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The best cool boxes for successful picnics, tried and tested in the wild
Keep your picky bits chilled (and away from the wasps)
No matter what you’re up to this summer, the best cool boxes will always come in handy. Whether you’re entertaining friends in the garden and need chilled drinks within reach; heading to the park with picky bits and gins in a tin; or venturing into the great outdoors on a camping trip, a cool box will keep everything perfectly chilled and safe to eat.
With so much on the line, you need a reliable chill box that’s both easy to carry and will store all your bottles and carefully prepared treats safely.
To help you find the ones up to the job, the Good Housekeeping Institute packed up their sausage rolls and quiche and headed outdoors to put them to the test. These are our top-performing cool boxes for nailing picnic season.
The best cool boxes to buy this summer
To find the best, we measured and recorded any fluctuations in temperature over 24 hours, we filled each one and assessed how portable it was over different terrain, and we even dropped them from a height to assess durability. You’ll find a full breakdown of how we test below, along with advice on what to consider before you buy.
Pros
- Handle is made of metal so feels sturdy, but also has a padded section for comfort
- Has secure clips that lock into place
- 10-year guarantee available
Cons
- Lack of maintenance advice
- A few potential dirt traps in the ridges inside the box
Score: 96/100
Why we love it: This high-quality cool box put in a truly impressive performance in the lab. The sturdy 18-litre design includes a built-in bottle opener, drainage valve, compass and ruler (because you never know when you might need one of those when camping), as well as anchor points for strapping it down and keeping it secure during transport.
Cold retention: Scoring full marks for keeping its cool, this model is one to rely on over summer. The temperature stayed consistent over 24 hours with the average reading only increasing by 0.9 degrees. Regularly opening and closing the cool box didn’t massively affect the internal temperature either.
Ease of use and durability: The sturdy, hard plastic construction showed minimal signs of damage after our drop tests with only slight scuffing and flattening of the corners. No water seeped inside either so your picnic will be safe if you do get caught in a shower.
Key specifications
| Capacity | 18L |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 41 x 68.7cm |
| Can capacity | Unspecified |
| Weight | 7.65kg |
| Features | Bottle opener, compass, release valve, drainage plug, tie down anchor points, non-slip feet |
| Highest temperature recorded after six hours of usage in the lab | 3.3 degrees |
Ninja FrostVault 45QT/42L Wheeled Cooler with Dry Zone
Pros
- Excellent water-resistance
- Lid stays up when opened and is easy to open and close
- Drain plug for easy water removal
- Clear instructions with care and maintenance advice
Cons
- Large and heavy so difficult to remove ice post-use
- Handle grips aren’t the most comfortable
Score: 95/100
Why we love it: Our picnics will never be the same again. This fantastic cooler aced our tests with its durable design, large capacity and brilliant cold retention. It can hold up to 68 cans (or 32 cans with ice), and our tester appreciated the sturdy wheels and carry handles for moving the weighty box around. One of our favourite features is the Dry Zone, which can be used to keep food dry, separate from the main compartment, yet still perfectly chilled.
Cold retention: After 24 hours, the temperature inside the cool box had only increased by 0.7 degrees and this one delivered the coolest average temperature of all the cool boxes we’ve tested. Performance was just as impressive on our regular usage test, with the temperature remaining below 3 degrees over six hours when opening and closing the lid.
Ease of use and durability: This cool box was easy to manoeuvre and move from place to place – it was reasonably quiet when pulled on gravel and coped well across grass. The rubber-grip on the handle isn’t overly durable though and it could have been longer to make pulling easier.
Key specifications
| Capacity | 42L |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 48 x 72.6cm |
| Can capacity | 68 cans |
| Weight | 13.9kg |
| Features | Dry storage drawer, wheels, handle, 5-year guarantee upon registration |
| Highest temperature recorded after six hours of usage in the lab | 3 degrees |
Pros
- Easy to open and close
- Lightweight, making ice removal simple
- Lid stays up when opened
Cons
- No drain plug for removing water
- Handle isn’t padded and this is the only option for carrying
- Water gathered in a dip of the lid, which has attachable bungee cords for storing goods on the outside of the cool box
Score: 87/100
Why we love it: With a choice of bright colours available and a lightweight design for its capacity, Stanley’s portable cooler is an excellent choice for day trips. It feels sturdy and durable and achieved a perfect score in our water-resistance test.
Cold retention: The internal temperature varied the least out of all the cool boxes when tested over a 24-hour period, increasing by just 0.5 degrees thanks to the double wall foam insulation. Like our winner, it maintained a good temperature when opened and closed regularly too, so all your picnic food will be safe and ready to eat.
Ease of use and durability: Performance on these tests was a bit of a mixed bag. While lockable clips kept the lid secure and the overall design felt sturdy, we noted that one corner was dented during our drop test – take good care of it and this shouldn’t prove too much of an issue though.
Key specifications
| Capacity | 15.1L |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 42.5 x 32.5 x 28.5cm |
| Can capacity | 21 cans |
| Weight | 4.16kg |
| Features | Leakproof features |
| Highest temperature recorded after six hours of usage in the lab | 5.3 degrees |
Pros
- Over-shoulder strap is lightly padded for comfort
- Very easy to clean as the lid is completely removable
- Great value
Cons
- The lid must be strapped down to close it securely
- The exterior has a polypropylene coating, which can be slippery if you’re not holding the box via the strap
- No instructions, care or maintenance advice provided
Score: 81/100
Why we love it: If you don’t want to spend a lot on a cool box but don’t want to compromise on performance, opt for this retro design from Polarbox. It’s made with an insulating material called AIRPOP, which makes it lightweight yet still excellent at cold retention. Plus, the removable lid can double up as a serving tray.
Cold retention: Overall, internal temperatures were slightly higher than the models above, reaching 4.5 degrees after just four hours. However, the temperature didn’t go over 5.1 degrees at any point – including during our opening and closing test.
Ease of use and durability: Suffering only minor scuffing in our durability test, this was one of the more robust cool boxes we tested. We did note that some water leaked into the box on each side, but most of the box remained dry, so this would only be a problem if the cool box was left out in heavy showers.
Key specifications
| Capacity | 12L |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 24.3 x 39.3 x 25.9cm |
| Can capacity | Around 30 |
| Weight | 1.32kg |
| Features | Lid doubles up as a drink tray and the strap doubles as a lock to keep the lid tightly on the cooler |
| Highest temperature recorded after six hours of usage in the lab | 5.1 degrees |
Pros
- Can detach and attach adjustable straps depending on how you want to carry the cool box
- Lightweight design
- Comes with a three-year warranty, plus good care and maintenance advice
Cons
- Lid doesn’t stay open easily without holding it
- No drain plug for easy removal of water
- Expensive
Score: 78/100
Why we love it: Made with a ‘DryHide’ high-density fabric shell, YETI claims that its cool box can withstand punctures and UV rays – protecting your food and drink inside, as well as keeping it chilled. And it certainly proved itself in the lab, earning the highest durability score of all the boxes we tested. The fabric was water-resistant too and is treated to be mildew-resistant so your cool box will last for many trips to come.
Cold retention: This model coped well during our 24-hour cold retention test, with temperatures only creeping over five degrees in the final few hours. However, when opening and closing over a six-hour period, it ended up closer to six degrees so we think it would be best used for daytime picnics instead of overnight camping.
Ease of use and durability: Only small scuffs were sustained when we dropped the portable cooler in the lab. The straps proved robust too and we liked the chunky zipper – despite it being stiff on occasion.
Key specifications
| Capacity | Unspecified |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 33 x 41.3 x 27.3cm |
| Can capacity | 30 |
| Weight | 2.3kg |
| Features | Durable, leakproof zipper; ‘HitchPoint’ grid offers space for attaching things to the exterior; three-year warranty |
| Highest temperature recorded after six hours of usage in the lab | 5.8 degrees |
How we test cool boxes
We put cool boxes through their paces in and around our lab, assessing everything from durability to cold retention (aka how effectively it keeps your rosé cool). We start with a general performance test where we look at how cold the box remains over a 24-hour period. We half fill each box with ice, position it outside, and place five temperature devices called LogTags inside (one in each corner and one in the middle). Readings are taken every four hours to get an average temperature for each position.
We then conduct a similar test over six hours. This time we replicate regular usage by opening the cool box for 10 seconds every 90 minutes, taking a temperature reading each time. Again, an average temperature is calculated and scored.
We then move onto manoeuvrability and durability. If the cold box has wheels, we drag it over different surfaces like cobbles, gravel, grass and pavement, checking how easily it moves and how well it copes with corners, ramps, or kerbs. We also pull it up and down stairs five times, looking for any scuff mark on the wheels.
If the cool box has a strap, we fill it to three-quarters of its capacity with 330-millilitre cans and ice. After swaying it by the strap five times, we hang it by its strap for two hours.
Next, the cold box is filled to its maximum capacity and lifted off the ground – for all these tests we note any damage or stress to the strap or fittings and score accordingly. Finally, every cool box is dropped 10 times on each corner from a half-metre height (to mimic falling from a table), with our experts noting any damage as they go.
Our last test assesses how water resistant each box is. We spray them with water and check if any leaks through onto tissues placed inside. Ease of use, design and instructions are also analysed throughout, and everything is combined and given an overall score.
What to consider when shopping for the best cool boxes
Every model in this list would make an excellent choice, but finding the best cool box for your individual needs comes down to a few factors. Here’s what to bear in mind before you buy.
Purpose: The best cool box for a two-day camping trip versus afternoon drinks in the park on a hot day are two very different products, so it’s worth thinking about what you’ll be using it for. For example, a larger cool box with wheels is likely to be the better choice when going off the beaten path for a few nights.
Size and portability: For those tight on storage space, a smaller cool box will be a better pick. It’s also worth considering whether you’re going to be transporting your cool box on foot or popping it in the car. If you’re going to be carrying it over longer distances, it pays to choose something lightweight or with sturdy straps.
Capacity: Needless to say, this is an important one! If you’re catering for a large crowd, you’ll need something bigger. It’s also worth checking the manufacturer’s claims as some list the can capacity without counting room for ice.
Additional features: Our runner up, Ninja’s FrostVault, has a handy ‘DryZone’ drawer for keeping food chilled but separate from the main ice compartment. Other features, such as detachable straps, lockable clips, secure zippers and ways of attaching extras to the outside of the cool box, are also worth considering.
The verdict on the best cool boxes
For camping trips, we recommend Bunker’s 18L Cool Box, which excelled on all our tests from cold retention to durability and design. Ninja’s FrostVault has a larger capacity though, as well as wheels for easy transportation over different terrains, making it a good option for going off on an adventure.
Our runner-up, Stanley’s Adventure Easy Carry Outdoor Cooler, is the better choice for family picnics with the ability to hold up to 21 cans. It’s still fairly pricey though, so opt for the Polarbox Cooler for a great value buy (that looks great).
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we consider ourselves experts at testing products – we’ve been doing it for over 100 years, after all. Our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, designs rigorous protocols for each product category, which analyse products against their claims, using them exactly as you would at home.
Once the cool boxes have been tested in the lab by our expert, the feedback is passed to senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, who has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best fridge freezers to the best smart meat thermometers. She also looks after our BBQ buying guide, so knows exactly what’s needed for alfresco mealtimes.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
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