A 50-quart cooler is enough for two people on a three-day trip.

That’s the baseline. Scale up or down from there: roughly 20 quarts per person per day of cooler needs, but half of that is ice.

The real calculation is about ice-to-food ratio. Most people underestimate how much ice they need. Figure one pound of ice per quart of cooler space, and plan on ice lasting about two days in a decent cooler. If your trip is longer, you need a bigger cooler (more ice) or a separate ice chest for drinks that gets opened constantly.

For a weekend: 48-60 quarts for two people. For a week: 100+ quarts, or better yet, two coolers (one for food, one for drinks). Drinks cooler can be smaller and less fancy because you’