Our Search for the Best Ice Packs
Equipment expert Adam Ried reviews ice packs.
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Did the testers use an equal weight worth of ice as artificial ice? If they used a big 20 pound bag of ice as was shown in the video, but only used 10 pounds worth of artificial ice, then yes, the regular ice is going to win every time. You're supposed to use as many pounds of artificial ice as you would normally use in regular ice.
I love your show. I watch it all the time. Very informative and educational. I wish you all continued success.
Thanks for wasting 4 minutes of my time. I’m not here to learn about ice. I want to see how the packs stacked up against each other when they were all equal by volume. Of course ice wins, because it has less air gaps.
you didn't test durability.. one of the most important features!!
I'm looking for a substitute to the rectangular squeeze top IKEA SOMMAR water-refillable rigid plastic ice packs. Great form factor, and doubles as a water bottle. Anyone know ?
A disappointing video. Ice packs should be used in conjunction with ice in a cooler, not by itself as a substitute for ice.
What I really wanted to know, are the more expensive ones like the Yeti truly worth the extra money, or are the cheaper ones that only cost a couple dollars like the Igloo ones just as good? Yeah you found out the $20+ green one kept cans the coldest the longest by itself with no ice in the cooler, but what about when they're used in conjunction with ice? And how do they freeze? Do any of them bulge and/or become deformed when you freeze them, which could eventually lead to them bursting?
She mentions she had ice packs explode in a cooler of hams before at the beginning of the video, what brand was she using, so that the people watching the video know to avoid it. Would've been good information to share with us.
Like I said, a disappointing video.
So the result of the test was, the more 'cold' you put in the longer it lasts. The ice won because it filled the most gaps. The largest product won well, because it was the largest. I think the test could of been designed better. The test doesn't really tell you which proprietary material 'holds' cold longer. Maybe if they took the stuff out of it's container, froze equivalent volume (say 16 oz), put that in a cooler with a bunch of cans with 16oz ice as a control and see the temperature raise over time.
Manufacturers, at least some of them, recommend a combination of ice and ice packs. They tell you that the ice packs should go on the bottom and the ice on top for best results.
My limited testing seems to support this as a great way to keep the food and drinks in your cooler cold for days. The longest I’ve tried is 3 days and still had ice remaining.
Cooler Shock is a brand that I use that is used to commercially transport human organs. They come with the chemicals in the bags and you add your own water. They work great!
Size matter.😅
Think I’ll just freeze some 2 liters with flint river water. Recycling at its finest
Just freeze a gallon of water.
The problem with ice packs is people don't use enough of them to equal the bag of ice. I use a frozen gallon jug in my 25 quart roto molded ( yeti style) cooler and it stays cold for three and a half days.
I want to invest in ice packs that will give me the equivalent of a gallon but will fit into the cooler better allowing me more room for the food and drinks. I have the measurements of the cooler and I found a few ice packs that will line the bottom and the sides and equal the same mass
My understanding of how to use ice packs doesn’t really fit how they did these tests. It’s not an ice substitute – it’s a supplement. My ice definitely lasts longer with ice packs layering the cooler bottom.
Just my experience though.
Those ice packs that fill with water suck. Did nothing
Not true. It depends on how froze the ice you put in is. In reality, the ice packs are not meant to substitute. They're meant to be used in conjunction with ice and that lasts much longer than just ice.
Holy crap. Cringiest walk on ever.
I use dry ice. A chunk of it does the job for me. Light weight, small, doesn't leak. Lasts long enough for my needs.
I just had dejavu watching @1:13……woa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what a WORTHLESS video….wheres the part where you tell us WHICH ICE PAK PREFORMED THE BEST OUTSIDE ITS CONTAINER?
The shape of the ice packs makes a big difference. I use frozen bottles of 20oz water and they are the last thing to defrost in my cooler. I usually use the frozen water bottles, then add ice as well. Plus I can drink the water in the bottles when they defrost 50% or more if I need to. I would never buy those flat ice packs you see here. The plastic consumes almost as much space than the water inside. Of course they won't produce the needed coldness.
Cooler Shock packs- they keep a cooler cold for two days and don't make a mess. They need a couple of days to get back down to temp in the freezer. I have three for keeping items cold for my guests
Freeze water bottles and juice then as they thaw you have only condensation and the food stays cold for 2 or 3 days if you do it right. And you have drinks.
My 1st thumbs down.
Biggest is not best outdoors sometimes a few smaller are better. But also use ice cover with the blister icepacks and it will last 3x longer.
Mix the gels with saw dust
Very cool (heh), but I'm curious why they used 50ºF instead of 40ºF. If your food is perishable, 50ºF is is the danger zone.
ICE IS NOT CHEAP. IT'S SLOPPY
HAS TO BE REPLACED OFTEN
If going on a long trip camping hunting etc. Pack your yeti cooler full of bagged ice as much as you can fit, 24 to 36 hours before your trip to really cool your cooler internal temp before you pack it.
Okay why didn't you just use the same size on all of the ice packs poor comparison
Did we test frozen water bottles ?
Nothing better than finding reviewers obsessed with finding the best results. In the early days of the internet(before search was inundated with sponsor links) you could search for the "best whatever" and the would get a list of in order.
HORRIBLE REVIEW
I don’t see a link to buy the winning ice. Disappointed
Ice is complimentary at Wal-Mart and every other grocery store if you buy beer or wine…
Hi there, I know it's been about a year since this video, but have you heard of Responsible Ice? 10 pound Ice packs that use plain water instead of chemicals?
Thank you again good ol ice is still the best you say…. You Rock Adam Ried
Size is relative to the containers space it needs to cool. Assuming each container is air tight. All of the ice packs are recommended to be used in conjunction with ice.
My recommendation would be to buy the right size for the container. If you've got a small lunch bag size cooler then yeah don't go big haha
Why are you talking that way, my dude? Are you talking with 2 year olds?
Best is to have both, ice packs are colder than ice and will refreeze melt water when they are on the bottom making the ice last much longer…
Boooo. No cooler shock Packs?
Hilarious!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣 wow so we're wasting our money for convenience but it's not a convenience 🤣🤣🤣
this might be a dumb question but, can you buy a big ice bag and use that? keep the ice in the bag and after it melts in the bag, refreeze it and reuse it?