Nothing beats the feeling of unwinding in the sun with a cold drink after a hard day's work. For tradies, a reliable esky (or cooler) is essential. For long days on the road, or when you’re out of time for a snack stop, the ability to pack your own supplies can make or break the day. The best tradie esky’s need to be pretty tough, chances are they’ll double as a seat and spend a fair bit of time packed alongside a toolkit. It needs to be sturdy enough to keep your drinks and snacks cold — all while keeping the dust and debris out.
We’ve compared some of the best eskys available, focusing on their durability and longevity. But before we dive into the options, here are a couple of handy tips to maximise your esky’s performance:
1. Use frozen water bottles: Instead of traditional ice, try using frozen water bottles. They last longer and you can stay hydrated when they melt!
2. Use freezer/ice sheets: These sheets help maintain a consistent cold temperature inside the esky, ensuring your items stay chilled for longer.
Need a few more funds for shopping? It might be time to charge more.
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- Luxury: YETI Roadie 24 Cooler
- Compact: Dometic Cool Ice 13L
- Aesthetic: Napoleon Chilly Bin
- Classic: Coleman Portable Rolling Cooler
- Bargain: Igloo Marine 100 QT Latitude Marine Cooler
- Best soft cooler: AO Coolers Original Soft Cooler
- Best wheeled: Companion 45L Wheeled Cooler
- Budget: Willow Celebration Cooler 33L
- Toughest: Milwaukee PACKOUT Hard-Sided Cooler
1. Luxury: YETI Roadie 24 Cooler
This hard cooler is a workhorse, known for its durability and effectiveness. It can hold up to 18 cans, so it's perfect for packing full of drinks for a busy day out. Yeti’s reputation for quality makes it a top choice among tradespeople and adventurers alike.
Pros:
- Durable
- 3-year warranty
- Recognisable branding
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
Review: "We bought this for a friend who owns a flooring company. He is on the road or a job site all day and used to keep a gallon of water in his van to drink during the day. Drinking hot water is not cool! I'll tell you what is cool though; the Yeti Roadie 24 cooler."
2. Compact: Dometic Cool Ice 13L
This 13-litre icebox with high-performance polyurethane insulation is designed for the toughest conditions. It features a strap for easy transport and keeps ice for several days, making it ideal for keeping your workday lunch, dinner, and drinks fresh.
Pros:
- Excellent insulation
- Compact size
- Tough exterior
Cons:
- The carrying strap is not ideal for over-the-shoulder carrying
- Ice packs may be necessary for stays longer than a day
Review: "Robust little box, needs no power. Providing you cool it first and put cold things in it, they stay cold for ages. Tough, so doubles as an impromptu picnic table or beach seat. Easy to clean."
3. Aesthetic: Napoleon Chilly Bin
With its vintage-inspired design, the Napoleon Chilly Bin is perfect for those who appreciate aesthetics while keeping their drinks and snacks cold. Proudly made in New Zealand, this option is an indication of a new era of stylish tools. It’s made from powder-coated aluminium outer, plastic inner, stainless steel hardware and is available in a range of colours. It fits an estimated 18 bottles.
Pros:
- Supports small businesses
- Lightweight
- Clean design
Cons:
- Lacks the warranty from more established brands.
Review: "I love the look of this cooler, and it does a decent job of keeping my drinks cool. Great for picnics.”
4. Classic: Coleman Portable Rolling Cooler
Chances are, you’ve seen this bad boy rolling onto the site before. It’s a classic option for a reason. With room for 84 cans and a ‘have-a-seat lid’, there's not much more you can ask for in an esky. This compact cooler is easy to transport and can hold ice-packs for an impressive five days (with the right type of ice pack).
Pros:
- Long ice retention
- Compact design
- Large capacity
Cons:
- Can be difficult to open when fully packed
- The handle could be sturdier
Review: "If you’re looking for trustworthy, durable and travels well, this is your cooler."
5. Bargain: Igloo Marine 100 QT Latitude Marine Cooler
You get a fair bang for your buck with the Igloo Marine Ultra Cooler. It features a basic old-school cooler seal, performs well and comes with marine-grade, extended-life hinges. It’s perfect for long day trips and holds up well stacked against the more expensive competition. Plus, Igloo prioritises eco-friendly and recycled material in its construction.
Pros:
- Good daily ice retention
Durable construction
The world's first recycled hard-side coolers
Cons:
- Basic seals may not be as effective as gasket seals on some high-end coolers.
Review: "We love this cooler! Keeps things cold for 2-3 days. Is super spacious and didn’t break the bank too bad! Definitely recommend!"
6. Best soft cooler: AO Coolers Original Soft Cooler
The AO Soft-sided cooler is constructed from tough soft canvas material with high-density insulation and a leak-proof TPU liner. It can accommodate 24 cans & 14 pounds of ice and features a removable shoulder strap & side pocket.
Pros:
- Spacious interior
- Insulated walls for temperature retention
- Easy to carry with a removable shoulder strap
Cons:
- May not provide the same level of ice retention as hard coolers
- Zipper closure might be less secure compared to latches.
Review: "I use it as an everyday lunch bag and day bag for the family lunches. It maintains the ice packs all day, keeps my drinks cold and my food maintained without issue. I would highly recommend this bag to anyone who asks."
7. Best wheeled: Companion 45L Wheeled Cooler
With a capacity of 45 litres, this cooler can hold a whooping 60 cans. Its wheels make it easy to transport, and it's an excellent choice for larger gatherings. It's also one of the cheapest options on the list, making it a great choice to take from work to the weekend BBQs without worry.
Pros:
- Large capacity
- Convenient wheels
- Integrated cup holders
Cons:
- Handle could be sturdier
- Less ice retention than in some high-end models.
Review: "It holds a ton of drinks and rolls easily. Great value for the price."
8. Budget: Willow Celebration Cooler 33L
The Willow Celebration Cooler 33L is a cost-effective option that still delivers decent performance, making it a practical choice for those looking for something simple that still does as advertised.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Adequate capacity
- Easy to carry
Cons:
- Lower insulation performance compared to more expensive coolers
Review: "The Willow Celebration Cooler is a solid budget pick. It gets the job done without breaking the bank. Perfect for picnics and day trips."
9. Toughest: Milwaukee PACKOUT Hard-Sided Cooler
As part of the PACKOUT Modular Storage System, this cooler holds ice for up to 30 hours and is constructed with impact-resistant polymers for ultimate job site durability. It's a dependable choice for tough conditions.
Pros:
- Impressive ice retention
- Heavy-duty construction
- Large capacity
Cons:
- Can be very heavy to move when fully loaded
- Handle length could be improved
Review: "I own about every m12 and m18 tool there is. Also bought their 4 sided socket set just to try. I have never bought a Milwaukee product that I was disappointed in, including this cooler."
10. Leak-Proof: Engel UC30 30
The Engel UC30 is a leak-proof and airtight cooler suitable for construction sites, camping and outdoor activities. Thanks to solid construction, it ensures your items stay cold and dry, with Engel claiming it’s “virtually indestructible and secure” on the jobsite. It comes in a wide range of colours too.
Pros:
- Leak-proof
- Airtight
- Sturdy construction
Cons:
- Limited capacity compared to some models
Review: "This lunch box is outstanding, keeps the food and drinks cold all day. Very well insulated, awesome for construction workers!”
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