SPARTER Insulated Backpack Cooler Review
I packed the SPARTER backpack cooler with ice and waters for tailgates. Here's what the dual compartments, bottle opener, and leak-proof liner really do.
The SPARTER backpack cooler is worth buying if you’re tired of hauling a hard cooler to tailgates, games, or the beach. It holds 33 cans in one open compartment, weighs about 1.1 pounds empty, and the sealed liner kept melted ice water off my back. Easy buy for the money.
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How this review was made: written from my own video review of this product. Every opinion here is my own, from using it myself.
| Capacity | 33 cans (49-can version available) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 17″H x 10.5″L x 7.5″W |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs empty |
| Insulation | 8mm foam, silver PEVA seal, up to 20 hrs |
| Pockets | Front dry pocket, 2 side mesh, insulated top pocket |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
I’m Sick of Lugging a Hard Cooler to Tailgates
That’s the whole reason I bought the SPARTER backpack cooler. Dragging a hard cooler across a parking lot for a game is miserable, and I just wanted to bring drinks and some food without wrecking my arms. This one goes on my back and I forget it’s there until I need something out of it. You can check it out here on amzlink.to if you want to see the color options.
First thing I noticed: they put a bottle opener right on the side strap. I’m always hunting for a bottle opener at a tailgate. Now it’s attached to the thing holding the bottles. It gets used every single time.
Leak Test: I Filled It With Ice and Nothing Came Out the Bottom
The liner held. I loaded the main compartment with ice and a bunch of waters, and as the ice melted into standing water down in there, I had not noticed any leakage coming out of the bottom. Completely sealed.
Most soft coolers fail here. A cheap one soaks your shirt an hour into the walk. SPARTER hot-presses the liner seamlessly instead of stitching it, and that’s what you’re paying for here.
One catch worth knowing before you load it in a car: the zipper itself isn’t leak-proof. The liner is. So keep it upright and you’re fine, tip it on its side in a trunk full of melted ice and you’ll have a puddle. That’s a real limitation, not a dealbreaker, but I’d rather you hear it now.
One Big Open Space Instead of Can Slots
The main compartment is really tall and completely open, no molded can dividers. I love that, because then you can organize it however you want instead of being forced to pack specifically cans or specifically bottles. I had a bunch of waters in mine with room for beer. It’s rated for 33 cans at 17 inches tall, and there’s a larger version that holds 49 if you’re feeding a crowd.
The front pocket is where everything that needs to stay dry lives. Chips, napkins, protein bars, snack bars, some plastic cutlery. It’s separated from the wet stuff below, so nothing gets soggy.
Then there’s a hidden pocket up top that’s also insulated. That one is my favorite, and it’s the one nobody expects. I put yogurts and sandwiches up there so they don’t get buried under a pile of drinks and ice. Reaching into a cold slurry for a squashed sandwich is a specific kind of annoying, and this solves it.
Two side mesh pockets round it out. Water bottle on one side, a snack or your keys on the other. Small detail, but the openings are wide enough that I’m not fighting to get a 32 oz Nalgene in and out one-handed.
Carrying It: Ventilated Back, Padded Straps, 1.1 Pounds Empty
The back panel and shoulder straps are ventilated material, so you’re not cooking back there on a long walk. On a hike with lunch and snacks inside, that matters more than it sounds. The straps are padded too, which keeps your shoulders from getting sore after you’ve been carrying it around a field all afternoon.
The bag itself is only 1.1 pounds empty. Packed with 33 cans and enough ice to keep them cold, you’re already looking at 20-plus pounds on your back, so every ounce the shell saves actually matters.
There’s a grab handle on top too, so if you don’t feel like wearing it you just hold it in your hand, or hang it on a hook at a campsite. That flexibility is what makes it live in my car instead of my garage.
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Which Size and Color to Get
Get the 33-can unless you’re regularly feeding more than four people. At 17 inches tall it already sits above your shoulder blades when it’s packed, the 49-can version is a bigger frame on a bigger person’s back, not just “more room.” Color options exist if black isn’t your thing, but the size call matters more than the finish.
It folds flat and collapses when it’s empty, which is why it’s easy to leave in a trunk year-round. And it carries a lifetime warranty plus an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification on the materials, which is more backing than most soft coolers at this level offer.
Pros
- Seamless liner held melted ice with no leakage out the bottom
- Bottle opener built into the side strap
- Tall 33-can main compartment is one open space, pack it however you want
- Separate dry front pocket plus an insulated hidden top pocket for yogurts and sandwiches
- Ventilated back panel and padded straps, and only 1.1 lbs empty
Cons
- The zipper isn’t leak-proof, so it has to stay upright once the ice melts
- No can dividers, which means loose bottles shift around while you walk
- At 17 inches tall and packed with ice, it’s a real load on your shoulders despite the light shell
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean it out after a day at the beach?
Dump the water, wipe the PEVA liner with a damp cloth, and leave it unzipped to air dry. Because the liner is seamless, there are no stitched seams for sand or moisture to hide in. Don’t put it in a washing machine.
Does it work as a lunch bag for work?
Yes, and the insulated top pocket makes it better than most. You can skip the ice entirely, drop a sandwich and yogurt up top and your laptop-sized gear in the front dry pocket. It’s larger than a standard lunch bag, so it’s more commuter backpack than desk cooler.
Can I use ice packs instead of loose ice?
Yes, and ice packs sidestep the one weakness entirely since there’s no meltwater sloshing toward the zipper. Loose ice gets you better contact with cans, so it chills faster. Packs are the smarter choice if the bag’s going to get knocked around in a car.
What does the lifetime warranty actually cover?
It’s a manufacturer lifetime warranty on the bag itself, so the zippers, seams, and liner construction. Normal wear from sand, scrapes, and sun isn’t a defect. Register your order details when you buy so you have the purchase record if you ever need it.
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SPARTER Insulated Backpack Cooler
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