--- title: "The Best Ice Packs for Coolers of 2026" description: "The best ice packs for coolers will keep your food and beverages colder for longer than a bag of ice from the gas station." date: "2022-08-25" modified: "2025-06-12" authors: - name: "Laura Lancaster" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/laura-lancaster/" url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-ice-packs-for-coolers/" categories: - "Adventure" - "Camping Gear" - "Gear" tags: - "Evergreen" - "Gear Reviews" --- # The Best Ice Packs for Coolers of 2026 ![The best ice packs for coolers sitting in an ice chest.]() *Laura Lancaster* It only takes pulling a wedge of waterlogged cheese out of your camping cooler once to realize the utility of a good ice pack. But with so many different brands on the market, it can be hard to know which is worth the investment and which is just taking up valuable real estate in your cooler. To help you choose the best ice packs for coolers for your next adventure, I tested eleven different popular models against a brick of ice to see which is worth your money. | **Best Overall** | **Coldest** | **Best Budget** | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Igloo MaxCold Ice Block]() | [Cooler Shock 3-Pack]() | [Ice]() | [Arctic Chillin’ Brew Medium 2-Pack]() | [Yeti Thin Ice Large]() | [Bass Pro Shop Cool Pack]() | [Cool Coolers 4-Pack]() | [Igloo Performance Ice]() | [RTIC Ice Pack Small 2-Pack]() | [Igloo Natural Ice]() | [Oyster Ice Packs 2-Pack]() | [Bass Pro Shop Freeze Pack]() | | ![Igloo Maxcold ice pack for coolers sitting on a wooden table]() | ![Cooler shock ice pack sitting on a wooden surface]() | ![bag of ice sitting on a wooden table]() | ![Arctic Ice chillin' brew ice packs for coolers sitting on a wooden surface]() | ![Yeti Thin Ice packs for coolers sitting on a wooden surface]() | ![Bass Pro Shops cool pack sitting on a wooden surface]() | ![Cool coolers ice pack sitting on a wooden surface]() | ![Igloo Performance ice pack for coolers sitting on a wooden table]() | ![RTIC ice packs for coolers sitting on a wooden table]() | ![Igloo natural ice pack sitting on a wooden surface]() | ![Oyster ice packs for coolers sitting on a wooden surface]() | ![Bass Pro Shop freeze pack sitting on a wooden surface]() | | [Read the Review](<#igloomaxcold>) | [Read the Review](<#coolershock>) | [Read the Review](<#ice>) | [Read the Review](<#arcticchillin>) | [Read the Review](<#yetithinice>) | [Read the Review](<#bassproshopcoolpack>) | [Read the Review](<#coolcoolers>) | [Read the Review](<#iglooperformance>) | [Read the Review](<#rticicepacks>) | [Read the Review](<#igloonaturalice>) | [Read the Review](<#Oysterice>) | [Read the Review](<#bassproshopfreezepack>) | ***→ Scroll right for full list →*** I tested the best ice packs for coolers in June of 2025. After freezing the ice packs for over thirty-six hours, I took them out and placed them on the counter to measure their initial temperature using an infrared thermometer. After that, I recorded their temperature every hour to see how quickly their initial temperature dropped. In addition to measuring the above performance, I also considered price, size, dishwasher safety, and their performance compared to a regular block of ice I made using a tupperware container. **↓ Jump to [Full Testing Results](<#fulltestingresults>)** ## The Best Ice Packs for Coolers: Reviews & Recommendations ### Best Overall: [Igloo MaxCold Ice Block]() This is the ice pack for cooler recommendation that you came here for. This one is very affordable for its size. It performed at the level of much more expensive models from big names like Yeti and Arctic Chillin’. ![5 Igloo ice packs for coolers sitting on a carpeted surface]() *Plenty of sizes make it easy to find the right option for your cooler. Photo by Laura Lancaster* It comes in a wide variety of sizes so you can be sure you’ll find one that fits your needs. ### Coldest: [Cooler Shock 3-Pack]() My expectation when I order an ice pack is that I’ll be able to take it out of its box and toss it straight into the freezer. Not so with the Cooler Shock. You have to use a fairly flimsy funnel to carefully pour water into the ice pack. Then carefully squeeze the air out of the ice pack, plug it with a silicone stopper, and then screw the lid back on the opening. Now it’s ready to go into the freezer. ![Cooler Shock ice packs for coolers component parts and instructions]() *Everything that comes in the Cooler Shock package. Photo by Laura Lancaster* But if that doesn’t deter you, this was a surprisingly effective ice pack for coolers, staying under freezing temps for five hours. It’s also very affordable, costing only about $10 per ice pack. For better or worse, this one doesn’t come in a hard container, like the other options on this list. So whether you lay it flat or stuff it in your freezer in a lump, that’s the shape it will freeze in until it thaws again. ### Best Budget: [Ice]() After testing the best ice packs for coolers, I’ll probably keep using ice. I like ice because it easily fits around everything in my cooler. It’s very cold, and lasts a very long time. I can find it anywhere, so I never have to worry about fitting that many ice packs into my own freezer. I don’t love that it results in a soggy mess at the bottom of my cooler, however. And, of course, you can only use it one time. As part of this test, I filled a medium size tupperware with water and left it in my freezer. It took more than 12 hours to completely thaw out, a better result than any of the best ice packs for coolers. ### [Arctic Chillin’ Brew Medium 2-Pack]() What separates Arctic Chillin’ from the competition is that they have different ice packs that perform at different temperatures. I tested the one that purports to keep everything chilled to 28.4-degree Fahrenheit and came away impressed with the results. While it didn’t hit that temperature exactly during testing, it did stay awfully close for about three hours, which is impressive given that these were tested in the open air with no additional insulation. ### [Yeti Thin Ice Large]() The Yeti Thin Ice Pack shares many similarities to other Yeti products we’ve tested over the years, from the [best coolers]() to the [best camping blankets]() to the [best camping chairs](). It’s noticeably more expensive than the competition. It’s also marginally better. You knew before you started reading this review if you were willing to spring extra for this one, and in this case I think it just might be worth it. ### [Bass Pro Shop Cool Pack]() While I struggled with the freezer version of this ice pack for coolers actually freezing in the manufacturer-recommended time, the Cool Pack was a frozen block when it came out of the freezer. Despite having a somewhat lower price point relative to its size, it held its own in testing. If you have a giant beast of cooler that you’d like to fill with ice packs rather than traditional ice, this is a great value. ### [Cool Coolers 4-Pack]() If you’re looking for an affordable option to keep your lunch box chilled for the morning, I was impressed by the Cool Coolers 4-Pack. It stayed under freezing for four hours, an impressive result given it has a unit price of $2.50. Only purchase this if you are looking for a small ice pack, however: It’s about an inch thick and the size of a coaster. ### [Igloo Performance Ice]() After testing both the Igloo Performance Ice and the MaxCold side by side, I’m recommending the Maxcold. While the Performance Ice did have ever so slightly better testing results, it’s not enough to justify the higher price tag. ### [RTIC Ice Pack Small 2-Pack]() While I was impressed with RTIC’s relatively affordable price, they didn’t stay cold for as long as the competition. If you’ve purchased an RTIC cooler, I recommend you use some of that savings on a slightly higher performing ice pack for coolers. ### [Igloo Natural Ice]() After testing the Igloo Natural Ice, this isn’t an ice pack that I would necessarily keep around for my cooler, but it is one that I would keep around for the next time the kid bonks their head. That’s because it’s fully flexible while still holding its structure well. It’s easy to wrap around things, or shove in an open space in the freezer. The downside here is that due to its design of separate pouches for the ice, it just doesn’t last as long as other options. ### [Oyster Ice Packs 2-Pack]() Oyster makes the [only camping cooler]() I’ve ever tested that didn’t have a drainage port because it’s designed to be used with ice packs rather than ice. While it is impressively lightweight with a great interior to packed size ratio, it’s surprisingly pricey. So I didn’t love to see how much more expensive their ice packs were compared to the competition. These perform well, but it’s not worth investing in this system (the cooler is surprisingly delicate) unless you are made of money. ### [Bass Pro Shop Freeze Pack]() The testing results for the Bass Pro Shop Freeze Pack are a little unfair. While the other ice packs for coolers managed to actually freeze in the over 36 hours they had in the freezer, it was clear that the Bass Pro Shop Freeze Pack was still liquid. If you opt for this unit — and it is a good price for its size — plan to give it a minimum of 72 hours to freeze before use. ## Full Testing Results All the ice packs in this story were left in a freezer for over 36 hours prior to testing. I checked their temperature at regular intervals using an infrared temperature thermometer. All temperatures are represented in Fahrenheit. Testing for each ice pack was discontinued after it reached 40 degrees Fahrenheit. | **Ice Pack for Coolers** | **Price** | **Start** | **15 min** | **1 hr** | **2 hrs** | **3 hrs** | **4 hrs** | **5 hrs** | **7 hrs** | **8 hrs** | **9 hrs** | **10 hrs** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [**Arctic Chillin’ Brew**]() | $35 | -2° | 10° | 21° | 26° | 29° | 30° | 33° | 53° | - | - | - | | [**Bass Pro Shop Cool Pack**]() | $23 | 3° | 6° | 19° | 23° | 28° | 29° | 38° | 35° | 38° | 40° | - | | [**Bass Pro Shop Freeze Pack**]() | $23 | 5° | 13° | 33° | 44° | 52° | 57° | 60° | - | - | - | - | | [**Cool Coolers**]() | $10 | 1° | 24° | 26° | 28° | 30° | 48° | 53° | - | - | - | - | | [**Cooler Shock**]() | $35 | 4° | 11° | 17° | 24° | 26° | 30° | 29° | 35° | 37° | 39° | 42° | | [**Igloo MaxCold Ice Block**]() | $7 | 5° | 23° | 30° | 28° | 33° | 31° | 36° | 43° | 37° | 36° | 44° | | [**Igloo Natural Ice**]() | $6 | 3° | 24° | 27° | 38° | 38° | 61° | 62° | - | - | - | - | | **[Igloo Performance Ice]()** | $23 | 11° | 22° | 28° | 28° | 31° | 31° | 34° | 39° | 37° | 40° | - | | [**Oyster Ice Pack**]() | $60 | 6° | 8° | 25° | 27° | 29° | 30° | 32° | 43° | 52° | - | - | | [**RTIC Ice Pack**]() | $20 | 1° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 33° | 37° | 37° | 47° | 44° | 52° | - | | [**Yeti Thin Ice**]() | $25 | -5° | 12° | 21° | 24° | 29° | 28° | 32° | 47° | 52° | 55° | - | ## Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Ice Packs for Coolers ![Author using infrared thermometer to test best ice packs for coolers.]() *The Ozark Trail ice pack was 21 degrees after sitting on the counter for 15 minutes. Laura Lancaster* ### Desired Temperature The best ice packs for coolers can get down to some surprisingly low temperatures—lower than -30 degrees Fahrenheit (the limit of what I could measure with one of the [best infrared thermometers]())—after solidifying in my freezer at its lowest setting. When packing beers in a cooler, the relative temperature is less important (most won’t freeze until they hit 28 degrees Fahrenheit or less), but if you are packing vegetables for several days, don’t overpack your cooler with ice packs, and be sure to utilize the storage containers to keep more sensitive items elevated above the coldest temperatures. ### Size Generally speaking, larger packs (or more of them) will keep the contents of your cooler colder for longer than smaller ones. If you plan to pair your ice pack with a bag (or two) of ice cubes from the store, then you’ll need fewer ice packs for coolers than if you use ice packs exclusively to chill your freezer. **Read Next:** [Best Coolers with Wheels]() ### Longevity With anything that is meant to be unfrozen and refrozen multiple times, there is a risk that the plastic of the ice pack will end up degrading, and eventually break. In those instances, the contents of your cooler may be exposed to the liquid cooling substance inside the ice packs and, if not properly sealed, may have to be thrown away. Pay close attention to the plastic of your ice packs for coolers before each use to ensure that no fissures or cracks are starting to form. ## Final Thoughts on the Best Ice Packs for Coolers After testing ice packs for coolers from eight different brands, I’m confident that the Igloo MaxCold is the best value there is. I’m also impressed that they come in a variety of shapes and sizes so you can fit whatever size cooler or lunchbox that you need. ## Author Laura Lancaster is an Outdoor Life's gear writer where she focuses on in-depth testing of backpacking and camping gear, with a particular interest in lightweight and ultralight gear. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()