Picnic Time Zuma Insulated Cooler Backpack Review

Storage Size: 20 cans (approx. 26 quarts) size

Construction: Plastic, polyester, and metal composition

Cost: Intermediate-priced

Features: Side mesh pockets, front zippered compartment, padded shoulder straps

Pros: Decent insulation ability, easy to access, plenty of storage areas

Cons: Limited in insulated storage volume, somewhat flimsy, very plain looking

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Last Updated by Brandon F. on July 21, 2020

This is our Picnic Time Zuma Insulated Cooler Backpack Review.  The Picnic Time Zuma Insulated Cooler Backpack is perfect for those who want to pack lunch or picnic items, some of which need to be chilled, with the convenience and mobility of wearing a backpack.  This product has a lower primary cavity that is intended to hold cans or other cold items with the optional inclusion of ice packs.  Additional storage compartments are located on the front of the bag (zippered), the top of the bag (open mesh), and on the sides of the pack (open mesh). 

To help keep items cool, ThermoGuard insulation is included inside the fabrics while the entire lining is wrapped and heat-sealed, water-resistant lining.   Comfortable padded shoulder straps are used to facilitate carrying.  This product comes in several color options, can hold up to 20 cans (and about 26 quarts of total volume), and is made of strong polyester, plastic, and metal.

Insulation Ability –

While only a portion of the backpack is insulated and intended for storing items that need to stay cold, it does a good job.  The insulation is thick enough to perform as it needs to without being too thick to the point where it becomes too bulky or takes up too much space. 

That being said, even with the relatively thick insulation there is only a limited amount of storage space for your cold items.  Don’t anticipate this backpack being able to store a backpack’s worth of cold items or you will be in for a disappointment since at least half of it is intended for other items.

Mobility and Durability –

Overall this backpack is very handy.  We like how common items like towels and shirts can be easily accessed from the top and there are additional storage spaces along the sides and in the front to put the rest of your items.  We do wish a bit more emphasis was put on the cooling areas, however, since it could very easily cause space concerns when trying to package all of your food and drinks for a picnic.  However, the product isn’t very rigid and even the insulated area is easily bent and folded. 

Furthermore, the side pockets and top compartment are relatively flimsy and items can easily fall out of them.  Finally, the build quality can be questionable and threads on the shoulder straps have been known to come undone over time.  However, we can’t deny the convenience of having all of this in a relatively small backpack.

Visual Appeal – 

The backpack itself is relatively plain, missing a lot of variations in texture.  The non-black colors at least have a sort of pattern between the color and the black, but it still isn’t anything amazing.  Thankfully there are a few color options, though, which help to variate things some.

Cost – 

This product is available online typically in the intermediate price tier.

Overall Rating – 

The Picnic Time Zuma Insulated Cooler Backpack Review earns 2.5 out of 5 coolers.  This is a very “average” backpack, that doesn’t overly struggle with any particular facet but doesn’t knock it out of the park on anything either.  There are a few clever design details that we like but we also feel that including them hurt both the cooling performance as well as the cooling volume some.