Is the Coleman Snap 'N Go cooler worth it?
Worth it, for the right storage problem
Why hard coolers eat trunk space even when they're empty
You've felt it: hauling an empty hard cooler into the trunk before a tailgate, and it eats the exact same real estate as it does full of drinks and ice. That's the itch behind a Coleman Snap 'N Go cooler search, something rigid enough to survive a cooler's actual job, but that doesn't claim a permanent corner of your garage once the season's over.
How the Coleman Snap 'N Go cooler actually collapses
Most hard coolers are one shape, always. Rotomolded walls give you the insulation and the structure to take a beating on rough ground, but that same rigidity means the empty cooler is exactly as big as the full one. The Snap 'N Go changes that math: the hard-sided body folds down, collapsing to less than half its set-up size once you're done with it, so it lies flat in a closet or under a truck seat instead of owning a shelf all winter. Setup runs the other direction fast, Coleman puts it at under ten seconds from flat storage to load-ready. Once it's up, a separate waterproof liner does the actual cold-holding, insulated to the maker's stated 48 hours with ice, and that liner lifts back out for a hose-down after fish duty or a spilled six-pack instead of you scrubbing crevices molded into a fixed shell. At 35 quarts it's rated for 64 cans without ice, and the shell carries up to 200 pounds of static weight, though Coleman is specific that it was never built to double as a bench.
So you're not really buying a cooler, you're buying the space it doesn't take up between trips. Any hard cooler holds ice; this one is the rare version that also gets out of your way in the off season. Worth it if that storage problem is real for you, not just theoretical.
Who the Snap 'N Go cooler fits, and who should skip it
Worth it if
- you need a hard cooler only part of the year
- trunk, closet or truck bed space is tight
- you want a liner you can actually clean out
- 64-can capacity without ice covers your outings
Skip it if
- you want a cooler that doubles as a seat or step stool
- you need year-round outdoor durability under daily abuse
- you want the largest capacity in the Snap 'N Go line
Not for anyone who wants a cooler to double as a bench or take daily outdoor abuse year round.
Coleman Snap 'N Go cooler review: is it worth it
If you tailgate, camp or fish seasonally and your trunk, closet or truck bed can't spare a permanent cooler-shaped hole, this is a quiet yes. If you need a dedicated ice chest that lives outside year round and takes daily abuse as a step stool or bench, a solid one-piece cooler holds up better, and that was never this design's job.
Picture the actual day one: the cooler comes out of the closet flat, snaps up in about the time it takes to bag the ice, and rides along to the game instead of eating a quarter of your trunk on the way there. The relief here isn't the ice, any cooler does that, it's getting your storage space back for the other fifty weeks of the year when it isn't game day at all.
Amazon shoppers rate it 4 out of 5 across 503 ratings. That is their number, not ours.
Before you go
Can you sit on the Coleman Snap 'N Go cooler?
No, Coleman rates the shell to hold up to 200 pounds when set up but says clearly it isn't intended to be used as a seat.
How long does the Coleman Snap 'N Go cooler keep ice?
Coleman states up to 48 hours thanks to the insulated lid and body, though real-world time depends on ice ratio and heat exposure.
How small does the Coleman Snap 'N Go cooler collapse for storage?
It folds down to less than half its set-up size, per Coleman's own spec, which is the whole point of the design.
Is the liner on the Coleman Snap 'N Go cooler removable?
Yes, the waterproof liner lifts out separately from the hard shell so it can be cleaned or dried on its own.
By the numbers
earn an unconditional yes at full priceOut of 160 sports & outdoors products we have reviewed. This one is a yes with a condition attached.
Verdict datasetQuestion indexCC BY 4.0
Full spec sheet
| Brand | Coleman |
|---|---|
| Color | Mussel |
| Material | Plastic |
| Package Information | Box |
| Capacity | 35 liters |
| Product Dimensions | 12"D x 22.6"W x 12.2"H |
| Item Weight | 14.2 Pounds |
| Special Feature | Compact, Leak Proof, Portable, Spacious |
