Frozen water bottles beat ice packs every time.

They last longer than cubed ice, they’re cheaper than reusable ice packs, and you can drink the water when they melt. It’s the most practical upgrade you can make.

The problem with regular ice is surface area. Cubes melt fast because they’re small and stacked with air gaps. A gallon-sized jug of frozen water is a solid block of ice that takes hours to thaw. Same logic as block ice, but you already have the container.

Reusable gel packs are fine but expensive and take up space without adding value once melted. Dry ice lasts longer but requires handling precautions and isn’t available everywhere. Frozen water bottles are free (if you drink bottled water) or nearly free (if you ref