We consider 45 litres to be about the perfect amount of capacity for a passive cooler on a family camping trip. Any more than that, and you’ve used up alot of space in your car or camper for not much benefit because the temperature cannot stay cool forever. Any lower capacity and you can’t fit enough food or drink in it! The best cool box should be made from high-quality, robust, and impact-resistant material. This allows it to survive harsh conditions and rough rides. Generally, you can find cool boxes made from plastic shells such as polyethene or those made from fabric with hard foam underneath. 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.

Each was left outside for eight hours, with temperature readings taken every 60 minutes. Carrying comfort, usability, additional stowage, quality and price were all factors in our overall rating. VerdictYou should look out for extra features to enjoy the best value from your cool box. Different cool boxes have a variety of additional features. Some of the features to look out for include beverage holders or wheels. If you opt for smaller or medium-sized cool boxes, go for one with a shoulder strap. 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. Built with premium insulation technology, the Coleman 28QT Xtreme Cooler can hold ice for several days to make it a perfect companion for overnight trips. With a 26 litre capacity, this cooler is smaller than the other options we’ve reviewed, and is more suited to short breaks for individuals or couples at the most. 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

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: Yet, even with the large capacity on offer, the Pinnacle still maintains a relatively lightweight build, weighing 6.3kg unladen. All cool boxes performed OK, but all the electric cool boxes we tested performed better than passive ones.The Coleman 28QT can hold up to 36 standard cans of beverages and a 2-litre bottle height. In addition, the lid features two inset cup holders which offers somewhere to place a bottle or can. Unfortunately they’re not large enough to take a mug of tea. The shoulder straps help relieve your hands, so you don’t get fatigued from carrying the box with your hands for a long time. Larger cool boxes, on the other hand, are sometimes fitted with side handles. This design allows two people to carry the box together. Some cool boxes are even equipped with a robust lid that doubles as a seat. We like the design and materials used by Vango. The green exterior really feels tough and impact-resistant, whilst the insulated interior can keep your goods chilled for up to 4 days (100 hours). Featuring a uniquely intuitive design, the Vango Pinnacle Wheelie Cooler is designed for picnics, camping, sporting events, and similar activities where you need to keep your food and drinks chilled. Absorption cool boxes Similar in size and design to compressor cool boxes, but you can also power these with gas.

You can also find premium quality coolers made from rubber which improves their grip and cooling retention. Regularly designed cool boxes (mostly made with outer fabric) typically last a few hours. Similarly, plastic coolers will last anywhere between a day or two. If you want a cooler that lasts for up to 5 days, a premium quality plastic or rubber-covered cool box will be more suitable. The Yeti Tundra 45 comes in at that magical 45 litre mark, and is certainly one of the most impressive coolers on the market in terms of ruggedness and insulation – a shame it’s rather expensive. This is one to buy if you’re running a decent budget, and like to have the best – both in terms of brand, support and performance. 3 inches of InsulationSize 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. Different cool boxes come with varying cooling capacities. For passive cool boxes, the cooling effect is prolonged as the size increases. Typically, cool boxes maintain their effect for about 12 to 100 hours. So, you certainly want to go for a large box with at least a 2-day cooling effect for overnight camping trips. 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. When selecting the finest cool box for your next outdoor activity, there are a few factors to consider. This guarantees that you get the right cool box for your needs, regardless of size or cooling capability. We’ve created a detailed buying guide below, including all of the essential characteristics to look for.