The 11 Best Ice Packs for Coolers of 2023

Best Overall

Cooler Shock 3X Large Freeze Packs

4.7

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If you don’t have access to a fridge—whether the power is out or you’re hosting a birthday party at the beach—you’ll need an ice pack that can see you through multiple hours. The Cooler Shock 3X Large Freeze packs will do just the trick in either situation. And they’re affordable, to boot. 

These reusable ice packs can replace about 18 pounds of ice and are incredibly easy to use. When you purchase them, they arrive flat and are filled with a powder that transforms into a gel when mixed with water. All you have to do is fill the bag with water via the screw cap and place it in your freezer for about 24 hours. We think the three-layer bags absorb and transfer energy and distribute an incredible amount of cooling power! Here's how it works: The gel material in the packs gradually change from a solid to a liquid, making them colder and more effective than ice.

And at 10 x 14 inches, these ice packs are perfectly sized for high-capacity coolers. The downside to this? Our tester said all three took up a fair amount of space in her home freezer, so it’s not practical for long term storage. Thankfully, the ice packs did get colder than any other ice pack our tester used, keeping fruit frozen and seltzers and beer cold for 22 hours in a cooler outside. 

Price at time of publish: $30 for 5 packs

_{Type: Ice pack | Dimensions: 10 x 14 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 7.05 ounces}

Best Budget

Polar Tech Ice Brix Viscous Cold Pack

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Sometimes it seems like keeping your food cold is as expensive as the food itself. If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, you’ll be pleased with the Polar Tech Ice Brix Viscous Cold Pack. Despite being exceptionally cheap (especially compared to other similar options), these cold packs are powered by a gel substance housed in a heavy duty plastic pouch. 

The result is reusable cold packs that are moisture-resistant and long-lasting. Some reviewers note they had success keeping beverages cold for up to 24 hours with a single pack. The medium-sized packages are also leak-proof, so there’s no way your cooler will be soaking wet by the end of the day.

Price at time of publish: $18 for 12 packs

_{Type: Cold pack | Dimensions: 6 x 5.75 x 1 inches | Weight: Not listed}

Best Compact

Fit & Fresh Cool Coolers Slim Ice Packs

4.2

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Are you packing a lunch box or a tiny cooler with drinks and sandwiches to go? Then, you’ll love the compact size of the Fit & Fresh Cool Coolers Slim Ice Packs. As the name suggests, they’re exceptionally slim, so they won’t take up precious real estate in a compact cooler, and they still get the job done, keeping temperatures low and your food fresh. And if you have a bigger cooler? Simply stack a few to keep the chill going. 

These ice packs may be small and space-saving, but they can stay cool for up to 12 hours. Plus, they’re easy to clean, and when not in use, they won’t take up too much space in your freezer. That means you can permanently house a few inside your icebox to make sure you always have a cold pack ready. But there’s more: We also think these slender, lightweight packs are just the right size for keeping on hand for your little ones’ unexpected boo-boos.

Price at time of publish: $12 for 4 packs

_{Type: Ice pack | Dimensions: 5.25 x 3 x 5.5 inches | Weight: 1 pound}

Most Durable

YETI ICE 2 lb. Refreezable Reusable Cooler Ice Pack

4.8

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If you know anything about the popular brand YETI, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that the company also happens to manufacture the most durable ice pack around. You’d be hard-pressed to crack the YETI ICE Cooler Ice Pack—even if you’re an avid hiker visiting rugged campsites. The ice pack is break-resistant, so it can withstand the most extreme adventures. We were especially impressed that no water or condensation had accumulated in the bottom of the cooler when we tried it out.

Another claim to fame? The ice pack has a unique shape that allows it to freeze in less time than other packs (about four hours). It also stays cold for more than 24 hours. All the while, it won’t sweat, so your food will stay in tiptop condition. What’s more, the ice pack is completely re-freezable and reusable, plus comes in one, two, and four-pound options. 

Price at time of publish: $20

_{Type: Plastic ice | Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1.6 inches | Weight: 2 pounds}

Best for Flexibility

FlexiFreeze Reusable Ice Sheets 4 Pack

4.5

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If you are looking for an ice pack that is flexible, use the FlexiFreeze Ice Sheet. These sheets are flexible in more ways than one—you can cut the sheet to the size you need, plus because they bend and wrap, you can use them to better insulate items like cans and bottles. If you’re careful, you can even cut them down to size.

The sheets are completely chemical-free, too! In fact, they’re water-based. This is good news for eco-minded buyers, but it’s also key for another important reason: The sheets are flexible, so you can actually twist them to suit your needs! In the event one should break (hey, it happens!), there will be minimal mess and no worries about any kind of toxic exposure. 

Price at time of publish: $22 for 4 pack

_{Type: Ice sheet | Dimensions: 19.5 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 7 pounds}

Best Long-Lasting

Nordic Ice No-Sweat Reusable Long-Lasting Gel Pack

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These reusable gel ice packs cost less than a takeout lunch, but come in a pack of three to justify the expense. Still, they’re super effective, thanks to a multi-layer construction that keeps food cold, but helps eliminate any sweating. Your cooler will stay dryer and cleaner, and more importantly, your food will be less soggy—especially if you’re packing paper-wrapped sandwiches. 

They’re also appropriately-sized. They work well in large coolers, but won’t overwhelm smaller ones. You can use these ice packs in your lunchbox or your beach cooler to keep snacks cool for up to seven hours. What’s more, you’ll feel good knowing they’re also biodegradable.

Price at time of publish: $9 for 3 packs

_{Type: Gel packs | Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches | Weight: 1 pound}

Most Versatile

Arctic Ice Alaskan Series Cooler Pack

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If you have a variety of coolers that you need to keep cold, you’ll love the versatility you’ll get from stocking multiple sizes of the Arctic Ice Chillin’ Brew Series. The cooler packs come in a dozen five different sizes—small to extra-extra-large—so you can customize your ice cold needs to the size of your cooler. 

Depending on which size you choose, the packs take anywhere from six to eight hours to freeze, but they’ll keep drinks cold for a day or more. That’s because these reusable packs freeze fast at 28 degrees to keep surrounding items colder than water's freezing point. And, because they’re flat, they’ll provide maximum surface area to keep food and drink items as cold as possible. 

And you won’t have to worry about spills: Each one features a leak-proof welded cap! The packs are also dishwasher-safe—a breeze to clean in the event of a mess.

Price at time of publish: $21 

_{Type: Ice pack | Dimensions: 6.75 x 1.25 x 7.75 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds}

Best for Bottles and Cans

LotFancy Contoured Freezer Packs

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When you’re storing a lot of cans and bottles, ice is appealing because it can get into all the nooks and crannies, creating more contact with your beverages. But ice can be messy. These contoured gel-filled packs provide a great alternative. 

Each one has three grooves on each side that are the perfect size for accommodating bottles and cans. And because each pack comes with four, you can create multiple rows of your favorite beverages to keep them cold for hours on end. 

Don’t worry about the hard shells breaking under all that weight. The packs are made from high-density polyethylene, a material that’s thicker than others and won’t deform or break after being frozen. 

Price at time of publish: $21 for 4 packs

_{Type: Gel pack | Dimensions: 3.8 x 2 x 8.3 inches | Weight: 4.66 pounds}

Best for Lunch Boxes

SoYoung Ice Pack

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If you’re toting a lunch box to work, you may want something that looks a little nicer than your average ice pack. The SoYoung Ice Pack is the perfect solution. The non-toxic gel pack comes tucked in a stylish outer sleeve. You can even choose from five different styles. The case does more than make the whole thing look good, too. It serves as an absorbent layer, so nothing in your lunch box will get soggy from condensation. 

The ice pack is compact enough for a small lunch tote, too. The 4-x-7-inch rectangle is nice and slim and fairly flexible, so you can tuck it between whatever you need to. The one downside? If the outer casing gets any food on it, you’ll have to hand wash it—it can’t go in the washing machine. Still, we think the benefits outweigh the small trouble.

Price at time of publish: $12

_{Type: Gel pack | Dimensions: 4 x 7 inches | Weight: Not listed}

Best Slim

Healthy Packers Original Cool Pack

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A bulky ice pack can really interfere with what you can store and how you can store it. So if this is a perpetual problem for you, try the Healthy Packers Original Cool Pack. Each ice pack in the set of four is super slim—less than ¾ of an inch—so you can tuck it on the bottom, side, or top of a cooler or lunch box without taking up precious real estate. 

Because the set comes with four, you can easily arrange them together to give enough chill to a large cooler. Or, you can use one 7-inch ice pack on its own for a smaller bag, like a lunch box or a tote with breast milk in it. 

What’s more, despite being fully non-toxic, these packs freeze fast, stay cold for hours on end, and are highly durable. There is one downside to note: The ice packs do shed some moisture, so you might want to wrap them in a lunch box. 

Price at time of publish: $19 for 4 packs

_{Type: Gel pack | Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.7 x 7 inches | Weight: 1.8 pounds}