Dometic Outdoor 20L Cooler-Style Soft Gear Storage, Silt

Every boat needs a bag like this. Dometic Outdoor built the 20 liter soft storage as a cooler-style carryall that collapses flat when you don't need it and holds its shape when you do. The shell is 840D TPU-coated polyester, the same kind of tough, coated fabric that stands up to rods, tackle, wet gear, and the general abuse of a working deck. It measures 11.22 inches long by 9.36 inches wide by 14.80 inches deep, and the 20 liter volume lands right in the sweet spot for a day on the water.

Here's the part that makes it worth the money. The top and bottom are semi-rigid, so the bag stands up on its own and keeps its footprint. But the sides are soft and collapsible, which means when the bag's empty you can fold it flat and tuck it into a cuddy locker or under a leaning post. That's a big deal on a small boat where every cubic foot counts. Most hard coolers just sit there taking up room whether they're full or not. This one gives you the space back.

Load it up and the 20 liters swallows roughly 18 to 20 cans with room for ice, or a lunch and drinks for the crew, or a change of dry clothes and a few essentials for a longer run. The semi-rigid top means you can stack a tackle box or a dry bag on top without crushing what's inside. And because the sides flex, the whole thing rides better in a chop than a stiff hard cooler that wants to slide around the deck.

The Silt colorway is a light, neutral shade. On an open deck under a summer sun, a lighter bag runs cooler than a dark one and tends to hold its look longer against UV. It's the kind of color that disappears into a center console or a bay boat instead of shouting for attention.

Now, the honest part. This is portable gear storage first. It converts to a soft cooler when you add Dometic Outdoor's insulated insert, but that insert is sold separately. So out of the box, think of it as a rugged, collapsible bag that carries whatever you throw at it. Add the insert and it turns into an insulated soft cooler that'll hold ice for a day trip. Buy both if cold storage is your main goal. Buy just the bag if you mostly need flexible, packable storage and want the option to add cooling later.

It also skips external pockets, which is a deliberate call. No pockets means a clean profile that slides into tight compartments and doesn't snag on cleats, rails, or gunwales. If you like to organize with pouches, you'll want to add your own. If you just want a simple, tough bag that packs down small, the no-pocket design is a feature, not a miss.

A word on care, because coated fabric and salt water go hand in hand. Rinse the bag with fresh water after a salty day, and pay attention to the zipper track. Salt and sand are what wear out any zipper over time, so a quick rinse keeps it sliding smooth season after season. The 840D TPU coating handles the rest.

Who's this for? Anglers running center consoles and bay boats who need packable deck storage. Kayakers and paddlers who want a bag that carries a day's worth of food and gear and folds away after. Cruisers who want a soft cooler that stows flat between trips. And overlanders and campers who like gear that pulls double duty on and off the water. If that sounds like your setup, this bag earns its spot in the locker, and it packs down small enough that you'll never resent carrying it.