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The Best Koozies to Help You Keep Your Cool All Year Long

These top-of-the-line can coolers and bottle sleeves won’t break a sweat.

Koozies and Can Coolers
Photo:

Food & Wine / Kevin Liang

Whether it's during the heat of the summer or those delightfully warm days that surprise us in the spring and fall, koozies are an outdoor drinking staple no serious beer, cider, or nonalcoholic drink lover should be without. Even if you have the best cooler packed with ice, drinks will start to sweat when you grab a fresh one. Koozies keep things ice-cold longer, saving you from dreaded warm beers and acting as sweat-proof drink holders.

From packable neoprene sleeves to double-walled vacuum-insulated styles, a high-quality koozie makes an excellent investment. There are countless types nowadays, but we've done the work and rounded up the best for all warm-weather drinking needs. These are the best koozies to keep your hands dry and your drinks cold at all times, whether at a picnic or entertaining in your backyard.

Pros
  • This is the most versatile and best-insulated option for 12-ounce and 16-ounce drinks, with an additional ice pack and top to convert into a pint glass.

Cons
  • Smaller hands might find it difficult to hold due to the large circumference, and it won't work as well for bottled drinks.

BruMate has perfected the art of the convertible hard-sided koozie. The Hopsulator Trio, a 3-in-1 can cooler, is designed to fit standard 12-ounce cans and tall 16-ounce cans. The copper layer in the insulation and the freezable ice pack that supports the 12-ounce cans keep drinks 20 times colder than standard koozies. The twist-locking gasket makes it easy to pop cans in and out without slipping as you sip.

The new Muv collection includes a locking lid that turns the cooler into a tumbler, and the flip top has a magnetic closure to keep it open while you drink. The Hopsulator comes in 30 colors (including a new college team series) and has a non-slip bottom for traction in splashy situations. The matte exterior feels great in the hand and protects from condensation, though it is naturally a little wider than classic koozie sleeves. It also works well for hot beverages, making it the most versatile tool in the koozie world.

Capacity: 12 or 16 ounces | Material: Double-walled stainless steel | Empty Weight: 16 ounces with the ice pack

Pros
  • Yeti's insulation materials are unrivaled, and it's dishwasher-safe.

Cons
  • It's not as portable or as versatile as some other koozie options.

If you're a standard 12-ounce can drinker, Yeti's Colster is a sturdy option with double-walled insulation. It's dishwasher-safe and perfect for tailgating, beach trips, camping, and boating adventures, even in triple-digit temperatures. The latest version has an improved gasket for locking in cans securely with just a quarter-turn and a sleeker look, with the signature Duracoat coating that won't crack or chip covering the bottom. Yeti fans will want to look out for limited edition colors, like Offshore Blue and Bimini Pink. For a durable koozie that will work for years, the Colster is a great option.

Capacity: 12 ounces (also available in 12-ounce slim and 16-ounce tall) | Material: 18/8 double-walled stainless steel | Empty Weight: 8.3 ounces

Pros
  • This dishwasher-safe can cooler works with both 12-ounce cans and bottles, and can also fit in most cup holders.

Cons
  • It's not ideal for slim or tallboy cans.

Hydro Flask works excellently in the insulated water bottle category, and the brand's cup coolers are equally great. The silicone collar is easy to flip from the top of the can or bottle to the bottom as a nonslip coaster, and the vessel can also function as an insulated cup for hot or cold drinks. It's ultra-lightweight, great for travel and camping, and will fit in cup holders in cars, carts, or boats.

For easy cleaning, the Cooler Cup can go right in the dishwasher. The sweat-free exterior is Hydro Flask's Color Last coating, which won't crack or fade. The Cooler Cup also comes in a "tandem" size, which can hold two beers stacked, keeping your second drink cold and close by while you sip your first.

Capacity: 12 ounces (also in a 12-ounce slim, 16-ounce can, or two-beer tandem sizes) | Material: 18/8 Pro Grade Stainless Steel | Empty Weight: 9.6 ounces

Pros
  • The cooler is dishwasher-safe and fits in standard cup holders.

Cons
  • It works only for 12-ounce slim cans so might not be the most cost-effective option for everyone.

For a hard-sided koozie for slim cans, Camelbak's newest release is a smart option. The Horizon Slim Can Cooler has a double-walled construction with a scratch-resistant powder coating and a silicone nonslip base and collar. It'll keep slim cans cold for 2 hours and can also be popped in the dishwasher for cleaning as needed. It fits most cup holders, which is great news for tailgating and boating enthusiasts who want their seltzers and canned cocktails within reach at all times.

Capacity: 12 ounces (slim) | Material: 18/8 Stainless Steel | Empty Weight: 7.3 ounces

Pros
  • It's easy to transport, inexpensive, and great for big groups.

Cons
  • It's not the most durable option and won't keep drinks cold as long as hard-sided versions.

Sometimes, when it comes to koozies, the simpler, the better. If you're ordering a set for a group or need to keep plenty on hand for summer events and beach days, these are some of the best-rated classic koozies. Tahoe Bay is a veteran-owned business based in Nevada, so they know plenty about summer heat and keeping cans cool (and also have slim can options). The 12-ounce can version comes in a pack of 12 koozies with 35 color options.

Capacity: 12-ounce cans and bottles, or 16-ounce cans | Material: 4mm Polyester Foam | Empty Weight: 3 ounces

Pros
  • The versatile cooler converts from can to bottle format, and has a bottle opener right on the cap.

Cons
  • It is hand-wash only, and you'll need to set down the unused parts somewhere if you're using it as a can cooler.

If bottled Corona or Bud Heavy are your drinks of choice, a bottle insulator is the koozie you need. The Asobu Frosty 2 is a best-seller with thousands of perfect ratings. It's made from lightweight insulated stainless steel to keep drinks cold for 6 hours and includes a built-in bottle opener. The top twists off easily to hold standard cans, so you're not limited to the bottle shape.

You'll need to keep track of the separate parts if they've converted the cooler into the can format. It also requires hand-washing and won't work as an insulated tumbler like some other brands. It's great for both standard and long-neck bottles, so you won't miss out on cold beer due to sweating from the glass or aluminum as you drink.

Capacity: 12 ounces | Material: Stainless steel and double-walled plastic | Empty Weight: 11 ounces

Our Favorite Koozie

Overall the Brumate Hopsulator Trio is the most versatile and effective koozie available today, with convertible sizes, superior insulation, and a user-friendly design. The Yeti Colster is a close second for standard cans, and Tahoe Bay's set will do the trick for beer drinkers who prefer the classic sleeve style.

How We Tested Koozies

If you take your canned drinks seriously as I do, your koozies probably go with you everywhere. From picnics in the park in the heat of the summer, watching fireworks on the Fourth of July when the humidity hasn't broken (even at 10 p.m.), a poorly timed golf outing in the middle of a heat wave, and sweltering decks that barely see the sweet reprieve of shade in long days of summer.

As a chronically slow sipper of any drink, I have always required a koozie to give me those extra minutes of chilled cans, whether it's seltzer, beer, or even canned water (concert venues have those now! an innovation!) Needless to say, I have strong koozie opinions and years of experience with the insulation, functionality, and nice-to-have features of several popular can coolers around.

Our editors have all given their input from their koozie explorations, and what better way to decide than from everyday life experience? While we're always on the hunt for a new kind that will blow us away, these six have stood the test of time for now.

Factors to Consider

Material

Koozies come in many materials, from soft slip-on sleeves in foam or neoprene to insulated can and bottle holders in metal. Your choice should depend on how you intend to use your koozie. If you need a little protection for your can or bottle on a warm day or a way to keep condensation off your hands, a foam koozie will be the least expensive option, but it will also provide the least insulation.

Neoprene koozies are slightly pricier but will insulate better, giving you more time before your drink warms up. Both neoprene and foam koozies are lightweight and pack flat, so they are great for travel or when you need to toss them in your bag for the beach. They do not, however, last particularly long. Insulated metal koozies will do the best job of keeping your drinks cold and are more of an investment.

Your Drink of Choice

When deciding which koozie to invest in, think about what you normally drink. Is it mostly glass bottles, or slim hard seltzer cans? Pretty much every can and bottle size has a koozie option these days, including wine bottles and iced coffee cups. Identify which styles you drink most frequently and zero in on can coolers to fit one or two sizes. You can also find more versatile options that cover almost all the bases.

Your Environment

Do you need light, packable koozies for the park or beach? Or a sturdy style that will keep things chilled for hours even in blazing hot temperatures? You might need a koozie that will fit in a cup holder or one that can survive drops in wild conditions. How hot it gets where you are or where you intend to travel will be important for which style of koozie you need. Double-walled insulation is key for the highest temperatures, and durable can cooler coatings are important for trips to the beach (for both sand and UV rays). Campers will want something light that works for both hot and cold beverages. Whatever the situation, there's likely a koozie that works best listed here.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long does a koozie keep your drink cold?

    It depends on the style of the koozie, your environment, and the temperature of your drink when you insert it. “Due to all the variables that can affect cold-holding power, we can’t guarantee a precise amount of time that your [koozie] will keep your can cool,” says Hannah Mara, Vice President of Product Management at Yeti. Hot weather can cause a drink in a koozie to warm up faster, and this will also happen with a drink that isn’t fully chilled to start. But you can assume that any koozie will extend the cold time of your drink by 20 to 75 percent.

  • How do you clean koozies?

    Most foam and neoprene koozies can be washed with a bit of dishwashing soap in the sink and left to air dry, and some can be safe to toss in your washing machine. Hard, insulated bottles and can coolers are usually just as easy to clean. “You can always wash by hand, or simply let the dishwasher do the hard work. You can also clean your drinkware with dish soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or abrasive cleaners. For a more thorough clean, remove gaskets and wash and dry separately before reinstalling,” says Mara.



Our Expertise

  • Megan Soll is an Associate Editorial Director who has written and edited hundreds of kitchen and home product content, with seven years of experience working for Food & Wine. For this piece, she researched the most current can coolers and koozies on the market and drew on her own experience from several koozie styles she has owned and used over the years.
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