The Best Picnic Cooler Bags and Ice Chests to Take With You Outdoors
All-day-cool refreshments.
A cooler is the ideal container to keep your drinks chilled and on-hand this summer. The best coolers should be mobile and large enough to carry your desired amount of items, as well as able to withstand the sun's heat or extended periods outside the fridge, whilst at the same time keeping its contents at a desired temperature. Read this guide to discover the best cooler bags and ice chests for your on-the-go cooling needs.
In This Guide:
Soft-Sided Coolers vs. Hard-Sided Coolers
Best Soft-Sided Coolers
Best Coolers for Camping
Best Small Coolers
Best Coolers With Wheels
Best Beach Coolers
Soft-Sided Coolers vs. Hard-Sided Coolers
When it comes to the best coolers, there are two distinct types to choose from: soft-sided coolers and hard-sided coolers. They both work the same to cool down their contents, but each of these coolers has its own features that are appropriate for different uses and settings.
Soft-Sided Coolers: Soft-sided coolers, made from sewn-together fabric, come in many shapes and sizes all usually under 40L. They are measured by how many cans and/or bottles they can hold, though their soft construction and smaller size means they offer smaller storage space. Soft-sided coolers usually come with straps or handles that make them easy to transport while their collapsibility makes them easy to store.
Soft-sided coolers are insulated by malleable closed-cell foam in their walls and lid. They are usually opened and closed with a zip or magnets. They are the best coolers for daily lunches and short outdoor day trips because they are lighter and easier to carry than hard-sided coolers. Due to their smaller size and fabric construction, soft-sided coolers generally cost less than hard-sided coolers. Soft coolers can be made from materials such as canvas, cotton, neoprene, polyester, vinyl and strong nylon that is water-resistant.
Hard-Sided Coolers: Hard-sided coolers are usually made from a thick rotomolded plastic shell with insulation in the walls and lid. They can also be manufactured from stainless steel and aluminum. For this reason, hard-sided coolers are more costly than their soft-sided counterparts. Hard-sided coolers have a larger storage capacity (which is measured by volume) than soft-sided coolers, though this can make them more cumbersome to transport.
Some hard-sided coolers have wheels to improve their portability, which is especially helpful when transporting a heavy load. Hard-sided coolers usually have a hinged lid or a lid that comes off entirely. These coolers are perfect for big garden parties, all-day outings and camping trips.
Best Soft-Sided Coolers
The best soft-sided coolers combine ease of transport with large capacity to give you the most versatile and least cumbersome experience possible.
1. 3 Bottle Gardenia Picnic Cooler
The 3 bottle Gardenia picnic cooler is a fresh and modern new picnic variety which features an eclectic mix of floral or stripes. This soft cooler holds around 20L and keeps its contents chilled for up to 6 hours, whilst the use of additional ice packs will extend its overall chilling time. The design is collapsible, making it the ideal soft-sided cooler to easily transport with you on your next outdoor adventure. To maintain the bag, simply wipe clean after every use and store accordingly.
This new variety of cooler bag is tropically-inspired and features a bold animal print design. The most affordable our of range, this cute picnic cooler boasts a 4L storage capacity, perfect for quick trips to the park or an afternoon in the garden. The cooler measures a petite 17cm x 22cm x 15cm, making transportation easy. Simply strap the cooler over your shoulder or place in the front basket of your bike and you're good to go.
This Schermerhorn 30L cool bag is incredibly roomy and has been designed to accommodate a combination of food, containers and drinks. The design is foldable and in addition to the insulated lining, there's also a removable lining - ideal if some of its contents has excess moisture. The main compartment of the bag has a zip closure for quick, yet secure access. The easy-to-carry webbing handles and shoulder strap are comfortable and sturdy and make for smooth transportation. This cool bag is the perfect accompaniment for a day spent with family and friends enjoying time together outdoors.
Best Coolers for Camping
If you enjoy camping, you'll understand the importance of having a heavy-duty cooler to keep large amounts of food chilled. Most camping coolers are hard-sided as they need to be built to survive the wear-and-tear that comes with camping. The more rugged models can even serve as additional seating when the lid is on or closed. Hard-sided coolers are ideal for camping as they provide better ice retention, often able to keep ice frozen for two to three days at a time. The best camping cooler should also be bear-proof to keep pesky bugs and animals at bay.
Tip: Freeze your food and drink before you go camping to keep them colder for longer.
1. 24L Handheld Cooler
A neat and reliable solution for a day camping, this handheld plastic cool box offers plenty of storage for snacks and drinks. The cool box includes a lid that can be used as a flat surface for food preparation, and indentations to help prevent cups from being knocked over. Inside, it has indentations to allow you to divide the box into sections with ice packs. It has enough capacity for 36 x 330ml cans or six x 2L bottles. Two ice packs are included.
This high-performance cooler is the perfect choice for campers and all-round outdoor adventurers. With up to 9 days of ice retention and a strong durable build, its performance exceeds most premium-priced coolers. The insulated lid and body provide protection and ice retention while remaining light enough for easy transportation. This product offers plenty of space for multiple days out camping. This ice chest holds a colossal weight of up to 72L, but don't worry if you bring all your goods and nothing to open them with - this design comes with a bottle opener included.
Tip: If you're using a cooler for a number of days, be sure to drain it regularly as water can make the ice melt faster.
Best Small Coolers
A cooler doesn't have to be a cumbersome trunk filled to the brim with food and drink. Sometimes all you need is a small cooler to hold a drink or two. Small coolers can be both hard-and-soft-sided. The best small cooler should be limited in size and easy to transport while still fitting your necessary food and beverages for your outing.
1. 6-Can Personal Cooler
The 6-Can personal cooler has a durable vinyl interior lining that doesn't leak. The dual-side mesh pockets and front-zippered pockets offer convenient spaces to store essential items such as cutlery, napkins or drinkware. The design features an eclectic mix of statement stripes, tropical and tribal prints, to create a bright, modern and on-trend look to liven up any room or alfresco occasion. Its soft sides mean this cooler is collapsable for easy storage, while its included strap makes for easy portability. The waterproof interior and water-resistant exterior of this cooler ensure it will look good and last for a long time.
The small, soft-sided shoulder cooler bag holds six cans. The design features an easy zip closure, as well as a modern silver and red striped pattern. At just 15cm in height, the bag is washable and fairyl low-maintenance as well as recyclable. Its wide bottom gives added stability, so you can rest assured that your beverages are safe and secure. The overall capacity is more than enough for a trip to the park or a summer BBQ.
Best Coolers With Wheels
Wheels make a cooler easy to move around, an especially valuable trait since these types of coolers are generally hard-sided and thus can be heavy and difficult to transport using handles alone. The more cumbersome a cooler, the more convenient wheels are, particularly when using large outdoor deck coolers or for taking a rolling cooler to a location that is a distance from your car.
Tip: A cold cooler keeps ice for longer, so pack it with ice the night before your outing instead of the day of.
1. 33L Cricket Chest Cooler
Cricket fans will love this! The 'Cricket Cooler® is the phenomenon from down under. The cool and fun way to play beach, park or back garden cricket, this cooler comes with a 33L capacity and keeps food and drinks chilled. The additional bottle opener means you won't have to worry about opening those celebratory drinks after every match.
Best Beach Coolers
The beach is a summer attraction that you will want to enjoy for hours without worrying about keeping your drinks cool. No one wants to lug a heavy and hard-to-carry cooler across the sand; the best beach cooler will provide you a hassle-free way to keep your food chilled while you swim and sunbathe.
1. Symple Stuff 10L Handheld Cooler
Keep your food and drinks fresh and cold with this practical handheld Cooler. It has a 10L capacity and carries handle for easy transport that also locks the lid in place, making this cooler box a must for days at the beach. The lid can be turned over to use as a flat surface. It has 6 indentations for placing your cups on it whilst you're enjoying the sun and sea. Take advantage and use the additional freezer pack together with the cooler box to help maintain freshness.
No matter where or when you need to chill your food this summer, you can find the best cooler to meet your cooling needs by browsing our wide selection of coolers.
