Camping out in the summer can be pure bliss, especially if you brought all the supplies with you. If you miss anything, you might end up struggling all through the camping trip. One very important supply you must bring with you, especially over the summer, is a cool box.
Cool boxes like the Thermal Cool Box 32L are great for keeping your drinks ice-cold and your food edible. However, it can be pretty challenging to find the best cool box in the UK that checks all the boxes.
In this coolbox review, we will roundup 10 of the best cool boxes to help you narrow down your coolbox options to one that fits your camping needs. Continue reading to learn more.
The best cool boxes reviewed in this article are:
- Thermos Cool Box, Blue, 32 L.
- Guaranteed4Less Cooler Box Large 24L Insulated.
- Tristar Thermo-Electric Cool Box.
- Coleman Cool Box 30QT Performance Cooler.
- IGLOO Latitude Outdoor Cooler.
- Thermohauser 8300016708 EPP Thermobox GN 1/1 Eco Line, Black.
- Coleman Cool Box Xtreme.
- WheelsNBits® 24 Litre Large Cooler Box with carrying Handle.
- SUNMER 50L Cooler Box With 2 Ice Packs.
- Coleman 28 Quart Xtreme Cooler.
Best Cool Box UK Product Review
Thermos Cool Box, Blue, 32 L
Best Overall
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Features robust and lightweight construction.
- Comes with polystyrene insulation.
- The handle locks the lid in place.
What stands out?
This is arguably of one of the best coolboxes in the market right now, ideal for storing snacks when out on fishing trips by the river, lunch on the beach or picnic in the park. It comes designed with robust and lightweight material for easy portability and to withstand any condition for a long time. Since it is made of polystyrene insulation you are sure that you contents will stay cold for the longest time.
Guaranteed4Less Cooler Box Large 24L Insulated
Best Budget
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Easy clean.
- Includes a carry handle.
- 24 litre capacity.
- You can use the lid as a food/cup surface.
What stands out?
This is an incredible budget pick for any camping trip to keep food and drink fresh and ice-cold. It comes with a large capacity of 24 litres to carry as much food or drinks in it. Furthermore, it features a carry handle for easy transportation. The handle also functions to lock the cooler’s lid in place. Also, it is very easy to clean and super lightweight. You only need to add in ice packs in the coolbox to keep your drinks ice-cold.
Tristar Thermo-Electric Cool Box
Best Premium
Rating: 4.0/5.0
- 20 Litre volume.
- A++ energy rated.
- Powerful 40W electric box.
- Features a 230V plug and a 12V car plug.
What stands out?
If you want to get the best premium range thermal electric cool box, this is the model you should consider. This premium range thermos-electric cool box comes with amazing insulation and high-efficiency compressor technology to ensure that the electric cool box can cool your contents down to 37°C below the ambient temperature. The design is quite practical, featuring a safety lock, cord storage, and a detachable lid.
Coleman Cool Box 30QT Performance Cooler
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Large capacity of 28 litres.
- BPA free interior.
- Lightweight and highly portable.
- Comes with a convenient bail handle design.
What stands out?
This is an ideal solution to keeping your food and drinks cold when going out on a trip. It can keep your contents cold for up to 2 days, Furthermore, you will have a lot of space to pack lots of food and drinks to last you your entire trip. It doesn’t matter whether you are going picnic in the park or spending a day at the beach, the coolbox will do the cooling job for you. You will have an easy time transporting the coolbox from one place to another because of the convenient bail handle design.
IGLOO Latitude Outdoor Cooler
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Features a telescopic handle.
- It includes a Deep Draw liner.
- Comes with the Cool Riser Technology.
What stands out?
It is one of those very stylish coolboxes that come with very trendy designs but still remain user friendly. Furthermore, the retractable handle plus the large sturdy casters make it move the coolbox on any type of surface. It has enough space to carry your bottles in an upright position and also includes the cool riser technology that ensures that there is minimal contact the hot ground.
Thermohauser 8300016708 EPP Thermobox GN 1/1 Eco Line, Black
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Made of extremely light expanded polypropylene (EPP) insulating material.
- Easy to open lid over the corners.
- It is perfect for gastronorm containers.
What stands out?
With a capacity of 45 litres, the coolbox is enough to carry all the food and drinks you need for your upcoming road trip or day at the beach. Furthermore, it is made of EPP, which is a robust, extremely insulating material to ensure that your food and drinks stay cold enough. You will also have an easy time cleaning it under hot running water or even in your dishwasher. With the large interior, it is just perfect for use with gastronorm containers.
Coleman Cool Box Xtreme
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Designed with premium insulation technology.
- Features very robust handles.
- Perfect for trips.
- the interior of the coolbox is BPA free.
What stands out?
The premium insulation technology ensures that the coolbox keeps your contents cold on ice packs for days when you are out having fun. The robust lids are robust enough to sustain your weight when you sit on it. These xtreme cool boxes are designed to deliver premium cooling performance using the ice packs you put in them. The lid is also insulated to make sure that all the coldness stays inside for longer ice retention.
WheelsNBits® 24 Litre Large Cooler Box with Carry Handle
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- It is a 24 litre box.
- Ideal for truck, lorry, or camper van experience.
- Made of easy to clean ABS plastic.
What stands out?
The WheelsNBits coolbox is one of the best coolboxes out there that is ideal for camping, road trips in camper vans, and going on a picnic on the beach. It is made of superior quality ABS plastic that is very sturdy and easy to clean. The 24-litre volume interior is enough to carry your favourite snacks. All you need to do is put in your ice packs and you will be ready to keep your food and drinks cold for up to 24 hours.
SUNMER 50L Cooler Box With 2 Ice Packs
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Incredible 50 litre capacity.
- Lightweight and highly portable.
- Comes with 2 ice packs.
What stands out?
The coolbox is made of superior quality, non-polluting food-grade materials to ensure that you always feel guilt-free and safe when you bring this coolbox out. It also features a robust shell to make sure that it keeps your contents as cold as possible for as long as possible despite the conditions you throw at it. Moreover, there are wheels for easy mobility and handles for easy transport. It is capable of keeping your contents cold for up to 48 hours.
Coleman 28 Quart Xtreme Cooler
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Features very strong handles.
- Perfect for long trips.
- Designed with premium insulation technology.
What stands out?
If you have been looking for something to get the party going at the beach or the campsite, this is just the cool box for you. The interior of the cooler is large enough to hold 2-litre bottles standing upright and up to 36 cans. It doesn’t only keep your contents cold but it is also eco-friendly. Furthermore, if you don’t have a seat, you can use the lid as a seat!
Buying Guide
What to Consider when Buying
Types
There are two major types of cool boxes you should consider when shopping for the best cool box.
- Passive: These are coolboxes that you have to use ice packs in order to use them because they don’t have a compressor technology. They are often cheaper and only effective for short periods.
- Electric coolbox: Electric models are better but often pricier. However, they offer the best cooling performance because they feature compressor technology to keep your contents cold for the longest time. You can even find an electric cool.box that comes with a cigarette lighter.
Capacity
The capacity of the cool boxes you should also depend on what you intend to use them for. For instance, if you want to use a cool box just for storing your fridge’s overflow, you may need a large capacity cooler. If you also go out for long trips or with many people, you may also need a large capacity cool box. On the other hand, if you are just going for picnic with your loved one in the park, a mid-sized cool box will do the job.
Wheels
Wheels are great for portability. Therefore, if you can spend more on cool boxes with wheels, the better for you. This makes it easy to pull or push your cooler when it’s full of drinks or food. However, you should ensure that the wheels are sturdy enough to withstand any condition.
FAQ
Are cool boxes better than cool bags?
Cool boxes like the Outwell Ecocool offer better insulation than any cool bag. However, these bags tend to be lighter than boxes.
How long does a cool box last?
If properly taken care of, a quality cooler can last you up to 4 years.
How long is it safe to keep food in a cool box?
If you keep your food in a well-insulated coolbox, it can stay from 5- to 7 days. Any time more than that can be detrimental to your health.
Do ice packs go on top or bottom of the cooler?
Ice packs never go on top of your contents in your passive or electric cooler. They should always be placed on the bottom or on the side of the passive or electric cooler for effective cooling performance.
Conclusion
When out shopping for the most ideal cooler, you should start with the Thermal Cool Box 32L or the Outwell Ecocool because these coolers come packed with impressive and thoughtful features to keep your food cold and drinks stay chilled for a longer time.
