Camping Panda
Ice cubes and dry ice are often employed for keeping your goods cold while camping. On a downside, one leaves behind a puddle in your cooler, while the other could be hard to source.
A simple way to wash off all your worries is to invest in some of the best ice packs for coolers. Check them out below.
Temperature
Is it long lasting?
Safety
Is it non-toxic?
Versatile
Is it designed for any cooler?
Convenience
Is it reusable?
Portability
Is it easy to carry?
Usability
Is it easy to use?
Lifespan
Is it build for years to come?
Durability
Is it sturdy enough?
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The Cooler Shock freeze packs represent a versatile solution for campers, anglers, and hunters alike. They come in a pack of four and freeze colder than ice, being able to keep your food and drinks cold for up to 2 days.
Unlike the normal ice packs, these packs consist of a reusable gel. Just fill them with water, shake, and place in freezer for 8-24 hours. Compact and flexible, they take up minimal space in a cooler. Once thawed, simply freeze them again to reuse.
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The Fit & Fresh Cool Coolers might not be your best bet for days of camping, but it’s undeniably an excellent choice for day trips and campers on a budget. Like the Cooler Shock, they come in a pack of four, and are smartly designed to fit most lunch boxes.
Depending on the size of your cooler, you can use one or more freezer packs to keep your goods chill for up to 8 hours – the packs might thaw after four hours or so, but they stay cold for longer. As you can expect, they are long lasting and reusable. Ideal if you don’t want to break the bank.
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Designed to use with YETI’s coolers, but suitable for most hard and soft coolers, the YETI ICE refreezable cooler pack is an excellent choice for camping and boating alike. It lasts for about a day in a hard cooler, it freezes fast, and is easy to clean.
The ice pack comes in various size and suits different needs. It is expensive, but lives up to expectations – all that you need for keeping your drinks and food cold without hassle.
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The slim and versatile Cool Pack comes as an alternative to our best value. The blocks are slightly thicker than the Fit & Fresh, but still thin enough to fit in a tiny camping cooler or lunch bag.
Even temperature distribution is ensured by not one but two hollows. The presence of these holes also ensure fast chilling, so they get frozen after around 8 hours in the freezer. These ice packs won’t stay frozen for days, but are still a great choice for a full day outdoors.
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If you’re on a low budget, the Igloo Maxcold Medium Ice Block could be the right one for you. It is really cheap, but still lives up to expectations. Slightly thicker than the Healthy Packers Cool Packs, it keeps your goods cool longer.
The ice pack doesn’t come in a set, but only one is usually enough for a smaller lunch bag. It is perfect to use with both soft and hard coolers, and it is also fairly lightweight. No hollows mean it takes longer to freeze, but also longer to thaw. All in all, a great option that won’t damage your wallet.
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Another set of reusable ice packs that caught our attention is this one from Stay Cool. It consists of six individual, sandwich-sized blocks, that work perfectly for keeping drinks or food cool throughout the day.
They won’t deliver fridge-like temperature, but can still keep your good relatively chill for up to 12 hours. Alternatively, you can use them to prevent ice in your cooler from melting too fast. A great price point and durable, they are a great choice for picnics and leisure camping.
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The Blue Ele is proof that ice packs don’t have to be dull. This set of colorful ice packs will surely bright up your camping experience. The blocks are slightly larger than the Stay Cool, but they still fit in smaller coolers.
Hollows on both sides, as well as a playful snowflake pattern, quicken up the freezing process. We also like the flat design, that delivers an even temperature distribution. Overall, an excellent choice for keeping your food, drinks and snacks cool throughout the day.
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If you don’t really care about food, but your main purpose is to keep your cans cool, the KoldPacks might be the right ones for you. They are designed specifically for cooling cans and bottles, impressing with a lasting period of 24 hours.
What makes them stand out is the waved shape that nests the drinks. Obviously, you can use these ice packs for alternative purposes too, such as keeping food fresh. Just let them freeze overnight to enjoy carefree camping.
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The RINBOTTLE Ice Packs can satisfy backpacker who like to travel light. They come in a pack of four, are lightweight, and ultra-compact. Just perfect for smaller coolers and lunch boxes, as well as insulated picnic baskets.
The lasting period is not the longest, but they can still manage to keep your goods cold for up to 6 hours. Affordable, these ice packs are undoubtedly a great investment.
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Last on our list of best ice packs for coolers, the Fit & Fresh XL impress with a very attractive price tag. They are larger than our best value, thus more suitable to use with mid-sized to large coolers.
The ice packs contain a gel that keeps them frozen for up to 8 hours. Like most ice packs on this list, they come in a set of four and are very easy to use and clean. Slightly on the heavier side compared to other ice packs this size, they are a great choice for campers on a budget.
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Designed to replace ice, the best ice packs for coolers can keep your food and beverages chill for hours on end. Depending on the cooling agent they use, an ice pack can last anywhere between eight and over 48 hours. With this in mind, how to choose the best one? Find it out in our buying guide below.
There are two things to consider when choosing an ice pack for cooler; the cooling agent and the design. Based on the cooling agent, you can choose from ice packs filled with:
Based on the type of shell, you can choose from soft or hard ice packs.
We already mentioned lasting period, but we can’t emphasize enough the importance of this number, especially if you’re looking for ice packs for a soft cooler.
Freezing time can vary widely, from around six hours as seen on the Blue Ele to over 24 hours, such as YETI Ice or Cooler Shock.
Obviously, the longer the ice pack will stay frozen, the longer you can keep your perishables fresh and drinks chill. For a short trip, the Blue Ele ice packs will surely satisfy your needs, but if you plan to spend a night or two outdoors, we recommend spending a buck and getting YETI or Cooler Shock ice packs.
Another essential thing to consider is how long you must leave the ice packs in the freezer before they are ready to use. Just like the lasting period, the freezing time can vary widely from brand to brand.
As a rule of thumb, water ice packs freeze up faster than gel ones, but they also thaw quicker. Nevertheless, if you’re in a hurry, some of the best ice packs for coolers on the market, such as the Healthy Packers, are ready to use in as little as three hours.
For most ice packs, though, consider a freezing time of at least 6-8 hours. To prevent disappointment, we recommend leaving the ice packs in the freezer overnight or for around 12 hours before use.
Ice packs may look all alike, but the truth is that, based on the substances they contain, they can cool down to different temperatures.
If your purpose is to keep a couple of sandwiches and a few drinks cool until lunchtime, water ice packs with a temperature of 32°F – aka, the temperature the water freezes at – could be just perfect for your needs.
However, if you’re planning a weekend camping trip and want to keep raw meat near-frozen until cooking it, we recommend buying ice packs that froze at 18°F. These blocks are ideal for keeping meat and vegetables frozen, and they can even keep your beverages super-cold even on the hottest days.
Two other essential things to consider are the size and weight of the ice packs you want to buy. To make sure you’re investing your hard-earned money in the best ones, consider the size of your cooler, as well as its design.
Determining how much ice you need in a cooler can be tricky, but as a rule of thumb, aim to occupy no more than 30% of the cooler volume with your packs. Typically, smaller blocks are more convenient than bigger ones, as you can use them for coolers of various sizes.
Regarding their weight, keep in mind that hard-shell ice packs weigh more than soft ones, so try to avoid them if your goal is that of keeping the overall weight of the cooler as low as possible. On the contrary, if you couldn’t care less about weight and plan to drive straight to the campsite, hard-shell ice packs will last longer and are more convenient.
The Cooler Shock Cooler Freeze Packs are undeniably your best bet for camping trips of all lengths. They stay frozen for up to 48 hours – depending on the outside temperature and type of cooler – are flexible and incredibly lightweight. They are also easy to use and last for quite some time.
The Cooler Shock mentioned above and the YETI ICE Refreezable Cooler Ice Pack are some of the ice packs that stay cold the longest, usually for days rather than hours.
No. All materials used in the manufacturing of ice packs are non-toxic and FDA-approved. It’s not edible, but it’s not harmful either.
Two easy ways to make your ice packs last longer include choosing a high-quality, hard cooler and making sure the foods and beverages you put in the cooler are as cold as possible. Once you’ve reached your campsite, try to open the cooler as little as possible, to prevent the heat transfer between the cold interior and the environment.
Ice packs for coolers can be easily found in many grocery stores and supermarkets. However, buying online on marketplaces such as Amazon often comes with more perks, such as lower prices and hassle-free returns if you’re not happy with your product.
