Maelstrom Cooler Backpack - 35/50 Can Insulated Soft Cooler Lunch Bag for Camping, Beach, Hiking & Shopping

This is an amazing product. It keeps items cold, does not leak, and is comfortable to wear. It packs fairly well in a suitcase (I used for a Volleyball tournament in another state). There are a couple of extra pockets for storing keys, wallets, etc. It also has two drink holders that can adjust to the size of your bottle.

As always, arrived quickly and in good shape.The bag's primary compartment is the cooler, with a zippered space up top for things you want to remain separate but still keep cold. There is another compartment on the very top that isn't insulated, as well as a front pouch with two zippered compartments. The larger of the two is shone and is built to help organize utensils. There's also a zippered compartment on the lower back pad, which I also show in a picture. I wouldn't put much in there unless it is very flat or else I can see that being pretty uncomfortable. Still, a nice "hidden" compartment of sorts. Two standard mesh side pockets for ater bottles or small items, each has a draw cord to tighten as needed. Overall, plenty of additional storage space for the odds and ends you'll need when going out with this. The included bottle opener is a nice touch.So, big question, how much beer or wine can it hold? I only had 16oz cans on hand, so I'm not sure with 12oz cans or bottles, but I comfortable got 24 cans in there (pictured) with room for some ice. For a bit more ice and a better packing set-up, I found that 22 worked better, with 18 standing and 4 laid across the top. For wine, it easily fit 8 Bordeaux, Alsatian or even Burgandy bottles. I mixed and matched different size and shape bottles a bit...the taller Alsatians had plenty of room and all Burgandy was a bit of a tighter squeeze but it was okay. Sparking bottles were too big to share a column with any other bottle, but you can offset them a bit (zig-zag pattern) and get 6 definitely, maybe 7 in there. You can also get a similar number by lying them down, but I wouldn't recommend it if you have differently shaped bottles as they don't stack neatly.The bag is a bit heavy when full, as would be expected. The back padding is actually pretty good. The shoulder straps held up okay, but I don't know if it would be comfortable for long. Still, for this price point, I think that is to be expected. For me, it's primarily for day trips with the car or canoe/kayak, so I'm not walking with it for long and this isn't an issue. Food is generally lighter than beer, so if you are packing some food and drinks together, it feels a lot better. The seams and zippers seem well constructed, so I don't feel like the bag is going to tear apart, even at full capacity. You can turn the entire inner lining inside out for easy cleaning. I haven't noticed any leaking issues although admittedly I haven't had it full of a lot of water yet. As for cold retention, I haven't gotten a chance to truly test it, but it has kept things cold for short periods of time so far without any concerns. If you are expecting something to hold ice for days at a time, you aren't going to be paying this little for it, so understand your purchase.Overall, a solid cooler bag that does what you would expect. I would definitely recommend it at this price point.

One of a kind! On top of the color, material, and we'll made ingenuity, this lunch bag was the hot topic talk of my husband's work (can we say the price was a steal). Men love pockets and lots of them (don't let them fool you!) so this lunch/cooler backpack bag fit perfectly into his daily routine. He can store stuff along with keeping his lunch cold as if straight out of the refrigerator. It's super spacious and definitely durable, in a rough work environment it'd have to be. He loves it, and that's all that matters to me, I highly recommend!

I actually bought this backpack on a whim because we had an extended trip planned in the blazing Florida heat, and it was crucial to keep things cold for our family's enjoyment. Lately, I've noticed a surge in the popularity of backpack-style coolers, so I thought it might be the solution we needed.If you've ever looked into backpack coolers, you know there are numerous brands and styles available at different price points. Initially, I had my sights set on some well-known brands, but the timing and cost didn't align. That's when I came across the offerings from Maelstrom.Let me start by saying I absolutely love the size of this backpack. During a recent outing, I easily packed four 32 oz stainless steel water bottles, a couple of cans of sparkling water, two bottles of Prime, two additional frozen water bottles, and a sack of food with fruit. I didn't even have to be strategic with my packing, thanks to the ample space in the bag, and everything stayed intact especially the fruit.One of the standout features of this bag is the abundance of pockets. Since we planned on being active outdoors, it often meant my shorts lacked the capacity to hold all the essentials like my phone, wallet, and keys. However, with this backpack, that concern was alleviated. There are pockets everywhere, easily accessible and within reach. What's more, there's even a hidden zipper pocket on the backside, which proved invaluable for keeping important items secure when navigating through crowds.Considering the amount of stuff I packed, the bag did get quite heavy. Thankfully, the straps are remarkably comfortable. They never dug into my shoulders, no matter the weight of the bag. Plus, there's a chest strap that adds an extra level of security. The only thing I wish it had, if possible, would be a waist strap or belt to make long carries even more comfortable.In terms of style, this bag blends in seamlessly with other backpacks. It doesn't scream "I'm a cooler" and lacks prominent branding that draws unnecessary attention. This discreet design makes it convenient and less awkward to carry anywhere and everywhere.Now, let's talk about its performance as a cooler. It fares pretty well, to be honest. Are there better coolers out there? Yes. Do I own some of them? Definitely. However, I subjected this bag to scorching 105°F heat for a full five hours, and everything inside stayed impressively cold. Towards the end, there was a slight warming effect, but I must admit, I didn't have the best ice packs at my disposal.Overall, I'm genuinely pleased with this purchase. It may not boast a widely recognized brand name, but the Maelstrom backpack cooler performs exceptionally well, especially considering its attractive price point. While there might be other backpack coolers on the market, this one strikes a great balance of functionality, features, and affordability.