See the summer out in style - these cool boxes will keep the al fresco evenings going into autumn
These are essential for picnics, picky bits, and posh spreads
Call it an Indian summer, call it borrowed time, but right now it feels like summer isn't quite ready to let go. And neither are we. The evenings are still golden, weekends still feel like mini holidays, and picky bits and a cool box are still staples for leaving the house.
And if sitting out late into the evenings, hosting garden parties, or squeezing in one more picnic before October, feels achievable this year, that's largely down to one brand doing some very heavy lifting. Everyone's been talking about Ninja's FrostVault Coolers. First it was the box, then the backpack, and now the bundles with one of their ChillPill fans, each one smarter and better thought-through than the last. Ninja didn't just make a cool box; they made cool boxes cool, turning what used to be a slightly grim garage staple into something people are using to refresh their garden.
But Ninja isn't picnicking alone anymore. Plenty of other big names have clocked that al fresco evenings aren't packing up with the school holidays, they're just getting their second wind. From heritage hampers to design collaborations to reinvented cool bags, brands across the board are setting the scene for a longer, warmer, more stylish end to summer. Here are the cool boxes that are stylish enough to become your most complimented outdoor furniture too.
The best hampers and cool boxes
Before we dive into all of our favourite cool boxes and hampers, we need to give credit to the ones that started it all. Ninja's first launch, the FrostVault Cooler is a proper hard-sided box built to hold ice for days, sturdy enough to double as a seat and still look good doing it. Then came the FrostVault Hard Cooler, a beefed-up version with wheels and a handle.
The FrostVault Backpack has taken the same cooling tech and made it wearable, trading the bulk of a box for something you can actually carry to the beach or a festival without breaking your back. And it's also part of a bundle, pairing the cooler with the Ninja ChillPill (one of our favourite cooling fans) so you're not scrambling to buy separate ice packs or dividers. It's the option for anyone who wants the full FrostVault set-up sorted in one go.
Pavilion-prepped rather than merely picnic-ready, this limited-edition cooler is heirloom worthy. Its 4L capacity holds eight 187ml cans plus ice, while a bespoke Uncommon leather shoulder strap in grass green lets you wear it cross-body if a simple picnic turns into a game of tennis, catch, or even croquet. It comes in Safari White, a classic colour that you'll keep on show all year round.
This brings vintage-inspired charm to cold storage, keeping drinks and meals chilled for up to 24 hours thanks to its styrofoam-insulated interior. An adjustable leather strap and side buckles make it easy to carry by hand or sling over the shoulder, while the reversible lid doubles as a handy drinks tray once you've arrived. It comes in two sizes, 12 litres for up to 15 cans, or 20 litres for up to 30, so you can pick your scale of ambition.
This is picnicking with proper polish: handwoven wicker meets an insulated inner lining that keeps nibbles fresher for longer, all finished with a canvas and leather strap secured by a brushed gold turn lock. It comes complete with a waterproof picnic blanket made from recycled materials, so you're prepared for outdoor gatherings whatever the weather decides. At 49 x 40 x 21cm, it's as much a statement piece as it is a practical carrier.
This spacious cooler bag wears its heritage proudly, wrapped in a fruit print with green edging that nods straight back to William Morris's iconic Pomegranate & Vine design. Practical as well as decorative, it comes with an adjustable woven strap and shoulder pad for comfortable carrying, while the wipe-clean printed interior keeps things low-maintenance without sacrificing that arts-and-crafts charm.
An affordable slice of Fortnum luxury, this is built for open-air feasting on a grand scale, with generous interior space for nibbles and dedicated pockets to keep tipples securely in place. Made from recycled materials inside and out, it's fully insulated to keep everything chilled, while staying easy to wipe clean and comfortable to carry.
This packs up in unmistakable Stanley style with a generous dose of sustainability too. Made from recycled polyester with vibrant contrast details and a patterned winged bear liner, it's equally at home on a picnic date, a city hike, and a weekend with friends. It holds 10 cans and keeps everything chilled for up to 12 hours, with a signature "doctor's bag" hinge top that pops open for easy unpacking and a sturdy zip to keep it all secure once loaded.
What's clear from this new wave of cool boxes and hampers is that nobody's treating the end of summer like an ending anymore. Whether it's Ninja leading the charge with clever engineering, Fortnum & Mason bringing proper heritage glamour to the humble picnic, or Stanley and William Morris proving that practicality and personality aren't mutually exclusive. And if you're looking for easy ways to make your garden feel a little more expensive and a lot more stylish, investing in a cooler that actually looks the part is a surprisingly effective place to start.
