The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler — a rugged and capable beach companion. Photo: Rebecca Parsons/The Inertia
Nothing beats cracking open a cold one at the beach — or the campground — or anywhere, really. When you don’t have the luxury of grabbing a drink out of your refrigerator, a portable cooler is your next best bet. Backpack-style coolers are one of our favorite options. They offer most of the benefits of a traditional cooler while being easy to transport. The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler is a burly beast that boasts everything you could want in a backpack cooler — and then some.
| Pros | Cons |
| Floats | Heavy (6.6 lbs) |
| Insulated external pockets | bulky |
| Backpacking style hip belt and shoulder straps | Zippers are difficult to work |
First Impressions of the ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler
The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler is not tiny. It’s an oversized backpack cooler and on the heavy side. So I assumed it had tons of storage space. But when you reveal the storage compartment beneath the roll-top closure, there isn’t any more room than an average-sized backpack cooler. In my testing of over a dozen backpack coolers, I’ve found that to be about 24 beverage cans.
However, the cooler sports insulated pockets on the sides that add a little extra storage space and lots of places to clip on extra gear. I guessed that highly effective (read: thick and bulky) insulation caused the minimal storage space and added weight. So I eagerly tested the ICEMULE BOSS to determine just how long it kept things frosty.
The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler. Photo: Rebecca Parsons/The Inertia
ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler: Notable Features
Weight: 6.6 lbs
Capacity 24 cans (with ice)
Cold Time: 24+ hours
Dimension: 9″D x 12.5″W x 25″H
Material: Proprietary synthetic material
To test out the insulation in the ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler, I packed a lunch and some drinks and then left them sitting overnight. The next morning, the ice was still icy, and everything was nice and cool. So, I let it sit for another night, and once again, it held up well. That’s 36 hours of ice-cold insulation. In our book, that performance justifies the weight, all right!
The Boss certainly gets the job done for beach days and day trips. But it’s also a great option for one- to two-day camping trips that require a short walk from the car to the campsite.
The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler Floats!
Yes, you read that heading correctly: The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler floats. In most cases, a floating cooler is entirely unnecessary. But in some situations, it is just what you need.
I am a passionate standup paddler. One of my favorite activities is paddling with a loaded cooler on board. Most coolers sink straight to the bottom if they fall off, but not the ICEMULE Boss. So it’s a perfect option for boating and other aquatic adventures. Just make sure to blow some air through the valve before setting off on your paddle; that’s what gives the Boss its floating ability.
The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler floats, making it a useful tool for paddlers and other water sports enthusiasts. Photo: Rebecca Parsons/The Inertia
External Storage
ICEMULE built the Boss with insulated external pockets. Many backpack coolers have external pockets, but I’ve never found a cooler featuring insulated external pockets. These came in handy for storing items I wanted quick access to, like favorite drinks and snacks.
The cooler also includes tons of attachment points for stowing extra gear, including elastic webbing on the front and 16 daisy chains on the sides. The webbing provided a good place to stash sweatshirts and towels, while the loops were perfect for clipping on a water bottle or tying on a pair of sneakers.
The Boss is 100% waterproof. Photo: Rebecca Parsons/The Inertia
The Boss is also 100% waterproof. Not only do you not have to worry about it sinking, but you also don’t have to worry about any water getting in or out. The cooler sports a roll-top closure, similar to a dry bag, and the two external, zippered side pockets are also waterproof. Welded seams in the tough, proprietary, PVC-like outer fabric complete the waterproofing.
ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler: Drawbacks
As I mentioned before, the ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler is not a compact cooler. It isn’t light either. We recently published our Best Backpack Coolers Gear Guide, and at 6.6 lbs, the Boss was the second-heaviest cooler we tested. Only the ultra-durable RTIC Backpack Cooler weighed more.
Add in some drinks and food, and the ICEMULE Boss isn’t exactly the easiest backpack cooler to transport. To combat this, the Boss utilizes a backpacking-inspired waist belt that is comfortable and effective at transferring weight off the shoulders and to the hips.
For how large and heavy this cooler is, I wish it stored more. The internal compartment stores 24 cans which, as I said, was average among all the coolers we tested. The external pockets and attachment points do add some extra storage, but not a ton.
The Boss is on the heavy side but sports an excellent backpack-style strap system. Photo: Rebecca Parsons/The Inertia
The zippers were challenging, a common problem with soft- and backpack-style coolers. I know that beefy zippers ensure everything is fully sealed and allow the insulation to work its magic, but opening and closing the Boss takes some effort. It would be great if someone made a backpack cooler with a lid-closure system similar to the Brumate MagPack Soft Cooler. Brumate built the system around a hybrid hard/soft model that utilizes a rigid, magnetically sealing lid instead of ever-failure-prone zippers.
Final Thoughts on the ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler
The ICEMULE Boss Backpack Cooler really has it all. It holds 24 cans with ice and keeps everything cold for days. It features two external insulated pockets, multiple external attachment points, and rugged construction. And it floats! Although the Boss is large and heavy, it sports padded shoulder straps, a waist belt, and a sternum strap to make your trips as easy as possible.
Check Price on AmazonEditor’s Note: Check out our Gear Guide for Best Soft Coolers for further in-depth discussion of cooler tech. Planning a beach day? Don’t forget your wetsuit. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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