Use frozen water bottles, not loose ice.

They stay solid longer, and when they thaw, there’s no watery mess—the bottles keep the water inside. Loose ice is fine for a backyard party, but for transport it’s asking for a leak.

Pre-chill your food and the cooler itself before packing. That way the ice doesn’t have to do double duty cooling down warm beer. A block of ice in a sealed plastic bag also works, but frozen bottles are easier to handle and can double as drinking water later.

If you do use loose ice, drain the meltwater before you move the cooler. Most coolers have a drain plug for a reason—use it. Otherwise you’re carrying 15 pounds of extra water that wants to slosh out the lid.