A stubby cooler seems simple until you've owned a bad one. The lid that pops off when the ute hits a pothole. The finish that starts flaking after one summer. The clip-on opener that's now somewhere at the bottom of the tackle box. The cup that's a couple of millimetres too fat for the cupholder.

We've spent a few years fussing over the small stuff on our own drinkware, so here's what to look for in a stubby cooler, especially the multi-use kind that also does coffee. Use it as a checklist whether you end up buying ours or someone else's.

Quick answer: when working out what to look for in a stubby cooler, start with double-wall vacuum insulation. Then check it fits your usual cans and bottles, has a lid that seals (plus a proper coffee lid if you want hot drinks), a base designed for car cupholders, a built-in bottle opener, a tough powder-coated finish, easy cleaning and a clear warranty.

What to look for in a stubby cooler: the quick checklist

Insulation: vacuum is the big one

Insulation is the reason you're buying a stubby cooler at all. Foam and neoprene trap a thin layer of air, which slows warming for a short session. Double-wall vacuum insulation removes the air from between two stainless steel walls, so very little heat can get across. That's the difference between a beer that's warm by the time you've turned the snags and one that's still cold at sunset.

The catch is that "double-wall" and "vacuum insulated" aren't the same thing. A double-wall cup with air in the gap won't perform anywhere near as well. Look for vacuum insulation in the specs, along with a stated cold and hot rating. We go deeper in which stubby holders keep drinks cold the longest, and if you're weighing up materials, our stainless steel vs plastic cup cooler comparison covers that.

Lid options: cold drinks and coffee

A lid that sits over the top of the can keeps warm air out between sips, and keeps out sand, flies and whatever's blowing around the campsite. If the cooler doubles as a coffee cup, the coffee lid matters even more. Look for one that seals properly, can be used one-handed, and won't leak if the cup tips over in the car or a bag.

Capacity and can or bottle fit

Australian cans and stubbies mostly come in 375ml, with plenty of 330ml and 355ml imports and craft cans in the mix. A good stubby cooler takes all three snugly, because a loose can wobbles around and the lid may not sit properly over it. Three formats are worth checking separately:

• Slim cans, often 250ml, are narrower, so they can sit loosely in a cooler built for standard cans.
• Glass stubbies vary in shape, and a few have a wider body than standard.
• Tallies and longnecks need a bigger cooler altogether.

For capacity, think about everything you'll use it for. A cooler that's also a coffee cup needs room for a decent coffee, not just a can. Our StubCup holds 400ml and fits standard 330 to 375ml cans and stubbies. See exactly which cans and bottles fit the StubCup, or read our guide to slim cans and Australian can sizes. For tallies and longnecks, our StubJug is a 1000ml cooler that takes 750ml longnecks and 600 to 850ml bottles.

Base, cupholder fit and grip

Wide insulated cups can be too fat for a car, boat or camp chair cupholder, and a cup perched on top is a spill waiting to happen. Look for a slimmer base designed to fit standard car cupholders, and measure first if your holders are unusual.

Grip matters on a boat or around the pool when your hands are wet, and a powder-coated finish generally gives you more to hold onto than smooth bare steel. Some cups also take a silicone boot that protects the base. We make one for the StubCup called the StubBoot.

A built-in bottle opener

It sounds like a small thing until you're at the campsite and the opener's in the other car. An opener built into the cup itself, usually in the base, can't be left behind. Clip-on or keyring openers work, but they're one more thing to lose. If the opener is in the base, check the cup still sits flat and steady on a table.

Coating, finish and durability

On a stainless cooler, the finish takes the knocks: the ute tray, the tinnie, the sand. Powder coating is applied as a dry powder and cured with heat, so it bonds to the steel and is generally tougher than paint or a printed wrap, which can scratch, fade or peel with heavy use. If you want a name or logo on it, engraving goes into the powder coat rather than sitting on top, so there's no ink to peel or rub off.

Inside, stainless steel doesn't hang onto flavours and smells the way fabric sleeves and some plastics can. That matters when you're switching between coffee and beer in the same cup.

Cleaning and care

Look for a wide mouth you can get a brush into, a lid you can rinse properly and clear care instructions. Don't assume every vacuum cup or powder-coated finish can go in the dishwasher; check what the maker says. For our StubCup, warm soapy water and a bottle brush is how we look after ours, and we let the lid dry fully before putting it back on.

Warranty: read the fine print

A warranty tells you how long the maker expects the thing to last. Check what's covered and for how long, because soft parts often have shorter cover than the steel. Ours is a lifetime warranty on vacuum insulation performance for the StubCup and StubJug, 2 years on the stainless steel body and components, and 6 months on silicone, plastic and soft parts like lids, seals and StubBoots.

How the StubCup measures up (it's ours, so judge for yourself)

Since we make one, here's how our StubCup lines up against the list. It's double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel with a powder-coated finish, and it keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 6. It holds 400ml, fits standard 330 to 375ml cans and stubbies, comes with a leak-proof sip lid for coffee, and has a bottle opener built into the base and a slimline base designed to fit standard car cupholders. It's $49 in 15+ colours, and personalising it adds $15 to the cup price.

Where it isn't the right pick: if you mainly drink tallies or longnecks (that's the StubJug's job), if you want a cooler that folds flat into a pocket, or if you need a stack of cheap holders for a party, where printed neoprene makes more sense. For a broader look at the options, read our stubby holder buyer's guide or browse StubCup colours.

Stubby cooler features FAQs

What is the most important feature in a stubby cooler?

Insulation. Double-wall vacuum insulation makes the biggest difference to how long a drink stays cold. After that, a snug fit for your usual cans and a lid that sits over the top matter most.

What does 5-in-1 mean on a stubby cooler?

It's a count of the jobs the cup is designed to do. On our StubCup that's a stubby cooler, a can holder, a bottle holder, a coffee cup and a built-in bottle opener. Labels vary between brands, so check which lids and features are actually included.

Do I need a separate coffee lid?

If you want to use your stubby cooler for hot drinks, yes. A coffee lid that seals and doesn't leak lets you drink on the move and keeps the heat in. Without one, a cooler is really just for cans and cold drinks.

Will an insulated stubby cooler fit my car cupholder?

It depends on the cup and the car. Look for a base designed to fit standard car cupholders, and measure your holder if it's an unusual size. Wide, straight-sided cups are the ones most likely to sit on top rather than inside.

How do I clean an insulated stubby cooler?

Warm soapy water and a bottle brush handle most of it. Take the lid apart if it's designed to come apart, rinse well and let everything dry before you put it back together. Check the maker's care instructions before using a dishwasher.

A good stubby cooler is one you stop thinking about, because it just works every time you reach for it. Run through the checklist, buy the one that suits how you actually drink, and if you've got a question about ours, email us at hello@getrugd.com.

Malin and Andre