Camping Coolers, Water Jugs & Gear — Built for Every Kind of Trip
Camping doesn't look the same for everyone. A car camper needs different gear than a road tripper. A weekend backpacker needs different gear than a hunting party. But every trip has one thing in common: food that needs to stay cold, water that needs to stay clean, and gear that needs to hold up longer than expected.
RTIC is built for all of it. Whether you're pulling up to a campsite or pushing into the backcountry, here's how to set up for the trip ahead.
What do you need for a car camping cooler setup? Enough capacity to last the trip, ice retention that doesn't quit overnight, and gear that moves easily from the trunk to the campsite.
Our Ultra-Light Wheeled Coolers are the ideal car camping anchor. Available in 22 QT, 52 QT, and 72 QT, the collection scales to group size and trip length—and the all-terrain wheels handle gravel, dirt, and uneven ground without dragging. Built with closed-cell foam insulation, freezer-style gaskets, and rubber t-latches, it's engineered for the kind of multi-day ice retention car camping actually demands.
For extended trips where ice retention is the top priority, Ultra-Tough Rotomolded Coolers hold ice for up to 9 days depending on size—built for the kind of multi-night stay where a resupply run isn't part of the plan.
For water at the campsite, the 1 Gallon Outback Jug keeps drinking water cold, clean, and accessible without cracking open the food cooler every time someone needs a drink. Built with durable stainless steel and a ceramic-lined interior, this jug keeps water tasting clean even after a full day in the sun. For large groups or easy refills, the 3- or 6-gallon Halftime Water Cooler holds enough for a full day when the nearest store is miles away.
A simple two-cooler system — one for food, one for drinks — reduces how often each cooler gets opened and keeps everything colder longer across a multi-night stay.
What to look for in a car camping cooler:- Multi-day ice retention in outdoor temperatures
- Durable wheels for easy transport from car to campsite
- Large capacity for groups and extended trips
- Portable water coolers and jugs for campsite hydration
Car Camping Coolers & Jugs
What's the best cooler for a road trip? One that fits in the car, keeps food cold through a full day of driving, and doesn't take over the back seat.
The Road Trip Personal Cooler is built for exactly that. Compact enough for tight packing situations and insulated well enough to keep food and drinks cold through long drives. For longer road trips where you need more capacity without a full-size cooler, a mini travel cooler bridges the gap between a lunch bag and a hard cooler.
For drinks and snacks within reach in the car, an insulated cooler backpack or soft cooler bag sits easily in a back seat or footwell and keeps things cold without digging through ice. The Everyday Cooler is a strong option for the road, it’s fully insulated for all-day cold and packs flat when you're done with it.
A good road trip cooler setup means less stopping, less waste, and more flexibility to camp wherever the day takes you.
What to look for in a road trip cooler:- Compact travel cooler that fits in the car
- Soft cooler or insulated backpack for in-cab access
- Leakproof construction for long drives
- Easy grab-and-go lids and handles
Road Trip Coolers & Drinkware
What's the best gear for backcountry camping and hiking hydration? Lightweight, durable, and built to perform when you're far from a resupply.
For water on the trail, water bottles for hiking need to be lightweight, leakproof, and capable of keeping water cold through a full day of movement. The Journey Bottle and Outback Bottle are both built for that. Stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulated, and easy to carry on or off the trail.
For carrying food and cold essentials into camp, an insulated cooler backpack keeps things cold hands-free without adding unnecessary bulk. It's the right call for day hikes with food, short backpacking trips, or any setup where rolling a cooler isn't an option. The Ultra-Tough Backpack Cooler is fully waterproof and features trail-ready suspension and ergonomic straps, making it easy to carry even with a full load.
What to look for in backcountry gear:- Lightweight water bottles for hiking and trail use
- Insulated cooler backpack for hands-free carry
- Hard cooler with serious ice retention for base camp
Backcountry Backpacks & Bottles
Every camping trip is different, but the gear needs usually follow the same pattern:
- Multi-day food and drink storage without a resupply run
- Water that stays clean and cold from campsite to trail
- Gear that travels well and holds up across different terrain
- Flexibility for groups, solo trips, and everything in between
