5 Tips for Packing a Single Cooler the Right Way

Put drinks on the bottom and food on top Cold air sinks, drinks are heavy, and you grab them more often. This vertical stack keeps the cooler efficient.

Layer ice between drinks and food Pack a layer of ice, then drinks, then another ice layer, then food in sealed containers or bags.

Group food items by meal or type Keep sandwich stuff together and snacks together. This prevents digging through everything to find what you need.

Protect fragile items in a dry bag or bin Use a small dry bag or plastic bin for anything that can get crushed. This keeps chips from turning into crumbs.

Use a separate cooler for drinks if possible A dedicated drink cooler is even better, but if you only have one, this stacking method works well.