Cooler Shock

I recently purchased the large-sized ice packs from this company and I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed. Having used their soft-sided packs for a few years, which were incredible in their own right, I decided to give their hard packs a try. The soft-sided ones stay frozen for an extended period and maintain a temperature colder than regular ice, which is quite remarkable. However, they need to be stored flat in the freezer to maintain their shape, just like any other soft-sided freeze pack. The hard packs, on the other hand, require a bit of assembly. You need to add water to the gel pellets, which can be a bit of a process. First, you add 8 ounces of water and shake the container to mix and disperse the gel. Then, you add another 6 cups of water, squeezing the container until the water reaches the top, and finally, secure the child-proof (and somewhat adult-proof) cap. While this process may not be the most enjoyable, trust me when I say that the end result is well worth the effort. It's crucial to follow the instructions carefully. If, for some reason, the packs don't work as expected, it's likely due to user error rather than a fault in the product itself. But if you adhere to the directions, you'll be rewarded with an exceptional ice pack that outperforms the rest. In conclusion, these hard packs from this company are a game-changer. Despite the slight inconvenience of the assembly process, the superior performance and long-lasting cooling power make them a worthwhile investment for anyone in need of reliable ice packs.

I decided to invest in the Cooler Shock Reusable Ice Packs, and I can confidently say that it was money well spent. This review is entirely based on my personal experience and opinion. These ice packs have revolutionized the way I keep my cooler contents cold, eliminating the need for those annoying 'blue ice' blocks that always seem to leak. One of the standout features of these ice packs is their exceptional quality. While they do require a bit of assembly, the process is straightforward, and the package includes all the necessary components, such as a funnel, rubber stoppers, and caps. This attention to detail makes the assembly a breeze. After putting them together, I left them in the freezer overnight, and by morning, they were ready to provide outstanding cooling performance throughout the day. What truly amazed me was the ice packs' ability to maintain their coldness for an extended period. Even when they transition from a solid state to a gel-like consistency, they continue to cool the contents of the cooler effectively. This level of reliability is a game-changer, as I no longer have to worry about constantly replenishing my cooler with bags of ice during trips or picnics.

I decided to purchase the three-pack of these freezer ice packs for a road trip from Massachusetts to North Carolina. I placed all three packs in a large cooler, along with a single bag of ice, hoping to keep our food and drinks cold throughout the journey. To my surprise, when we arrived at our destination, everything inside the cooler was incredibly COLD! The ice hadn't even melted, and some of the single-serve ice cream treats we packed were still perfectly frozen..

I've found these cold packs to be an incredibly valuable addition to our household. My wife recently started getting weekly deliveries of local produce, which is fantastic, but we live in an area that experiences intense heat. This made us worry about the produce spoiling before we could get home from work to bring it inside. That's where these cold packs come in - they've been an absolute game-changer. We purchased the 3-pack, which has proven to be the perfect quantity for our needs. When we place these cold packs in the container with the produce, they work wonders in keeping everything fresh and cool until we can retrieve it. My wife is thrilled with how well they perform, and I couldn't be happier with our purchase.

Filling these ice packs can be a bit of a challenge, so I want to share my experience to help others navigate the process more easily. First, I recommend using a watering can to pour the required 7 cups of water into the packs. It's important to note that the rubber funnel provided doesn't fit securely into the opening of the ice packs, which can make filling them a bit tricky. I discovered that if you invert the tip of the funnel back over itself and then flip it over the ice pack opening, it works much better. I wish I had taken a picture to demonstrate this technique. Once you've added a cup or two of water, swish it around inside the pack to help the salts partially liquefy. This step is crucial to prevent air from getting trapped in the corners. After adding all the water, you'll need to partially compress the ice pack, as described in the directions. The challenging part is getting all the air out. To do this, hold the ice pack vertically in front of you, like a sheet of paper. Then, slowly rotate it clockwise about 30 degrees, which allows the air to move towards the opening and escape. Next, rotate it back counterclockwise, repeating this process while simultaneously squeezing the pack. This is when you'll be able to see if you need to add a bit more water. The final step is to cap the ice pack while you're squeezing it to keep the air out. This is much easier with the help of another person, as you'll need to remove the funnel and put the cap on while maintaining the compression. I found that using my belly to squeeze the ice pack against the countertop freed up my hands to complete this step. Despite the effort required to fill these ice packs and remove all the air bubbles, I have to say that they stay incredibly cold after freezing. The results are definitely worth the initial setup process. However, due to the extra effort involved, I'm giving these ice packs four stars instead of five.