For UK camping enthusiasts, the Ninja FrostVault Heavy‑Duty Insulated Cool Box has quickly become one of the most talked‑about coolers in recent seasons. Officially launched in the UK in March 2024, it brings Ninja’s signature FrostVault technology to our shores and has been winning acclaim ever since. But is it worth the investment? Here we share our thoughts on the Ninga FrostVault cool box…
At the heart of the FrostVault is its innovative dry‑storage drawer, which stays chilled at fridge‑safe temperatures (below around 4.5 °C), and is separate from the ice‑filled main compartment. This separation means no more soggy sandwiches or crushed snacks, perfect when you’re packing picnic items like chilled meats and bread.
Built with approximately 7cm of insulation, this heavy‑duty cool box can keep ice frozen for up to 5 to 6 days in laboratory conditions and real‑world testing has demonstrated retention of 29 hours to reach 8 °C in hot weather, or nearly four days in “glacier mode”.
In the UK you’ll find at least two hard‑cooler sizes:
Ninja also offers wheeled versions like the 30 Qt wheeled cooler and even larger 65 Qt models, plus backpack‑style soft coolers in the FrostVault Go range, although the latter carry a shorter warranty and diminished cooling abilities.
Although we’ve not tested it ourselves, the general consensus of the Ninja FrostVault Cool Box is very favourable. Customers praise the cooler’s excellent ice retention, robust build, and smart dry drawer feature and for those using the insert while frozen (glacier mode) the average ice retention is an impressive 4 to 5 days.
Independent testing (such as Tom’s Guide and The Guardian) includes the FrostVault among the best non‑electric cool boxes in 2025, highlighting its insulation performance, thoughtful features such as the drain and wheels, and overall value for money.
Some downsides noted include its heft – full models are heavy to lift or pull without wheels, and it sits at a premium price point making it comparable to the likes of the Yeti Tundra 45L. The size of the 28 L variant also takes up a fair bit of space in vans, boots or camping setups, but then any similar large cool box is going to be bulky.
| Feature | Key Benefits for Campers |
|---|---|
| Ice retention 5–6 days | Keeps supplies cold across multi‑day trips |
| Dry‑storage drawer | Keeps food separate, dry and accessible (e.g. sandwiches, fruit) |
| Heavy‑duty build | Durable enough to stand on and resist knocks |
| Easy drainage & draw | Convenient to empty / access contents |
| Wheeled options | Easier to move across grass or packed campsites |
| Generous warranty | Five‑year limited warranty when registered in UK/ROI |
RRP for the 42L with wheels is £279 but we’ve spotted it on Amazon.co.uk for £199, which we think offers good value for money, especially when compared to similar sized and performing coolboxes like the Yeti Tundra 45L cool box or the Engel Ultra-Light 56L cool box.
Take a look at our tried and tested recommendations of 10 Of The Best Passive Camping Cool Boxes 2025 which include a wider variety of price points, with options under £120 for those on more of a budget, but still seeking great cooling performance.
Check out current prices of the Ninja FrostVault Cool Box on Amazon.
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