Best esky Australia 2023 | Top ice and cooler boxes
From picnics to hikes and camping trips, one affordable cooler bag is making shoppers “really happy”.
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Whether you’re going to the beach, on a picnic, camping or hosting a barbecue or party, an esky or cooler bag is an essential item.
There are plenty of options — from the traditional hard shell models that can double as stumps during for backyard cricket matches, to soft cooler bags that fold down to save space.
One of our top picks is the Engel 18L Cooler Drybox. This budget buy is stain and odour resistant, ideal for fishing trips, and comes with a handy hanging accessory tray so everything is organised.
There’s also the Lifewit 30L Soft Cooler Bag, which is great for picnics and day trips as well as keeping groceries fresh in the car. It has even garnered more than 7800 five-star reviews on Amazon Australia, with many saying the bag is great at ensuring drinks stay chilled for hours. Plus, there’s a bottle opener attached to the cooler for convenience, a feature shoppers “can’t get enough of”.
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OUR TOP PICKS
In this article
BEST ESKY AND COOLER FOR CAMPING AND FISHING
Dometic 43L Cool Ice CI42 Icebox, $345, BCF
Dometic 43L Cool Ice CI42 Icebox
What you should know
If you’re needing an esky to take camping or go away for a few days, this high-quality option by Dometic could be your trusty sidekick. The global market leader in mobile living, Dometic has nailed the art of keeping food fresh even when you’re away and don’t have the luxury of your kitchen. This icebox is designed to keep food and drinks cool for up to 10 days, thanks to a refrigeration-grade insulation and a labyrinth seal that doesn’t let any heat into the interior. Plus, it’s got a five-year warranty if something goes wrong.
“This is a great mid-size esky for day trips on the boat or an overnight camp. Solid construction and keeps everything cool. (It’s) perfect for barbecues or going away to put drinks in (and) keeps your fridge/freezer freed up for food,” raved a shopper.
YETI Tundra 35 Hard Cooler, $399.95, BCF
YETI Tundra 35 Hard Cooler
What you should know
If you’re planning to invest in a premium esky, YETI is one of the biggest household names for coolers and often seen as one of the top brands to for ice boxes. One of their hard cooler options is the YETI Tundra range, which is available in a variety of colours and a wide selection of sizes.
The most compact and affordable model is the YETI Tundra 35. It can fit up to 20 cans of beer plus ice, and features extra thick three-inch walls and a Coldlock gasket to keep the heat away and ensure everything stays cold.
BEST BUDGET ESKY AND COOLER
Engel 18L Cooler Drybox, $99.99, BCF
What you should know
Perfect for fishing, the Engel 18L Cooler Drybox has an easy to clean non-absorbent surface and designed to be stain and odour resistant. It’s also made with an airtight EVA gasket seal to prevent spillages, along with polystyrene foam insulation to make sure your items stay cold (or hot). There’s additionally an accessory tray, handle and shoulder strap for convenience.
“Best esky to take to those gatherings with friends or to the beach! Easy to carry and fits six bottles of wine which is perfect,” an impressed shopper reviewed.
“Great size for small trips. The walls are less thick than the competition. But seems to do the job,” a second posted.
Kings 15L Centre Console Fridge/Freezer, $129 (down from $249), Adventure Kings
Kings 15L Centre Console Fridge/Freezer
What you should know
Want an easy way to keep your drinks cool on road trips and long car rides? This Kings centre console fridge comes with seat belt mounts to help keep everything in place. It also has a slim and lightweight design for easy portability, plus enough space for 18 cans. And for sweet tooths, the model can even freeze items down to -18C so you can easily enjoy some ice cream too.
“Great fridge. Been on all my trips for the past three years as a centre console fridge. Bumps and knocks on rough 4x4 tracks... (but) never misses a beat... Already surpassed my expectations, so if this one dies I will order a replacement the same day,” praised one fan.
“Best compact fridge/freezer on the market. Great when travelling in the car and when staying in motels as their fridges are totally useless for cold beer,” agreed another.
“Excellent little fridge. Just sits on back seat of car, held in place with centre seatbelt. Cools from car temperature to -10C in only 10 minutes, to 1C in only about five minutes. Invaluable when doing shopping to get frozen and cold stuff home,” a third posted.
BEST WHEELED ESKY
YETI 60L Tundra Haul Hard Cooler, $599.95, BCF
YETI 60L Tundra Haul Hard Cooler
What you should know
For an esky on wheels, the YETI Tundra Haul Hard Cooler is a top-rated option for a reason. It boasts solid and puncture resistant Neverflat wheels, a welded aluminium handle, plus many of the same features found in the brand’s hard coolers. In terms of storage, this wheeled ice box has a 60L capacity (which is equivalent to 45 cans of beer plus ice).
BEST COOLER BAG
Lifewit 30L Soft Cooler Bag, $37.99, Amazon Australia
Lifewit 30L Soft Cooler Bag
What you should know
With more than 7800 five-star ratings on Amazon Australia, it’s hard to ignore this Lifewit soft cooler bag. It can keep food cold or warm, depending on what you need, and has a padded handle and detachable shoulder strap for easily portability. The lightweight and compact size makes it a decent option for hiking.
“We use this bag all the time for days out to the beach or to parks. Fits more than enough for a family of four. Keeps food and drinks cool. I like the bottle opener that’s attached to it,” a reviewer commented, rating it the cooler bag five stars.
“It’s easy to clean, folds down nicely, sturdy and lightweight. Really happy with this purchase and reasonably priced.”
Isothermal 20L Backpack Ice Compact, $55, Decathlon
Isothermal 20L Backpack Ice Compact 20L
What you should know
Another option for campers and hikers is this Isothermal backpack. Chuck your food in the cooler compartment for freshness, and non-food items like your keys, wallet and camera in the separate zipped pocket. There are also two mesh sections outside for water bottles, where you can store your water bottle, umbrella and whatever else you need.
For comfort, the backpack features a foam back, thumb loops and a waist and chest belt.
“A great size for a family of four on a day out. It’s comfortable to wear, holds our picnic (items) and keeps it cool,” a reviewer posted.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ICE BOX AND COOLER?
Ice boxes (otherwise called eskies) tend to be larger and often made to keep items cooler for longer. (An esky is actually the name of a brand, Esky, but many use the word to refer to any portable coolers). An ice box is also likely to more effective at insulating bulky or larger goods, whereas coolers are usually ideal for shorter trips that don’t require as much heavy power.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST ESKY AND COOLER
While you may be tempted to buy the cheapest esky you can find, it may be worth looking into the features available to see if the product is right for you.
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- Ensure the size is right for you. Think about what you’ll be using it for to make sure you don’t get something that’s too big or too small. It could also be helpful to find one a soft cooler bag that collapsible.
- If you’re planning on holding wine bottles up right, opt for a tall and long design rather than the usual classic wide shape.
- If you struggle carrying a heavy cooler around, it may be easier to invest in something with wheels.
- The handles should be comfortable and easy to grip. Eskies can get quite heavy so you don’t want to strain your wrist or your back.
- Just in case something spills or overflows inside your cooler, it helps to have a bag or box that’s easy to clean.
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