Learn on to find our prime cool containers. For extra on consuming within the nice open air, take a look at a few of favorite seasonal recipes from spring desserts to household picnic recipes and simple traybake dinners. We have examined all of the package you may want for al fresco eating: take a look at our critiques of the greatest tenting stoves, greatest picnic devices and greatest picnic hampers.
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Finest cool containers at a look
- Finest cool bag for versatility: Pink Authentic waterproof 30l cool bag, £179.95
- Finest tote cool bag: Hydroflask 20l insulated tote cool bag, £59.95
- Finest cool backpack: Pink Authentic insulated cool backpack, £134.95
- Finest finances cool field: Campos cool field 29l, £25
- Finest all-round cool field: Outwell Ecocool slate gray cool field 24l, £70
- Finest space-saving cool bag: Mobicool 12V thermoelectric 32l cool bag MB32, £78.88
- Finest mid-range cool field: Halfords 24l electrical cool field, £70
- Finest cool field for carrying giant portions: Coleman 50QT Xtreme wheeled cooler, £102.34
- Finest inexpensive cool backpack: Kuyou 45l cool backpack, £42.99
- Finest funding cool field: YETI Roadie 24 cooler, £199
- Finest cool backpack for a brief journey: Vonshef 18l cooler backpack, £24.99
- Finest foldable cool bag: Lakeland Thermoflex cool bag 20l, £39.99
- Finest cool backpack for bottles: Lakeland insulated backpack cool bag 20l, £34.99
- Finest wanting cool backpack: Thermos The City insulated backpack 12L, £39.99
- Finest giant cool bag on wheels: Igloo MaxCold 40 Ice 38l wheeled cool field, £80.38
- Finest pull-along cool bag on wheels: Polar Gear Lively trolley cool bag 21l, £49.99
How to decide on the very best cool field
Relying on the place you are planning to make use of your cooler will have an effect on your alternative. They’re usually made out of heavy-duty plastic and insulated with polyurethane foam, which tends to maintain meals colder for longer. Most often, you may want so as to add ice packs to maintain the temperature down.
Cool luggage are typically lighter than cool containers and as soon as emptied, you possibly can pack them down for simpler storage. You might forfeit capability for portability as the biggest luggage would be the heaviest to hold when loaded – which is when wheeled choices come into play. In all circumstances, take into consideration measurement. Would you like to have the ability to stand a litre bottle upright inside, or maybe you’ve a casserole dish that should sit comfortably within the base?
Electrical cool luggage and containers with a cigarette-lighter charging cable are best when you’re heading on a protracted automobile journey. They enhance the period of cooling, however will add extra weight. As soon as you have determined the kind of exercise you require a cool field for, we advocate contemplating the next with a view to purchase one which fulfils each want:
- Weight: a cool field for maintaining drinks chilly within the backyard may be weighty, however when you’re travelling with it over a brief distance, a lighter possibility with wheels shall be higher
- Capability: how many individuals will you be catering for? The scale of cool luggage are sometimes described in litres quite than individuals, however as a rule of thumb, 18 litres will carry between 25-28 cans, 30 litres will match round 50, and something above this shall be giant sufficient for a wide range of foods and drinks vessels
- Bag or field: if portability is the purpose, cool luggage are a way more versatile for transporting, usually that includes straps for carrying it over the shoulder or as a rucksack
- Sturdiness: you need to be assured {that a} absolutely packed cool bag or field will be capable to help the load, and in addition will not be let down by its handles, straps or wheels whenever you try to maneuver it
- Straightforward-clean interior: cool containers needs to be wipe-clean and rinsable
- Waterproof capabilities: significantly essential for cooler luggage when you’re taking them out and about, but in addition that the liner is leakproof
16 greatest cool containers to purchase in 2022
Pink Authentic waterproof cool bag (30l)
Finest cooler bag for versatility
Execs:
- Waterproof and leakproof
- BPA-free lining
- Zipper lubricant included
- Further shoulder strap
Cons:
- Stiff zip
- Robust ‘new product’ scent
Star score: 5/5
It is a cooler bag-box hybrid, geared up with carry straps and extra handles, with a sturdy exterior that is self-supporting. It has spectacular cooling capabilities, dwelling as much as the 72-hour credential for maintaining ice frozen (with a little bit of soften). It is also sensible. The physique is bolstered and waterproof, with a YKK Aquaseal zip designed to maintain water out and leaks in. There are two facet pockets and wave webbing, a baggage stress system for attaching it to your boat, roof or automobile. In the event you’re after an easy-to-carry cooler field for adventures that is giant sufficient for a household of six, that is our prime suggestion.
Obtainable from:
RED (£179.95)
Hydroflask insulated tote cool bag (20l)
Finest tote cooler bag
Execs:
- Light-weight
- Modern fashion
- Waterproof exterior
- BPA-free
Cons:
Star score: 4.5/5
Recognized for its water bottles and insulated thermal flasks, Hydroflask has designed this wonderful insulated tote. Its polyethylene foam insulation stored meals chilled for 4 hours with ice blocks inside. It is a sensible measurement, comfortably becoming a standing wine bottle, plus loads of meals for 4 individuals. You would not need to overpack it due to the shoulder-strap design, however it’s surprisingly comfy to put on.
Obtainable from:
Alpine Trek (£59.95)
Pink 15L insulated cooler backpack
Finest insulated cooler backpack
Execs:
- Light-weight
- Wonderful insulation
- Eco-conscious TPU
- BPA-free interior lining
Cons:
Star score: 4.5/5
The boxy exterior construction of this backpack is self -supporting, coated with an impressively sturdy TPU cloth. The padded straps and again panel made carrying it a snug expertise, though the chest strap got here into play when absolutely loaded. We discovered its 15L capability was sufficient area to stack lunch for 4, helped by the 2 excessive bottle pouches which encased a tall water bottle in a single facet and two cans of beer stacked within the different. The one draw back is the stiffness of its zip – chargeable for it is spectacular leakproof credentials. The added bungee storage pocket held a scrunched up jacket while keys and a cellphone fitted within the prime zip pouch.
Obtainable from:
Pink Authentic (£134.95)
Campos cool field (29l)
Finest finances cool field
Execs:
- Light-weight
- Good insulation
Cons:
Star score: 4/5
This cooler is light-weight with out compromising on sturdiness, making it best if it’s essential to carry your provides over a distance. It additionally holds 29 litres, so you possibly can actually load it up. It’s doable to face six 1.5-litre bottles within the base, which implies mushy drinks are coated, in addition to wine. We discovered it retained the temperature effectively, with a very good seal and insulation.
Obtainable from:
Argos (£25)
Outwell Ecocool slate gray cool field (24l)
Finest all-round cool field
Execs:
- Powered by in-car socket
- Cable storage in lid
- Handled with a biocidal product for antibacterial impact
Cons:
- Air vents should not be blocked
- Power score F on the EEI scale regardless of its ‘eco’ identify
Star score: 5/5
This cooler ticked all of our containers, from nice cooling capability to efficiency. It’s a well-thought-out little bit of package. There’s an oblong water bottle which doubles as an ice pack and slots handily within the field as a divider, serving to to keep up a low temperature. It may be powered each to warmth and funky, both within the automobile or with a mains plug, giving it versatility. Effort has clearly gone into the expertise behind its vitality effectivity, however its efficiency is extra spectacular than the eco credentials its identify suggests.
Obtainable from:
Mobicool 12V thermoelectric cool bag MB32 (32l)
Finest space-saving cool bag
Execs:
- In-car socket for travelling
- Adjustable shoulder strap
Cons:
- Not free-standing so wants propping up throughout journey in a automobile
Star score: 4/5
Cool containers are typically more practical than luggage with regards to insulation, however this Mobicool bag deserves its place within the line-up. It proved very efficient in its personal proper, and with an in-car socket, you are given the choice of extending that point over lengthy journeys. Being a bag, it is also lighter than the containers with a cooling mechanism, and has the good thing about folding to a smaller measurement as soon as empty.
Obtainable from:
Halfords electrical cool field (24l)
Finest mid-range cool field
Execs:
- Wipe-clean inside
- Sensible measurement and form
Cons:
Star score: 4.5/5
We preferred this cooler for its ultra-practical enchantment. With a 24-litre capability, together with room to face two giant bottles, an in-car socket and a streamlined form, we felt it provided loads for its price ticket. Mains adaptors can be found at further price. The insulation proved very efficient and, as with all electrical fashions, the load lends itself to brief walks past the automobile.
Obtainable from:
Halfords (£70)
Coleman 50QT Xtreme wheeled cooler
Finest cool field for carrying giant portions
Execs:
- Large capability
- Sensible ‘panorama’ form good for stacking
- Sturdy wheels and deal with
Cons:
- Chunky to retailer when not in use
Star score: 3.5/5
This cool field holds a whopping 47 litres, but is surprisingly light-weight when empty. It comes with a set of wheels and a deal with, making it manageable even when packed to the brim. The plughole on the backside is a pleasant element – when you’ve stuffed it with ice, you possibly can simply drain the water away.
Obtainable from:
Kuyou cooler backpack (45l)
Finest inexpensive cooler backpack
Execs:
- Large capability
- Waterproof
- Padded again and straps
Cons:
- Low-cost-feel and impractical picnic mat included
Star score: 4/5
With a rucksack this measurement, you want sturdy and comfy straps with a supportive again padding, and the Kuyou provides each. The sq. base is sensible for stacking sq. pots of meals. Vertical storage requires some extra strategic considering, however a single exterior bottle sleeve permits a bit extra wiggle room.
Some thought has gone into methods to make this as sensible as doable, together with a wipeable interior floor and the adjustable straps throughout its entrance, good for holding a folded picnic rug or mat. A picnic rug is included, however being small and white in color, it proved a bit impractical. Further bolstered facet handles and a bottle opener are additionally good extras. Ice remained frozen for eight hours.
Obtainable from:
Amazon (£42.99)
YETI Roadie 24 cooler
Finest funding cool field
Execs:
- Effectively-made and hardwearing
- Obtainable in a lot of colors
- Sturdy building protects contents
- YETI ice packs that can be purchased individually
- Sturdy rubber ft
Cons:
Star score: 5/5
This funding stage cool field is definitely value, however for the cash you’ll get a top-notch, hardwearing cool field that ought to stand the check of time. It’s heavy although and weighs in at virtually 6kg when empty, so regardless of having a sturdy, comfy deal with, you received’t need to carry it too far, making it greatest suited to street journeys, tenting, or boat journeys.
The lid locks firmly in place with two latches that assist it kind a decent seal. With the addition of a bag of ice it stored our choice of drinks chilly for a powerful 36 hours, however this shall be diminished when you open it ceaselessly.
Obtainable from:
YETI (£200)
Amazon (£200)
Vonshef 18l cooler backpack
Finest cool backpack for a brief journey
Execs:
- Inexpensive
- Compact
- Separate entrance pocket
Cons:
- Base of backpack can dig into your again
- If something leaks inside a small quantity will soak by to the surface of the bag
Star score: 4/5
This backpack is the best measurement for a visit to the park with little ones or a leisurely stroll. It has loads of area to maintain a few drinks chilly together with some snacks or a small lunch, however it’s not roomy sufficient for a full-blown picnic. That mentioned, this compact bag continues to be misleading in its measurement and there’s area for bottles of wine or bigger bottles of fizzy drinks. It efficiently stored our lunch chilly for six hours, even with out an ice pack.
The zipped entrance pocket isn’t insulated however it’s a helpful spot to maintain your cellphone and keys. The adjustable shoulder straps are comfy even when the bag is loaded up, though if it’s stuffed with a variety of heavy gadgets the underside of the backpack can dig into your again.
Obtainable from:
Vonhaus (£21.99)
Amazon (£24.99)
Lakeland Thermoflex cool bag 20l
Finest foldable cool bag
Execs:
- Folds for straightforward storage
- Comfy padded deal with
- Good capability
Cons:
- Tender construction doesn’t shield delicate gadgets
- Zip generally will get caught
- No shoulder strap
Star score: 3/5
In the event you’re on the lookout for a cool bag that you could simply roll up and tuck into one other bag when you’ve devoured your picnic, that is the one for you. It doesn’t have a inflexible construction, which implies as soon as all of your meals and drinks are gone, you’re not left with a giant empty bag to cart round for the remainder of the day. Nonetheless, this design provides little safety to delicate gadgets and when you don’t pack it fastidiously, your crusty rolls may simply get squashed.
The oblong form makes it straightforward to pack in a lot of meals and it’s tall sufficient for a bottle of wine to face upright. Our picnic was nonetheless chilly after six hours but when something leaks inside, it soaks proper by the bag.
Obtainable from:
Lakeland insulated backpack cool bag 20l
Finest cool backpack for bottles
Execs:
- Helpful facet pockets and entrance pocket
- Area for a bottle of wine
- Produced from recycled plastic bottles
- Padded shoulder straps
- Didn’t leak when ice melted inside
Cons:
Star score: 4.5/5
With ample peak for even the tallest of bottles, this tall backpack requires some thought when packing, as gadgets on the backside are usually not simply accessible as soon as it’s full. There may be nevertheless an insulated entrance pocket which is nice for maintaining smaller snacks shut at hand and reduces the necessity to unzip the primary compartment as usually.
There are bottle pockets on each side, however the insulated padding solely covers the underside half of most bottles, so drinks right here don’t keep cool for lengthy. The massive capability means it may be heavy when full up, however the shoulder straps have a very good quantity of padding and it stays fairly comfy. We didn’t add ice packs and our picnic remained properly chilled for six hours.
Obtainable from:
Thermos The City insulated backpack 12l
Finest wanting cool backpack
Execs:
- Comfy
- Compact
- Trendy
- Didn’t leak when ice melted inside
Cons:
- Small opening at prime
- Small capability
Star score: 3.5/5
With a stylish gray and white camo design coupled with inexperienced trim, this appears like a daily backpack, which means you possibly can carry round chilly drinks and snacks with out having to compromise on fashion. The 12-litre capability doesn’t provide you with area for a big picnic, however it’s tall sufficient for bottles and roomy sufficient for a few packed lunches. It stored our lunch and drinks cool for 4 hours with out an ice pack.
The facet pockets don’t preserve drinks chilly so we’d advocate utilizing them to carry insulated water bottles. Though the zipped pocket behind the bag is an efficient measurement for a cellphone and pockets, its place means gadgets in there can dig into your again, so it’s not the very best place in your keys.
Obtainable from:
Robert Dyas (£39.99)
Igloo MaxCold 40 Ice 38l wheeled cool field
Finest giant cool field on wheels
Execs:
- Fairly priced
- Sturdy design
- Spacious inside
- Sturdy building protects contents
Cons:
- Lid doesn’t have a latch or lock
Star score: 5/5
It is a giant capability rugged cool field with chunky wheels. It’s best for tenting journeys or festivals the place you possibly can’t park very near your tent. Plus, the efficient insulation can preserve meals chilly for days below the correct circumstances. We stuffed it with meals and drinks in addition to a bag of ice and it was all nonetheless chilled 36 hours later.
At round 4kg it’s not too heavy and, even when full, it’s effectively balanced with a giant deal with that’s sturdy and comfy, so it doesn’t really feel heavy to tug alongside. There’s loads of area inside for bottles to face upright and the easy form means it’s straightforward to pack. The lid types a decent seal, though we’d have preferred to see a latch to lock it closed.
Obtainable from:
Igloo (£89.95)
Amazon (£80.38)
Polar Gear Lively trolley cool bag 21l
Finest pull-along cool bag on wheels
Execs:
- Saves having to hold your picnic
- Velcro straps make it compact to retailer
- Good measurement entrance pocket
- Two sturdy cloth facet handles for straightforward lifting
Cons:
- Extendable deal with not as sturdy as we’d like
- Mesh facet pockets too small for many bottles
Star score: 3.5./5
With two wheels on the again and an adjustable telescopic deal with, this cool bag has the texture of a small cabin suitcase. So long as the bottom isn’t too uneven, you’ll be capable to take your picnic anyplace with out having to hold a heavy bag. You wouldn’t take it out for a hike by the hills and it’s not as sturdy as a cool field on wheels (quite than a bag on wheels), however it’s good if there’s a little bit of a stroll out of your automobile to the picnic spot.
We discovered it straightforward to tug on grass in addition to uneven slabs. The addition of two ft on the entrance means it received’t topple over whenever you let go of the deal with. Although it’s not large, there’s ample area for a picnic and it’s tall sufficient for bottles. Our picnic stayed good and funky for round six hours.
How we examined cool containers
Sturdiness: coolers are sometimes heavy once they’re packed as the load of cans, ice blocks and meals all provides up. We needed handles that made it straightforward to carry.
Portability: until you’re solely planning to make use of your cool field within the backyard or for fridge overflow, portability is essential. Further factors got the place coolers had been particularly straightforward to move.
Hold-cool functionality: this was key to our decisions, being the first operate of a cool bag or field. A superb seal and efficient insulation had been a should.
Further options: in-car electrical chargers, wheels, drinks holders and easy-carry choices had been effectively rated among the many sea of merchandise in the marketplace.
Straightforward to make use of and clear: something that carries meals must be simply cleaned earlier than and after use, so we appeared for interiors that might be simply cleaned.
How we examined: we stuffed every of the coolers with luggage of ice, ice packs, drinks and typical picnic meals. We then checked the contents at intervals utilizing a thermometer and timed how lengthy it took for the ice cubes to soften.
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This evaluation was up to date in July 2022. You probably have any questions, ideas for future critiques or spot something that has modified in value or availability, please get in contact at goodfoodwebsite@rapid.co.uk.
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