Okay, Dads (and Mums) you’re gunna need an Esky at some point. Whether it is for kids sports days, camping, fishing and road trips or drinks overflow at your next boozy backyard BBQ, a good cooler comes in handy. There are a lot of options out with different features that might suit your needs. In the following, I’m going to break it down for you and show you some of the best options available in Oz.
Now, this is a linguistically challenging topic but whether you call it an Esky, Cooler, Icebox, Chilly Bin or Icey McIce Face it’s all the same things so strap in and let’s go.
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Compare the Best Esky Australia
Dad’s Pick | Name | Image | Weight | Capacity | Features | Wheels | Price ($AUD) | Australian |
Top Quality Aussie pick | Techniice Classic Hybrid Icebox 45L |  | 12kg | 45L (12L - 125L Options) | Recess seal, 5cm thick walls, lockable, rope handles, Chopping board divider and basket options, | No (yes for larger sizes) | $209 |  Yes |
Wheels BBQ / kids sport special | Coleman Xtreme Wheeled Cooler |  | 7.6kg | 58L | Cup holders, long pull handles | Yes | $139 | No - USA |
Great Aussie range | Evakool Icekool 53 Litre |  | 8kg | 53L (15L -132L options) | Strong enough to use as a seat, 5 year warranty | No | $229 | Yes |
Great range of sizes | Dometic Cool Ice CI55 Icebox 56L |  | 10.8kg | 56L (13L - 111L options) | Dual latches, rugged construction, 5year warranty | No | $209 | No - Swedish/Global |
Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Icebox |  | 14.5 kg | 50L (24L - 71L otpions) | Rugged to the extreme, aluminium handle, 5-year warranty, Lockable bear resistant?? | Yes | $599 | No - USA | |
Engel Rotomoulded Icebox 50L |  | 11.8kg | 50L (13L - 165L options) | 5cm walls, 10 year warranty, silicon sealed lid | No | $399 | No - Japanese | |
Willow Wheeled Cooler 50L |  | 11.8kg | 50L | Wheels, telescopic handle | Yes | $75 | Yes | |
Esky 70L Blue Arctic Pro |  | 8.5kg | 70L | Aluminium latches, lockable | No | $179 | No - purchase by Coleman USA |
How to choose an Esky?
Capacity
They measure these things in litres and is pretty straightforward, right? How many tinnies can you fit into the cooler. How big it is is really about how you intend to use the esky if you’re into long campaign trips or big bbq with half the neighbours then the bigger the better. Just keep in mind you have to move it at some point in time.
Weight
Apart from the capacity, this gives you an indication of how rugged the construction is and how thick the insulated walls are.
Ice retention
This is the made-up value that the marketing team comes up with to convince you that it has great insulation and that the ice will last a week-long camping trip. Take these values with a grain of salt and use common sense.
Handles and Wheels
Yes, you need some handles to pull this thing out of the back of the car. It’s really a matter of how sturdy the handles are and whether they’re going to break off when the cooler gets knocked about in the back of the car. Wheel come in handy for dragging it a long distance from the car to a picnic or your mate’s backyard. However, lifting a full esky is really going to be a two-person job. A true test of endurance and dad-ness.
Can you sit on it?
While it’s the worst seat at a BBQ someone is going to end up sitting on your esky hence, the strength of the lid is important. With some of the more budget options, this isn’t advisable.
Latches and locks
Recessed latches are a good idea to stop them from getting knocked around and breaking. Locks. Some of these coolers are pretty expensive and unfortunately, some have a nasty habit of going “missing” when left unattended at a camp ground. You can use a bike cable lock to lock your esky to something heavy or simply lock it to make it less desirable to knick.
Best Cooler Details
Techniice Classic Hybrid Icebox 45L
Looks at this pretty blue number. Techniice while not as big of a brand as some of the others make a nice esky. They have sizes ranging from 12L to 125L and have a solid construction as well as options with wheels. The thick insulation, sealed lid and chopping board and basket optional extra make this a great choice for long campaign trips. Bonus is an Australian company.
Coleman Xtreme Wheeled Cooler
More of your budget-friendly BBQ and weekend away type deal. It has wheels and a big dragging handle which will make it good for getting from the car to the picnic ground / kids sports. If kids sports on the weekend and some light BBQ is your use then this is a good option.
Dometic Cool Ice CI55 Icebox 56L
This is a solid esky which they sell in a range of sizes from 13L to 111L. Very durable construction, thick walls and seals. You can use this one as a seat and for long weeks camping off-grid.
Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Icebox – 50L
Very rugged, Bear resistant and lockable (good for them pesky drop bears). Aluminium handles, insulated to the extreme. Want to sit on it. Check. Want to stand on it. Check. Want to accidentally back over it with your 4WD. Check. (your mileage might vary) Comes in some funky colour if that’s your thing. This is one of the most rugged and most expensive eskies you can buy however it will last a lifetime.
Esky 70L Blue Arctic Pro
Esky the brand. The Myth. And the namesake of our beloved coolers in Oz. The name Eksy is as Aussies as Vegemite and Tim Tams and by that, I mean now owned by an American multinational corporation. In Eskies case Coleman. Sadly Esky is an average esky. There are better options.
Evakool Icekool 53 Litre
Rugged handles and clasp, 5-year warranty so at least they’re confident they’re going to last. Sold through major retailers in Australia. They say 6 days ice retention but with all the ice retention numbers you have to take it with a grain of salt as it depends on your use, weather and sun exposure etc. They also make a lot of the branded eskies you would see
Engel Rotomoulded Icebox 50L
5cm insulation, Sealed gasket lid, seat lid re-inforced, lockable (you know the bears)
Recessed latches so you don’t break them off when throwing them around the car. Engel have been making portable fridges for a long time, so they know what they’re doing
Willow Wheeled Cooler 50L
It has wheels, a telescopic handle and a little access lid for quickly pulling out drinks. Comes with a 10-year warranty. The lid is not strong enough to sit on. Several reviews have noted it’s not the coldest or the best quality construction but at the price what are you expecting. Probably better suits to BBQ, picnics and weekend aways as opposed to a long camping trip. Willow is part of the Decor group which is an Aussie business that has been making injection moulding things (food containers etc) in Australia since the 50s.