If you want to buy a great Paddleboard accessory, then it makes sense to go with a Paddleboard Cooler. This is a product that allows you to keep your drinks cold, it’s efficient and reliable, and it definitely gets the job done very well. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to getting a Paddleboard Cooler, but you do want to know how to buy one and what features they bring to the table.

How can you choose the right Paddleboard Cooler?

It’s a very good idea to own a Paddleboard Cooler, especially if you’re looking to paddleboard for multiple hours. The truth is that a long paddleboarding session is cool, but you do want to relax a bit, and having a paddleboard cooler you can use as a seat is very helpful. Here’s how to choose the right unit.

Foldable soft case or a hard case Paddleboard Cooler?

The hard case is more durable and it will protect the unit against bumps or some damage, but it’s harder to carry along with you. A softer case is light, however, you do want to ensure that it does have some durability too, so it won’t get damaged that easily. 

The material and quality matters. There are Paddleboard Cooler that claims they keep the temperature for 2 days. You do want to ensure that the unit in question offers all the benefits you want. And if it’s also very easy to use, then that’s even better. 

Ice retention

Obviously, ice retention is very important. You want to ensure that your drinks or food are cold for a very long time. A high ice retention level can really make a difference. Cooler bags aren’t that great, however, some Paddleboard Coolers can actually keep ice in there for days. 

Storage capacity and size

The thing you need to focus on here is to ensure that you don’t lose a lot of space. Losing too much space is a problem since it does make paddleboarding a lot harder than it should. Instead, the main approach at least in this case is to try and check to see if the Paddleboard Cooler fits the board and that you can add it to the back if you can. 

Insulation does end up causing a few challenges here. If the insulation is rather thick, then you might have a smaller capacity. Most of the time, the manufacturers will tell you how many cans you can add to the cooler. Smaller units can have 10 cans or so. There are larger Paddleboard Coolers that will hold up to 50 cans, which is quite a lot as you can imagine.

Does the SUP cooler offer water resistance or waterproofing?

Since you are taking the Paddleboard Cooler with you on the SUP, you do need to ensure that the product won’t get damaged that much, if at all. Hardbody coolers have the waterproofing they need, but cooler bags are not the same. The materials they use must be waterproof or at least water-resistant, which is something to keep in mind here. Getting a waterproof bag or pouch is a great idea if you want to have a water-resistant bag. After all, you want all the items to stay dry, which can prove to be difficult in a situation like this.

How do you attach the Paddleboard Cooler to the board?

You can’t just place the cooler on the SUP and call it a day. You do need a proper way to attach it, and there are different options here you can take into account. Some coolers come with suction cups or D rings that you can attach to the board. There might also be some hard cases that provide pockets as well as dry sections where you can easily keep your items away from water. Larger coolers also have stuff like bungees that attach to the paddleboard’s D ring so you can secure the gear. 

Mini-review best SUP coolers

THURSO SURF SUP Deck Bag Paddle Board Cooler

The THURSO SURF SUP Deck Bag Paddle Board Cooler is an incredible product, it has a very good mesh pocket for essentials at the top, 4 hooks, and suction cups. You can add around 10 cups to the product. Additionally, the materials and zippers are water-resistant.

But you do have a waterproof pouch for the phone and other items that you may have. Ice retention is good and it will be suitable for a few hours. It’s not the ultimate choice, but it gets the job done. This is a good product for anyone that wants efficient cooling for their stuff while also paddleboarding. The efficiency is very good, and the quality is impressive. That’s why you have to at least give it a try for yourself, especially if you want an affordable cooling unit for your SUP.

Pro
  • Very easy to use on your SUP
  • Waterproof pouch for your items
  • Thick insulation system
  • 10 can capacity
  • Very light
Contra
  • Ice retention doesn’t cover a lot of time
  • Not fully waterproof

GILI DECK COOLER BAG

The company already creates great paddleboards, but they also deliver some interesting, innovative cooling solutions as well. Their product is actually a soft-top unit and it has a size for 10 or 20 cans. They also have D rings that you can use to attach everything as you want, without a problem. There are lots of things to like here, ranging from the fact that the GILI DECK COOLER BAG is light and easy to use to the shoulder strap, which is designed to help you carry it around. Like the previous model, it has a waterproof pocket so you can keep the desired items dry. 

This GILI DECK COOLER BAG also comes with 3 layers and a water-resistant zipper. Plus, the fact that it has adjustable straps means that it can fit any paddleboard. Sure, the company does have it as a bundle with their own products, but overall you will find it very efficient and innovative, and it’s totally worth giving it a try for yourself. That’s why you need to ensure that you use it at the very least.

Pro
  • It’s light and easy to use
  • They have a 100% satisfaction guaranteed
  • Aerodynamic and low profile
  • Very affordable
Contra
  • The items are not kept cold for long

Aquamarina cooler with backrest

The Kool iSUP cooler created by Aquamarina has a dedicated backrest, and it does look like a seat too. So it does offer great functionality when you just want to take a short break after paddleboarding. The seat of the backrest comes with an EVA soft pad, which is actually really good and reliable here. It can be great for storing drinks, foods and you also have some space for your special items. It’s very comfortable, the insulation is great too, and the seat has foam padding and a good backrest too. All of these add up to convey a very good experience.

To make things even better, the product can be used as a fish cooler too. So yes, it’s designed to be used as a seat, since fishing involves quite a lot of waiting and strategizing. We like that it brings around 8 hours of cooling in ideal situations, which is more than ok. Overall, it gets the job done and you will be impressed with the efficiency and quality all the time.

Pro
  • Great insulation system
  • Up to 8 hours of cooling
  • Seat that has foam padding and a backrest
Contra
  • Heavier when compared to other models

Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Hardbody Cooler

As the name suggests, this is a hardbody cooler and many consider it to be one of the best on the market. Why is that? You can easily carry up to 30 cans (there are multiple models, some are smaller, some larger), and you do have plenty of zippers too. It’s not overly expensive either, which is always important for such an accessory.

They also added a shoulder strap that makes this really easy to carry around all the time. To make things even better, you do have lots of space for drinks and food too. If you go for the variant that has 30 cans, then you do get a bottle opener and elastic gear straps too. All of these go to show that the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Hardbody Cooler is a very good pick for anyone serious about paddleboarding that also wants to know how to take some breaks efficiently after paddleboarding for a while.

Pro
  • Inexpensive and easy to carry around
  • It has extra zippers
  • Adjustable shoulder strap
  • Up to 30 cans
Contra
  • The zippers are not very durable.

FAQ

What is important to keep in mind in the SUP cooler bag?

The box shouldn’t be very big, since you will place it on your SUP, so the SUP has to hold it properly. Having a waterproof locking system is important since it will prevent the lock from getting damaged. Other things like mounting options, water resistance, size, and weight are very important here. Fastening features are also important too, just like robustness.

How much time will the paddleboarding cooler insulate the content?

Soft side models will offer up to 24 hours of cooling. However, the hard side models can actually go days, sometimes up to 7 days in total. The amount of items you need chilled and the cooler size will definitely influence the total insulation properties and features.

Is there a specific way to carry the SUP cooler?

It depends on the situation. You will find coolers that have a shoulder strap. Others will just give you a top handle. You may need a wagon or cart if you have lots of gear, as that will get you to water quickly.

Conclusion

There are plenty of paddleboard coolers on the market, but we believe that the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Hardbody Cooler is one of the best on the list. Not only does it have the appropriate price, but it also has all the features you need and it’s dependable, you can even use it as a seat. It’s definitely worth a shot if you want a reliable and very comprehensive paddleboarding cooler.