Built for us!  

Alex Minicozzi 

From the red dirt to the riverbank, Kodiak hard coolers prove its local knowledge and engineering can beat the heat and outlast the outback. 

When it comes to camping, especially in these hotter months we have coming up, an esky can make or break a trip. Between the scorching heat and endless dust, the first thing you want is a nice cold beverage. So, when The Report had the opportunity to try out the Kodiak 32L Hard Cooler, I couldn’t pass it up. On paper, its perfect, providing a rugged, tight seal, made for five days of ice retention and designed for our harsh climate, all with an incredibly functional and sleek design. But promises are one thing, and performance is another, so I decided to test it out at home before heading out bush. 

A week before heading out , I packed the esky with two bags of ice and a few esky staples and left it outside for a few days. The first impression was strong, the latches felt stable, rubber seals were tight, and the overall construction was solid and durable. After day one, there was practically no meltwater, and everything was still refreshingly cold. Before I knew it, a week had passed, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the ice held up incredibly well. Of course, there would still be a little bit of melting, but much less than you would expect. So, I was set, ready to test it for real. 

Keeps ice solid for up to five days with premium rotomoulding and injected insulation.

I took the esky out on a four-day camping trip out near the river, packing it full of ice, food and drinks. It mostly lived in the back of the 4WD, being opened fairly often for our needs, and I was thoroughly impressed. By day four, there were still noticeable chunks of ice, and even the melted water was icy enough to keep everything perfectly chilled. Honestly, it is amazing, especially for people like me who don’t have batteries to run fridges and keep their set up relatively simple for short- to medium-length trips. Pricewise, you might be inclined to just invest in a fridge and battery, but for simplicities sake, it offers an almost perfect alternative. 

One my biggest ‘likes’ of this product is its functional design, no odd shapes or weird lids, just a box that fits perfectly in the car, letting me stack whatever I needed onto and around it. From the outset, you can tell it’s built for strength. The thick insulation and UV-resistant outer shell feel premium, and I’d expect nothing less from an Aussie-born and bred product. It is a bit on the meatier side when you start to fill it, but with that level of insulation, you can’t complain, especially when the handles are strong and perfectly placed. Additionally, small details like the built in bottle opener, non-slip rubber feet, and easy clean interior just make life so much simpler. 

A standout of this cooler is that its Australian owned and it’s designed for Australian conditions. I know it sounds like a marketing line, but it genuinely matters. The UV resistant materials withstand our harsh sun, and the design reflects how we really use our eskies – camping, four-wheel driving, fishing, and surviving in the summer heatwaves. It’s also great to know that there’s a five-year warranty backing new coolers. What more could you want when supporting a homegrown company that actually understands our needs? It’s a win-win. 

It’s available in four different sizes to suit pretty well all needs, so you’re set if you’re going out alone or with a group. From $299.95, you can get the 15L; there is also a 22L, 32L and even a 42L option available, which is $444.95. It’s widely available and if you get it off the mykodiak.com website, you get free shipping. There are six different colours to choose from, including sand, mint, black, khaki, orange and white. 

After three days, the ice was still solid.

I’m looking forward to taking this out on our beach camping trip in a couple of weeks already! Kodiak have outweighed my expectations and made me realise that the cheaper brands, whilst being more affordable, just might not cut it. 

Heavy-duty latches, tie-down slots and lock points for added versatility. 

After testing this cooler out both in the backyard and in the bush, I can confidently say that the Kodiak Hard Cooler stands up to its claim – ‘designed in the wild’. If you’re looking for a cooler that combines durability, dependability and tough Australian functionality and simplicity, this product is absolutely worth the investment. It’s not just built to last; it’s built for Australia.