6 Tips for Choosing a Beach Cooler That Keeps Ice All Day

Get at least two inches of insulation Cheap foam or thin-walled coolers turn into lukewarm puddles by lunch. Rotomolded coolers have 2-3 inches of foam and keep ice for 24+ hours, but a mid-range model like a Coleman Xtreme with 2-inch walls works for 10-12 hours.

Pre-chill the cooler the night before Load it with ice packs or a bag of ice to cool the interior. A warm cooler melts ice fast, so start cold.

Use a 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio More ice than food and drinks keeps everything colder longer. Skimping on ice is the fastest way to warm up your cooler.

Keep the cooler out of direct sun Shade or a towel over the top adds an hour or two of ice life. Sunlight heats the exterior and accelerates melting.

Drain melted water only when necessary Cold water helps insulate the remaining ice. Draining it all forces the ice to work harder and melt faster.

Choose a cooler with a tight-sealing gasket A loose lid lets cold air escape. A good gasket is as important as thick insulation for keeping ice frozen.