Any outdoor enthusiast knows how important it is to keep food and drinks cold in hot weather. However, carrying a lot of ice in your cooler bag can be heavy and the ice can melt and become mushy in the bottom of the cooler. Once you stash an ice pack in your cooler bag, you will enjoy cold and delightfully fresh food and refreshments all day long.
Enjoy Summer With a Cooler Ice Pack
An ice pack is a reusable freezable pack that will make sure that your drinks, snacks, or fruit stay deliciously cold for hours. Whatever type of activity you like to do: camping, picnicking in the park, fishing, hunting, or going to the beach, an ice pack is an excellent alternative to carrying heavy bags of ice that can turn to mush in your cooler bag.
The 9 Best Ice Packs
- Arctic Ice Long-Lasting Ice Pack
- Bentgo Ice Lunch Chillers Ultra Thin Ice Packs
- Cooler Shock Cooler Freeze Packs (Our Top Pick)
- YETI ICE Cooler Ice Pack
- FlexiFreeze Ice Sheets
- Fit & Fresh Cool Cooler Slim Ice Packs
- Healthy Packers Ice Pack
- ThermaFreeze Reusable Ice Pack Sheets
Our Top Pick for the Best Ice Pack
Our top pick for the best ice pack is the Cooler Shock Cooler Freeze Packs. We highly recommend the Cooler Shock Cooler Freeze Packs for your soft or hard cooler bag. Rated as the Number 1 High-Performance Ice Pack, the Cooler Shock ice pack outperforms regular ice in every way and delivers maximized chilling power that is colder than ice.
Its slim design gives you more room for your snacks and drinks and makes your cooler bag lighter to carry. Most importantly, the reusable design will save you money. Whether you are partying on the beach or entertaining friends in your garden on a warm sultry evening, you will enjoy ice-chilled food and drinks all summer long.
Check the price on AmazonFour Ways to Use an Ice Pack
- Place multiple packs into your cooler and enjoy cold drinks and snacks all day long.
- Pop 1 or 2 ice packs into your insulated lunch bag to keep your food and drinks cool and fresh at work or college.
- Fun colorful ice packs, such as the Fit & Fresh Cool Cooler Slim Ice Packs, are a great way to keep your child’s food and drinks cool in a lunch box.
- To maximize cooling in a larger cooler bag or icebox and minimize the extra weight of heavy ice, use a few ice packs, along with an additional bag of ice.
How to Choose the Best Ice Pack
There are 3 types of ice packs available. Hard ice pack blocks, flexible ice packs, and ice sheets.
Hard Ice Pack Blocks
A hard ice pack block, such as the YETI ICE Cooler Ice Pack, is specially designed for cooler bags and ice boxes that hold a lot of soda bottles, beer, or wine. Strong and durable, a hard ice pack is less likely to crack or leak when stashed amongst your beverages or when the cooler is dropped on the ground.
Although they are solid, hard packs usually have a slim design, so they are quite easy to store, but they might be too bulky for a small cooler.
Ideal for long-term cooling, a hard ice pack provides effective cooling for 24 or 48 hours depending on the outside temperature and how many packs you use. Hard packs are made from BPA-free food-safe materials.
The only real downside to using a hard ice pack is that it can take from 12-24 hours to freeze solid.
Foil Ice Packs
Foil ice packs are gaining in popularity. Initially designed for urgent blood transport, these packs have a durable lightweight and flexible foil material. You can easily fit them in between your drinks and deliver faster cooling. Amazingly efficient, foil ice packs deliver faster and longer cooling due to a lower freezing point.
Some foil packs can even freeze down to an extra low temperature of 18°F. Safe to use, foil packs are 100% non-toxic and food-safe.
If you have a larger cooler bag, you will need more multiple ice packs for effective cooling. Alternatively, use the ice packs in combination with regular ice.
Ice Sheets
Ice sheet packs, such as the FlexiFreeze Ice Sheets, offer you total cooling flexibility not only in a cooler bag but you can place an ice sheet under a plate to keep a dessert fresh and cold. As ice sheets are ultra-thin, you will save on valuable space in your cooler. You can even cut the sheets up to any size or wrap a sheet around a bottle.
Water, Cooling Solution, or Phase Change Gel
Ice packs that are filled with water or a cooling solution, such as the ThermaFreeze Reusable Ice Pack Sheet or the Bentgo Ice Lunch Chillers Ultra Thin Ice Packs, provide very good short term cooling for small amounts of food and drinks. However, for more advanced longer-term cooling, consider packs that are designed with phase-change thermal technology.
Phase-change thermal technology refers to a change from one state (solid, liquid, or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition.
Ice packs that utilize a thermal exchange transfer system have a phase-change material (PCM) gel that has a lower freezing point than ice, which can be as low as 28° or even 18°F. Which means your food and drinks will stay colder for longer. Another highlight of PCM gel is that it is non-toxic and food-safe.
How Many Ice Packs Do I Need?
It can be hard to figure out how many packs are needed for your cooler. Here is a good guide to help you choose the right amount of ice packs for maximum cooling performance.
8 Best Ice Packs – Reviews
1. Arctic Ice Long-Lasting Ice Pack
Designed with the beer drinker in mind, the Arctic Ice Long-Lasting Ice Pack is an excellent cooling system for tailgating, traveling, backyard beer fests, or fishing.
Made in the US and tested up to 100,000 times, the ice pack has a rugged UV stabilized container. Its expanded surface area provides exceptional cooling capacity and efficiency.
It uses fast non-toxic PCM gel that keeps your cooler cold at an extra low temperature of 28°F for 10-12 hours. Instead of having mushy ice left in your cooler, the Arctic Ice pack has a leak-proof ultra-sonic spin welded sealed cap. As the packs are reusable, they will last for a lifetime of happy chilling. Plus, you will not have to lug around heavy bags of ice.
With a compact 11 x 8 x 20-inch design, the Chillin’ Brew packs fit easily inside a cooler bag. You can also choose from 5 sizes: small, medium, large, x-large, or xx-large-sized pack.
As well as the Chilling Brew ice pack, you can also choose from other types of ice packs. The Alaskan Series ice pack has a freezing point of 33.8°F which keeps chilled goods cold. The Tundra Series has a unique freezing point of 5°F and keeps frozen goods frozen.
Arctic Ice offers a lifetime warranty on the ice pack.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very good price
- Made in the US
- Great for tailgating, day trips, traveling, barbecues, and parties
- Ideal for a cooler or lunchbox
- Long-lasting rugged UV stabilized color container
- Expanded surface area provides exceptional cooling capacity and efficiency
- Superior plant-derived phase change material gel
- Non-toxic
- Ideal for everyday use
- Chillin’ Brew ice pack freezes at 28°F
- Designed to keep beer and beverages cold for 10-12 hours
- Leak-proof ultra-sonic spin welded cap
- Maximum surface area for faster cooling
- Can be used with ice in ice chests and coolers
- Tested to be reusable up to 100,000 times
- Available in 5 sizes
- Available in an Alaskan Series and a Tundra Series
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Bit pricey
- Need to be used with an additional bag of ice for long-term use
2. Bentgo Ice Lunch Chillers Ultra Thin Ice Packs
Keep your food colder and fresher for longer with the colorful Bentgo Ice Lunch Chillers Ultra Thin Ice Packs.
Instead of using messy ice, the Bentgo ice packs are the perfect way to keep your meals, yogurt, fruit, and drinks cold for up to 4 hours or more.
Designed to fit into the Bentgo bag, these hard, extra-thin, lightweight packs can also be used in a small cooler or lunch bag.
Filled with a non-toxic quick-freezing cooling solution, you do not have to worry about any dangerous toxins leaking into your food. Made from BPA-free material, the packs are reusable and easy to clean. Simply hand wash, dry, and return the pack to your freezer.
Great for adults, teens, and kids, the packs come in 4 attractive colors: blue, green, grey, and purple.
The ice pack 4-pack is covered by a 1-year warranty
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable 4-pack
- Ideal for adults, teens, and kids
- Keeps food and drinks cold, fresh, and dry for 4 hours or more
- Designed to fit in the Bentgo bag
- Perfect for small coolers and lunch bags
- Hard extra thin and lightweight design
- Non-toxic solution
- BPA-free
- Reusable
- Easy to clean
- Four attractive colors
- One-year warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for use in high-heat temperatures
- Plastic cap is not very heavy-duty
3. Cooler Shock Cooler Freeze Packs
With superior cooling capabilities, the Cooler Shock Cooler Freeze Packs are a perfect match for your cooler bag.
Originally designed to keep blood shipments cold, the Cooler Shock ice pack is an excellent alternative to ice and dry ice.
Cooler Shock offers you the ultimate in advanced thermal technology and ice chilling power. Designed to phase-change at an ultra-low freezing point of 18°F, the non-toxic gel provides accelerated cooling for extended periods. So your food and drinks will stay amazingly cold for 48 hours.
Made in the US, the ice pack has a durable 3-layered design that is flexible and fits easily into a cooler bag or icebox.
These ice packs do require some preparation, but they are straightforward to use. Add water to the dry mix, zip up the bags, and heat seal the bags with an iron. Place the ice packs in your freezer, and within 24 hours, your packs will be frozen and ready to pack away in your cooler.
Instead of lugging around 18lbs of ice, the large 10 x 14-inch Cooler Shock ice packs help you travel light. As the packs have a slim design, you can slip them easily in between your bottles or cans. The fully sealed design also means no more dirty water in your cooler.
The ice packs are available as DIY fill-and-freeze packs or ready-to-freeze blocks.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Affordable price
- Made in the US
- High-performance rapid cooling
- Superior phase-change-cooling gel
- Non-toxic
- Excellent alternative to ice and dry ice
- Reaches an ultra-low 18°F
- Durable 3-layered flexible material
- Fully reusable
- Easy to prepare
- Lasts up to 48 hours
- Lightweight
- Slim design
- Fully sealed
- Three pack replaces 18lbs of ice
- Available as a DIY fill-and-freeze pack or a ready-to-use blocks
Cons
- Zip can be hard to close if you overfill the bag
- 48-hour chilling power will depend on the size of a cooler and how many packs you use
- Items placed in direct contact with the pack may freeze
4. YETI ICE Cooler Ice Pack
Enjoy icy cold drinks with the YETI ICE Cooler Ice Pack. The YETI ICE reusable ice pack is specifically designed for the YETI Hopper or Tundra but it is a great choice for any type of cooler or ice box.
Made for rough outdoor environments, the rigid ice pack has a hard break-resistant fully-sealed plastic design to withstand the toughest of tumbles.
Filled with non-toxic scientifically advanced gel, the pack has a low freezing point of 28°F, which keeps drinks cold for 24 hours. The ice pack’s custom shape reduces its freezing time, which is between 4-12 hours, depending on your freezer.
There is a large handle in the middle of the pack, which makes it easy to grab when you need quick access to your beverages.
You can use the ice pack as an ice substitute or as an addition to your normal stash of ice in a larger cooler.
The YETI ICE pack comes in 3 sizes: 1lb, 2lbs or 4lbs.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Ideal for a Hopper, Tundra, or similar icebox
- Tough, hard, break-resistant, fully sealed plastic design
- Scientifically advanced ice chilling gel
- Low freezing point of 28°F
- Can last up to 24 hours
- Non-toxic and food-safe
- Reusable
- Custom shape reduces freezing time
- Works as an ice substitute or in addition to your ice stash
- Easy-grab handle
- Three sizes
Cons
- Expensive
- Needs to be used in an appropriately sized container to be effective
- Smaller sized ice pack can thaw out quickly
5. FlexiFreeze Ice Sheets
The FlexiFreeze Ice Sheets are a chemical-free, convenient and economical replacement for soggy bags of ice.
Each plastic ice sheet contains 88 individual cubes that are filled with 100% water, so the ice sheet is safe to use with your food.
There are so many possibilities for the FlexiFreeze Ice Sheets. Specially designed for delicate food items such as fruit or bottles, the ice sheets will keep your food fresh in summer without damaging them. You can cut the frozen sheets to fit inside a small cooler, lunch box, or an insulated lunch bag.
Extremely flexible, the lightweight sheets can be molded around a bottle or a carton of milk. Hosting a party? You can place a sheet under a dessert or food tray to keep your culinary delights cool and fresh. You can even use an ice sheet for pain relief on your back or leg.
With a compact 19 x 15.5 inch design, the sheets fit easily into the freezer and will be frozen in 12 hours, and they are reusable.
The ice sheets come in a 3, 6, or 12-pack.
FlexiFreeze offer a 90-day warranty on the ice sheets.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Keeps food chilled for 4-12 hours
- 88 individual cubes contain 100% water
- Chemical-free and mess-free
- Can be cut to fit a cooler, lunch box, or insulated lunch bag
- Extremely flexible
- Lightweight
- Can be wrapped around a bottle or carton or placed under a plate
- Can be used for pain relief
- Compact sheets easily fit into the freezer
- Very good 12-hour freezing time
- Available in a 3, 6, or 12-pack
- 90-day warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for long-term chilling or for a large cooler bag
- Chilling time will depend on your cooler bag
- Ice sheets can melt quickly
- Plastic can break easily when used against sharp objects
6. Fit & Fresh Cool Cooler Slim Ice Packs
The Fit & Fresh Cool Cooler Slim Ice Packs are a fantastic way to keep your child’s lunch cool and fresh.
Totally safe to use, the packs are freezer-safe, non-toxic, and BPA-free. Just place 1 or 2 packs in a lunch box and the blue gel will keep food cool and fresh for up to 4 hours. The ice packs are reusable, and to keep them clean, just hand wash them to keep the packs good as new.
Kids love these colorful packs. The pack contains 4 fun and bright colors, and an assortment of shapes: aquatic creatures, butterflies, flowers, owls, and penguins. With a 4.75 x 2 x 3.15-inch slim space-saving design, the Cool Coolers leave plenty of room for your child’s lunch.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money 4-pack
- Excellent price
- Ideal for lunch boxes and lunch bags
- Freezer-safe, non-toxic, food-safe freezing gel
- BPA-free
- Lasts up to 4 hours
- Slim space-saving design
- Reusable
- Fun bright colors and shapes
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not ideal for long-lasting cooling
- Lunch bags need to be insulated for cooling effectiveness
- Cannot be placed in the dishwasher or microwave
- Hand wash only
7. Healthy Packers Ice Pack
If you are heading off on a camping day trip or packing lunch for work, the Healthy Packers Ice Pack will keep your food deliciously fresh and cold.
Safe and durable, the reusable plastic cooler packs are 100% BPA-free and are filled with a non-toxic blue gel. Quick freezing, the packs will be frozen solid in about 4 hours depending on your freezer.
You do not have to worry about your sandwiches or fruit staying fresh as the packs will chill your food from 6-12 hours.
With a new compact 7 x 4.7 x 0.5-inch design, the slim, lightweight ice packs fit in all size lunch boxes, tote bags, insulated lunch bags, and coolers.
The ice packs come in a 4 and an 8-pack.
Healthy Packers offer a money-back guarantee on the ice packs.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Ideal for lunch boxes, small coolers, and tote bags
- Can be used for school, office or camping
- Durable hard plastic
- Reusable
- 100% BPA-free
- Non-toxic blue gel
- Leak-free
- Quick freezing
- Chills food and drinks up to 6-12 hours
- New compact slim design
- Lightweight
- Available in a 4 and an 8-pack
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- Cooling effectiveness will depend on the size of the bag or cooler
- Not recommended for use in hot temperatures
8. ThermaFreeze Reusable Ice Pack Sheets
The ThermaFreeze Reusable Ice Pack Sheets are an effective lightweight cooling solution for your cooler bag, lunch bag, or catering event.
Made in the US, the strong 3-ply ice sheets have 2.5 x 2.5-inch squares that contain non-toxic beads that absorb up to 25 times their weight in water.
Shipped and stored flat, the ThermaFreeze ice sheets need to be hydrated and frozen prior to use, but they are very easy to use. Just soak the sheets in warm water, dry, freeze, and your food or drinks will stay cool for up to 6 hours.
Incredibly versatile and ultra-flexible even when frozen, the ThermaFreeze packs can be used in multiple ways. Fold or cut the sheet to fit inside a small cooler bag. Wrap a sheet around a soda bottle or individual food containers. As the sheets have a thin foil backing on one side and a soft cloth on the other side, you can use an ice sheet for pain relief.
Lightweight and compact, the ice sheets take up minimal space in a cooler. Best of all, the sheets evaporate with no wet condensation, so there is no mess to clean up inside your cooler bag.
The ice sheets are available in white, black, or blue. Depending on the color you choose, the ice sheets come in different sized packs, from a 1-pack up to an extra-large 300-pack.
Pros
- High quality
- Excellent value for money
- Affordable price
- Perfect for short term cooling
- Made in the US
- Long-lasting 3-ply construction
- Reusable
- Expandable non-toxic beads absorb up to 25 times their weight in water
- Ultra-flexible even when frozen
- Can be folded or cut
- Lightweight and compact
- Can be used for lunch bags or small coolers
- Easy to prepare
- Strong thin foil backing on one side and soft comfortable cloth on the other side
- Can be used for cold therapy relief
- Suitable for use by kids and adults
- Available in white, black, or blue
- Different sized packs available
Cons
- Needs to be dry before freezing for best performance
- Not ideal for keeping food cold longer than 2-6 hours
- Leaks can occur if the foil comes off the sheet
Our Top Pick for the Best Ice Pack
Our top pick for the best ice pack is the Cooler Shock Cooler Freeze Packs. We highly recommend the Cooler Shock Cooler Freeze Packs for your soft or hard cooler bag. Rated as the Number 1 High-Performance Ice Pack, the Cooler Shock ice pack outperforms regular ice in every way and delivers maximized chilling power that is colder than ice.
Its slim design gives you more room for your snacks and drinks and makes your cooler bag lighter to carry. Most importantly, the reusable design will save you money. Whether you are partying on the beach or entertaining friends in your garden on a warm sultry evening, you will enjoy ice-chilled food and drinks all summer long.
Check the price on Amazon
