Soft-sided coolers with big wheels vs hard coolers: Soft-sided wins for airports

Hard coolers like the Pelican or Yeti Tundra are overbuilt for airports — heavy, awkward in aisles, and can’t fit overhead. A soft-sided cooler with big wheels (Yeti Hopper M30 or RTIC SoftPak) rolls smoothly over carpet and curbs, is light enough to lift, and can squeeze into an overhead bin. Ice retention is fine for a travel day, and your back will thank you.