Whether you call them ice boxes, coolers or eskies, no one wants warm drinks, limp sandwiches or a bout of food poisoning to ruin a day out.
We review and test hard-framed coolers sized from 40L to over 350L to find out which ones:
- keep your food and drinks cool the longest
- have the best range of features.
Read our cooler buying guide to work out which type of cooler you need.
Most of the coolers in this review are assessed by visual inspection. Our lab testers are experienced enough with testing coolers to know how they’ll perform through careful examination of how they’re constructed. These visually assessed models don’t have photos, as we examine them in stores (or on manufacturer websites, if their information is detailed enough). Some models are put through our rigorous lab testing to check the visual assessments and to test any models whose construction can’t be determined by inspection alone.
Our interactive comparison tool helps you find out which brands are best suited to you, whether you’re going on a day trip, a fishing weekend or several days off-road in the bush. Our Recommended list will show you at a glance which models come out on top.