Go for a hike. Remain hydrated and hands-free. Photo: Haro
I, like many of you I assume, enjoy being outdoors. I like the sky over my head and the glare of the ocean in my eyes; I like a stiff offshore breeze and warm sand between my toes. I like salt crusted in my eyelashes and eyebrows, I like saltwater pouring from my nose as the moon says hello in a dusky purpling sky. I like an after-surf beer so cold the can sticks to my lips. But you know what I don’t like? I don’t like trekking somewhere off the beaten path to enjoy a day full of sun and waves and then choking back a hot beer. I also don’t like lugging around a cooler full of ice that’s rapidly melting, bumping over roots and rocks and getting those plastic wheels stuck in sandy potholes. Solution: the Yeti Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler.
First Impressions
The Hopper M20 has got a lot of bells and whistles crammed into a regular-sized backpack ( it measures 18.5 inches wide with 9.5 inches in diameter, and 18.8 inches high). Empty, it weighs a little under five pounds. Super strong magnets keep the top enclosure firmly shut, keeping the cold in for a full day. With a 2:1 ice ratio, you can fit 18 cans of whatever you like in there or a pile of snacks to keep yourself from starving to death on the trail down to whatever fun adventure you’ve got planned. The MagShield access opens up wide, so you can literally throw things into it from a distance, and the whole thing is padded for comfort and made with a high-density fabric that resists all but a knife fight or a bear attack.
Keep your food and drinks cold and your hands free with the Yeti M20 Soft Backpack Cooler. Photo: Yeti
Notable Features
Capacity: 36 cans (no ice), 10kg of ice (ice only)
Weight: 2.5 kg
Dimensions: 15.3″ W x 9.9″D x 18.1″H (Exterior) | 11.6″W x 8.9″D x 14.0″H (Interior)
Features: Magshield access, Dryhide shell, Coldcell insulation, and leakproof liner
The biggest and most notable feature of the Hopper M20 (like many YETI products) it its durability. The fabric is resistant to UV rays, so it won’t start shredding to little bits after a few weeks in the sun to be left in a tattered pile in the dump, and after over a year of use everything is still in perfect working order. The interior and exterior are treated to be mildew resistant, so unless you’re emptying your beer cans into it, using it as a giant Capri-Sun beer pouch, and leaving it in the baking sun for a few days on end, you can rest assured it’s not going to drive away your friends with its rancid stench. It also uses Cold Cell technology that’ll keep the cold inside without freezing your back.
During the summer, Icart this thing all over the place. I load it up in the morning (not always with beer, of course, but it’s nice to have a few just in case), throw it on my back, and head out when the sun’s out. I pay no mind to where I’m dropping it, and it has yet to even have a single scuff. I can simply wipe off the grime of the day, pour the melted ice out, and restart all over again the next morning.
Drawbacks
As with most things, the Yeti Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler isn’t perfect. But it’s pretty darn close. The padded straps make it comfortable for carrying, but I wish it also had a padded waist strap for when the load is especially heavy. It also lacks any exterior water bottle or storage compartments, which can be nice to have for stashing a few dry items like keys, wallet, etc. Although it will keep drinks cold for over a day, a hard cooler may be a better pick for a multi-day trip. The price is steep, but you do get what you pay for and the Hopper is pretty awesome.
The Recall
It’s worth noting that Yeti recalled 1.9 million soft coolers due to a magnet ingestion hazard. I was able to test this cooler pre and post recall and although the magnet on my original cooler didn’t fail or detach, it was a pretty intense magnet and I was concerned it was going to snap my fingers if I wasn’t careful. It also didn’t stay open on its own, which made loading and unloading difficult. With the new model, Yeti has definitely made improvements and while the magnet still seals reliably it doesn’t feel like it’s going to snap your finger off. It also stays open on its own, which is a huge improvement to the original design.
| Pros | Cons |
| Comfortable, padded shoulder straps | No waist strap |
| Strong magnet closure system | No external storage pockets |
| UV resistant fabric | Not ideal for multi-day trips |
| Wide opening | Pricey |
| Keeps things cold, really cold |
Final Thoughts
The Yeti Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler is a bit of a must-have if you’re a person who routinely heads into the wild blue yonder and also happen to be a person who likes the occasional cold drink, whether it’s of the hoppy kind or the rehydration kind.
Get your hands on Yeti Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler here.
