For most paddle boarders the best cooler is a soft deck cooler like the Thurso Surf 20-can, which clips to your D-rings and sits flat under the bungees. If you want a hard cooler you can also use as a dry box (or sit on, on a wide board), the Engel 13-quart Drybox is the classic choice: airtight, light for a hard cooler, and small enough for a SUP deck.
We haven’t tested these coolers hands-on. We picked them from manufacturer specs, Inflatable Boarder’s SUP cooler roundup, owner ratings, and whether you can buy them right now. Three of the six coolers in our 2021 list (two YETIs and the Arctic Zone Titan) weren’t available on Amazon when we checked, so we’ve replaced them.
Our picks at a glance
- Best deck cooler: Thurso Surf SUP Cooler Deck Bag (20 can), soft, insulated and made to clip to a SUP.
- Best hard cooler: Engel 13 Quart Drybox Cooler, airtight, doubles as a dry box.
- Best for fishing: Engel 19 Quart Drybox with rod holders.
- Best budget: Thurso Surf SUP Cooler Deck Bag (10 can), a lunch-and-drinks cooler for around $30.
- Most waterproof deck cooler: MORXPLOR Paddleboard Cooler Deck Bag, welded 500D PVC with a watertight zipper.
Size matters more than ice retention. On a paddle board you’re out for hours, not days. A cooler that’s too big makes the board top-heavy, blocks your feet and catches wind. For one or two people, 10–20 cans (or about 12–20 quarts) is plenty.
Made for a paddle board deck
Thurso Surf SUP Cooler Deck Bag (20 can)
Thurso Surf, an inflatable board brand, designed this deck cooler for its own boards. It’s a soft, three-layer cooler: a PVC outer shell with a water-resistant zipper, thick foam, and an insulated liner. Four S-hooks clip it to your board’s D-rings, it fits under the front bungees, and there’s a padded shoulder sling for carrying it from the car.
Thurso says it holds up to 20 cans. Inflatable Boarder also lists it in its SUP cooler roundup, noting it holds more than similar deck coolers.
Who it suits: most recreational paddlers, couples, and anyone with an inflatable board.
| Spec | Thurso 20-can deck cooler |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Up to 20 cans |
| Size | 16 × 12 × 6 in |
| Shell | PVC, water-resistant zipper |
| Attachment | 4 S-hooks for D-rings, fits under bungees |
| Weight | About 2 lb (Inflatable Boarder) |
| Price | Around $50–70 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Designed specifically for SUP decks
- Low profile, so it doesn’t make the board tippy
- Light, and folds away when empty
Cons
- Soft coolers don’t hold ice as long as hard ones
- Water-resistant, not waterproof, if it goes under
Verdict
The deck cooler we’d buy for a day on the water.
The airtight hard cooler that fits a SUP
Engel 13 Quart Drybox Cooler
Engel’s Drybox coolers have been popular with kayak anglers and paddle boarders for years. The 13-quart model is injection-molded plastic with polystyrene foam insulation and an EVA gasket that makes it airtight, so it doubles as a dry box for a phone, camera or first-aid kit. It has recessed handles, a shoulder strap and a hanging accessory tray.
It’s one of the most reviewed small hard coolers on Amazon, with thousands of ratings.
Who it suits: paddlers who want a hard cooler that survives being knocked around, and anyone who wants to keep electronics dry and drinks cold in the same box.
| Spec | Engel 13 Quart Drybox |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 13 qt |
| Construction | Injection-molded polypropylene, polystyrene foam |
| Seal | Airtight EVA gasket |
| Extras | Shoulder strap, hanging tray |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Price | Around $80 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Airtight and leak-proof
- Doubles as a dry box
- Small enough for most boards’ front deck
Cons
- Hard coolers are heavier and bulkier than soft ones
- You’ll need straps or a bungee to secure it
Verdict
The hard cooler to get if you want one box that keeps drinks cold and gear dry.
For SUP anglers
Engel 19 Quart Drybox Cooler with Rod Holders
This is the bigger Engel Drybox with fishing rod holders built into the lid. It has the same airtight gasket and construction as the 13-quart version, with room for a day’s drinks plus a catch or bait.
On a fishing board with a flat rear deck, a cooler this size can also double as a seat. Check your board’s weight limit and how much deck space you have first.
Who it suits: paddle board anglers who want rod storage and a cooler in one.
| Spec | Engel 19 Quart Drybox |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 19 qt |
| Construction | Injection-molded polypropylene, polystyrene foam |
| Seal | Airtight EVA gasket |
| Extras | Built-in rod holders, shoulder strap, hanging tray |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Price | Around $110 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Rod holders built in
- Airtight dry box
- Big enough for a full day
Cons
- Too big for small or narrow boards
- Heavy once loaded with ice
Verdict
The one for fishing boards. Pair it with our best fishing paddle boards and rod holders.
Lunch and a few drinks
Thurso Surf SUP Cooler Deck Bag (10 can)
Thurso’s smaller deck cooler is a simpler, cheaper bag: water-resistant fabric and zipper, a thick insulated liner, a zippered mesh pocket on top and four hook-and-loop straps for D-rings. It also tucks under deck bungees.
Who it suits: solo paddlers on shorter trips, and anyone who just wants a cold drink and a sandwich on the water.
| Spec | Thurso 10-can deck cooler |
|---|---|
| Capacity | About 10 cans |
| Size | 14 × 12 × 4 in |
| Shell | Water-resistant fabric and zipper |
| Attachment | 4 hook-and-loop straps, fits under bungees |
| Price | Around $28–30 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Cheap
- Very low profile
- Handy top pocket for keys and sunscreen
Cons
- Less insulation and capacity than the 20-can version
- Water-resistant, not waterproof
Verdict
A good budget deck cooler for short sessions.
Welded seams and a watertight zipper
MORXPLOR Paddleboard Cooler Deck Bag
MORXPLOR’s 12-can deck cooler is built more like a dry bag than a lunch box: 500D PVC with electro-welded seams and handles, and a watertight zipper. MORXPLOR is clear that it’s waterproof from the outside but not leak-proof from the inside, so put ice in a bag or use ice packs. It has hooks for D-rings and bungees, a zippered mesh top pocket and a side handle.
Who it suits: paddlers who fall in a lot, ocean paddlers, and anyone who wants their sandwiches to stay dry as well as cold.
| Spec | MORXPLOR deck cooler |
|---|---|
| Capacity | About 12 cans |
| Size | 14.6 × 13 × 4.7 in |
| Shell | 500D PVC, welded seams |
| Zipper | Watertight |
| Attachment | Hooks for D-rings and bungees |
| Price | Around $30 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Welded, waterproof construction
- Low profile on deck
- Good owner ratings for the price
Cons
- Not leak-proof inside, so bag your ice
- Smaller than the Thurso 20-can
Verdict
The deck cooler to pick if keeping water out matters more than maximum capacity.
