An ice pack that thaws too fast leaves lunch warm by noon. Consumer Reports tested ice packs for freeze time and cold retention
Santeri Viinamäki / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
An ice pack that thaws too quickly leaves a packed lunch warm well before noon, no matter how good the insulated bag around it is. Freeze time, size and how long a pack stays cold all trade off against each other, so the right pick depends on how much space is available and how long food needs to stay chilled.
Consumer Reports tested ice packs for freeze time, melt speed and cold retention, so shoppers can find one that fits their lunch bag and schedule.
Credit: Arctic Zone
Arctic Zone High Performance Ice Packs cost $13.99 for a two-pack and earned Consumer Reports' top pick in this lineup for keeping food cold longer than every other pack tested. CR found it the only ice pack that still held visible ice by the end of testing, outlasting every competitor in the lineup, and described it as a soft, square-shaped pack sized between the compact Bentgo and the larger Rtic. CR noted the pack stays rigid instead of flexible once frozen, unlike the Fit + Fresh model tested elsewhere in the roundup, and took 5.5 hours to freeze fully, longer than any other pack tested, while also developing a hump in the process. CR recommends freezing it overnight to ensure it's ready when needed, since it only comes in one size.
Credit: Amazon
The Rtic Ice Pack costs $24.99, pricier than every other pack in this lineup, and earned Consumer Reports' runner-up spot as a bigger model than the rest tested and the top choice for large lunch bags. CR described a hard shell with a clear case, blue gel and a built-in handle, sold in a two-pack and available in sizes from extra-small to extra-large, with CR specifically testing the medium. Testing found it produced the number-two score for staying cold, warming more slowly than every pack except Arctic Zone, delivering a lower interior lunch bag temperature than any other pack, and still retaining cold gel after 3.5 hours. CR noted the tradeoffs of a 5-hour freeze time, second only to Arctic Zone, along with its bulk and 1.74-pound weight, heavier than any other pack tested, calling it worth the space for anyone who wants all-day cooling.
Credit: Igloo
The Igloo Maxcold Medium Ice Freeze Block $SQ costs $10.99 and earned Consumer Reports' honorable mention in this lineup as a bigger pack than every other tested besides Rtic. CR found it froze in just 2.5 hours despite its size, faster than expected, though uneven gel distribution caused it to develop a hump once frozen. CR praised its balance of size, cooling performance and freeze speed, along with a strong number-three ranking for staying cold behind only Arctic Zone and Rtic. This pack comes in four sizes, with CR testing the medium, and CR called its price reasonable given the value it delivers.
Credit: Bentgo
Bentgo Chillers Reusable Ice Packs cost $10.99 for a set and earned Consumer Reports' pick for compact lunch boxes in this lineup. CR found the hard-shell design small enough to fit tight lunch bags while still delivering respectable cooling performance, and it froze quicker than any other pack tested, in just 2 hours. That same compact size came with a tradeoff, since CR found it melted relatively quickly and turned mostly liquid after 90 minutes. CR noted it isn't offered in multiple sizes but is available in four colors, with a four-pack of small ice packs priced well for the value.