Get a 50-quart cooler.

A 50-quart cooler is the sweet spot for a family of four on a weekend camping trip.

That size holds enough food and drinks for two to three days without feeling like you’re packing a coffin. You’ll fit a gallon of milk, a few pounds of meat, veggies, condiments, and still have room for a six-pack or two. If you’re bringing a lot of drinks or are heavy on the ice, bump up to 60 quarts. Any bigger and you’re just hauling empty space and melting ice.

The real question is whether you need a rotomolded beast or a standard Coleman. For a weekend trip, a quality rotomolded cooler (like a Yeti or RTIC) is overkill unless you plan to camp in the desert or leave it in the sun. A good $80 cooler with decent latches will keep ice for two days if you pre-chill it and pack it right. Don’t skimp on the pre-chill—that’s where most people mess up.

50 quarts is the Goldilocks zone. You won’t run out of room, and you won’t hurt your back carrying it.