Purchase an ice chest that will best suit your needs. Select a model designed to keep ice cold for three to four days if you are planning a weekend getaway, or a five-day model for longer trips. These coolers are often more expensive than those designed for a day trip, but the investment can pay off in the end. This is because doing so can help you make unnecessary ice runs. This can be especially important if you are visiting an extremely remote area where no provisions are readily available.
Pack coolers properly to get maximum benefit from them. Try to have a separate cooler for soft drinks, as opening the cooler often can causes ice to melt. If this is not possible, place drinks on top of the cooler, so they will be easily accessible. Try to pack partially frozen items if you will be gone for more than two days. Add a layer of ice to the bottom of the chest, and then place meat on top of this layer followed by more ice.
It can be tempting to drain water from the cooler after the ice begins to melt. Avoid doing so unless you need to add more ice or items become waterlogged.The water itself will stay nearly as cold as the ice, which helps keep food cold. It can be helpful to buy a chest with a drain for this purpose, so you can remove only the amount of water necessary.
Place your ice chest in the shade. Avoid leaving it inside an enclosed vehicle or camper. Try to select a breezy area if possible. You can also cover the cooler with a blanket to help keep it insulated. You can also partially bury the cooler or place it in a cold river or stream. Be sure to tie the ice chest to a solid object such as a tree limb so it will not float away. You could also partially bury the cooler in a shallow area near the shore.
Use blocks of ice whenever possible. This is because larger chunks of ice take longer to melt. You can also freeze water in gallon milk jugs and place them inside the chest. Consider having another container with chipped ice available for making drinks so you will not have to chip away at the larger blocks whenever you are thirsty. You could also add a few ice cubes to the top of the ice chest so they will be easy to access.
