As the weather warms up, the prospect of picnics, hikes and beach days thrills me. What is less thrilling? The checklist of things I need to bring with me to make these excursions more successful. Whether you’re packing up a backpack cooler or a large hard cooler, you’ll want to ensure that its contents stay cold throughout the day. You could pick up a bag of ice, but then you’ll have to deal with the melted mess it creates. Why not make your life easier with some of the best ice packs for coolers?
I wrote all of our cooler shopping guides, so I had a very good idea of what to look for in reusable ice packs. After browsing dozens of options, I chose 10 in every shape and size imaginable, evaluating them on their ease of use, temperature retention and design. Some of these cooler ice packs stayed surprisingly cold for many hours, making them the perfect companion for a road trip, traveling or a day outdoors.
Best ice packs for coolers of 2026
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Material: High-density polyethylene | Weight: 1.5 lbs. | Dimensions: 7.75″W x 6.75″L | How long will it stay frozen? At least 6 hours
What we liked: If you’re looking to pack a cooler with food and drinks for the day, toss two to four (depending on the size of your cooler) of these ice packs in and you’re set. When I took this ice pack out of the freezer after 36 hours, its temperature measured a frigid 3.2°F, making it the top scorer in our “out of the freezer” test (read more about how we evaluate ice packs below). In fact, after six hours sitting out on the counter, it remained below freezing, with the lowest temp of all the ice packs tested.
When I set the Arctic Ice pack at the bottom of a hard cooler and dropped a large, full stainless steel water bottle on it, it sustained no damage. It’s easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth or soap and water, and you can buy one individually or in packs of two, in a range of sizes. The handle makes it easy to grab, especially if it’s buried under food and drinks.
Minor criticisms: These ice packs can take up to 36 hours to freeze and reach their lowest temperature. Make sure to plan ahead for the best results.
- Comes in five sizes, some large enough for coolers 60 quarts and beyond
- Temperature remained under 32°F for more than six hours
- Reasonably priced
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Built-in handle
- Can take up to 36 hours to freeze
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Material: Plastic | Weight: 2 lbs. | Dimensions: 8″W x 5.4″L | How long will it stay frozen? At least 6 hours
What we liked: Yeti makes top-of-the-line coolers, and its ice packs are no different. The Ice Block came in third in our “out of the freezer” test, with a respectable temperature reading of 7.6°F after 36 hours. Six hours later, sitting on a countertop with no insulation, the pack remained frozen at 32°F. The brand claims that the block’s shape, with an opening in the middle, helps it freeze faster, in about eight to 12 hours. So if you’re short on lead time, this ice pack is a good choice.
Like all things Yeti, this reusable ice pack is indestructible. I suspected that it would be unaffected when I tossed my heavy water bottle on top of it, and I was correct. It’s easy to clean with soap and water, and it’s available in 1-, 2- and 4-pound sizes. The brand even offers a handy guide on the size and number of ice packs you need, depending on your cooler of choice.
Minor criticisms: This ice pack is a bit pricier than others of its size. But if you’re a Yeti enthusiast, this probably won’t deter you.
- Impact-resistant
- Freezes fast and stays cold for a long time
- Five-year warranty
- Comes in three sizes
- Slightly more expensive than other ice packs of its size
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Material: Plastic | Weight: 7.76 oz. each | Dimensions: 8.75″W x 1.5″L x 1.25″D | How long will it stay frozen? At least 6 hours
What we liked: Tourit ice packs registered a temperature of 3.8°F after 36 hours in the freezer, second only to our top pick from Arctic Ice. They clocked in at 28.8°F after six hours, impressing me with their temperature retention.
The shape of these ice packs is tall and slim, totally different from most of the others I tested. This makes them great candidates for smaller coolers and lunch bags — you can easily squeeze them into small openings between food and drinks.
These ice packs survived the water-bottle drop test unscathed. They’re easy to clean with soap and water, and you can buy them in packs of four, eight and 12.
Minor criticisms: These are not ideal for use in larger coolers, as you would need quite a few to keep food cold for hours. Plus, their large surface area compared to their smaller volume means they melt faster than larger ice packs.
- Can be used slotted into coolers of many shapes and sizes
- Best for lunch bags
- Freeze faster than others tested
- Reasonable price
- Small size means they get warm quicker
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Material: Nylon, polyethylene | Weight: 0.75 lbs. | Dimensions: 10″W x 10″L | How long will it stay frozen? At least 4 hours
What we liked: Keeping food and drinks cold is the primary function of a reusable ice pack, but sometimes more nuance is needed. Because these Cooler Shock packs are made from flexible nylon and not rigid plastic, they’re malleable and thinner, which is helpful when you’re trying to cram as much into a cooler as possible. I clocked the Cooler Shock ice pack at a respectable 10.8˚F after 36 hours in the freezer. Unfortunately, the temperature warmed to 51˚F after six hours on the countertop, though many reviewers say these stay frozen for 24 hours.
Despite the flexible exterior, these ice packs were unharmed by the water-bottle drop test. They are easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth or soap and water. They are available in a range of sizes and come in packs of two, three, four or five.
Minor criticisms: Don’t expect to open the box and put these to use right away. Before the first use, you have to unscrew the cap, use the included funnel to fill the pack with water, shake it, then let it sit for 30 minutes before putting it in the freezer.
- Flexible and space-efficient
- Easy to store before filling
- Inexpensive for a four-pack
- Requires prep and 30 minutes lead time before freezing
Factors to consider when choosing ice packs for coolers
You’ll want to ask yourself a few questions when buying a reusable ice pack, including:
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What’s it made out of?: Consider both material and type of ice pack. Big, hard-sided coolers can accommodate larger, rigid ice packs like the ones from Yeti, Hydro Flask and Igloo with ease. For smaller coolers, including backpack coolers, consider a flexible nylon pack like the Cooler Shock or a slim shape like the Tourit to maximize space.
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How long will it take to freeze and how long does it stay frozen?: Ice packs for coolers can take anywhere from six to 24 hours to freeze solid. Expect them to stay frozen in an insulated space (i.e. a cooler) for roughly six to 18 hours, depending on the model and the size and type of cooler. Always check the fine print on each option before you buy. You can pre-chill a cooler before using it for maximum results, but this requires a few bags of ice and advance planning.
Freeze! I used an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of each ice pack after 36 hours in the freezer, then again six hours later. (Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)
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How will you use it?: If you’re packing lunch for a day at the beach with dairy-based foods, you’re going to need ample high-performance ice packs that stay cold for a long time, like our top pick from Arctic Ice. If you’re bringing sandwiches and drinks for a picnic, you can get by with fewer ice packs and ones with average performance.
How we tested ice packs for coolers
I’m Yahoo’s resident cookware expert and the writer behind our guide to the best hard coolers, best soft coolers and best backpack coolers. After unboxing the ice packs, I inspected their design, noting how to clean them, checking for any imperfections and assembling them when necessary. The best ice packs for coolers excelled in the following:
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“Out of the freezer” test: After leaving all the ice packs in the freezer for 36 hours, I took them out and measured their temperatures with an infrared thermometer.
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“End of the day” test: Once I completed the “out of the freezer” test, I left the ice packs on the counter without any insulation to see how much their temperatures dropped over the course of six hours. This gave me an accurate idea of temperature retention without a cooler’s insulation coming into play. I then took each ice pack’s temperature with the infrared thermometer.
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“Take that” test: Because life happens, I wanted to see how the ice packs responded to accidents and impact. I placed each one in the bottom of a hard cooler and dropped a full insulated stainless steel water bottle on top to see if it would damage the ice pack.
I tried my best to ding these ice packs, but most survived without a scratch. (Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)
Other ice packs for coolers we tested
Everlasting Ice RX Large Reusable Ice Packs, 4 pack: This set of ice packs (each 8″W x 6.7″L x 1.2″D) held its own in our testing and is the runner-up to the Arctic Ice model as far as overall performance. A single pack registered 6.1˚F straight out of the freezer and warmed up to a respectable 35.9˚F after six hours on the counrer. The four-pack costs just $22; a two-pack costs $17.
Cool Coolers by Fit + Fresh Slim Ice Pack, 4 pack: These slim, rectangular ice packs are perfect for lunch bags, small hard coolers and backpack coolers. They freeze quickly, but also thaw faster than larger models, so they’re best for shorter-term cooling needs.
Hydro Flask Ice Pack, Medium: Like Hydro Flask’s wildly popular water bottles, this ice pack is cute and covetable, with a two-tone design and built-in handle. The medium-sized ice pack works well in a smaller cooler, but won’t provide a ton of cooling power in a large one. It seems a bit chunky for a lunch bag, but might work in a backpack cooler. Straight out of the freezer, it registered 6.8˚F, but six hours later, it had crept up to 47.1˚F.
Ice packs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so be sure to measure the inside of the cooler you plan to use them in to pinpoint the right dimensions for your needs. (Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)
Igloo Performance Ice Block, Large, 3 lb.: This upgraded version of Igloo’s classic Maxcold Ice Block is made of rigid plastic but with a rectangular opening in the center. It requires no filling and freezes in about eight hours, but once left on the countertop, its temperature rose to 35˚F after six hours. The Performance version is twice the price of the original Maxcold and likely doesn’t offer twice the value.
Healthy Packers Miami Ice Packs, XL, 2 pack: These ice packs are big (8.5″W x 11.5″L) and heavy when filled (4 pounds each)! You have to use the included funnel to fill them with water, shake and then freeze for 18 hours before using. That said, if you have ample freezer space and a large cooler (45-plus quarts), these are nice to place on the bottom and/or sides for cold coverage.
Healthy Packers Ice Packs for Lunch Boxes & Coolers, 4 pack: Like the Cool Coolers ice packs mentioned above, these are ideal for an insulated lunch bag that goes to school or the office, but not very helpful for a large cooler (they each measure 7″W x 4.7″L x 0.5″D). These freeze fast, but thaw quickly.
Ice packs for coolers FAQs
Can I bring an ice pack for a cooler on a plane?
According to the TSA, frozen liquid items, including ice packs, are allowed through airport security checkpoints as long as their contents are frozen solid. This rule applies to carry-on bags. For checked bags, the ice packs do not need to be frozen.
How do I clean an ice pack?
We cleaned all of the ice packs we tested with dish soap and water.
What’s inside a reusable ice pack?
Most reusable ice packs for coolers are filled with a non-toxic mixture of water, a substance that lowers the freezing temperature (such as sodium polyacrylate or cellulose), a thickening agent (such as propylene glycol) and a freezing point depressant. If someone accidentally ingests the contents of a reusable ice pack, contact your poison control center.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
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