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The best cooler bags for filling with drinks for the park
It's all we want to do this summer
We know we haven't stopped banging on about it, but we are SO excited about picnics, drinks and snacks in the park with our family and friends. If England's route out of lockdown goes to plan, you're currently allowed to meet one friend from a different household for a sit outside (since 8 March). And then, from 29 March, up to six people or two households will be allowed to meet in an outdoor space, for example a garden or park.
Which means it's time to stock up on all of the essentials. Whether that's a lovely new picnic rug, some plastic glasses for the park or a barbecue for your garden. Or, maybe it's a cooler bag for taking to and from the park, so that your drinks (hard seltzer, anyone?) are guaranteed to stay cool.
Here are our pick of the best cooler bags to take with you this summer, whether you're heading to the park or a beach.
If you want a picnic basket / cooler bag hybrid, this option from Joules is great thanks to the zipped chill compartment.
Fully insulated and waterproof, this cooler bag has a shoulder strap and folds fully flat, for packing away when your drinks are done. It's also small enough to fit into a bigger shoulder bag.
With a reinforced bottom and strong handles, this is the perfect cooler box option for people who like taking everything but the kitchen sink to the park. It also works for keeping hot food hot, should that be more your thing.
Print lovers, this one's for you. The zip-up cooler compartment comes with an adjustable shoulder strap and is made from recycled materials.
If you're dreaming of the Amalfi coast, M&S's cool bag in your local park could be the next best thing. The insulated bag can be used to keep takeaways warm or with a freezer block to keep food cool.
kate spade new york Kate Spade New York Rainbow Plaid Picnic Cooler Bag
kate spade new york Kate Spade New York Rainbow Plaid Picnic Cooler Bag
You can always rely on Kate Spade to have a stylish option, and this cooler bag is no exception. It also comes with a matching picnic blanket, so you can really go full hog.
If you want an inconspicuous cooler bag option, go for this tote bag version. The insulated lining and wipeable outer shell make it perfect for all occasions, plus it's super inexpensive.
Sophie Allport Lobster Cooler Bag, 25L, Blue
Sophie Allport Lobster Cooler Bag, 25L, Blue
Someone get Ross and Rachel on the phone. As well as an insulated compartment, this cooler bag ha a front pocket for accessories, and an adjustable shoulder strap or hand strap for carrying.
John Lewis House by John Lewis Large Striped Picnic Cooler Bag
John Lewis House by John Lewis Large Striped Picnic Cooler Bag
This cooler bag promises to keep your food and drinks cold for up to six hours, and comes with two carry handles so you can keep your shoulders free for fun dresses.
A cooler box doesn't come much more classic than this, and who doesn't want to feel like they're in an American high school movie?
OK, so this *slightly* looks like a brief case or office bag, but it does promise to be water-resistant and dirt-proof, as well as keep all your goodies cool.
This cooler box comes with an ice pack and is available in five different colour options, perfect for suiting your vibe.
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
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