Camping Coolers & Isothermal Bags

It goes without saying that on decathlon.com.gr you will find an excellent and highly specialized variety of cooler bags, backpack coolers, as well as traditional hard portable camping coolers for your every activity and excursion. Our collection is designed to cover every need, from a quick meal at work or a picnic at the beach, to multi-day outings in nature.
Along with cooler bags and mini-fridges, beach tents and shelters are the ultimate must-have for every excursion to the sea.

An insulated lunch bag is a specially constructed bag aimed at slowing down the transfer of heat between its interior and the external environment, keeping food and drinks at the desired temperature (cold or hot).
It works through three basic layers:
Outer layer: Made from durable fabric (e.g., polyester) that withstands wear and tear and scratches.
Middle layer (Insulation): Consists of thick foam material (usually polyethylene foam - PE foam), which traps air and acts as a barrier, preventing ambient heat from penetrating the bag.
Inner layer: A special lining (often made of aluminum foil or PEVA) that reflects thermal radiation and provides watertightness, making it easy to clean.

The choice of size depends on the number of people and the duration of the excursion. The capacity of a cooler bag is measured in liters (L):
4 to 10 Liters: Ideal for 1 person. They fit a lunchbox, a fruit, and a small water bottle. They are perfect for the office or a short walk.
10 to 20 Liters: The ideal choice for 2 people or for hiking. At Decathlon, backpack coolers of this capacity are extremely popular, as they allow you to carry your food comfortably on your back, leaving your hands free.
20 to 35+ Liters: Suitable for a family picnic, camping, or groups of 4+ people. They fit large bottles, many food bowls, and several ice packs.

Although flexible cooler bags are lightweight and easily stored, a hard portable cooler (icebox) is preferable when doing multi-day camping, as hard coolers offer much thicker insulation and can keep ice solid for several days. Also, if you are traveling with a car full of gear, the hard surfaces protect delicate foods (such as fruits or eggs) from being crushed or squashed.

The retention duration depends on the quality of the insulation and the use of ice packs. At Decathlon, we test all our products based on the European standard EN 12546-2 (measuring the time it takes for the content's temperature to rise from 5°C to 15°C in an ambient temperature of 32°C):
Without ice packs, a good cooler bag keeps food cool for about 2 to 5 hours, while with ice packs the duration skyrockets to 7 to 15 hours (depending on the model).
Extra Tips for maximum performance: Place the food and drinks in the bag after you have already chilled them well in your home refrigerator, put the ice packs at the top of the bag, and remember to open the bag as little as possible and close it immediately.