Consumer Reports Tests Best Ice Packs for Coolers
Consumer Reports tested ice packs for freeze time, melt speed, and cold retention to help shoppers choose the right one for their lunch bag. The Arctic Zone High Performance Ice Packs ($13.99 for a two-pack) earned the top pick for keeping food cold longer than any other tested, still holding visible ice at the end of testing. However, it took 5.5 hours to freeze and developed a hump. The Rtic Ice Pack ($24.99) was runner-up, best for large bags, with a 5-hour freeze time and 1.74-pound weight. The Igloo Maxcold Medium Ice Freeze Block ($10.99) earned an honorable mention, freezing in 2.5 hours and ranking third for cold retention. The Bentgo Chillers Reusable Ice Packs ($10.99 for a set) were the fastest to freeze (2 hours) but melted quickly, becoming mostly liquid after 90 minutes.
Key facts
- Consumer Reports tested ice packs for freeze time, melt speed, and cold retention.
- Arctic Zone High Performance Ice Packs cost $13.99 for a two-pack and were the top pick.
- Arctic Zone was the only pack that still held visible ice at the end of testing.
- Arctic Zone took 5.5 hours to freeze and developed a hump.
- Rtic Ice Pack costs $24.99 and was runner-up, best for large lunch bags.
- Rtic Ice Pack has a 5-hour freeze time and weighs 1.74 pounds.
- Igloo Maxcold Medium Ice Freeze Block costs $10.99, froze in 2.5 hours, and ranked third for cold retention.
- Bentgo Chillers Reusable Ice Packs cost $10.99, froze fastest in 2 hours, but melted quickly.
Entities
Institutions
- Consumer Reports
Sources
- Quartz —