5 Tips for Keeping a Cooler Cold for a Week Without Dry Ice

Use block ice instead of cubed ice Block ice melts slower and stays colder longer than cubes, and it won’t create a pool of water that soaks everything after day one.

Make your own block ice Freeze gallon jugs of water or large yogurt containers. The bigger the block, the longer it lasts.

Pre-chill the cooler and food Stick the cooler in a shady spot with ice packs the day before, and pre-chill whatever food you’re packing. Every degree you lower the starting temperature buys you another day of cold.

Use a quality rotomolded cooler A cheap Styrofoam cooler won’t work for a week. You need a thick, insulated cooler like a Yeti, RTIC, or a good Coleman.

Keep the cooler in the shade and open it as little as possible Consider separate coolers—one for drinks (opened often) and one for food (opened rarely). Layer a towel on top for extra insulation.