Whether you're heading off for a day at the beach, a weekend camping trip, or a two-week caravan holiday keeping food fresh, drinks chilled, and snacks cool means you can spend less time worrying about your supplies and more time enjoying the outdoors.

From lightweight passive cool boxes to high-performance electric cool boxes, there's an option to suit every type of camper. In this guide, we'll explain the different types of cool boxes, how to choose the right size, and what to look for before you buy.

Why do I need a Cool Box for Camping?

A quality cool box allows you to safely store perishable food, reduce trips to the campsite shop, and enjoy chilled drinks throughout your adventure. Depending on the type you choose, a cool box can keep contents cold for a few hours, several days, or continuously when connected to a power source.

Types of Cool Boxes

Your first step is selecting the type of cool box that suits your camping style.

Passive Cool Boxes

Passive cool boxes use high-quality insulation and ice packs to keep food and drinks cool without requiring electricity. They're lightweight, easy to transport, and ideal for shorter trips.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and portable
  • No electricity required
  • Affordable
  • Great for short trips

Cons:

  • Cooling performance relies on ice packs
  • Limited cooling time

Best for:

  • Camping without electric
  • Festivals
  • Picnics
  • Beach days
  • Day trips

Electric Cool Boxes

Electric cool boxes plug into a 12V vehicle socket, leisure battery, or mains hook-up, providing continuous cooling throughout your trip.

Ideal for caravanners, motorhome owners, seasonal campers, and those on longer holidays, they eliminate the need for ice packs while offering more consistent temperature control.

Pros

  • Continuous cooling
  • No ice packs required
  • Better temperature control

Cons:

  • Requires a power source
  • Heavier than passive cool boxes

Best for:

  • Caravan holidays
  • Motorhome touring
  • Seasonal pitches
  • Longer camping trips 
  • Camping trips with electric
What size Cool Box do I need?

Choosing the right size cool box depends on how many people you're catering for and how long you'll be away.

Small Cool Box (10-25Litres)

Best for:

  • Solo campers
  • Couples 
  • Day trips
  • Picnic

Medium Cool Boxes (25 - 40Litre)

Best for:

  • Weekend camping trips
  • Small families
  • Short holidays

Large Cool Boxes (40Litre+)

Best for:

  • Family holidays
  • Group camping
  • Caravan and motorhome trips
  • Longer adventures

Attwoolls Tip: If you're unsure, choose a cool box that's slightly larger than you think you'll need. It's much easier to have extra space than to run out of room. 

Cooling Performance

Cooling performance refers to how well a cool box maintains a low internal temperature and keeps your food and drinks chilled. The better the insulation and cooling technology, the longer your contents will stay fresh.

What affects cooling performance:

  • Insulation quality – Thick, well-insulated walls and lids help keep cold air in and warm air out.
  • Seal quality – A secure lid seal prevents warm air from entering the cool box each time it is opened.
  • Outside temperature – The hotter the weather, the harder your cool box has to work to maintain a low temperature.
  • How often you open it – Every time you open your cool box, cold air escapes. Try to organise your food and drinks so you don't need to open them more than necessary.
  • Pre-chilled contents – Starting with cold food and drinks helps your cool box stay cooler for much longer.

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How long will you be away?

Your trip length should influence the type of cool box you choose.

Trip Length Recommended Cool Box
Day trip Small passive cool box or cool bag
Weekend camping Medium passive cool box
3–7 day camping holiday Large passive cool box or electric cool box
Caravan or motorhome touring Electric cool box
Portability matters

Cooling performance is important, but don't forget about portability. A cool box that feels lightweight when empty can become surprisingly heavy once it's filled with food, drinks, and ice packs. Before choosing one, think about how you'll transport it.

Things to consider:

  • Your camping setup
  • How far will you carry it from the car
  • Whether it has wheels or sturdy handles
  • Whether it fits in your vehicle
  • Whether it's durable enough for rough terrain

Getting a cool box from A to B is just as important as choosing a box you can manage. Prioritising portability can make your adventures much more enjoyable.

Portability matters

Cooling performance is important, but don't forget about portability. A cool box that feels lightweight when empty can become surprisingly heavy once it's filled with food, drinks, and ice packs. Before choosing one, think about how you'll transport it.

Things to consider:

  • Your camping setup
  • How far will you carry it from the car
  • Whether it has wheels or sturdy handles
  • Whether it fits in your vehicle
  • Whether it's durable enough for rough terrain

Getting a cool box from A to B is just as important as choosing a box you can manage. Prioritising portability can make your adventures much more enjoyable.

A final note from us

The best cool box depends on your camping style, trip length, and storage needs. For shorter camping trips and day outings, a well-insulated passive cool box is often all you need. For longer adventures, caravan holidays, or motorhome touring, an electric cool box offers consistent cooling and greater peace of mind.

Whether you're looking for a compact cool bag or a high-performance electric cool box, our team is always happy to help you choose the right option for your next adventure.

Browse our full range of camping cool boxes online or visit our camping superstore to see them in person.