The lilac cooler bag, which retails for under $10, is set to redebut at Trader Joe's.
Here’s Why People Are Obsessed with the Lilac Cooler Bags at Trader Joe’s
Published on Jan. 10, 2025
Known for its affordable prices and friendly staff, Trader Joe’s is the trendy place to shop. But the hype isn’t limited to the Mandarin Orange Chicken, Two Buck Chuck and other cheap TJ’s items. Customers are inexplicably smitten with the Trader Joe’s cooler bags, which were released in different colors throughout 2024.
The most popular color, lilac, is set to make a grand return in 2025.
What is the Trader Joe’s cooler bag?
Trader Joe’s cooler bags are exactly what they sound like: insulated bags to keep cold items chilled while on the go. Gotta keep those iconic Trader Joe’s snacks fresh! They come in two convenient sizes: 1.5 gallons and 8 gallons. When they’re in stock, the coolers retail for an affordable $4 for the mini option and $8 for the larger size. Each cooler bag has a Trader Joe’s store graphic emblazoned on the front with palm trees.
Why are people so obsessed?
When I say Trader Joe’s customers are obsessed with these cooler bags, I mean it. TikTok and Reddit are abuzz with chatter about the various colors (they’ve previously come in red, green, orange, yellow, blue, pink and lilac) and what stores carry them. While there isn’t anything proprietary about the cooler bags, folks seem to love them because they’re affordable and useful. The coolers fold flat for easy storage—keep them in your trunk, then bring them to Trader Joe’s to haul home your frozen foods.
Now, though, the bags are something of a cultural symbol. If you want to get your hands on one (before the relaunch), check out secondhand platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark or Mercari. But be warned—you’ll absolutely be paying up for the bag. I’ve seen the lilac colorway go for as much as $80 online.
When will the cooler bag return to Trader Joe’s?
The chain is tight-lipped about when the purple cooler bag will return. I chatted with a Trader Joe’s employee, who revealed the bag will be back in early 2025, but specifics on the day and month are still under wraps. However, the bag initially popped up in stores at the end of March 2024, so perhaps this year’s relaunch will follow a similar timeline.
