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Best cool boxes
The best cool box could make all the difference to your next camping or beach trip.
We put cool boxes from Thermos, Igloo, Coleman, and others, through their paces, to find out which are easiest to lug around and will keep your food and drink cool all day.
We tested both electric cool boxes and passive ones, on everything from insulation to durability and portability. Our testing revealed one passive and two electric cool boxes that impressed enough to earn our Best Buy recommendation.
The best cool boxes
Only logged-in Which? members can view the cool box test results below. See further down the page for our electric cool box test results.
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| Cool box | Capacity (no. of cans) | Insulation | Durability | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Excellent | |||
| Excellent | Excellent | |||
| Excellent | Good | |||
| Good | Excellent | |||
| Good | Good | |||
| Poor | Excellent | |||
| Poor | Very poor |
Date tested: June 2021 and May 2023. Page last checked: February 2024. Capacity: measured with 330ml soft drink cans. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The cool boxes we tested
All the cool boxes we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best cool boxes from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendation below.
Coleman 30QT Performance Cooler
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Most recently tested June 2021
Capacity 28 litres or 49 x 330ml cans
Weight 3.0kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 39 x 42 x 25cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 33.5 x 39 x 25.5cm
Need to know Two cup holders on top of the lid; two-year warranty; also available in 4.7, 15, 26 and 56-litre sizes
DeWalt Toughsystem DS404 Cooler
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 25.5 litres or 38 x 330ml cans
Weight 8.1kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 40.5 x 54 x 35cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 27 x 41 x 23cm
Need to know Two cup holders on top of the lid; IP65-rated; compatible with the DeWalt Toughsystem trolley at CPC, Amazon, Screwfix (as part of three-piece set) for typically £150; one-year guarantee
Igloo BMX 25 Heavy Duty 23L Cool Box
Available from Igloo (£149.95)
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 23 litres or 39 x 330ml cans
Weight 4.5kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 40 x 50 x 31cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 30 x 38 x 21cm
Need to know Rubber pads to prevent sliding, fish-measuring ruler moulded into the lid; one-year warranty; also available in 22, 49 and 68-litre sizes, other colours available
Koolatron Ultra Kool Ice Chest
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 25 litres or 36 x 330ml cans
Weight 3kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 42 x 37 x 30cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 34 x 31.5 x 21.5cm
Need to know Three cup holders on the lid; one-year warranty
Quechua Rigid Camping or Hiking Cooler Box
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Most recently tested June 2021
Capacity 24 litres or 43 x 330ml cans
Weight: 3.8kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 41 x 41 x 26.5cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 32 x 38 x 24.5cm
Need to know Four cup holders on the underside of the lid and a removable insert; two-year warranty; also available in 32-litre size
Thermos Cool Box
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Most recently tested June 2021
Capacity 28 litres or 45 x 330ml cans
Weight 2.4kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 40 x 42 x 27cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 34.5 x 37.5 x 23.5cm
Need to know One-year warranty; also available in 32-litre size
Yeti Roadie 24L Cool Box
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 24 litres or 34 x 330ml cans
Weight 5.9kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 44 x 42 x 36cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 33 x 31 x 24cm
Need to know: Rubber pads to prevent sliding; five-year warranty; also available in 48 and 60-litre sizes; other colours available
See our pick of the best food and drink to pack for your picnic
The best electric cool boxes
Only logged-in Which? members can view the electric cool box test results below.
Join Which? now to get instant access to our test scores and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Electric cool box | Capacity (no. of cans) | Insulation | Durability | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Excellent | |||
| Good | Excellent | |||
| Excellent | Good | |||
| Excellent | Poor | |||
| Good | Average |
Date tested: May 2023. Capacity: measured with 330ml soft drink cans. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The electric cool boxes we tested
All the electric cool boxes we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best electric cool boxes from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendation below.
Campingaz Powerfreeze 25L Electric Cooler
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 25 litres or 37 x 330ml cans
Weight 3.8kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 44 x 41 x 31cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 34.5 x 32 x 24.5cm
Need to know Can accommodate 2-litre bottles; 12V charger; running cost per hour on maximum setting: 1p; one-year warranty
Halfords 24L 12V Electric Cool Box
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 24 litres or 30 x 330ml cans
Weight 4.5kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 43 x 43 x 31cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 30 x 29 x 22cm
Need to know Can accommodate 2 litre bottles, cubby hole to store charger; 12V charger; running cost per hour on maximum setting: 1p; one-year warranty; also available in 8, 14 and 40-litre sizes
Hi-Gear 28L 240V electric Cooler
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 28 litres or 50 x 330ml cans
Weight 5.5kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 46 x 43 x 31cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 33 x 35 x 25cm
Need to know Comes with a spare fuse; 12V charger and 240V mains plug; running cost per hour on maximum setting: 1p, no manufacturer warranty information advertised
Koolatron P75 12V electric Cool Box
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 34 litres or 51 x 330ml cans
Weight 6.1kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 41 x 53 x 41cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 30.5 x 40 x 30.5cm
Need to know Includes shelf to use chest on its side like a mini fridge; 12V charger; running cost per hour on maximum setting: 1p; one-year warranty; also available in 9, 17, 24, 27, 31, 42 and 49-litre sizes
Outwell EcoCool Lite 24L electric Cooler Box
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Most recently tested May 2023
Capacity 24 litres or 29 x 330ml cans
Weight 4.3kg
Outer dimensions (HxWxD) 41 x 43 x 27cm
Inner dimensions (HxWxD) 32 x 33 x 21cm
Need to know Comes with inside divider; 12V charger and UK mains plug; running cost per hour on maximum setting: 1p; two-year warranty; other colours available, 12V-only model also available
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How we tested cool boxes
We tested passive cool boxes and electric cool boxes from major UK retailers and brands. We bought every product we tested, so you can be sure our opinion isn't biased by us receiving freebies.
Insulation
- We placed chilled bottles of water in each passive cool box, along with two ice packs, and measured the temperature increase over the course of the day.
- To replicate getting bits in and out of the bag, we opened and closed it at regular intervals throughout the test.
- For electric cool boxes, we also measured how much it cooled in the first hour after turning it on, and only put the chilled bottled water in. No ice packs were added.
All cool boxes performed OK, but all the electric cool boxes we tested performed better than passive ones.
The best cool boxes keep the contents chilled better for longer. The best electric cool boxes cooled the chilled bottles of water to an even lower temperature by the end of the day than when we put them in.
Leakproof
We filled the bags with water and left them for an hour to see if they leaked.
While none of the cool boxes leaked when upright, all but one leaked from the lid if tipped over onto their side. It's worth making sure your cool box isn't going to fall over easily when being transported.
Comfort
To help find you the most portable cool boxes, we tried carrying each half-filled cool box on an identical route so we could evaluate and identify any discomfort.
The best cool boxes have features that improve portability, such as wheels and extendable handles. The worst have uncomfortable handles and are heavy to carry.
Durability
We dropped each box from waist height five times from different angles.
The best cool boxes were solid and were barely scratched when dropped; the worst shattered and broke when dropped.
How does a cool box work?
A cool box keeps food and drink cool by insulating it from the outside environment. Unlike cool bags, which rely on the material properties of the bag to provide this insulation, there are different types of cool box. Some work in different ways:
- Passive cool boxes work just like cool bags and standard non-electric cool boxes. They use the box's material to provide insulation and need ice or ice packs to keep them cool.
- Electric cool boxes Don’t require ice but they do require power. You either plug the box into your car (12V), the most common type of charger, or into the mains by a UK plug. They require constant power, though will still keep contents cool for a few hours if you unplug. You can get battery-powered boxes, but they’re less common and far more expensive.
- Compressor cool boxes These top-of-the range coolers usually start at 40 litres and resemble a mini-fridge. They need plugging in, and hi-tech models are available that can be controlled with apps.
- Absorption cool boxes Similar in size and design to compressor cool boxes, but you can also power these with gas.
Video: How to make clear ice using your cool box
Watch our video below to find out how you can make clear ice, which tastes nicer and melts more slowly for impressive cocktails and drinks using your cool box.
Cool boxes vs cooler bags
Our tests showed some key differences between these two products that are worth considering before buying:
Build Cooler bags are easier to store – as they're made from soft foldable material – but offer less protection than a cool box when in use. We also found that, when not completely full, some cool bags have a tendency to collapse in on themselves, knocking over the bottles inside.
Portability Cool boxes tend to be heavier, and the hard shell makes them more uncomfortable to carry than most cool bags. However, some cool boxes have wheels and extendable handles that makes transporting a full box much easier – although wheels won't take well to sand and other uneven surfaces. You can also get backpack-style cool bags that are comfortable to carry even on long walks.
Size You'll generally find that cool boxes have larger capacities. You can get cool bags up to 50 litres, but if you need more consider a cool box instead.
Features It's common for cool boxes to have a nozzle for draining water out of them. Some even have taps attached for drink decanting – ideal for larger events. Cooler bags generally don't have these but do have side compartments and mesh pockets for organisation.
Holidaying with a large group, or throwing a big garden party? In this case, a cool box will likely meet your needs better than a cooler bag.
If you're into trekking, want something for the odd picnic, or to keep your lunch cool for work A cooler bag may be the way to go.
If you're thinking of investing in a cool bag, read our reviews of the best cooler bags