YETI Hopper BackFlip 24 Review
Cons: Shape is tippy, difficult to find bottom items, straps stiff, bottom corner uncomfortable to carry
Manufacturer: YETI
Our Verdict
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 This Product
YETI Hopper BackFlip 24 | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | | ||
| Price | $300 List Check Price on Amazon | $239.99 at Amazon | $249.98 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $110 List | $114.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Super durable, leakproof, optional waist belt and sternum strap | Very durable construction, excellent insulation, useful handles and features, comfortable shoulder strap | Extremely durable, easy to use, great insulation, tons of handles, convenient size | Soft cooler body, good pockets and features, comfortable shoulder strap | Durable design, comfortable to carry when full, good capacity, relatively inexpensive |
| Cons | Shape is tippy, difficult to find bottom items, straps stiff, bottom corner uncomfortable to carry | Zippered exterior pocket not waterproof, very large | Very expensive, no extra pockets, flips upside down easily | Exterior and zipper not waterproof | Learning curve for best use, not 100% leakproof, no extra pockets |
| Bottom Line | A beefy but awkward design that isn't our favorite backpack cooler | Our choice for best all around soft cooler | Sized for personal use, this option is a high-performer | A pleasant mixture of solid insulation, usable capacity, and simplicity of design | With a unique design and comfortable carry straps, we love it for long distances |
| Rating Categories | YETI Hopper BackFlip 24 | Engel HD30 | YETI Hopper Flip 12 | REI Co-op Cool Haul 18 | IceMule Pro |
| Insulation Value (30%) | |||||
| Ease Of Use (25%) | |||||
| Portability (25%) | |||||
| Durability (20%) | |||||
| Specs | YETI Hopper... | Engel HD30 | YETI Hopper Flip 12 | REI Co-op Cool... | IceMule Pro |
| Measured Capacity (qt) | 23 qt | 32 qt | 13 qt | 18 qt | 25 qt |
| Measured Capacity (cans with no ice) | 30 cans | 48 cans | 18 cans | 28 cans | 39 cans |
| Carry Style | Backpack | Messenger Bag | Lunchbox | Messenger Bag | Backpack |
| Internal Maximum Height (in) | 15" | 13" | 8" | 11" insert 12" lid |
17" fully closed 23" max |
| Fits Standard Wine Bottle Standing Upright? | Yes | Yes | No - will fit on side | Yes | Yes |
| Shelf Life of Food (Measured Hours Below 40ºF) | 50 hr | 98 hr | 82 hr | 58 hr | 40 hr |
| Days of Cold Beverages (Measured Hours Below 50ºF) | 54 hr | 103 hr | 92 hr | 61 hr | 48 hr |
| Measured Weight (lb) | 4.9 lb | 5.9 lb | 3.6 lb | 4.3 lb | 3.0 lb |
| Exterior Fabric | 840D double-sided thermoplastic urethane | Abrasion-resistant fabric | 840D double-sided thermoplastic urethane | Ripstop nylon, polyester shell | Mule SkinET 1000D ripstop tarpaulin/vinyl/nylon |
| Closure Method | Zippered flip top, watertight zip | Zippered top, watertight zip | Zippered flip top, watertight zip | Zippered flip top | Roll-top |
| Handles and Straps | Backpack straps, side handles, top handle, sternum strap | Shoulder strap, end handles, duffel handles | Shoulder strap, top handle, end handles | Shoulder strap, end carry handles | Backpack straps, sternum strap |
| Additional Storage | No; webbing attachment loops | Yes; 1 larger exterior zippered (meant to be waterproof but isn't) | No; webbing attachment loops | Yes; 2 slip exterior, 1 internal zip, webbing attachment loops | No; exterior shock cord panel |
| Removable Liner? | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Yeti BackFlip is a backpack cooler with a removable waist belt and sternum strap. It features a leakproof zipper and the Yeti HitchPoint grid to attach other accessories to it.
Performance Comparison
Insulation Value
With Yeti's signature closed-cell foam insulation between layers of waterproof material, the BackFlip is a moderately insulated cooler. In our torturous insulation testing, it held USDA food-safe temperatures of 40°F or less for 27 hours, which is far below the group average of 40 hours. However, it then lasted an additional full day holding below 50°F, achieving average optimal beer temperature (depending on type and preference, of course) for a full 51 hours. This lopsided performance is nowhere near some of the most impressive performers in this metric but isn't too shabby. And for a backpack cooler, which probably isn't being used for longer than a day or two anyway, it's pretty solid.
The zipper is leakproof as well, allowing you to lay it down without fear of water spilling out and helps it to keep that cold air in longer. However, if you spend a lot of time digging around to get to the bottom of the bag or taking things out and putting them back in repeatedly, this value may drop a bit more. Overall, it does a pretty solid job considering, though it isn't a knockout in this metric.
Ease of Use
This is one place where the BackFlip loses some points in our scoring. We like that the top opens completely to aid in loading and unloading - as long as it doesn't tip over first! It comes with a tube of zipper lubricant, which is a nice touch because it needs it. Yeti has also furnished this cooler with their Hitchpoint grid system, so you can attach all your favorite Yeti extras to the outside - or just a simple thing-on-a-carabiner. But all those extras add to the whopping overall price. On top of an already not-so-cheap cooler, and the BackFlip offers nothing extra to users - no side pockets or dry storage of any kind - where most other backpack coolers have at least a few basic extras. The inside shape of this cooler is also a bit annoying to use. It's also easy to knock over when digging through it. We think that when it comes to backpack coolers, this one is disappointingly devoid of handy features that can make or break the whole experience.
Portability
It's a backpack - yay for portability, right? Well, not so fast. Yes, it's a backpack, which helps to even out the weight across your shoulders. The optional hip belt and sternum strap help to make it slightly more comfortable. However, this is about where its convenience ends. The shoulder straps are rather stiff and have some rough edges that can be abrasive on the bare shoulders of summer. Perhaps most bothersome though, is the excessively cuboid features of this boxy bag. The back pad does a bit to make the stiff case slightly easier against your spine, but the bottom corner digs into wherever it sits on your body. And for most of our testers, it ends high enough that the webbing waistbelt isn't particularly useful for bearing weight, leaving it all to rest on your shoulders. The cooler isn't lightweight, either. It is just shy of five pounds by itself, let alone all the heavy liquid and ice you pack into it for your adventure.
It does have four additional handles around the bag for when it's not on your back - one on top, one on the back like a backpack hanging loop, and two on the sides for a two-handed pick-up. This seems to be the latest and greatest in Yeti soft coolers, helping you to grab your pack from any angle. It's helpful, but only marginally so on this backpack design.
Durability
As with the long list of Yeti products through the years, the BackFlip is built with the same intense design. The zipper is beefy and strong and can withstand all the necessary tugging you'll do, even with that zipper lubricant. Seams are welded and reinforced, and straps are thick and solidly attached. Their 840D double-sided thermoplastic urethane fabric that makes up the body of this cooler is seriously impressive. No matter how many rough granite boulders we slid this bag along or what pointed objects we dropped it on, it sustained no damage. Maybe a little dirt, but nothing that wasn't easily wiped off.
Value
Another long-time expectation we have from the line of Yeti products is a fairly high price point, and the BackFlip is no exception. While we love the idea of an awesome Yeti cooler being reimagined into a super-portable backpack, we aren't impressed with what the BackFlip delivers. We think it's lacking usability and comfort features that would warrant paying a high price for something that lasts a long time. Hopefully, newer versions of this cooler will help correct what we think are design flaws, but for now, we're not sure this one is worth the dough.
Conclusion
The Yeti Hopper BackFlip 24 is a beefy backpack cooler that isn't quite there when it comes to the actual user experience. It lacks the features and niceties to make it a comfortable, easy-to-wear backpack.
— Maggie Brandenburg