Hydro Flask vs RTIC:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Hydro Flask had more branded searches than RTIC among backpack cooler brands worldwide. Hydro Flask had about 450,000 branded searches, while RTIC had 220,000. Hydro Flask made up 31.6% of all backpack cooler brand searches we track, and RTIC accounted for 15.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about backpack cooler brands, Hydro Flask appeared in four of the five answers and RTIC in three. Hydro Flask was mentioned before RTIC in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Hydro Flask, about 2 searches for every 1 for RTIC
Who does AI mention more?
Hydro Flask, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, RTIC in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Hydro Flask, named ahead of RTIC in 3 of 4 answers
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Top backpack cooler brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hydro Flask was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. RTIC was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Hydro Flask was listed before RTIC in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Hydro Flask4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
YETI4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
RTIC3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Igloo1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Columbia0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Coleman0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Corkcicle0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Pelican0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Carhartt0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about backpack cooler brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which backpack cooler brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best backpack cooler brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best backpack cooler brand for day trips?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best backpack cooler”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“insulated backpack cooler”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Hydro Flask or RTIC more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Hydro Flask and RTIC by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine backpack cooler brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Hydro Flask, RTIC. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Hydro Flask | Columbia | RTIC | Coleman | Igloo | Corkcicle | YETI | Pelican | Carhartt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 33.7% | 22.4% | 12.3% | 15.1% | 6% | 8.3% | 1.4% | 0.75% | 0.04% |
| Nov 2025 | 30% | 33.5% | 12.3% | 11% | 3.6% | 7.4% | 1.5% | 0.67% | 0.04% |
| Dec 2025 | 30.7% | 31.8% | 12.6% | 11.2% | 3.7% | 7.5% | 1.8% | 0.56% | 0.06% |
| Jan 2026 | 34% | 28.8% | 9.2% | 15.2% | 4.1% | 6.8% | 1.1% | 0.62% | 0.05% |
| Feb 2026 | 35% | 23.3% | 11.5% | 15.6% | 5.2% | 7% | 1.4% | 0.79% | 0.07% |
| Mar 2026 | 32.9% | 16.1% | 14.7% | 18% | 8.9% | 6.6% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.06% |
| Apr 2026 | 30.2% | 13.5% | 15.1% | 16.5% | 14.2% | 7.4% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.06% |
| May 2026 | 28% | 11.4% | 20.9% | 15.3% | 13.6% | 6.8% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 0.05% |
| Jun 2026 | 26.5% | 10% | 24.2% | 14.5% | 13.1% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 0.06% |
| Jul 2026 | 31.3% | 9.7% | 20.8% | 14% | 12.8% | 6.3% | 3.4% | 1.6% | 0.06% |
| Aug 2026 | 37.5% | 11.6% | 16.7% | 13.7% | 10.2% | 6.1% | 2.8% | 1.3% | 0.06% |
| Sep 2026 | 31.6% | 17.2% | 15.4% | 14.1% | 10.3% | 7.7% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 0.06% |
How has the Hydro Flask and RTIC comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Hydro Flask was ahead of RTIC in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hydro Flask’s share of searches among backpack cooler brands worldwide moved from 33.7% to 31.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 450K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RTIC’s share of searches among backpack cooler brands worldwide moved from 12.3% to 15.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 220K.
How did search popularity change for backpack cooler brands worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Columbia overtook RTIC and Coleman to rank 2nd among backpack cooler brands worldwide, with 17.2% of the searches.
In September 2026, Hydro Flask lost share of searches among backpack cooler brands worldwide, from 37.5% to 31.6%.
In September 2026, RTIC lost share of searches among backpack cooler brands worldwide, from 16.7% to 15.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hydro Flask’s and RTIC’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Hydro Flask
1 branded search term
- hydro flask
RTIC
2 branded search terms
- rtic
- rtic cooler
Other head-to-heads among backpack cooler brands
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