Polarbox Retro 20 Litre Cool Box Review
Seductively cute retro looks and gorgeous colours, make this little cool box an irresistible choice, but how well does it actually work? Read on to find out how long it kept food and drinks cold for in our latest cool box review.
What is it?
Polarbox Retro Cool Box 20 Litre
Overall Rating 
(4 / 5)
Features
- Adjustable leather strap
- Lid that flips over to create a tray or tabletop
- Keep food and drinks cool for up to 24 hours
- Lightweight and portable cooler that fits up to 20L
- Retro stylish design that wipes clean
When it comes to cool boxes, I know my stuff and I’m a demanding customer. From Coleman to Igloo, Outwell to Vango, I’ve owned plenty of cool boxes over my camping lifetime and currently own three that I use in regular rotation, depending on the type of camping trip I’m on.
I always take fresh ingredients camping with me which includes plenty of fish, veggies and salad, and of course, loads of drinks and the odd bottle of Prosecco, which I refuse to drink if they aren’t ice cold. I’m camping, yes, but I’m not basic.
I used to regularly attend camping-based events that meant I needed a full 5 days of ice retention from my cool box and found without fail, Coleman coolboxes consistently delivered (when packed and prepped carefully), with my Igloo coming in a close second (despite their generally higher price point) and Vango and Outwell performing neck and neck after that.
I have enjoyed many years of use from various cool boxes, which generally need retiring after 6-8 years of heavy use, and I currently have a large Igloo Maxcold 58L wheeled cool box, and a smaller Vango Pinnacle 30L wheeled cool box.
For overnight trips however, or short solo camping breaks, a larger cooler is overkill, not least because to remain effective, as much internal space as possible should be used, so using a larger cool box that’s only half full, automatically means a reduction in effectiveness.
Ideally then, I needed a smaller cool box of around 15-20 Litres, suitable for a couple of bottles of wine, bottled water and a couple of meals worth of food.
Having seen the retro cool boxes from Polarbox, it was a done deal that this would be my choice regardless of cooling power – this was definitely a purchase decision based primarily on form!
When mine arrived, I was initially alarmed (but not surprised) at just how light these are, leading me to conclude there are no obvious signs of intelligent insulation materials being used between the plastic walls.
Remember those rectangular cool boxes that were cheap as chips that our parents would take along on family days out to the beach in the 80s? The feel of it reminded me of those – and having started my camping life using that style, I know they are barely capable of keeping the contents cold for 12 hours, let alone the couple of days I was hoping to get from this.
Ever the optimist and hoping for the best, I took it along with me to a weekend retreat at the end of July, in warm and muggy weather.
Cool box performance
Firstly, I’m well aware that the official blurb says it will keep food cool for up to 24 hours, so I wasn’t expecting it to hold out for much more than a day at best, and yet packing this for a solo weekend camping trip, and with plenty of tricks up my sleeve to maximise performance, I remained hopeful.
The picture above shows you how I packed my Polarbox at 9am on a Friday morning before setting off on a 2-hour drive to my home under canvas for the weekend.
I kept the Polarbox inside my tent out of direct sunlight (honestly, there wasn’t very much of it anyway) and most of the ice was melted by Saturday, but everything was still icy-cold.
Everything I placed inside the box was either chilled or frozen to begin with, because sometimes, I actually behave like the camping pro I’m regarded as being and not a type-2 chaos hag. The frozen contents included three small water bottles and a trio of decent sized ice blocks. On Sunday morning at 9:00am, I was delighted to find that my final remaining bottle of water still had a tiny chunk of ice inside it!
I was surprised as I had wholly expected to be drinking warm water by Sunday, but it really did give me a solid 48 hours of performance, which was far better than expected.
Effective cool box packing
To get the best performance from any cool box, make sure all food and drink is chilled before packing, fill it with as much as possible, and use ice blocks or bags of ice to ensure you’re left with minimal space for air to circulate. Avoid opening the lid too frequently, and keep it in the coolest spot possible away from direct sunlight.
Verdict
This cute little cool box holds merit for picnics, days out, overnight camping trips and 2 night trips at a stretch. Expect a very solid 24 hours of cold from this, which can be extended to another 24 hours with careful packing and freezing before you fill the cool box.
It’s super easy to clean and looks adorable, with a variety of beautiful colours to choose from. Whilst I love the little detail, It’s important to point out that due to the inclusion of a leather strap, this is not a vegan-friendly product.
The Polarbox Retro Cooler is a great choice for day trips, and it’s also perfect if you’re taking food and drinks to someone else’s house for a summer barbecue, garden party or if you’re off on a 1-2 night camping trip.
My overall rating of (4 / 5) is pretty decent though, particularly if you can find this on offer for below the RRP ÂŁ39.99.
Investing just a little more will provide you with enhanced performance, so if you need a solid 48 hours plus, you might want to consider the Igloo Tag Along Too Cooler. Those with more cash to splash might want to look at the Yeti Roadie 24 Cool Box as the best compact alternative.
DISCLOSURE | The featured product was privately purchased and is not supported by any brand(s).
