An expandable and collapsible cooler includes: a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler; an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; a collapsible cooler wall extending between and attached to said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler, the cooler wall including a flexible elastomeric membrane that includes hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and one or more bracket members selectively positionable to extend between and interconnect the base and the upper rim for conveying tensional forces between the base and the upper rim upon lifting of the cooler from a location above the cooler wall. The rim preferably includes one or more handles for lifting of the cooler.