Product Recommendation: Refillable Ice Bags

Earlier this year I was looking for better ice pack options for when we travel.  We have the typical blue blocks that you freeze and they stay cold pretty well, but they are dependent on having access to a freezer to re-chill overnight.  We've found that while many hotels offer a mini-fridge, not all of them have a freezer section, so there's no way to easily re-freeze the ice packs.

We've tried filling ziploc bags for freezers with ice, even double bagging them, but they still end up with a leak or sweating all over everything as the ice melts.  I thought surely someone has to have come up with a solution.  Sure enough, an internet search led me to these reusable ice packs that you fill with ice cubes.  And when the ice melts, you can use the spout on the side to fill your drinking cup with ice cold water.  Most hotels have ice machines, so that makes refilling accessible.  (We have occasionally had a hotel where the ice machine was broken.)  We've tried them out on a few trips we've taken since getting them and so far, so good!  They are pliable enough to smoosh around things in the cooler, too. 

You can also just fill the bag with water or even your favorite drink.  Just freeze it overnight (if you have access to a freezer) and then when it thaws, you'll have it cold but not diluted like when you add ice to a drink.  (Don't you hate it when melting ice dilutes your water? ha ha!)

Not only will we use these in the cooler when driving, we also plan to take them with us on our activities so we have cold water waiting at the car when we get back from a tour, especially while it is still so hot out!

What about you?  What do you use for keeping things cold when traveling or out for a long day in the summer heat?

Don't forget to stay hydrated!

~ Cindy D.

(NOTE: I don't do affiliations or have an amazon store - any product links I post are directly to the product.)