Best Soft Coolers · head-to-head

YETI Hopper Flip 12 vs REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler is cheaper at $159.95. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the YETI Hopper Flip 12 or REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler?

The YETI Hopper Flip 12 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler is the cheaper at $159.95. Get the YETI Hopper Flip 12 for the stronger spec sheet, the REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler to spend less.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec YETI Hopper Flip 12 REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler
US price $250 $159.95
BrandYETIREI Co-op
Released
Can capacity 24
Volume liters 30
Empty weight (lb) 3.4 5.9
Dimensions inches 12.6 x 11.5 x 10 16 x 15 x 12
Ice retention hrs 64
Closure type waterproof-zipper standard-zipper
Exterior denier
Leakproof Yes No
Carry style handheld
Warranty years 3

Sources — YETI Hopper Flip 12: treelinereview.com (verified 2026-07-13). REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler: treelinereview.com (verified 2026-07-13).

What's the difference between the YETI Hopper Flip 12 and REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 10). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Empty weight (lb): YETI Hopper Flip 12 3.4 vs REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler 5.9
  • Dimensions inches: YETI Hopper Flip 12 12.6 x 11.5 x 10 vs REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler 16 x 15 x 12
  • Closure type: YETI Hopper Flip 12 waterproof-zipper vs REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler standard-zipper
  • Leakproof: YETI Hopper Flip 12 true vs REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler false

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

YETI Hopper Flip 12

Two whitelisted hands-on testers cover the exact YETI Hopper Flip 12: CleverHiker (multi-day ice-retention tested, 2025) and GearJunkie (2016 hands-on first look with a 24-hour ice test and tip-over leak check). Both praise its rugged, waterproof build and easy portability, and both flag the steep $250 price. CleverHiker measured just under four days for ice to fully melt and internal temp to reach 40 then 50F. All quotes verified as literal substrings of the fetched pages; no sources dropped. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)

Praised: Rugged, durable build that shrugs off drops, scrapes and UV; Waterproof HydroLok zipper seals tight with no leakage even tipped over; Easy to carry via top/side handles plus removable padded shoulder strap.

Flagged: Expensive at $250, high for the size versus other soft coolers; Zipper is stiff and difficult to open even with lubricant.

REI Co-op Trail Gate Cooler

No sourced tester review yet.

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