Cooler Bags for Work, Lunch, Beach & Picnics
A good cooler bag makes taking food and drinks with you a whole lot easier.
At House of Uniforms, you'll find insulated cooler bags in a wide range of sizes and styles, from compact lunch coolers and six pack bags through to cooler totes, backpack coolers and larger-capacity options.
Whether you're packing lunch for work, drinks for the team, snacks for a day at the beach or food for a picnic, choosing the right cooler comes down to how much you need to carry, how you're transporting it and the features that matter to you.
Our cooler bags can be purchased plain or we can professionally personalised, making them just as useful for individuals as they are for businesses, sporting clubs, teams and events.
How to Choose the Right Cooler Bag
Start with capacity.
A small cooler is perfect when you're carrying lunch or a few drinks for one person, while picnics, sporting events, worksites and group outings generally need more room.
Use our Bag Capacity filter to narrow the range:
Under 15 Litres – compact cooler bags ideal for lunches, snacks, drinks and individual use.
15–29 Litres – versatile coolers with more room for food and drinks, making them useful for work, sport, picnics and days out.
30–49 Litres – larger-capacity options when you're packing for multiple people or need to carry more food, drinks or supplies.
50–69 Litres – substantial capacity for larger groups, teams, worksites, events and outdoor use.
70+ Litres – serious cooling capacity when you've got a serious amount of stuff to bring along.
Capacity isn't everything. Also consider how you'll carry the bag, its dimensions, insulation, compartments, closure and any additional features that will make it more useful for where you're taking it.
Check the individual product specifications for exact dimensions and capacity.
Backpack Cooler Bags
Need your hands free? A backpack cooler combines insulated storage with backpack straps, making food and drinks much easier to carry when you're on the move.
They're particularly handy for the beach, picnics, sporting events, outdoor activities and anywhere you might already have your hands full with chairs, towels, equipment or children who suddenly decide they can't carry the thing they absolutely insisted on bringing!
Our range includes backpack cooler options in different capacities and styles, so check the individual products to find the right combination of storage and portability.
Cooler Bags for the Beach & Picnics
For beach days and picnics, look for a cooler that's large enough for the food and drinks you're taking but still comfortable to carry from the car to wherever you've decided to set up.
Soft cooler bags are a popular option because they're lightweight and portable, while cooler totes and backpack coolers provide different carrying options depending on what else you're bringing along.
A backpack cooler can be particularly useful when you want your hands free, while a larger cooler bag may be a better choice when you're packing food and drinks for several people.
Insulated Lunch & Work Cooler Bags
Cooler bags aren't just for weekends.
A compact insulated lunch cooler is an easy way to carry food and drinks to work, particularly when you need something more substantial than a standard lunch bag.
Our range includes smaller coolers suitable for individual lunches as well as larger options for longer days, worksites and crews. Look at the capacity and internal dimensions rather than judging by the outside of the bag alone, you'd be surprised how much difference a few litres can make.
Soft Cooler Bags & Hard-Sided Coolers
Most of our range consists of soft-sided cooler bags, which combine insulated storage with a lightweight, portable design.
Soft coolers are easy to carry and store and are available in styles ranging from traditional zippered cooler bags to totes and backpacks.
If you prefer something more rigid, we also stock selected hard-sided coolers, including our 15 litre Vintage Cooler Box.
A hard-sided cooler or esky-style box provides a rigid structure, while a soft cooler bag is generally lighter and easier to carry.
Which is better really depends on what you're taking, where you're going and how you need to transport it.
Personalised & Custom Cooler Bags
Cooler bags also make brilliant branded merchandise because they're genuinely useful and useful promotional products have a habit of sticking around.
Cooler bags can be personalised with a name or branded with your business, club, school, team or event logo.
They're popular for staff gifts, onboarding packs, corporate merchandise, sporting clubs, events, promotions and team gear, and you can also order our cooler bags plain if branding isn't what you're after.
Printed Cooler Bags
Printing is available on many of our cooler bags and is a great option for logos and designs, including artwork with multiple colours or finer detail.
The most suitable printing method depends on the material and construction of the cooler bag as well as your artwork. We'll recommend a decoration method that suits both the product and the design rather than trying to make one process work on everything.
Embroidered Cooler Bags
Selected cooler bags can also be customised with embroidery, creating a durable, professional finish that's particularly well suited to business, club, school and team logos.
Not every cooler bag is suitable for embroidery, so check the available branding options on the product you're considering or ask our team for advice.
Cooler Bag FAQs
What is a cooler bag?
A cooler bag is a portable insulated bag designed to help keep food and drinks cool while you're away from a refrigerator. Unlike a traditional hard-sided cooler, soft cooler bags have flexible insulated walls and are generally lightweight and easy to carry.
How does an insulated cooler bag work?
An insulated cooler bag uses layers of insulating material to slow the transfer of heat between the inside of the bag and the outside environment. Adding chilled food, cold drinks or suitable ice packs can help maintain a cooler internal temperature for longer. Performance varies between products and conditions.
What size cooler bag do I need?
The right capacity depends on how much you need to carry. A cooler under 15 litres can be ideal for an individual lunch, snacks or a few drinks, while larger capacities provide more room for picnics, sporting events, worksites and groups. Use our Bag Capacity filter to narrow the range and check individual product dimensions before choosing.
How many litres should a cooler bag be?
There's no single ideal capacity. For smaller individual loads, a cooler under 15 litres may be enough. If you're packing food and drinks for a day out or several people, consider a larger capacity. Think about what you'll regularly carry rather than simply choosing the biggest bag available, you still have to transport it once it's full.
What is a backpack cooler bag?
A backpack cooler is an insulated cooler designed with backpack-style shoulder straps. It gives you the cooling and storage function of a traditional cooler bag while allowing you to carry it on your back, leaving your hands free.
Are backpack cooler bags good for the beach?
Backpack coolers can be particularly convenient for beach trips because they're easy to carry while leaving your hands available for towels, chairs and other gear. Look for a capacity that suits the amount of food and drinks you're taking and a style that's comfortable to carry when loaded.
What should I look for in a cooler bag for the beach?
Consider capacity, insulation, weight and how far you'll need to carry it. Shoulder-strap coolers, cooler totes and backpack coolers can all work well for the beach. The best choice depends on how much you're taking and what else you'll need to carry at the same time.
Are cooler bags good for work lunches?
Yes. Smaller insulated cooler bags are a practical choice for carrying lunch, snacks and drinks to work. For longer shifts or jobs where you need to take more food and drinks with you, consider a larger capacity cooler.
What's the difference between a cooler bag and a hard-sided cooler?
A cooler bag has flexible insulated walls and is generally lighter and easier to carry and store. A hard-sided cooler or esky-style box has a rigid outer structure and can be better suited to situations where you want something more substantial. House of Uniforms stocks predominantly soft cooler bags as well as selected hard sided coolers.
Can cooler bags be personalised?
Yes. Selected cooler bags can be personalised with names or custom logos and branding, depending on the product and decoration method available. This makes them a great option for individual gifts as well as businesses, sporting clubs, schools, teams and events.
Can you print a logo on a cooler bag?
Yes. Most of our cooler bags can be printed with a logo or design. The best printing method depends on the bag material, construction and artwork, so we'll recommend a suitable decoration option for the product you've chosen.
Can cooler bags be embroidered?
Yes. Selected cooler bags are suitable for logo embroidery. Embroidery creates a professional, durable finish, although suitability depends on the construction of the cooler and the area available for decoration. Just keep in mind since the needle used to embroider your artwork punches tiny holes in the bag this isn't a suitable branding option unless there is a non-insulated pocket or flap. Otherwise your bag will no longer be insulated.
Can I buy cooler bags without branding?
Absolutely. House of Uniforms sells plain and personalised cooler bags, so you don't need to add a name or logo to purchase from us.
Can I order custom cooler bags in bulk?
Yes. We supply custom cooler bags for businesses, sporting clubs, schools, teams, events and organisations, with printing and embroidery available. Eligible orders may also qualify for bulk discounts.
Where can I buy cooler bags in Australia?
House of Uniforms supplies cooler bags Australia wide, with a large online range available plain or professionally personalised. Melbourne customers can also visit our Moorabbin showroom by appointment if they'd prefer to see products before choosing.
