Dewalt DWST1-81333 TOUGHSYSTEM™ DS404 Cooler Box, Yellow, 15l

Product Information

Type: 12V cool box | Capacity: 30L | Cold performance: Up to 16°C below ambient temperature when powered | Material: Plastic with polyurethane foam insulation | Weight: 5.4kg | Size: 48.5 x 36 x 50.5cm What we like 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. Type: Passive | Capacity: 51L | Cold performance: 5 days | Material: Plastic | Weight: 3.7kg | Size: 67 x 39 x 39 cm What we like

DeWalt DWST83281-1 T-STAK Mobile Cooler Box - FFX DeWalt DWST83281-1 T-STAK Mobile Cooler Box - FFX

Type: Passive | Capacity: 50L | Cold performance: 5 days to a week | Material: Food grade UV-resistant polyethylene | Weight: 16.3kg | Size: 47.3 x 71.8 x 49.5cm What we like We have an Icey-Tek, bought a few years ago and it's totally amazing.” (Reviewed by northerngirl2012) Our verdict Portability - Whilst many cool boxes are large and bulky, you should look for features that make it more portable, such as wheels, carry handles, telescope handles or easy grip indents.

8. Best 12V cool box: Vango E-Pinnacle 12V Cooler Box, 30L

Type: Thermoelectric | Capacity: 24L | Cold performance: 4-5 days | Material: Polyfoam | Weight: 4.6kg | Size: 38 x 24.5 x 42 cm What we like With an Australian retro style design that’s available in a wide variety of bright colours, Mumsnet users rave about Icey-Tek Cube Cool Boxes for their high durability, impressive five-year warranty and excellent insulation that’ll keep your contents colder for longer than other boxes.

Dewalt TSTAK | Robert Dyas Dewalt TSTAK | Robert Dyas

Absorption cool boxes Similar in size and design to compressor cool boxes, but you can also power these with gas. Whether you’re off for a picnic on the beach, heading to a festival, or embarking on a family camping trip, you’re going to want a practical solution that can keep your food and drink cool, no matter how warm it gets outside.

Best cooling boxes at a glance

The best cool boxes keep the contents chilled better for longer. The best electric cool boxes cooled the chilled bottles of water to an even lower temperature by the end of the day than when we put them in. Leakproof We tested passive cool boxes and electric cool boxes from major UK retailers and brands. We bought every product we tested, so you can be sure our opinion isn't biased by us receiving freebies. Insulation With a 51L capacity that can hold the equivalent of 76 330ml cans, it’s relatively big and bulky when full. That said, it comes with two gripped handles for comfortable carrying and multiple tie-down points to secure in your car during travel. When it’s time to relax in your tent, the four cup holders integrated into the lid can even be used to create a handy makeshift table. Type: Passive | Capacity: 25L | Cold performance: Up to 6 days | Material: Pressure-injected polyurethane insulation | Weight: 8kg | Size: 46 x 42.5 x 37.5cm What we like We love the two recessed can holders in the lid, and with the addition of a built-in bottle opener, you’re sure to have everything you need close to hand when it’s time to relax and enjoy the contents. We’d pair with the best handheld fan for the ultimate on-the-go cooling experience.

DeWalt ToughSystem 25.5Ltr Cooler - Screwfix

All cool boxes performed OK, but all the electric cool boxes we tested performed better than passive ones. 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: 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.Whilst cool bags are certainly the most portable, if you want to guarantee a cool drink for longer, it may be time to upgrade to the best cool box. Although relatively big and bulky, these robust and highly-insulated cooling boxes can house significant capacity and chill your contents for a number of days rather than hours. 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 Type: Passive | Capacity: 66L | Cold performance: Up to 5 days | Material: High density polyethylene, polyurethane | Weight: 6.1kg | Size: 71 x 39 x 44 cm What we like Compressor cool boxes These top-of-the range coolers usually start at 40 litres and resemble a mini-fridge. They need plugging in, and hi-tech models are available that can be controlled with apps. Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.