topic Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS in Community Chat

ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 18:45:48 GMT

I am curious to know if anyone here can actually RECOMMEND a good ice pack ... one that actually works. Most of them are pretty mediocre.

Year round I keep a small insulated ice chest in my car. It sits on the floor behind the passenger seat. I do this because I like to take a chilled protein shake and a cold bottle of water with me when I'm out running errands, etc.

I have found that ice packs come in all shapes, sizes and weights, and are meant to keep something cold, not to make it cold. Over the years, I've bought many, and most of them are only "okay" at best. I have 8-10 ice packs in my freezer and I doubt I would recommend any of them to anyone.

So ........... what's your experience with these little cold bricks ... have you ever found something that was actually works? I can't be the only person who can't find a good one ....

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

ciao_bella — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 18:55:04 GMT

My son, who fishes a lot, suggested I fill up 1 liter plastic bottles that you get seltzer or soda in and freeze them. (Don't use the small thin plastic water bottles.) He started using them when he goes fishing and said they work the best, and they do! The big blocks of plastic ice last a long time Like ice packs, as they begin to melt there's no water mess behind and, in an emergency, you always have a source of water if needed.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

CrazyDaisy — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:00:57 GMT

As you said, ice packs are designed to keep things cold that are already cold. Maybe try a smaller cooler. With less air it might be easier to keep it cool.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

Meowingkitty — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:07:10 GMT

I would do what the first poster does or put some water in a square plastic container and freeze them. They would last the longest. That's what we do when we take a road trip. Last all day even though it's between 100-115 degrees.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:09:20 GMT

I suggest a different approach. For Christmas a couple years ago, I was given an insulated water bottle. Can't think of the brand but it was a bit pricier than others. Anyway, even if left in a hot car and hot on the outside, what's inside is still as cold as when I poured it earlier that day. (the same for the opposite - cold car, hot bev)

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

Meowingkitty — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:15:57 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
I suggest a different approach. For Christmas a couple years ago, I was given an insulated water bottle. Can't think of the brand but it was a bit pricier than others. Anyway, even if left in a hot car and hot on the outside, what's inside is still as cold as when I poured it earlier that day. (the same for the opposite - cold car, hot bev)

I agree. I rarely leave home without a 24 oz insulated bottle full of ice and water. Ice will last all day even sitting in a 140 degree car.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

SilleeMee — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:21:18 GMT

YETI makes the best ice packs imo. They are expensive but they outperform all the rest.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:38:00 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
I suggest a different approach. For Christmas a couple years ago, I was given an insulated water bottle. Can't think of the brand but it was a bit pricier than others. Anyway, even if left in a hot car and hot on the outside, what's inside is still as cold as when I poured it earlier that day. (the same for the opposite - cold car, hot bev)

Just found the brand - hydro flask - 21 oz is what I have.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

geezerette — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:59:34 GMT

I keep a hard-sided cooler in my car for my groceries. I put three or four of the dry ice packs that I regularly get in my supplement deliveries. It keeps my food cold while I'm out.

I'm not trying to "make" something cold though. I only want to keep things cold or frozen that are already in that state. I use an insulated tumbler for any beverage I want to take with me from home.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

On It — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 20:17:28 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud I agree. The HydroFlask brand is a superior product. My prescription eye drops must be refrigerated. I use one of their tumblers with a lid to transport them when we travel. I do put a few ice cubes in a zip lock bag to keep the chill, but the ice has never been melted when we complete our 5 hour trip.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

deepwaterdotter — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 20:19:19 GMT

We use a couple of hard-sided plastic ice packs called "Freez Pak". They are filled with a gel-like substance.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

patbz — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 21:07:42 GMT

I concur with another poster who said Yeti ice packs ( about $20 each) are far and away the best and indestructible. We own one large size and two smaller which we frequently use together when we do a Costco run for Haagen Daz ( 3 1/2 hrs one way). We use them in a WM Ozark Trails cooler (1/4 price of similar Yeti brand).

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

lynnie61 — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 00:12:13 GMT

We fish a lot. We put chilled bait in an insulated bag with three or four hard blue freezer bricks (they have small, med, large sizes, pretty reasonable st Walmart). We come home after very hot days, and they are still not thawed out. They are also inside an insulated “igloo” soft sided cooler bag all day. We also freeze water bottles occasionally, and have very cold water if they start to thaw. We rinse the ice packs, and back in the freezer they go. They do sweat a bit, but no mess.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

godi — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 22:21:24 GMT

The Yeti ones are absolutely amazing. They are pricey but they work.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 22:32:08 GMT

@geezerette wrote:
I keep a hard-sided cooler in my car for my groceries. I put three or four of the dry ice packs that I regularly get in my supplement deliveries. It keeps my food cold while I'm out.

I'm not trying to "make" something cold though. I only want to keep things cold or frozen that are already in that state. I use an insulated tumbler for any beverage I want to take with me from home.

@geezerette

I do the same thing with cold and frozen groceries. A few weeks ago I caught a good sale on salmon and bought several packages. Just to keep things cold until I got home, along with the salmon I also bought a couple bags of frozen vegetables to keep them company on the ride home.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 08:06:11 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
I suggest a different approach. For Christmas a couple years ago, I was given an insulated water bottle. Can't think of the brand but it was a bit pricier than others. Anyway, even if left in a hot car and hot on the outside, what's inside is still as cold as when I poured it earlier that day. (the same for the opposite - cold car, hot bev)
Just found the brand - hydro flask - 21 oz is what I have.

@ThinkingOutLoud

A friend of mine swears by this flask ... and I've seen them on sale recently. I will check them out in a store.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

Boehm Collector — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 12:25:13 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 We purchased the Long Lasting Ice Pack for Coolers, Camping, Fishing and More, X-Large Reusable Ice Pack, Alaskan Series by Arctic Ice from Amazon. It was recommended by America's Test Kitchen. We have been quite pleased with them.

If you are looking for something smaller try Amazon Basics Reusable Hard Sided Rectangular Ice Pack, 6.5" X 4.3" X 1.2", Blue, Pack of 4.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

RedTop — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 20:53:19 GMT

I keep all of the cold packs that come with our insulin and use them to keep my store purchases cold in this hot weather. Never had a problem.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

debfau — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 21:42:55 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

Target has an insulated bottle by a brand called Takeya that comes in several sizes that you could get to put your smoothie or water in before leaving house and it would stay quite cold for sometime - I have a 32 oz one by this brand, I like that it has a handle, has a large mouth opening if you wanted to put ice & water in it and then it has a screw-off top for drinking/pouring.

Re: ICE PACKS FOR COOLERS

aubnwa01 — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 01:59:00 GMT

I have a couple of these & they're thicker than normal & work quite well. Dimensions are 2" X 6.8" X 8.5" & the brand is Lifoam. I can't recall where I got them.