How long does your Ice last in a cooler?

[Cosmo]

Was out for 10 days and had 10 pounds of ice last for 5 days (could have squeezed another day out of it). Using an inexpensive 50 quart Igloo cooler. Temps in Lanesboro MA. were in the mid 60s at night and mid 70s in the evening. I was using bags of supermarket water cube ice.

I was happy with the cooler performance.

Thanks
Cosmo

[S. Heisley]

Igloos are pretty good. I can usually get 5 days of ice my Igloo. I only get 4 days with my Coleman. I freeze water in Rubbermaid containers and put one at each end of the cooler. Store-bought ice cubes don't last as long; but, it's hotter here than where you are.

[Rainier70]

A lot of factors to consider. Two gallons of "home ice" will last me 5 to 7 days. My cooler is smaller and doubled. I try not to open it a lot or add warm drinks etc if I know that I need it to last for perishables. On page 11 of my build I have some pictures of my set up and how it has worked for me.

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[Cosmo]

Sharon, Cindy,

Thanks for your "cool" tips!
I never thought of a cooler in a cooler for added ice life.
Making my own block ices is a good idea.

Cosmo

[Olddog1]

Back in my hunting days I learnt that by keeping the melt water drained the ice would last longer. We also froze blocks of ice at home to load the cooler.

[S. Heisley]

If you leave the ice in the Rubbermaid containers, your food won't end up floating in water and you can drink or use the water as it melts. On long trips, I refill the containers with purchased ice cubes, which don't last as long; but, again, containing the ice as it melts keeps your food dry.

[Rainier70]

I like freezing water in the gallon Gatorade jugs. They are taller and more rectangular than something like the square milk jugs. Plus it confines the melt water, and you can use the melted portion. I have found that leaving the melt water in the jug keeps my ice box cooler longer.

[Woodbutcher]

To help make my Ice last longer, I pre chill my cooler before loading it. I keep some frozen milk jugs in my chest freezer. The day before leaving I put a couple in my cooler. Then when getting ready to leave I take the donor jugs out and put in fresh ones. I have just started using some older short tupperware containers to freeze some blocks. These are shorter and with the lid seem to keep things dryer and easier to pack.

[Dunenutt]

For extended trips, I take two coolers. Pack the second half in a cooler with dry ice. First half in regular ice.

Right now in AZ, we take coolers to the store just to get the ice home!

[Cosmo]

Great! Thanks for the tips. I am not ready yet. But once I retire I expect to test how long I can camp in a remote area off grid without restocking or visiting a town etc. Electric is easy thanks to solar panels. Cooling is tougher.

Boosting cooler efficacy is a plus. I am not interested in a refrigerator at this point. I am using a 100 watt solar panel and a 55 amp battery which meets all my minimal energy needs and I have plenty of solar power to supplement the main panel. I am willing to adjust my life style to accommodate the available energy.

I was thinking of making a cooler cozy out of a mylar solar blanket and some tape to keep solar radiation off the cooler. Of course shade is best– what the heck.

I like the idea of a cooler in a cooler for added insulation combined with block ice,.

I am thinking outside the box - more insulation around the Igloo so I maximize internal cold space. Maybe something disposable like a layer or two of corrugated cardboard or a blanket. Not sure what the R value of cardboard and tape is but the price is right.

Thanks for the sharing your experience and input
Cosmo