Cedric McMillan, an award-winning pro bodybuilder, died of a heart attack at the age of 44.
“McMillan, a husband and father of three, was an Army veteran and also a member of the South Carolina National Guard, who were notified of his death. He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class in July 2021.” – The Daily Mail reported.
McMillan reportedly suffered from heart issues caused by ‘long Covid’ and dropped dead of a heart attack while he was on a treadmill.
The 2017 Arnold Classic champion pro bodybuilder Cedric McMillan has passed away at 44 years old – close sources to Generation Iron and family members have confirmed. The tragic news comes shortly after McMillan was very open about his past heart issues and near death experience in 2021.
Though the details have not been confirmed, sources state that Cedric McMillan suffered a heart attack while on the treadmill. The pro bodybuilder had been delaying his return to competitive bodybuilding due to his health issues – but was very optimistic about being able to return to the stage at some point in 2022.
Cedric McMillan was able to follow through on his childhood dreams when he went Pro in 2009 after winning the NPC Nationals. McMillan went on to win the 2011 Orlando Show of Champions then was victorious at the 2012 New York Pro. 2017 proved to be a great year for McMillan. He went on to win the 2017 Arnold Classic and become a top contender in the Men’s Open division.
Generation Iron made a tribute to Cedric McMillan.
The man who caught the Brooklyn Subway shooter speaks out.
Zack Tahhan spoke out this afternoon. The Huffington Post reported:
Tahhan, a 21-year-old security camera installer in Manhattan who is originally from Syria, was credited with the capture of Frank R. James, a 62-year-old suspected of unleashing two smoke canisters in a subway car before opening fire with a gun and striking 10 people during Tuesday’s morning commute.
James, who was allegedly wearing a gas mask and a construction vest, fled the scene after the attack near Sunset Park and remained missing throughout Wednesday. That is, until an eagle-eyed observation by Tahhan…
…Tahhan said in video captured by witness Samantha Zirkin recounting his actions. “I was working inside the store, security cameras inside, and I see the guy from the cameras and I say, ‘Oh shit, this guy! Let me call the police.’ So I call them and we catch him!”
Here is some on the scene never before seen video of Tahhan explaining his situation and what he did:
Tahhan, who caught the Brooklyn Subway shooter shared that he lived in New Jersey. This ‘interview’ with the media was filmed on the streets of New York. The man’s last name is Tahhan. He said he was 21 years old.
The media surrounded the man and cheered. The man said, “We have to. If I don’t want to do that, who’s gonna do it?”
Joe Biden’s latest approval numbers are a COMPLETE DISASTER for the Marxist Democrats and their lackeys in Big Tech and the fake news mainstream media.
With their open borders, millions of illegals flooding the country, massive, record inflation, complete lawlessness in the Democrat-run cities, and the collapse of fake news media, the Biden regime and Democrats are in deep, deep trouble.
Just 33% of Americans now approve of Joe Biden’s job performance according to Quinnipiac Polling, an organization that is typically a cheerleader for Democrats. It must be really, really bad.
All the lies from Jen Psaki aren’t going to make this pig fly.
President Biden’s approval rating has reached the lowest level of his presidency, with a new poll showing only a third of Americans approve of his job performance.
Just 33% of Americans approve of Biden’s job performance compared to 54% who disapprove, according to the results of a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday. That mark ties the lowest approval Biden has received in the poll during his precedency, matching the number set in January when the president faced a 33-53 approval deficit.
Biden’s approval numbers are slightly among registered voters, with 35% saying they approve of the president’s job performance compared to 55% who disapprove.
This guy is so awful. The same GOP leader who refused to do anything for Trump or his voters is now lecturing on acceptable candidates.
In a recent interview, Mitch McConnell warned GOP voters about supporting unacceptable US Senate candidates in the 2022 election.
McConnell has been the worst Senate leader in US history. The Marxists are destroying the country and this guy is trying to fill the senate with more losers like Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski.
Those of you who have walked the deep political weeds with us, will remember the battles against McConnell’s uniparty wing in the 2010, 2012 and 2014 races. This is where McConnell and McCain famously called the base of the GOP “whack-o-birds” and “jihobbits” for supporting unsanctioned Senate candidates like Scott Brown, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, Tom Cotton, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and more.
(KENTUCKY) – […] McConnell, speaking at a chamber event in Kentucky, said that 1994 had been the best year for Republicans and that the atmosphere heading into November “is better than it was in 1994.”
“From an atmospheric point of view, it’s a perfect storm of problems for the Democrats,” McConnell said. “How could you screw this up? It’s actually possible. And we’ve had some experience with that in the past.”
“In the Senate, if you look at where we have to compete in order to get into a majority, there are places that are competitive in the general election. So you can’t nominate somebody who’s just sort of unacceptable to a broader group of people and win. We had that experience in 2010 and 2012,” McConnell added. (read more)
As you recall, Mitch McConnell was recently accused of being linked to the disgusting attack against Missouri Governor Eric Greitens in the Missouri Senate race.
His press secretary Jen Psaki was forced to play clean-up again today. Psaki told the far-left White House gaggle on Wednesday that Joe Biden still thinks it’s genocide but will not be sending troops into Ukraine to rescue the genocide victims.
However, Joe Biden did authorize $800 million in weapons, ammunition, and other security assistance to Ukraine today.
A soft cooler is a lightweight, easy-to-transport solution for preserving fare on road trips, boats, campouts, trailheads, and park picnics. Here are our favorite iceboxes for the outdoors and adventure.
We’ll always have a spot in our gear closet for a hard cooler, but soft coolers have proven an equal utility. These designs weigh less and are easy for one person to grab and quickly transport from the deck to the truck bed.
There’s a broad range of sizes and softness — some of these designs are actually very rigid, stout, and stackable. Others are fully collapsible and pliable, and we celebrate the space-saving option for storage.
For day-long roams, weekend adventures, road trips, or running errands, these soft coolers kept our provisions chilled and fit the bill. For more information about soft coolers, check out our buyer’s guide and FAQ at the end of this article. Otherwise, scroll through to see all of our recommended buys or jump to the category you’re looking for:
The OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler ($250) bummed us out at first because it lacks a comfortable handle on the lid like its smaller discontinued version. But it aptly redeemed itself as hardy, dependable, and easy to operate.
We took this cooler on a two-person, 3,400-mile road trip from Colorado to Washington for ski mountaineering followed by ocean surfing. Then we linked up river surf spots through Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, camping along the way.
The cooler was hauled in and out of the open truck bed countless times, faced torrential downpours, withstood sunshine, didn’t collapse under other stacked gear, and sat in mud at camp. The cooler didn’t take up too much space in the backseat, either. When posted up, we used the cooler for day trips. But on the road, we packed it full of beverages and snacks.
This cooler’s size, shape, and rigidity are convenient. The wide opening is great for quick, easy access. The leakproof seal prevented melted ice from dripping out, and no rain seeped inside during storms.
The flat backside wall alleviates bounce when we’re using the shoulder strap. We appreciate the water-resistant exterior pocket, which is easy to open and close. We miss the top handle, but the two side grab handles are robust and ergonomic.
We were surprised how well the cooler retained ice despite being out in the elements, due to the premium thermal insulation. The heavy-duty base also increased the chill factor while stabilizing the cooler during transport and beneath items. The staunch base also allowed us to set the cooler on variable ground and was easy to clean.
According to our ice retention test, this cooler is capable of holding ice for up to 78 hours, which is what the brand claims. To put the size in perspective, this cooler could fit 28 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 14.3″ x 17.5″ x 10.25″
Capacity: 19 L
Weight: 3,175 g (6.5 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~3+ days
Pros:
Durable cooler in sunshine or downpour
Leakproof lid
Easy to transport
Retains ice well
Cons:
We’d like a streamlined top-of-lid handle like on the discontinued smaller version
Closing the lid’s clasp requires attention to make sure it’s fully clamped
We took the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler ($350) on a Southwest Colorado road trip to Hardrock 100 to race volunteer and car camp. We also used the cooler for picnics at the park.
The shoulder strap is really comfortable to slide over the shoulder, doesn’t slip around, and holds the cooler close to your side to prevent bounce. The exterior high-density fabric shell feels tough and is resistant to punctures as well as mildew. It’s a bonus that it doesn’t sweat like a few of the other soft coolers.
We were blown away by the power of the HydroShield closure, which uses magnets to create a leak-resistant seal along the top. No water can exit the tote. When the cooler is open, the mouth is wide.
We also give kudos to the closed-cell foam insulation of the tote. For the ice retention test, the cubes melted after 4 days. Inevitably, we had to be strategic with how we packed things, due to the tall, slim shape. This cute cooler could fit 20 12-ounce cans.
We have two critiques. There are two buckles that snap across the magnetic closure, and we wish those were more adjustable and easier to operate. If the cooler is really packed to the brim, we can’t close them.
And we’d love to see YETI upgrade the cooler with an attachment system that keeps the magnetic closure open when you’re loading the cooler. As is, the closure slams shut unless you have two hands on — but then you can’t grab your foodstuff.
The powerful closure is also an issue for cleaning the cooler and letting the inside dry and air out. The only thing we could find that would keep the cooler open was a 5-pound water jug, and two people were needed to get it inside the cooler.
Specs:
Size: 25″ x 12″ x 17.5″
Capacity: 30 L
Weight: 3,175 g (7 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~4 days
Pros:
Magnet closure is leakproof
Extremely robust material
Sturdy base and ability to sit upright
Large volume
Cons:
Magnet closure needs latch system to be propped open — it slams shut
The Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Bucket Tote ($53) is a great budget cooler that keeps our ice cold for long durations. A trio took the cooler fly fishing on Colorado’s Gunnison River, carrying along water and various canned beverages. The temps that day hovered around 80 degrees.
Despite being left in the car for a full day following the river outing, the cooler still had ice and felt cold. That well-founded retention is thanks to the brand’s blend of proprietary insulation, interior radiant barrier, and thick base made of three layers of SuperFoam. We also found the water- and stain-resistant exterior very durable. The inside was easier to wipe clean.
The shape and weight feel easy to move around, and the handles are comfortable. We appreciate all of the pockets to help us keep odds and ends organized. There are two zippered pockets, including one that fits a phone, and two huge, broad mesh pockets.
According to our ice retention test, this cooler is capable of holding ice for up to 70 hours. This cooler could fit two dozen 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 15″ x 10″ x 13.5″
Capacity: 33 L
Weight: 816 g (1.8 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~3 days
Pros:
Great ice retention
Two over-the-shoulder straps Velcro together plus a removable longer shoulder strap
One of our favorite products was theSnow Peak Soft Cooler ($170). Even given its large size, it was still very comfortable to transport, due to the soft, malleable walls. With the simple, wide handles Velcroed together, we could sling the cooler over our shoulders when it was fully loaded.
A hard cooler this size would require two hands to move. The flexible walls allow us to flatten and fold the cooler for easy storage, saving us space in a tight apartment.
The exterior is made of synthetic plastic and nylon, so it’s not resilient for a rugged whitewater trip but is suitable for basecamp. There’s ample space to carry multiple meals for several people. The insulated walls have an interior aluminum coat that helps trap cold air, and the ice retention is adequate for single- and 2-day adventures.
The coolerdid well on a weekend road trip to climb Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains and camp out, but wouldn’t be able to retain ice for long durations. Our ice retention test corroborated that experience, showing the cooler is capable of holding ice for nearly 2.5 days.
Specs:
Size: 19″ x 12.5″ x 12.5″
Capacity: 38 L
Weight: 1,724 g (3.8 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~2.5 days
Pros:
Large capacity
Supple and easy to carry
Cons:
The lid’s zipper is not waterproof
A bit overpriced for the low ice retention but worth the cost for collapsibility
The Mountainsmith Takeout ($25) accompanied us on a standup paddleboard session down Colorado’s Slate River, a mellow run sans whitewater. This cute cooler carried and chilled several cans of microbrews and several sparkling waters. We also used it day to day on drives to bring along lunch, snacks, and beverages.
The design is super lightweight and felt comfortable to carry around. It was easy to sling over our shoulders with the removable strap. The material dried surprisingly fast after it wetted while paddling. This design is too small for an all-day adventure, but for a lunchbox or outing, it’s great. And the wide shape allows easy access to the grub inside the cooler.
According to the ice retention test, this cooler can retain ice for 21 hours. To put the size in perspective, this cute cooler could fit six 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 8″ x 9″ x 6″
Capacity: 7 L
Weight: 363 g (0.8 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~21 hours
Pros:
Two tote straps comfortably slide over the shoulder
Interior zippered mesh pocket in lid for utensils
Zippers are substantial
Cons:
Exterior pocket is great for a phone but lacks zipper for security
The Hielo($100) is among Cotopaxi’s (Re)Purpose Collection, so each bag is constructed with leftover high-quality nylon and polyester fabric from other companies’ manufacturing runs, saving those scraps from going to the landfill.
At the brand’s partner factory in the Philippines, the designers and sewers choose mixed-and-matched fabric for each pack. No two coolers bags are the same — each one is creatively unique.
What is the same: Each pack features a roll-top closure that’s secured with a buckle. The interior liner is waterproof and the foam insulation, which is likewise repurposed, keeps the goods chilled. And there’s a water bottle pocket (up to 3 inches in diameter) on the side.
For grab-and-go, there’s a handle on the back and a carry tote-style strap. For scale, the bag can carry up to a dozen 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 18″ x 14″ x 5.5″
Capacity: 12 L
Weight: 708 g (1.6 lbs.)
Ice retention test: Unavailable
Pros:
Saves throwaway scraps from the landfill
Each cooler bag is one-of-a-kind
The design process empowers employees behind each cooler pack
Cons:
The zippers, zipper pulls, buckles, and thread are tailored to each bag — so you’re not totally sure what to expect
If you have limited storage space, consider the REI Co-op Pack-Away Soft Cooler ($50). This origami-inspired design collapses and folds flat when it’s not a cube or a tote. When transformed into a box or bag shape, the cooler is light, nimble, and malleable. No other cooler would’ve fit into the awkward floor space behind our seats.
We loaded the Pack-Away into our jeep for navigating Colorado’s high-altitude Alpine Loop, a 65-mile route that circumnavigates old mining roads through the San Juan Mountains. The cooler held lunch meats, cheese, veggies, dark chocolate, and seltzer waters.
The eco-friendlier design features a recycled polyester upper and recycled nylon bottom, plus it’s Bluesign-approved, which we appreciate.
Overall, we found the Pack-Away durable, given it’s made with a tough polyester shell and abrasion-resistant nylon bottom. It also had decent ice retention. The size and insulation are ideal for a single day out. According to the ice retention test, this cooler can retain ice for 57 hours and fit 24 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 10″ x 11″ x 15″
Capacity: 32 L
Weight: 680 g (1.5 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~2+ days
Pros:
Daisy chains and spacious external pocket with a zipper
Transforms into a tote, cube, and flat for storage
Lightweight
Cons:
Can’t stack any items on top of this soft cooler
Tote is wobbly and doesn’t dependably stand upright
We used the Orca Walker Cooler ($250) for tailgating at trailheads after hikes and park BBQs. Ultimately, this is an excellent cooler for single-day adventures. Our team was most impressed by the 840-denier textile exterior, which is tough and doesn’t get banged up.
The insulation is a metal-coated plastic blend, which did a solid job of preserving the ice and goods. We loved the soft interior liner and the waterproof zipper that prevents any leaks from the top.
The two side handles aren’t the most comfortable to grab, and we wish they weren’t adjacent to the shoulder straps’ attachment points. The center magnetic handle is smooth and nice to grab. But when the handgrip is detached into two separate pieces, they’re not comfortable to grasp.
According to our ice retention test, the Walker is capable of holding ice for up to 70 hours. This cooler could fit 20 12-ounce cans.
We also tested the Orca Walker Tote ($200), which is equally well-made but in a slightly different style. It also retained ice for nearly 28 hours. Check out the full review.
Specs:
Size: 14.5″ x 11″ x 13.25″
Capacity: 33 L
Weight: 1,633 g (3.6 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~3 days
Pros:
Cooler won’t leak through waterproof top zipper or seams
Small stretch exterior pocket
Bungee cords to hold down items
Cons:
Magnetic split handle is not comfortable to grab when divided as two straps
The Hydro Flask Day Escape Soft Tote Cooler ($150) is a streamlined, lightweight, and durable design. We used this cooler for park BBQs and love how comfortable it was to slip over our shoulders and carry.
The exterior is made of a 600-denier polyester shell that’s waterproof. The zipper is completely watertight with welded seams, so leaking isn’t on the menu. We noticed the zipper is hard to pull one-handed, and we typically need to counter-pull the side handles to open or close it.
We were surprised to see the cooler’s exterior sweat quite a bit during the ice retention test. The ice melted at a faster rate compared to other coolers, lasting for about 60 hours, but well above the brand’s 36-hour stamp. This cooler could fit 24 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 12.2″ x 20.5″ x 7.8″
Capacity: 18 L
Weight: 1,134 g (2.5 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~2.5 days
Pros:
Tote straps comfortably slide over the shoulder
Waterproof zipper
Cooler is completely leakproof
Cons:
Exterior pocket is great for a phone but lacks zipper for security
The Mountainsmith Sixer($35) was a great cooler for lunch on the go. Our tester, a Colorado-based electrician and mountain biker, packed it with a canned drink, sandwich, fruit, and chocolate. The cooler’s shape and size were easy to fit in a messy work truck.
Inside and out, the cooler is easy to clean. It seems durable, and we like the vintage look. The haul handle is ergonomically sound and comfortable to grab. However, our ice melted fast on hot days, and with minimal room in the cooler, the food can get wet. But, the seamless liner did hold the water and showed no sign of leaks.
According to the ice retention test, this cooler can preserve ice for 25 hours. This cooler could fit one dozen 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 11″ x 11″ x 6″
Capacity: 12 L
Weight: 499 g (1.1 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~25 hours
Pros:
Two tote straps comfortably slide over the shoulder
Great for park concerts
Zippered interior mesh pocket inside cooler lid for utensils
Two flat pockets on cooler’s side but not very spacious
Cons:
We’d like the lightweight removable shoulder strap to be burlier
TheIgloo Pursuit Tote ($120) preserved our bubbly water, hummus, pepperoni, peppers, and arugula while car camping and crewing the Hardrock 100. It was easy to carry around from the van to the hotel porch. We most appreciated the lightweight design and malleable fabric.
We could stuff lots of goods inside or squish down the cooler for storage. The slender shape doesn’t bounce around and feels smooth to carry over the shoulder.
We really like the exterior front zipper pocket. But we wish the side mesh water bottle pockets were hardy like the rest of the cooler — they felt flimsy and easily snagged. Also, we loved that the top entry opened wide and had a two-way zipper, but the wide rim made drying out the cooler a challenge.
Ultimately, due to the ice retention, this tote is a solid option for errands and small trips but be sure to cool the bag before use. According to the ice retention test, this cooler can retain ice for 40 hours. It can fit 30 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 22.4″ x 3.7″ x 15.7″
Capacity: 21 L
Weight: 907 g (2 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~1.5 days
Pros:
Two tote straps comfortably slide over the shoulder
Padded removable shoulder strap
Cons:
Ice melts fast in a hot vehicle or sunny conditions
Top zipper is not waterproof and can leak
Fair amount of condensation appeared on cooler’s exterior
Our team loudly applauded the REI Co-op Cool Haul Soft Cooler ($100), which was a dependable tool for whitewater rafting Colorado’s Gunnison River, car camping, and crewing the Hardrock 100. We found the size good for a duo.
The cooler’s exterior is made with stout ripstop nylon that easily wipes down. Inside, the insulated polyester liner is durable and removable. It’s super easy to pull out and clean.
While adventuring, this cooler did a noteworthy job of preserving ice in sunny conditions and exceeded the capabilities of other coolers we tested. The seams are sealed to prevent leaks. A two-way zipper provides easy top access, and the cube shape nicely slides into tight spaces on a boat or in the truck bed.
According to our ice retention test, the REI Co-op Haul is capable of holding ice for up to 60 hours. To put the size in perspective, this cooler could fit one dozen 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 14″ x 11″ x 11″
Capacity: 15 L
Weight: 1,415 g (3.12 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~2.5 days
Pros:
Daisy chain webbing and bottle opener included
Interior zippered pocket inside lid keeps food items above ice
Strong, smooth side and top handles
Helpful cooling tips are listed inside the pack’s lid
Cons:
The cube shape bounces off your back when using the shoulder strap
Top zipper is not waterproof, so watch for leaks
Exterior front pocket lacks zipper to secure items
In an uncommon and fun shape, the 5-gallon KULA Softy Cooler ($240) is round with a zipper and construction that’s still bomber. Regardless of the playful look, the exterior is heavy-duty. The cooler is still relatively light to carry around, too.
The smaller option is 2.5 gallons, which is better suited for one or two people on a day outing or for a more compact vessel like a SUP.
Based on reviews, the ice retention worked well even while road tripping in Texas, in 90-degree heat, while offshore fishing, and in Florida’s hot and humid conditions boating all day long — the ice was even reusable the following day.
Specs:
Size: 15.25″ x 14.5″
Capacity: 18 L
Weight: 2,041 g (4.5 lbs.)
Ice retention test: Unavailable
Pros:
Ample daisy chain attachment points
Stylish
Cons:
Doesn’t fill or fit in angular corners
The zipper can be tough to pull, so use the included lubricant
Some folks wish the cooler was 1 inch taller so it could fit a bottle of wine
We wanted the team — and especially our anglers — to love the unique Hobie Soft Cooler Fish Bag ($125), but the design let us down in more ways than one.
On the positive side, the cooler is conveniently shaped to fit inside the bow recess of a boat. We took this cooler out boating, fishing, and standup paddleboarding at Taylor Reservoir in the Elk Mountains of Colorado.
The materials are high-quality with closed-cell foam insulation, a vinyl-coated polyester exterior, and snazzy YKK zippers. We liked the two muscular handles. But without a shoulder strap, it wasn’t ideal to transport the Hobie Cooler more than short distances.
Unfortunately, the seams leaked water all over the rig before we even got to the water’s edge and then drained within only a couple of hours of use. We saw the same results during our ice retention test — on a wood floor.
Our other grievance is the zipper only goes around halfway, stopping at an awkward spot that limits access and ability to clean the inside of the cooler. Plus, the zipper isn’t waterproof. So, when you grab one of the two handles to carry the cooler, it leaks all over the place.
Ultimately, the ice retention is not as dependable as other coolers, in part because the cold water all drains out. According to our ice retention test, this cooler is able to hold ice for nearly 45 hours.
Specs:
Size: 18″ x 16″ x 8″
Capacity: 19 L
Weight: 2,721 g (6 lbs.)
Ice retention test: ~1.5 days
Pros:
Slim design fits well on or in a boat
Bungee cords to hold down items
Cons:
Seams leak
Zipper doesn’t go all the way around so access is awkward
Lacks attachments points for whitewater travel
Needs a removable shoulder strap to conveniently carry to and from water
Bungee cords are at each corner — not D-rings — for tiedown points
We took the aesthetic Fishpond Blizzard Soft Cooler ($100) out fly fishing with two anglers. The compact cooler was full of brews, sparkling water, and lunch food. We really liked the touch of the side rope handles — they’re smooth, tough, and easy to grab and hold.
We also appreciate the two broad pockets on each side. One has a zip closure for security, and the other latches via Velcro.
The lid has a small pop-up Velcro door to provide easy access when the cooler is zipped shut. We wish that small entrance was a tiny bit bigger. It’d also be great to see the door and lid closures upgraded so they don’t leak.
The cooler’s multilayer insulation didn’t keep the ice very well, and the waxed canvas is stylish and soft but soaks up water and gets heavy. According to our ice retention test, this cooler is capable of holding ice for close to 45 hours. It could fit one dozen 12-ounce cans.
Specs:
Size: 11.5″ x 9″ x 10″
Capacity: 17 L
Weight: Unavailable
Ice retention test: ~1.5 days
Pros:
YKK zippers
Comfortable padded, removable shoulder strap
Small Velcro lid allows easy access when cooler’s lid is shut
Choose a soft cooler based on the storage capacity and type of support you need for the load. A super malleable product like the Snow Peak Soft Cooler might not be the best for carrying dozens of heavy cans compared to a more rigid design like the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler.
The larger the group, the more cargo space you’ll need. The soft coolers in our guide range from the Mountainsmith Takeout, which can fit six cans, to the 38L Snow Peak Soft Cooler. Most of our choice soft coolers are either larger — 30 L to 38 L — for group multiday trips or more compact, ranging from 12 L to 19 L.
Compartments & Pockets
Most soft coolers are simple with a central insulated compartment for food and beverages. A handful have an interior zippered compartment inside the lid.
Various exterior pockets are available on some designs, including streamlined fabric and mesh pockets with no closure or bungee straps. Other coolers have external pockets with a Velcro latch, zipper, or waterproof zipper for security.
Weight
The weights of soft coolers are typically reflected by their size and capacity. The smallest design in our guide is the Mountainsmith Takeout, which weighs less than a pound. The heaviest soft cooler is the 7-pound YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler, which has a 30L capacity and the best ice retention.
Even the heaviest soft cooler in our guide is lighter than a hard cooler. For comparison, the YETI Tundra 45 Cooler weighs 23 pounds, and the RovR Products RollR 45 weighs more than 37 pounds.
Testing soft coolers; (photo/Eric Phillips)
Shape
Soft cooler totes are long, slender, and streamlined against your side. They’re comfortable to carry over a shoulder. However, taller coolers get trickier with access to buried items, so you have to be mindful when packing the cooler.
Soft coolers that are wider or more bucket-style are easier to access, as far as finding a specific item. But, they can feel more cumbersome to carry over a shoulder. Coolers like the OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler with a broad, flat surface that rests against you can help absorb that swing and bounce.
Boxier coolers can be easier to stack — as long as the walls and base are rigid — while sleeker coolers can more likely slip behind a seat in your car. Shorter, more compact coolers are easier to fit in tight spaces on a boat.
Materials
A soft cooler’s materials include the exterior, insulation, interior liner, and handles. A range of top closures exist. The most common are waterproof and leakproof zippers or non-waterproof and leakproof zippers.
We pay attention to that variable to know if a cooler needs to always be upright. Some unique closures include the powerful magnetic seam of the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler and clasp of the OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler, which don’t allow leaks. Welded seams also help prevent leaks.
Soft coolers may have shoulder straps — which are typically removable — buckles, attachment points, and interior or exterior pockets. Some pockets have durable, waterproof zipper closures, but many are not weather-resistant or secured with a closure.
The quality of materials influences the waterproofness, durability, insulation value, and whether or not the face fabric produces condensation. The materials also determine the comfort, breathability, support, and overall cost.
Straps & Handles
Handles and straps are constructed with a variety of materials. Some are more ergonomic, comfortable, and durable than others.
Most soft coolers have side or top handles, two straps that swing up to secure together above the cooler, or a removable shoulder strap. A bunch of designs have a combination of handles and straps, too.
We completed our ice retention test with controlled variables. Each soft cooler was stationed indoors around 65 degrees, shaded, and filled with the same ratio and type of ice.
For a variety of conditions, the soft coolers in this guide provide enough cooling power to serve a range of recreation needs.
When you use a cooler outside, many factors influence a pack’s ice retention, including frequency of opening the cooler, direct sunlight, and ambient temperature. For instance, the REI Co-op Cool Haul Soft Cooler preserved ice for 60 hours during our test but only for 18 hours during one toasty car camp trip.
Additional features on soft coolers include hard clip points, daisy chains, webbing straps, and bungee cords for carrying extra gear. Some packs also include a reflective logo or bottle opener.
Many soft coolers do not have tiedown points, which would be a good feature for river or motorcycle trips.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our team has developed cooler guides for several years, objectively testing dozens of soft, hard, and backpack coolers in the field from whitewater raft trips to fly fishing adventures. For this soft coolers guide, we examined the most popular, highly acclaimed, and bestselling products with diverse capacities, ice retention ability, and price spectrum.
Our crew took these coolers through a myriad of conditions from summertime park BBQs to camping in Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains and road-tripping to ski mountaineer in the Pacific Northwest.
We also performed a controlled in-house ice retention test to verify brand claims. For the experiment, we filled each precooled cooler approximately 70% with fresh, frozen cubed ice and set them in a shaded, dry indoor space at a steady average of 65 degrees.
We periodically checked, making notes regarding melt rate, condensation, and leaks. Each reported time is based on when 100% of the ice is converted to water.
This data provides a benchmark. But when traveling outdoors, these controlled variables disappear and the ice will likely melt faster.
(Photo/Eric Phillips)
FAQ
Are Hard or Soft Coolers Better?
There’s utility for both designs. Hard coolers are more durable and stout and have a larger size range, given they can hold more weight without collapsing. Hard coolers can also preserve ice for longer durations. If you’re going on a weeklong car camping trip with limited access to ice, it’s advantageous to have a hard cooler for fresh food.
On the other hand, a soft cooler is a preferred choice for being lightweight, easy to carry — especially for one person — and simple to transport. The compact sizes are great for picnics, day trips, overnight camping, and grocery shopping. Another benefit is some soft coolers are collapsible, so they occupy less space in storage than a hard cooler.
For road trips, you can separate daytime beverages and snacks into a soft cooler, which limits opening of the hard cooler and preserves ice.
Do Soft Coolers Leak?
If the cooler’s seams are not welded and leakproof, they can leak. Soft coolers can also leak through the lid closure if the zipper isn’t waterproof or the clasp isn’t leakproof.
How Effective Are Soft Coolers at Retaining Ice?
Some soft coolers are superior at ice retention, which is generally reflected in the price tag but not always. Some pricier coolers offer adequate ice retention mixed with other qualities like durability and capacity.
In our side-by-side ice retention test, the soft cooler that retained ice the longest was the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Coolerat a whopping 98 hours. The next chilliest soft coolers were the OtterBox Trooper 20 Cooler, which reached 78 hours.
In daily adventures, melt speed slightly fluctuates based on the frequency of opening the cooler, how long it’s open, ambient heat, and direct sunlight. A bunch of other variables influence ice retention too, including the type and quantity of ice, extra space in the compartment (which decreases effectiveness), and if the cooler was prechilled.
Can You Put Dry Ice in a Soft Cooler?
For most soft coolers, dry ice will burn the interior materials. Instead, you should use freshly frozen cubed ice, ice blocks, or reusable ice packs.
How Can I Make My Soft Cooler Stay Colder, Longer?
For the longest-lasting ice retention and cooling capability, aim to use a 2:1 ratio of ice to contents. You can quickly prechill your cooler with a sacrificial bag of ice a few hours before loading it up, especially if the cooler was stored in a hot place. Or, bring the cooler inside a cool room to lower the temperature the night before use.
The type of ice makes a difference. Block ice and fresh cubed ice from freezers are denser than chipped ice or crushed ice from ice machines. If you get super strategic, you can use a mix of block ice — which melts slowly — and cubed ice — which cools down the container quickly.
As the ice melts, it’s ideal to retain the ice water, which helps the other ice stay cold. Limit your access to the cooler because opening it up releases the cold air.
Keep your cooler in the shade to prolong that low temperature. If you’re under direct sun, toss a towel or blanket over the cooler to help alleviate a heat spike.
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All major retailers have begun rationing baby formula in light of the supply chain destruction we have been warning about for over a year. This is only the beginning. More rationing of more foods will likely happen before the year is up.
In March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning to consumers, urging them to be aware of certain products branded Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare that have been recalled, according to a report by The Guardian.As a result of the recall, approximately 30% of popular baby formula brands may be sold out across the nation, according to an analysis by Datasembly, which assessed supplies in over 11,000 stores.
According to Ben Reich, CEO of Datasembly, the baby formula shortage is at a higher level than any other product. “Inflation, supply chain shortages, and product recalls have brought an unprecedented amount of volatility to the category, and we expect to continue to see baby formula as one of the most affected categories in the market,” he told USA Today.
Baby formula is only the first of many “rationings” we will experience. David Dubyne of Adapt 2030 details the problems we are all experiencing with the supply chain.
The powers that should not be are coming for our health and wealth. They want it all including complete control over us. It’s time to stockpile or hoard food. If things are really in such a short supply and the Chinese lockdowns continue to devastate the food supply, we should be getting what we can.
Yet Dubyne says this “rationing” is being done for another reason. It’s stoking the fears, that the rulers use to control us.
No one is hunting tonight. But still, many of the folks standing around the parking lot are wearing camouflage, maybe as a point of identity, or maybe as a statement of hope. These are the unlucky souls who didn’t draw a reservation to hunt one of central California’s most popular public duck hunting refuges. Now they must wait in line for one more chance to draw a spot as traffic races by on Interstate 80, connecting Sacramento with San Francisco.
Brendan Hinkle, Tim Owsley, and Owsley’s 7-year-old son Timber shuffle to the front. Hinkle has already spent $500 on lotteries for duck hunting reservations this season. This last-ditch try must be made in person, which means a 30-to-45-minute drive for the men. With their names on the list, they head home along with everyone else, each person to run through the same morning itinerary: Wake up early, make the drive through the dark and the fog, hopefully get picked for a spot, and then, maybe, shoot a duck or two.
That’s public-land duck hunting in California. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s also one more straw on the increasingly bowed back of California’s hunting scene.
The list of obstacles looming before Golden State hunters reads like a doomsday letter: Megafires close millions of acres of forest during deer season and consume precious quail habitat; urban sprawl eats up increasingly large sections of wild land; drought turns reservoirs to puddles and puddles to cracked earth; duck populations struggle and deer numbers plummet; predator populations expand; ammunition becomes harder to find and much more complicated to purchase; and the possibility of a ballot initiative banning hunting lingers in a state with 63 percent fewer hunters than it had 50 years ago.
Ask any hunter in California if hunting in the state could ever cease to exist, and you’ll hear answers ranging from “Yes, absolutely” to “Not a chance.”
California still has plenty of hunters—about 286,300—but the state also has 40 million people, which means that fewer than 1 percent of Californians hunt, just about the lowest per-capita number of any state in the Union.
Finally at the front of the line, hopeful waterfowl hunters get their chance to draw a number for tomorrow morning’s hunt. Tom Fowlks
Holly Heyser, a diehard duck hunter and former communications director for the California Waterfowl Association, doesn’t think the state will ban hunting in her lifetime. But, she adds, “Do I see them chipping away at it? Yes.”
“There’s a feeling every time you turn around of being punched in the face by something,” Heyser says.
Already hunters and anglers fund only about a quarter of the state’s fish and wildlife management budget. Who pays for habitat and wildlife conservation if those numbers drop even more? No one knows for sure.
Drought, Fire, and Habitat Loss
About 50 miles north of that public refuge in Sacramento, pintails fly over our private-land blind, their thin, narrow tail feathers silhouetted in the gray light of early morning. But as far as hunting experiences go, we’re in a different universe from those hunters waiting in the parking lot.
First a few pintails come in, gliding down to landowner Larry Gury’s calls and decoys and then banking away. Then they arrive in waves, mixed with wigeons, mallards, specklebelly geese, and snow geese. I shoot, dropping my first and only pintail of the day (there’s a one-pintail limit). Then I drop a wigeon over the decoys. Then we wait for any duck that’s not a pintail.
“They start stacking up every year in about mid-September … and then it seems like with the first rain they start dispersing throughout the valley,” Gury says. “This year, there are so many more here because there’s no water up at Lower Klamath and Tule Lake in the valley. We have quite a crisis with the mallard population because of the Klamath situation, and I hold a lot of them too.”
And by “here,” Gury literally means here, on his 400 acres of wetland and the surrounding wildlife habitat areas where he helps pay to pump groundwater in an increasingly dry Pacific Flyway.
A swarm of waterfowl flies over Closed Zone Farms north of Sacramento. Tom Fowlks
Through our morning hunt, Gury doesn’t shoot much. He’s killed plenty of ducks since he started chasing them as a college kid in Sacramento. He didn’t have money or access to fancy duck clubs back then, but it was fun, and he was hooked. Now he mostly takes people hunting. He wants to show them his land, the farm he’s nurtured with duck-friendly species of bulrush, smartweed, and water grass, plus nesting habitat for mallards. He and a business partner built a small empire of family-friendly fitness centers in California—19 in total—before they sold it in 2015. Since then, he’s been making habitat for ducks. Because Gury, like tens of thousands of other hunters in California, loves ducks.
It’s why he spent the money to buy and revitalize prime wetland habitat in the middle of Northern California’s duck and goose highway, why he works with organizations like the California Waterfowl Association to take out new hunters, and why he spends tens of thousands of dollars each year supplying water and farm equipment to the nearby refuge. As wildfires ravage the forests, development eats away at foothills and bottomlands, and drought evaporates wetlands and leaves behind disease, he wonders if private landowners, the ones with enough money to buy water, are the best hope left for migrating waterfowl.
Gury’s worries about the future of hunting in California in the face of multiple natural disasters aren’t unfounded, Heyser says.
The Lower Klamath Basin, part of the expansive Klamath Basin that spans the border between Oregon and California, went almost completely dry in 2021. It was the country’s first federal waterfowl refuge, and it and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge used to draw millions of migrating ducks each year.
“It’s like taking out the only city on a 1,500-mile road trip,” Heyser says.
Last year, through a series of complex water battles, failed action on the part of Congress, and years of drought, almost no water flowed to the wetlands. The year before, in 2020, miles of sun-soaked mud fueled a botulism outbreak that killed more than 60,000 ducks. The Sacramento Bee reported on wildlife biologists who spent months collecting the maggot-infested duck corpses in hopes of stemming the carnage.
Parts of California had a rainy October, and Gury stopped pumping groundwater for a time. But then no more rain fell, and the drought continued. The entire state is currently in a moderate drought, and 87 percent is in a severe drought. Climate scientists say this is the future.
Waterfowl aren’t the only California critters declining under climate change. Deer populations in the state have fluctuated since the early ’90s, when they hovered around 700,000 animals, according to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Mule Deer Working Group. There are now about 460,000 deer (a 35 percent decline), due to a complex combination of drought, habitat loss, lack of new growth, and lack of doe harvest (depending on whom you ask).
From left: Timber Owsley, 7, holds up a duck his dad shot at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area; Owsley and Hinkle’s dogs wait for their next retrieve. Tom Fowlks
California hunters are being displaced by habitat destruction too. Heyser and her partner, wild game chef Hank Shaw, watched images on the news of their quail hunting spots being incinerated in the massive Caldor wildfire in late summer 2021. For weeks, she couldn’t talk about it without tearing up.
“It could be a 50-year destruction,” she says. “I don’t expect to ever hunt quail there again.”
Even in early December, when Heyser wanted to check the areas and see what could be left, she found that the forests remained closed.
Bahman Ghashghaei devotes each fall to chukars, a bird native to Iran, where he was born. They remind him of home. He has a few spots in California where he knows he can find birds, but many keep burning up in wildfires. Now he often heads to neighboring Nevada, where he finds more open lands and more birds. He can also use lead ammunition there, which is banned for hunting in California. Ghashghaei is not the only one willing to make the trip. Most hunters in California know people who leave the state for easier or better hunting elsewhere.
And if megafires like the Dixie fire that burned almost 1 million acres or the Caldor fire that burned more than 220,000 acres aren’t eating through habitat, then the threat of fires is closing forests anyway. At one point in 2021, all national forests in California were shut down.
Tim Owsley, the Sacramento-area duck hunter, had two deer tags for Zone B in the northern part of the state, but the forests where he wanted to hunt were all closed to visitors.
“The excuse was they had to shut it down because if something were to happen, they didn’t have the resources to fight it,” he says.
“We’re Going to Die”
How, exactly, hunting could be banned—if it could be banned—in California is an exercise in hypotheticals. But it’s one hunters from around the country, even ones who never have hunted and never will hunt in California, should care about.
Wayne Pacelle, the former head of the Humane Society of the U.S. and nemesis of most hunting organizations, is often quoted as saying sometime in the ’90s: “We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States. … We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state.”
Whether or not he actually said that, California often sets trends for the rest of the country, and in many ways, the trend here is not good for hunting.
It started, perhaps, decades ago, where most antihunting efforts start: banning predator hunting. In 1972, California’s governor, soon to be U.S. president Ronald Reagan, signed a moratorium banning sport hunting of mountain lions. California voters made the ban permanent in 1990.
Since then, lawmakers have tried banning dove hunting and black bear hunting, though both those efforts failed.
Back in Sacramento, Dan Whisenhunt, a lifelong deer hunter, a Californian, and now president of the California Deer Association, is in full panic mode.
“We’re fighting an uphill battle here,” he says of the political climate in the state. “It’s almost like the frog in the pot of water and you don’t know it is boiling until it’s already boiling. We’re getting to the point where it’s getting close to boiling … and we’re going to die.”
Whisenhunt stresses about ballot initiatives like the one being raised in Oregon, IP13, which is marketed as an animal cruelty bill and would, effectively, ban hunting in the state.
“This is the time that we need to sound the alarm across the nation, not just here in California and Oregon,” he says.
From left: Bahman Ghashghaei with his bird dog; Dan Whisenhunt in the California Deer Association office. Tom Fowlks
Heyser is more concerned about laws that are making hunting harder. Take for example California’s ammunition regulations. To buy hunting ammunition in California, you must have a firearm registered at your current address or else pay $19 for a background check, which takes a few days. In the first several months of implementation, one in five people didn’t pass. In fact, tens of thousands of people in California were initially stopped from buying ammo because they couldn’t pass the background check. Many of those who failed were not flagged for a legitimate incident, like a felony conviction, that disqualified them. They had simply moved since they last purchased a firearm.
A bill wound its way through the legislature in early 2021 that would have created another 11 percent tax on rifles, shotguns, and ammunition and a 10 percent tax on handguns. The additional money would have gone to the California Violence Intervention and Prevention Firearm and Ammunition Tax Fund.
The total tax on firearms and ammunition in California would have risen to nearly 30 percent, according to the California Waterfowl Association. That bill eventually died, but Heyser says she wouldn’t be surprised if similar legislation crops up in the future.
Who Will Pay for Wildlife?
Ask California Fish and Wildlife’s hunter recruitment and retention staff if hunting is going away, and they will tell you to look at the numbers.
California hunters have dropped from a high of about 764,000 in 1970 to somewhere around 286,000 today. And the number of hunters had been incrementally dropping, down to a low of 258,316. Until 2020, that is, when more people started hunting through the coronavirus pandemic.
“How many hunters are in Wyoming?” the department’s communications officer, Peter Tira, asked me about my home state. About 131,000, I told him, though we have fewer than 600,000 people total.
Even South Dakota and Alaska, two states with strong hunting cultures, have only 212,736 and 90,406, respectively. However, Texas might make for a fairer comparison. The Lone Star State has a population of 29 million people and had more than 1.12 million hunters in 2020, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Hunting in California has declined for many of the same reasons it has across the rest of the country: competition for time, urbanization, and lack of accessibility, says Jen Benedet, the department’s assistant deputy director of communications, education, and outreach. And as California’s population exploded to 40 million people, hunters became a smaller percentage of the overall population.
Benedet also acknowledges some California-specific challenges, including a culture that hasn’t always favored hunting. But hunting wild game and foraging are becoming increasingly important, she says. Benedet was a vegetarian for many years before she picked up a bow and began hunting. Now she hunts deer on and off from June to the end of December.
California has plenty of huntable species, including three types of elk, bighorn sheep, blacktail and mule deer, pheasant, quail, chukar, ptarmigan, many ducks, several geese, snipe, and black bears. But all that species diversity is expensive to manage—the department’s budget for 2021 and 2022 is just shy of $865 million. In any given year, between 20 and 25 percent of that budget will come from hunting and fishing licenses and excise taxes. The rest comes from dozens of other places, including the state’s general fund, which makes up the largest single share.
“The people out here, we’re not going to the mall. We’re not going to the bar. Hunting is what we do. We’re outside, and this is what we enjoy.”
—Tim Owsley
Sportsmen and -women paying for only a quarter of a state’s game and fish budget is not generally in line with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which calls for hunters and anglers to pay to support the conservation of fish and wildlife. For reference, more than 80 percent of Wyoming’s Game and Fish budget comes from hunting and fishing licenses and taxes. Do hunters get less of a say in how wildlife is managed because their dollars don’t pay for all of wildlife management? That depends on whom you ask.
“Right now in California, hunters’ voices are already being diminished,” Whisenhunt says.
But Benedet says it’s a myth that fish and wildlife agencies manage for huntable species only if conservation dollars come from hunters.
“The monies that come into fish and wildlife agencies across the entire nation support activities that hunters and anglers also benefit from, even though hunters and anglers may not actually be the ones paying for those activities,” Benedet says. “The fees generated from the cannabis permitting program [for instance] go to cleaning up illegal grows on public land, and huntable species are going to be benefiting from that, but that money did not come from hunters. And so would hunters come back and say, ‘Oh, actually, we don’t want that money because we didn’t produce it’? I don’t think so.”
Larry Gury, owner of Closed Zone Farms, collects decoys after a morning hunt. Tom Fowlks
And even if hunter numbers increased to their former 764,000—which Benedet says the habitat and populations of big-game animals could likely not support—hunting license dollars still wouldn’t generate enough money to support the budget. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is not only responsible for wild-game management but also manages more than 1 million acres of public land, cleaning up oil spills, fighting wildfires, and overseeing the state’s cannabis permitting program.
It’s unclear if a decrease in hunting license dollars links directly to a lack of hunting opportunity, says Ron Regan, executive director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Excise tax dollars that go to states must fund the conservation of game animals and game fish, and those funds have boomed in recent years.
“There’s not a shortage of funds to address [hunting and fishing],” Regan says. But in order for states to receive those federal funds, they must match the money coming in (usually with $1 for every $3). The state money used to match those federal funds typically comes from license dollars.
The more pressing question is, What happens if the funding from hunting and fishing licenses drops to the point of insignificance?
“If funding shrunk over time, we would probably see impacts to hunting-specific consumptive use, specific programming and education, and outreach efforts,” Benedet says. “Would it impact the actual, physical habitat? Yes, because the money that hunters supply would need to be replaced, and we’d have to figure out how to replace that, and right now, we don’t have that.”
HUNTING FOR THE FUTURE
The persistent drought, frequent wildfires, and deadly bacteria all feel like a bad dream as Owsley, Hinkle, and Timber sit on stools nestled in leggy tules (a tall, grassy plant ubiquitous in California marshes) on the edge of Pond 14 in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.
The group decided to wake up at 1:30 a.m. and drive an hour in soupy fog for a chance to shoot ducks. Owsley drew number 84 in the lottery, not nearly high enough to earn them a spot. But Timber, the 7-year-old on his first duck hunt, drew number seven, and the three hunters got to go in.
Shortly after daylight, a lone teal lights over the decoys, and Owsley gets a shot. The bird drops, and Hinkle’s yellow Lab, muscles taut and shaking from anticipation, brings it back.
From left: Larry Gury watches for ducks; Brendan Hinkle hunts a public marsh near Sacramento. Tom Fowlks
An hour later, Owsley drops another duck, but then the action really slows to a crawl. With his father’s guidance, Timber fires his .410 a couple of times as practice. He doesn’t seem bothered by the fact that he hasn’t shot at a duck. Likewise, Hinkle and Owsley don’t seem disappointed that they haven’t killed more ducks this morning.
“The people who are out here, we’re not going to go to the mall,” Owsley says. “We’re not going to go to the bar. [Hunting] is what we do. We’re outside, and this what we enjoy.”
“There’s a hunting heritage that is important to pass on,” Hinkle adds. “And the effort, and the commitment and the dedication, the hunters’ etiquette—it teaches young people great life skills, and problem-solving skills, and they gain an appreciation for a natural resource that could be lost.”
So Hinkle, Owsley, and Timber will keep holding out hope to draw the next blind, because at least for now, hunting in California is worth it.
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Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann’s motion to dismiss Durham’s case was denied by a federal judge on Wednesday.
Sussmann was indicted last September for lying to the FBI.
According to the indictment, Sussmann falsely told James Baker he wasn’t doing work “for any client” when he asked for a meeting with the FBI where he presented bogus evidence the Trump Tower was secretly communicating with Kremlin-tied Alfa Bank.
The attorneys for Michael Sussmann in February requested the courts dismiss Durham’s case against him.
Sussmann’s lawyers absurdly argued that his false statement to the feds is protected under the First Amendment and made no impact on the FBI’s probe.
Durham blasted Sussmann in a new filing last month and revealed Hillary’s lawyer actually alleged Trump and his associates were using Russian-made phones in the vicinity of the White House.
US District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, agreed with John Durham and denied Sussmann’s motion to dismiss.
“Specifically, Sussmann allegedly told Baker that he was not attending the meeting on behalf of any client when, in fact, he had assembled and was conveying the information on behalf of two specific clients: (1) a technology-industry executive named Rodney Joffe and (2) the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign,” Cooper wrote in a 6-page opinion.
“The FBI opened an investigation based on the information Sussmann provided, but ultimately determined that there was insufficient evidence to support the existence of a communication channel between the Trump campaign and the Russian bank. Sussmann has pled not guilty to the charge and denies lying to the FBI,” the judge added.
