The Soft Cool 2 is a Daiwa foldable soft cooler released in Sep 2026 in Japan. List price is JPY 6,400–11,600 (excl. tax). If you want light and easy to stow, the 26L 2600 is the pick.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The heart of the Soft Cool 2 is the Z system, which pairs a thick base with a foldable build. Heat from the ground comes in through the bottom, so only the base is 20mm thick, while the walls are 10mm so it can fold. That is why I recommend it as a second box that packs small for the trip home.
Key points
- Released Sep 2026. JPY 6,400–11,600 (excl. tax)
- 20mm of insulation in the base, 10mm in the walls
- The 2600 is 26L and 1.4kg. It holds 24 standing 600ml bottles
When is the Soft Cool 2 out, and what does it cost?
It goes on sale in September 2026. It is a renewal of the Soft Cool with a new design and colors. There are four sizes, 800, 1500, 2600 and 4500, in two colors, charcoal and orange.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Size | Capacity | Weight | Outer size | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 | 8L | 0.8kg | 26×20×30cm | JPY 6,400 |
| 1500 | 15L | 1.0kg | 34×25×29cm | JPY 7,600 |
| 2600 | 26L | 1.4kg | 44×34×30cm | JPY 8,800 |
| 4500 | 45L | 1.6kg | 50×35×32cm | JPY 11,600 |
How I judged it
With 30 years of fishing, a boat license and a fishing instructor certification, the first thing I looked at was the thickness of the base. 20mm. The walls are 10mm. The base is twice the wall, a build that resists heat from the ground.
Next I worked out the price per liter. The 800 is 6,400 ÷ 8 = JPY 800, the 1500 is about JPY 507, the 2600 is 8,800 ÷ 26 = about JPY 338 and the 4500 is about JPY 258. The bigger the size, the better the value. The gap is clear.
I wavered between the 2600 and the 4500. The 45L takes up room in a car, so my pick is the 26L 2600. It stands 24 bottles of 600ml or 8 of 2L, a size that works for both fishing and shopping runs.
I also worked out how full it gets. Eight 2L bottles standing is 2 × 8 = 16L, about 60% of the 26L. That leaves just the right amount of room for ice and a lunch box.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Soft Cool 2 2600
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 6,776 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 8,347. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumWhat does the Z system do?
A soft box loses cold at its seams. That is its weak point. The Soft Cool 2 closes the joints between base and sides with Z tabs to hold in the cold.
Z Cooling is the idea of chilling the contents from both top and bottom. Z Folding is a build that still folds with thick insulation inside. The three together are the Z system, a way to get cold retention out of a box that folds.
Inside is an EVA liner that can hold ice or fish. It clips in and out with one touch and can be washed whole. Not holding onto a fishy smell matters a lot in a box used for fishing.
How is it different from a hard cooler?
The one to compare against is the Sea Cool Carry III GU2500, which also came out in September. Its capacity is 25L, almost the same as the Soft Cool 2 2600.
On weight, the GU2500 is 4.6kg against 1.4kg for the 2600. In liters per kilogram, the 2600 gives 26 ÷ 1.4 = about 18.6L and the GU2500 about 5.4L. Per liter, the 2600 costs about JPY 338, while the GU2500 is 32,400 ÷ 25 = JPY 1,296. On weight and price, the Soft Cool 2 comes out well ahead.
On the other hand, the hard box is stronger on cold retention. The GU2500 uses foamed urethane in its walls and has a KEEP rating of 65, a guide to how long it holds cold. For long summer trips, hard is the pick; for a second box or short trips, soft. Split the roles and the choice is easy. You do not need to agonize here. More in my Sea Cool Carry III review.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Sea Cool Carry III GU2500
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 24,217 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 28,512. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumCan I carry it with a cooler on wheels?
Yes. On the 1500, 2600 and 4500, unzipping the pocket on the back opens a gap that the handle of a wheeled cooler passes through. Stack it on the hard box and take both from the parking lot to the fishing spot in one trip.
Put drinks and lunch in the soft box on the way out, and the catch in the hard one. Split like that, you open the fish box less, which also helps keep it cold. On the way home, fold the soft box and slide it beside the hard one, and it is one load. I read that as where this box shines.
How do I pick from the four sizes?
The 800 is 8L and 0.8kg. It stands six 600ml bottles, a box for one person's drinks and lunch. It is light to carry. A mesh pocket inside the lid holds an optional CP ice pack (800 and 1500).
The 1500 is 15L and 1.0kg. It holds fourteen 600ml bottles or six 2L. For a half-day trip alone, that is enough.
The 2600 and 4500 take an optional shopping basket or multi basket and have handles on both sides. The 4500 is 45L and 1.6kg and holds thirty-four 600ml bottles or twelve 2L. If you want one box to cover the family grocery run too, take the 4500.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Soft Cool 2 1500
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 5,852 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 7,022. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumThings to watch
This part is so-so. The walls hold just 10mm of insulation, so do not expect the cold retention of a hard box. If it will sit a long time in midsummer daytime, pack extra ice packs or pair it with a hard box to be safe.
The outer surface is PVC that does not absorb water, and rubber feet sit on the base. It handles well even on wet ground. When it gets dirty, you just wipe it. Plain, but it works.
Who is it for?
- Anglers who want more room in the car and want to fold the box small on the way home
- Anglers who want to chill drinks that do not fit in the hard cooler separately
- Anglers who want to reuse it for shopping or camping on days other than fishing
Hard boxes around 20L are lined up in our ranking of 20L coolers. Other new releases are in the fishing gear release calendar.
FAQ
When is the Soft Cool 2 released?
Sep 2026. List prices (excl. tax) are JPY 6,400 for the 800, JPY 7,600 for the 1500, JPY 8,800 for the 2600 and JPY 11,600 for the 4500.
How many 2L bottles fit in the Soft Cool 2 2600?
Eight, standing up. If you use 600ml bottles, 24 stand inside.
Can the Soft Cool 2 be washed?
The EVA inner liner comes out with one touch and can be washed whole. The outer surface is PVC that does not absorb water.
