The best cool boxes to take on a picnic

Keep food and drinks fresh with the best cool box 🧊

The best cool boxes to take on a picnic

by Lily Anderson |
Updated on

Do you want to make the most of the sunshine when it's here? As well as remembering your sun cream and water on days out, the next thing that should be on your list is a cool box.

Whether you’re popping to a friend's house for a 2m gin in the garden or on a walk around a beautiful wood, taking one of the best cool boxes will improve your time together. Not only can you bring snacks with you, but it will help to make the most of your shared experience. Quiche, anyone?

What is a cool box?

If you’re wondering what a cool box is and how it works, then we’ve got the answer for you. It’s simple really, it uses foam insulation to keep things fresh. If you opt for a cool bag, then you’ll need to use it with a freezer pack.

How to keep a cool box cool

Over time, cool boxes will begin to warm up, so it’s essential to regularly replace the freeze packs and ensure that they’re as full as possible. The fewer sandwiches and cans of fizzy pop inside, the warmer your food will become. We know, we couldn’t believe it either.

Without further ado, here are our favourites and what we think are the best cool boxes to take on a picnic, or anywhere else.

Gallery

The best cool box

Pynhoklm 22L Insulated Picnic Basket1 of 6

Pynhoklm 22L Insulated Picnic Basket

OK, so it's not a box per se, but a basket is even better, right? It boasts features like leak-proof lining and should keep food and drink warm or cold for up to six to seven hours. The fact it can fold down when not is use is just the cherry on the top.

IGLOO Playmate Elite Compact Coolbox2 of 6

IGLOO Playmate Elite Compact Coolbox

This bright mini cool box is fantastic for transporting drinks or snacks on the go. Due to the size, we'd recommend using this as a lunch box.

Twin Cool Bag Set - 22L and 8L3 of 6

Twin Cool Bag Set - 22L and 8L

Keep sausage rolls and sandwiches chilled, with not one, but two cool boxes. With one medium bag and one large bag, you'll have plenty of room to feed everyone - including the dog.

Coleman Cooler 5Qt Flip Lid Blue4 of 6

Coleman Cooler 5Qt Flip Lid Blue

Grab your flip flops and head off to your local nature reserve for a long walk. While you're there, enjoy some alfresco dining on a blanket with this little beauty and watch the world go by. We also love the fact that the lid can be used as a cup holder.

Retro Style Cooler Box5 of 6
CREDIT: Not On The High Street

Retro Style Cooler Box

We're obsessed with this retro style cooler box from Not On The High Street. It might be a little pricey, but it looks great and can hold six wine bottles and has a beer bottle opener on the side.

AmazonBasics Thermoelectric Cooler6 of 6

AmazonBasics Thermoelectric Cooler

Are you planning a camping trip? This large box will help you transport all the essentials you need for a long weekend under the stars. It can even fit in a 2L bottle if it stands upwards.

All of these cool boxes have been hand-selected by What's The Best shopping experts. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching, so you can choose the best one. Plus, we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in. Find out why you should trust us here__.

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Lily Anderson is a Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media, where she reviews products for titles like Heat, Closer, What’s the Best, Yours and Mother&Baby.

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