Planning a camping trip or outdoor adventure? A good cool box isn’t just a handy extra — it’s the key to keeping your food and drinks fresh, cold, and safe. At Trail, we offer a full range of cool boxes, from compact 5L models to rugged 45L wheeled boxes for longer adventures. In this guide, we’ll cover how to pack your cool box efficiently, boost its cooling power, and maximise performance across every trip.
Our Cool Box Selection
Large 45L Cool Box on Wheels: Ideal for extended trips or group outings, this spacious cool box comes with wheels for easy transport. With the proper preparation, this cool box can provide up to 72 hours of cooling.
22L Camping Cool Box: Perfect for picnics, this mid-sized option balances capacity and portability. This cool box can provide up to 48 hours of cooling.
Small 5L Cool Box: Great for solo travellers or day trips, this compact box is easy to carry and store. This cool box can provide up to 12 hours of cooling.
Tips for Optimal Use
Pre-Chill Your Cool Box
Before packing, cool your box by placing ice packs or frozen water bottles inside for a few hours. This helps maintain a lower temperature when you add your items. When you’re ready to pack for your trip, clean and dry the interior so that it’s ready for all your treats.
Freeze or Chill Items Before Packing
Our 5L & 22L come with re-usable clip in ice packs. Ensure that these are frozen solid prior to embarking on your journey. For extra cooling, considering buying extra ice packs from your local supermarket or homeware store. As well as this, ensure that perishable foods and drinks are pre-chilled or frozen. This reduces the cooling load on your cool box and keeps contents colder longer.
Pack Strategically & Limit Opening
Place heavier, perishable items like meats at the bottom, with more delicate items like fruit on top. Fill any empty spaces with additional ice packs or frozen water bottles to minimize air gaps. Every time you open the cool box, warm air enters. Plan ahead to minimize openings and retrieve all needed items at once.
Keep the Cool Box in the Shade
While our cool boxes have a 3-Layer insulation for excellent temperature retention, it’s always a good idea to position your cool box in a shaded area to prevent external heat from affecting its internal temperature.
Clean After Use
Any ice or frozen items will cause water to collect at the bottom. While in use, the cold water from melted ice helps insulate and maintain a low temperature and so you should only drain if necessary to prevent waterlogged items. After your trip, drain the water, and clean the cool box with warm soapy water. Our 45L cool box comes with a handy screw-top drainage hole to make removing excess water a breeze. Remember to dry thoroughly afterwards to prevent mould and odours.
By following these tips, you can enhance the performance of your Trail cool box, ensuring your provisions stay fresh throughout your outdoor adventures.
