Key specs – Type:Insulated bag; Capacity: 35l; Material: Polyester, polyurethane; Weight (empty):1.5kg; Size (inflated):43 x 42 x 33cm The size of the EcoCool is 52 x 32 x 43 cm and it weighs around 8kg which is fairly substantial. There is a great swing handle for lifting the box and it does not struggle with a fully laden fridge.

Thermoelectric cool box – these are well insulated coolboxes which use a Peltier cooler (12V or 240V powered usually) and electric fan to drive heat out of the box and keep your food and drink chilled. The best thermoelectric coolboxes can lower the temperature by about 30°C below the ambient temperature which means they can be used all year round in the UK. Downsides are fan noise, but in a tent you’re unlikely to hear it.

The ECO Deep Extreme has several different capacity options in the range. The coolers start at a ‘car-friendly’ 26 litre capacity up to our favourite in the range shown above – the 45 litre giant which has its own carry handle and wheels to help move it around. We’ll concentrate on that one for this review. Do you want an energy saving coolbox that uses less power to run? Different types of cool box explained Outwell have taken particular care with antimicrobial coatings on the EcoCool, and in fact it has been treated with a biocidal glass coating inside – this is a special glass which has bug-killing properties and is a real selling point in our view. Hot to trot? Weight: a cool box for keeping drinks cold in the garden can be weighty, but if you're travelling with it over a short distance, a lighter option with wheels will be better

We love the fact that it comes with an internal basket, a built-in LED light for viewing your grub at night, and an adjustable thermostatically-controlled temperature system. There is a digital display too which we found legible and easy to use. Cooling Ability As you would expect from such a sturdy, quality box, it comes with a five-year warranty. Perfect for camping, festivals, outdoor entertaining or just as an overflow fridge for busy times in the kitchen. If you’re going out in the wilds with a larger group, the similarly sturdy 55l versionmight be worth plumping for instead. Need a new cool box or investing in your first one? Not sure whether you need a Arctiv Chill, ECOcool, electric cool box, car cool box or picnic cool box? Or what the difference is between them all? Never fear, this handy guide will help you decide which is the best cool box for your needs. Things to consider before you buy a cool boxThe size of the cool box you need for your camping trip will depend on a few factors, such as the number of people you are camping with, the duration of your trip, and the types of food and drinks you plan to bring. View Outwell coolboxes before you buy at one of our many dealerships across the UK. Got a question? We’re here to help

Capacity: If you’re only planning to use your cool box for fridge overflow in the kitchen, cellar or garden, you can afford to invest in a 50-litre-plus whopper. But bear in mind that cool boxes, like fridges, work best when they’re full. A 47-litre cool box is big enough for well over 80 regular cans of drink.

Keep cool and carry on camping. Enjoy fresh food and cold drinks anywhere, with our favourite ice boxes and electric coolers

Electric coolers are miniature fridges. They actively cool your food rather than simply maintaining low temperature, and they keep food chilled for many days. Cool box with heater function– a cool box that has settings to chill and warm food How cold is a cooler for camping? The cheapest cool box in our recommendation is the HI-GEAR 20L Cooler. It is another 12V only system which can cool food and drinks to around the 10°C mark. For the money, it’s excellent value and has a few extra little design touches we like. In our opinion, no electric cooler combines greater simplicity, affordability, and efficiency than the Outdoor Revolution Eco Deep Extreme. This is a full-on compressor-based fridge which also has a separate freezer section which can keep ice cream frozen! Yes it’s an expensive cool box, but really delivers the goods in our view. However, while these are useful options, you do pay for them, so which box best combines performance with price? We loaded up and plugged in eight units to see which would be the best travel companion this summer. How we tested them