6 Rules for Packing a Cooler So Ice Lasts

Prechill the cooler and everything going in it. A cold cooler and cold drinks start with an advantage. Warm items dumped into ice will melt it in an afternoon.

Pack as tight as possible, filling every air gap with ice. Air pockets let warm air circulate, which melts ice faster. The more cold stuff touching other cold stuff, the longer it stays cold.

Use block ice or frozen water jugs for long trips. They melt slower than cubes. Loose ice works for a day, but blocks last much longer.

Keep the cooler out of direct sun and open it fast. Sunlight and prolonged opening waste cold air. Every second the lid is up, ice melts.

Don’t drain the water until you’re done. Cold water still insulates. Dumping it early removes a layer of protection.

Add another bag of ice instead of leaving empty space. Ice is cheap. Air is not. Fill every void with ice, not empty volume.