Not all coolers (aka eskies or ice boxes) are created equal. Can you tell which ones will keep your food safely refrigerated for a week-long camping trip, and which ones are just suitable for an afternoon picnic? Our testers can, here's how.
On this page:
- Our expert reviewers
- How we choose which coolers we review
- How we review coolers
- Cooler review criteria explained
- Our test lab
Our expert reviewers
CHOICE maintains a NATA-accredited test laboratory and the vast majority of our product testing is done in-house. Our lab has many years of experience across a range of laboratory disciplines and product areas.
How we choose which coolers we review
With so many coolers to choose from, we can't review them all. Instead we aim to test the most popular brands and types on the market, and the coolers you are most likely to see in camping and outdoor stores, as well as other major retailers.
- we survey manufacturers to find out about their range of products
- we check market sales information
- we also check for any member requests to test specific models.
How we review coolers
Our refrigeration experts can tell how most coolers will perform just by examining their construction and materials.
Cooler review criteria explained
The overall score is based entirely on performance, i.e. how long the cooler will keep its contents cold, and are scored as follows:
- 80% – these are the coolers to go for if you need their contents to stay chilled on one load of ice for a long time – in the case of a large cooler, this can be several days
- 70% – these are good performers and can keep the contents chilled for a few days – enough for a weekend camp, for instance
- 60% – these are OK performers better suited for short term use. Don't rely on them for more than a day or two of chilling.
The scores are only comparable within each size category (medium, large and extra large), as a larger cooler naturally holds a greater mass of ice and chilled food and therefore takes longer to warm up.
Our test lab
CHOICE has high-quality NATA-accredited laboratories, and lab staff skilled and accredited in wide range of product testing. Our equipment is calibrated to ensure accurate and precise measurements.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
