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Cooler reviews

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Last updated: 23 December 2022
Fact-checked

Fact-checked

Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers, verifiers and subject experts. Find out more about fact-checking at CHOICE.

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.

Read more

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.

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Brand

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List of brands we tested in this review.

    Price

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    Recommended or typical retail price at the time of testing.

    enter value/s in increments of 1 between 30 and 1800

    Recommended products

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    Size

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    We group the coolers into four size categories: small (0–40L), medium (41–60L), large (61–80L) and extra large (81L and over). The bigger the cooler, the more ice it can fit and the longer it will keep its cool, but make sure your new cooler will fit in your vehicle before you size up.

      Claimed volume (L)

      enter value/s in increments of i between 30 and 350

      Weight when empty (kg)

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      The weight of the cooler when empty. For lab-tested models this is the weight we measure. For the rest, it's the manufacturer's claimed weight. Some models do not state their weight.

      enter value/s in increments of i between 3.8 and 47

      Warranty

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      The stated warranty in years. Not all coolers specify a warranty (shown as 'Not stated'). Some specify a 'lifetime' warranty, which usually means the expected life for such a product under normal use, and isn't as usefully specific as a set number of years.

        Included in this review

        Members-only access
        • Recommended
        • CHOICE Expert Rating
        • CHOICE lab tested
        • Price
        • Size
        • Wheels
        • Drain
        • Secure clasps
        • Baskets
        • Padlock space
        • Fits 33cm bottle
        • Flat top
        • Gasket
        • Extra features
        • Claimed volume (L)
        • Dimensions (cm, H x W x D)
        • Length (cm)
        • Width (cm)
        • Height (cm)
        • Weight when empty (kg)
        • Warranty

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