Coleman

Overall score is based on performance.

We tested chilly bins in our refrigeration lab. Packed full with ice and bottles, we left them in a temperature-controlled room set at 32°C. We recorded how long it took the contents to reach 2°C (by which time all the ice had melted), then how long it took the temperature to rise to 8°C (the safe temperature for chilled food).

Chilly bins that score 80% are our top performers. Bigger models will keep contents chilled on one load of ice for several days, while smaller models should manage a couple of days and nights on a weekend camp. Those scoring 70% aren’t quite as good: bigger ones will get you through the weekend on a single load of ice, but smaller ones might not manage more than a long hot day in the sun or an overnight camp.