Hold on the Cold: YETI Hopper Flip 18 Soft Cooler

Words & photos :: Scott Parent.

Finally, a rough and tough soft cooler that can hold the cold for long-haul paddling trips. Packing and preserving food and drink for longer durations on the water can make or break a trip—no one savours soggy sandwiches—and having tried multiple options over the years, there is no comparison to the YETI Hopper Flip 18 soft cooler. 

A lightweight and robust solution to keep quenchables or fresh meal fixings cool for the duration of a multi-day outing, this slick soft cooler takes the cake while keeping it fresh for days on the water. 

Constructed with YETI’s field-tested welded DryHide double-TPU Shell with ColdCell Insulation the Hopper 18 offers a superior cold-hold when compared to other soft coolers. 

For a day trip to the beach, simply adding a cold pack or ice cubes will be enough to keep contents cool and beachgoers quenched all day. For longer durations, place the Hopper in the freezer for a couple of hours before you leave, and the ColdCell technology will take care of the rest. 

The Hopper made all the difference on our four-day expedition with two kids at Massasauga Provincial Park, during a sweltering summer heatwave. By day four, our cold cuts were still cool and the sodas refreshingly cold. Our stores were well insulated and dry even after getting hammered by a night of severe thunderstorms. 

The HydroLok zipper is both waterproof and leakproof and no doubt the toughest zipper on the market—it really seals the deal. You’ll want to make sure to keep this zipped snug when not rooting through the cooler. 

This cooler has been the carriage for meal items and drinks on many multi-day open water SUP expeditions, around Philip Edward Island, Georgian Bay and along Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron. 

The dimensions and durable stitched loops make securing the Hopper to your SUP or canoe a sinch.  It will keep contents protected from splashing waves, while providing ease of access with the quick flip-top entry. 

Easy to keep clean, the interior high-density fabric is both waterproof and resistant to mildew. 

Whether you’re canoeing or on a SUP, the Hopper Flip 18 is the perfect fit for paddlers. Whether out on a multi-day tour or just beaching it, it will keep a hold on the cold.

Check out all the YETI soft coolers here.