Choosing the right cool box can make or break a camping or caravanning trip — get it wrong and you're eating warm food by day two. Get it right and you'll have cold drinks, fresh ingredients, and one less thing to worry about from Cornwall to the Cairngorms.

At Newquay Camping Shop, we stock the UK's best cool box brands — Igloo, Vango, Dometic, Outwell, and Mestic — at our showroom in Cornwall and online with UK-wide delivery. This guide covers everything you need to make the right choice.

The Three Types of Cool Box

1. Passive Cool Boxes

Passive cool boxes use insulation alone — no power required. You add ice packs or loose ice, and the insulation keeps things cold for anywhere from 24 hours to 5+ days depending on the model. They're simple, robust, and work anywhere. The best passive models (like the Igloo MaxCold and Vango Pinnacle Wheelie 45L) will keep contents cold for 4–5 days if pre-chilled and used correctly.

Best for: Sites without electric hook-up, day trips, festivals, beach days, and anyone who wants a no-fuss solution.

2. Thermoelectric Cool Boxes

Thermoelectric cool boxes run off mains (230V) or a 12V car socket and cool to a fixed temperature below ambient — typically 15–20°C below. They work well in mild UK weather but struggle to get contents genuinely cold on very warm days. No ice needed, but they need a power source to work at all.

Best for: Campervans and caravans with a 12V supply, short trips, or as a top-up cool box alongside a passive model.

3. Compressor Cool Boxes (Portable Fridges)

Compressor cool boxes are essentially portable fridges and freezers. They use a compressor (same technology as your fridge at home) and can cool to as low as -20°C regardless of ambient temperature. Run on mains or 12/24V DC, with battery protection to prevent draining your leisure battery. Significantly more expensive than passive or thermoelectric models, but the performance difference is transformative for longer trips.

Best for: Caravanners and motorhome tourers with EHU or good 12V setup, van lifers, and anyone doing a week or more away who wants proper fridge performance.

4. 3-Way Absorption Fridges

3-way absorption fridges run on LPG gas, 12V DC, or 230V mains — making them the most flexible option for off-grid caravanning. They use silent absorption cooling with no compressor or moving parts. They must be level to work correctly, and cooling performance reduces in hot weather (above ~30°C ambient). The Mestic MAC-40 is a well-specified 42L 3-way fridge compatible with Calor, Flo, and CampinGaz gas.

Best for: Traditional caravanning with a gas supply, off-grid touring where silent operation is important.

Key Things to Consider

How Long Are Your Trips?

• Day trips: Any compact passive cool box will do. Prioritise size and weight.
• Weekend (2–3 nights): A quality passive cool box with 72-hour+ rating handles this comfortably with good ice packs.
• Week+: Either invest in the best passive model you can (MaxCold 5-day rating) or go compressor for consistent performance without the ice faff.

Do You Have Electric Hook-Up?

If you're always on serviced pitches or have a well-set-up leisure battery system, a compressor cool box is worth the investment — you'll never buy ice again. If you regularly camp off-grid, a top-quality passive cool box is the more practical choice. For traditional gas caravanning, a 3-way absorption fridge gives you maximum flexibility.

How Many People Are You Feeding?

• Solo or couple: 16–30L is plenty for a weekend.
• Family of 4: 45–60L for a weekend, 60L+ for a week.
• Large group or long trip: 90–100L+ passive, or a 55–60L compressor (which fits more efficiently with no ice taking up space).

Do You Need Wheels?

If you're moving your cool box frequently — car boot to pitch, pitch to beach — wheels and a telescopic handle are worth it. All the rolling models (Igloo Laguna Roller, Vango Pinnacle Wheelie, Igloo MaxCold 90 QT) handle rough terrain reasonably well.

Cornwall-Specific Considerations

Cornwall's campsite pitches vary enormously — from flat, well-drained grass to sloped, exposed clifftop fields with no hook-up within miles. Here's what that means for your cool box choice:

• No hook-up sites (common on Cornwall's best coastal sites): go for the best passive cool box you can afford. The Igloo MaxCold 54 QT or Vango Pinnacle Wheelie 45L are our top picks here.
• Serviced pitches (holiday parks, caravan club sites): a compressor model like the Dometic CFX2 or Igloo ICF range removes all the ice hassle and performs in Cornwall's warmer summer temperatures.
• Beach days from the pitch: consider a wheeled model or a compact secondary cool box for the beach — the Igloo Laguna 16 Roller or Vango Pinnacle 32L are ideal.

Our Top Cool Box Picks by Category

Best Budget Passive Cool Box

Vango Pinnacle 32L — £39.99
Lightweight, compact, 72-hour cooling, and excellent value. The go-to for day trips, beach days, and festivals.

Best Mid-Range Passive Cool Box

Igloo Laguna 48 — £59.99
45L capacity, 3-day ice retention, sturdy enough to sit on. A brilliant all-rounder for weekend family camping.

Best Passive Cool Box for Longer Trips

Igloo MaxCold 54 QT — £104.00
47L, 5-day ice retention, drain plug, hybrid stainless steel latches. The best passive cool box for a week's camping without hook-up.

Best Large Capacity Passive Cool Box

Igloo MaxCold 100 QT — £167.99
95L, holds 145 cans, 5-day cooling. For large families, groups, or fishing trips where capacity is everything.

Best Wheeled Passive Cool Box

Vango Pinnacle Wheelie 45L — £69.99
100-hour cooling (over 4 days), tough grip wheels, 66-can capacity. The best passive wheeled option in the range.

Best Rotomolded Cool Box

Vango Glacier 47L — £175.00
Premium rotomolded construction, 5-day ice retention, fish ruler moulded into lid. The serious outdoors and fishing choice.

Best Entry-Level Compressor Cool Box

Igloo ICF 18 — £299.99
19L, cools to -17°C, mains or 12/24V. Compact enough for a campervan, with battery protection and digital display.

Best Family Compressor Cool Box

Igloo ICF 40 — £399.00
39L, 61 cans, cools to -17.8°C. The sweet spot for families on EHU or with a good leisure battery setup.

Best Premium Compressor Cool Box

Dometic CFX2 45L
Dometic's CFX2 range represents the premium end of portable compressor fridges — ultra-efficient, whisper quiet, and built to handle the demands of serious caravanning and motorhome touring.

Best Dual-Zone Compressor Cool Box

Outwell Arctic Chill 41 Dual Zone — £379.99
41L with independent temperature control in each compartment — freeze in one zone, chill in the other. App control, USB charging, 12V and 230V.

Best 3-Way Absorption Fridge

Mestic MAC-40 3-Way Fridge — £319.00
42L, runs on gas (butane or propane), 12V, or 230V mains. Silent absorption cooling — ideal for traditional caravanning with a gas supply.

Brand Guides

Want to go deeper on a specific brand? We've written detailed guides covering every model in each range:

• Igloo Cool Boxes: The Complete Brand Guide — Laguna, Profile II, MaxCold, Marine Ultra, and the full ICF compressor range
• Vango Pinnacle Cool Box Guide — every Pinnacle passive and E-Pinnacle electric model compared
• Vango Cool Boxes — Complete Brand Guide — Glacier rotomolded, Pinnacle Wheelie, and E-Pinnacle electric range
• Dometic Compressor Cool Boxes — CFX2 vs CFX5 — full comparison of Dometic's premium compressor range
• Outwell Camping Equipment — Complete Brand Guide — Arctic Chill compressor range, ECOcool, and the full Outwell lineup
• Mestic MAC-40 3-Way Fridge Guide — gas, 12V, and mains operation explained

Cool Box Tips: Getting the Most from Your Cool Box

• Pre-chill everything before you pack. A passive cool box is not a fridge — it maintains temperature, it doesn't create it. Pack cold food into a cold cool box.
• Use gel ice packs, not loose ice. Gel packs last longer, don't create water as they melt, and take up less space. Put them on top — cold air falls.
• Keep it in the shade. Shading your cool box under your awning or draping it with a blanket can add hours to its cooling time.
• Don't open it constantly. Every time you lift the lid, cold air escapes. Know what you want before you open it.
• Fill it up. A full cool box holds temperature better than a half-empty one. Fill gaps with extra ice packs or even scrunched newspaper.
• Drain and dry between trips. Mould and odours develop fast in a damp cool box. Rinse, drain, and leave the lid ajar between uses.

Shop Cool Boxes at Newquay Camping Shop

We stock the UK's best cool box brands — Igloo, Vango, Dometic, Outwell, and Mestic — online with UK-wide delivery and in our showroom in Cornwall:

Newquay Camping Shop
4 Bamber House
Victoria
PL26 8LQ
Open Monday to Friday

Our team camps and caravans across Cornwall and can advise on the right cool box for your setup. Browse our full cool box range online or pop in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cool box for camping in the UK?

For camping without electric hook-up, the Igloo MaxCold 54 QT (£104) is hard to beat — 5-day ice retention, drain plug, and rugged build. For families on a budget, the Igloo Laguna 48 (£59.99) offers excellent value with 3-day cooling and a 45L capacity.

What is the best cool box for caravanning?

If you have electric hook-up, a compressor cool box like the Igloo ICF 40 (£399) or Dometic CFX2 45L is the best choice — no ice needed and true fridge temperatures. Without hook-up, the MaxCold 54 QT or Vango Pinnacle Wheelie 45L are the best passive options. For gas caravanning, the Mestic MAC-40 3-way absorption fridge runs on gas, 12V, or mains.

How long does a cool box keep things cold?

It depends on the model, how it's packed, and the ambient temperature. Basic cool boxes manage 24–48 hours. Good mid-range models (Igloo Laguna, Vango Pinnacle) achieve 72–80 hours. Premium passive models (Igloo MaxCold, Vango Glacier) achieve 5 days under test conditions. Compressor cool boxes maintain temperature indefinitely as long as they're powered.

Do I need ice in a cool box?

Passive cool boxes need ice packs or loose ice to maintain temperature — they don't generate cold, they retain it. Thermoelectric, compressor, and 3-way absorption cool boxes work from a power source and don't need ice.

What size cool box do I need?

As a rough guide: 16–30L for 1–2 people on a weekend; 40–60L for a family of 4 on a weekend; 60L+ for larger groups or trips of a week or more. If using a compressor model, you can go slightly smaller as there's no ice taking up space.

What is Cool Riser Technology?

Cool Riser Technology is an Igloo innovation — an elevated base that lifts the cool box off hot surfaces like sun-baked car boots or tarmac, reducing heat transfer from below and extending ice retention. It's featured across the Igloo Laguna, Profile II, MaxCold, and Marine Ultra ranges.

Are compressor cool boxes worth the money?

For regular caravanners or motorhomers with a 12V setup, yes — the running costs are low (compressors are efficient), you never buy ice again, and the performance is genuinely transformative on longer trips. For occasional campers or those without hook-up, a quality passive cool box is more practical and far cheaper upfront.

Which cool box brands do you stock in Cornwall?

At Newquay Camping Shop, we stock Igloo, Vango, Dometic, Outwell, and Mestic cool boxes — both online with UK-wide delivery and in our showroom at 4 Bamber House, Victoria, PL26 8LQ.

Can I buy a cool box in Newquay?

Yes — Newquay Camping Shop stocks a wide range of cool boxes in store at 4 Bamber House, Victoria, PL26 8LQ (open Monday to Friday). We carry Igloo, Vango, Dometic, Outwell, and Mestic models.

What cool box is best for Cornwall camping?

Cornwall's best campsites are often off-grid and exposed to Atlantic weather. For sites without EHU, we recommend the Igloo MaxCold 54 QT for its 5-day cooling, or the Vango Pinnacle Wheelie 45L (100-hour cooling) if you need wheels. For holiday parks with EHU, a compressor model like the Igloo ICF 40 removes the ice hassle entirely.

Related Guides

• Igloo Cool Boxes: The Complete Brand Guide
• Vango Cool Boxes — Complete Brand Guide
• Vango Pinnacle Cool Box Guide — Every Model Compared
• Dometic Compressor Cool Boxes — CFX2 vs CFX5
• Outwell Camping Equipment — Complete Brand Guide
• Mestic MAC-40 3-Way Fridge Guide
• Caravan Levellers Buying Guide
• Camping in Newquay, Cornwall: Your Ultimate Guide