Foam and neoprene (also called scuba) are the two most common materials for can coolers (koozies). Both keep a 12 oz can cold and both can be printed with full-color sublimation, but they differ in feel, durability, printing method, shipping cost and price. If you print, distribute or resell blank can coolers, the right choice depends on who the end customer is and how the coolers will be decorated.
Quick comparison
| Foam can cooler | Neoprene (scuba) can cooler | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Light, thin, collapsible | Thicker and heavier, with a solid, premium feel in the hand |
| Construction | Glued or bonded seams | Usually stitched seams |
| Durability | Good for events and giveaways | Built for repeated, long-term use |
| Typical decoration | Full-color sublimation, screen printing, foil | Full-color sublimation, screen printing |
| Shipping | Folds flat, more pieces per carton | Bulkier, fewer pieces per carton |
| Unit cost | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Weddings, tailgates, festivals, high-volume promotions | Retail merchandise, breweries, premium gifts |
Foam can coolers
Foam can coolers are the classic collapsible koozie. They are light, fold flat and cost less per piece, which makes them the default choice for high-volume orders such as weddings, bachelor parties, tailgates, festivals and company events, where hundreds or thousands are handed out at once.
For decorators, foam coolers can be printed with full-color sublimation for photos and detailed artwork, screen printed for fast one- or two-color jobs, or foil printed for a metallic look on solid colors. Because foam coolers pack flat, more pieces fit in each carton and each container, which lowers the landed cost per unit for importers.
See our foam can coolers and slim can coolers in solid, camo and metallic colors.
Neoprene (scuba) can coolers
Neoprene, often called scuba, is the same family of material used in wetsuits. Neoprene can coolers are thicker and heavier, and they feel noticeably more solid in the hand. They are usually stitched, so they hold their shape and survive years of use. They feel like a product rather than a giveaway, which is why breweries, bars, outdoor brands and retail shops use them as merchandise.
Like foam, neoprene takes full-color sublimation well, so detailed artwork and photos print edge to edge. The trade-off is a higher unit price and bulkier cartons.
See our neoprene can coolers.
How to choose
- Choose foam when the order is large, the budget per piece is tight, or the coolers are a one-day event giveaway. Full-color designs still work, since foam can be sublimated.
- Choose neoprene (scuba) when the cooler will be sold at retail, the customer wants a heavier, more premium feel, or the product needs to last for years.
- Stock both if you are a print shop or wholesaler: foam covers volume orders, neoprene covers premium orders, and many buyers ask for a quote on both.
Buying blank can coolers in bulk
When you buy blanks for printing or resale, ask your supplier for:
- Material and thickness, and whether the surface is ready for sublimation, screen printing or foil
- Available colors, including camo and metallic finishes
- MOQ per color and per order
- Pieces per carton, carton size and pieces per 20' and 40'HQ container
- Production time and a pre-production sample
May Long Phu manufactures both foam and neoprene can coolers, plus coasters, can sleeves and coffee wraps, in our own factory in Vietnam. We supply US importers, wholesalers and decorators with blank and custom-printed coolers in bulk and full-container loads. Email sales@maylongphu.com with your quantity and colors, or request a sample of both materials.