more than a couple of hours. By noon on a midsummer day I have a cooler full of water.

I liked this cooler until last weekend, when I found a wet spot under it on my car's rug. Should still be OK with blue ice.

This is my second Polar Bear cooler, same size, same type. The first one I used for years, carrying it to work because it doesn't look "unprofessional" like a lunch box does in my line of work. But this one is SO stiff you can hardly pry it open to get stuff out. The other one was not. Not sure what they did to the outside material; it looks the same but it won't loosen up, even after putting hot water in it.These do keep things cool a long time, so I'll at least give it a 3 star. . But my other one started leaking after a year or so, so the inside isn't that durable. The outside however, could probably stop a bullet!

It certainly keeps things cold, particularly if you add an ice pack. The bag is smaller than you'd think though -- getting 12 cans in would be a challenge. Also, it's a bit hard to pack due to the padding. Overall it's a great bag, but I'd recommend getting a size larger than you think you'll need.

So far, this seems to be as good, or maybe better than, the reviews might indicate. If you are, like me, not likely to first read the literature, it pays to at least read about "filling with warm water to regain its normal shape". It was almost flat when I removed it from the box because they bleed the air out of the insulation for shipping size. Filling with warm/hot tap water for 5 minutes enabled it to get its shape back. (Too bad humans can't do that!)Drinks definitely are cool all day long. Tested with ice which hardly melted; no leaks; apparently very good zipper (an important detail often overlooked by some manufacturers); very tough fabric outside shell; lightweight when empty; good handles and shoulder strap. The 12-pack size is perfect for my usual work day (7 Diet Pepsis, 2 cup lunch container, 8"x6"x2" blue ice pack) with room left over.I have a desk job so I'm pretty easy on these kinds of containers, and the tough exterior and zipper will probably be overkill for my needs, but I still appreciate not having to baby it and knowing I could strap it to a motorcycle with little concern.I would buy this again, will likely buy more soon, and will speak well of the Polar Bear brand when possible.

bought the 12pack first, then the 6 pack after i THOUGHT the 12 might be too big. wrong. the 6pack was way too small. love the 12 because it's roomy enough to fit a decent meal and then some, and the overall construction compared to the 6pack is much higher quality. if you're on the fence between the 6 and 12, stick to the 12. versatile enough for most needs.

There are a ton of reviews on this so I won't say much about the quality other than to say I agree! On size the sizes listed (6 pack,12 pack etc.) they are talking about normal standard packs of soda/beer. If you mainly carry water (or tall drinks) like I do be advised the 12 pack will hold an upright six pack of water (usually freeze it in advance for insane hold times and no excess water) with about 5 inches of space left over from the end of the six pack to end side of the case. When folded down in the carry position (and maximum insulation) the top of the case is on top of the water bottles. So for water carry in standard bottles the 12 pack is really a six pack with maybe room for 4 more bottles or extra space for what ever like ice, etc. if you do not pre freeze. I do not own the 6 pack but based on size I do not believe it will allow you to carry water bottles upright and fold the top down. You can always not fold the top down I guess but then you kind of negate the compactness and insulation qualities of the unit. The 12 pack might be a touch top heavy but it will stand up on any flat surface and with a 6 pack of water in it I had to tilt it at a 45 degree angle or more to get it to fall over. Certainly in a moving vehicle you might want to secure it. The fact it is a bit taller than wide also made it a breeze to shoulder carry as it was not always "digging" into my side.

I bought this cooler because I wanted a way to bring my lunch to work without it looking like I was lugging around a cooler or a lunchbox. This ended up being perfect. The black model looks more like a large camera bag than anything and it's quite comfortable to carry around. The inside is roomy and easy to keep clean. Most importantly, it keeps everything nice and cold all day. My office does have a fridge I can use. But, it's usually packed full. This cooler was worth every penny.