Corkcicle's Backpack Cooler Is Perfect for Summer Picnics | Food & Wine

2022-05-21 16:07:33 By : Ms. Celery Shen

With most ice coolers, it's what's on the inside that counts—but I fell for the dusty pink vegan leather exterior of the adorable Eola Bucket Cooler Bag from Corkcicle before I even realized how functional it is. It looks more like a trendy backpack than a cooler. Fortunately, it's not just a pretty accessory. 

Corkcicle made its name with its triple-insulated canteen, which chills wine to the perfect temperature without an ice bucket, so it makes sense that this bag is designed to be a wine cooler. At 14-inches tall, 11-inches wide, and 8.5-inches deep, it holds a dozen cans or a mixture of eight cans and two wine bottles for some serious picnicking. But of course, you don't have to stock it with beverages, you could save some room for snacks. 

To buy: Corkcicle Eola Bucket Cooler Bag in Rose Quartz, from $135 at corkcicle.com 

I've mixed and matched configurations and found its food-safe interior fits either a full picnic for two to three people or enough drinks for a day of partying. A friend with kids even uses it to keep her daughter's bottles cold on long days away from home. You will need to save some room for ice, or slide in one or two of Corkcicle's reusable ice packs. Once your ice is in, though, the space-grade, high-performance closed cell foam insulation keeps drinks cool all day. 

A backpack cooler is easy to carry on hiking or beach trips, pool parties, music festivals, and sporting matches. This one is just under a pound, which you'll be thankful for once you start stocking it with heavy wine bottles. Its adjustable straps are padded and comfortable enough that you can wear it with a tank top or bathing suit on a long walk or bike ride without chafing, a major plus on hot days. And the fact that it's a backpack means your hands are free to steer your bike or scroll on your phone. Or, swing it along like a handbag with the top handle. 

Related: This Cushioned Picnic Blanket Is Just $27—and It's Actually Sand-Proof

There's even a zippered back pocket where you can stash keys, money, and other necessities. I love this feature, which keeps my belongings from getting lost into a cold, wet abyss. And although I haven't tried this, reviewers have said the bag holds ice for days without leaking. When you are ready to unpack the bag, you can simply wipe down the interior with a damp cloth to clean it. 

The Corkcicle Eola bag is the cutest cooler I've seen that also actually works. And if pink rose quartz isn't your thing, choose from five other colors in either a vegan leather or sporty neoprene material. Scroll down to check the pretty and practical coolers.