Drinks are an important part of any camping trip but keeping them cold can be challenging. There are a few different ways to keep drinks cold when camping, and which one you use will depend on the available resources.
In the heat of a blazing summer day, nothing is worse than sipping on a hot beverage to relieve your thirst. If you’re camping in hot weather, here are a few ways to keep your drinks cold:
Choose the right container.
If you’re using a standard plastic water bottle, it’s not going to keep your drink cold for very long. Instead, invest in a good quality insulated water bottle. These will help keep your drink cold for hours, even in direct sunlight.
Fill your container with ice.
If you’re short on time, fill your container with ice before adding your drink. This will help to keep it cold for a longer period. The more ice you use the longer it will stay cold. Just be sure to top up the ice as it melts. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a lukewarm drink.
Make your own ice.
One way to ensure that you always have cold drinks on hand is to make your own ice. This can be easily done by filling plastic containers with water and freezing them ahead of time. Alternatively, you can also use items like grapefruit halves or Instant Pot inserts to create DIY ice packs. Simply pre-freeze these items overnight, and then use them to keep your cooler contents cold throughout the day. With a little bit of planning, you can enjoy frosty beverages all weekend long!
Bring a Coolenator!
This is probably the easiest way to keep your drinks cold when camping. These coolers fit one bottle at a time. They aren’t your standard coolers as they have a removable freezer bullet that cools for up to 8 hours. It is easy to use and very effective.
Simply place your drink in the Coolenator, and it will keep the drink’s temperature, so you can enjoy a refreshing, cold beverage. The Coolenator is portable and easy to use, so it’s the perfect solution for keeping your drinks cold when camping. Pop a few extra freezer bullets in your eski to keep perishables cold. Additionally, it doesn’t require ice, so you don’t have to worry about all your ice melting before you get to the camp site.
Freeze your drinks before you leave for the campground.
Another way to do this is to freeze them before leaving for the campground. This will help to keep them cold throughout the day, and you can even use the ice to keep your cooler cool. You can also pack your drinks in insulated containers, which will help to keep them cold for longer periods. If you’re not able to keep your drinks cold, be sure to drink them quickly and stay hydrated.
Restock only with already chilled beverages.
Only put pre-cooled drinks in your camping cooler. Do not try to “top off” the cooler with warm drinks later in the day, as this will cause all the contents to warm up faster. Make sure all the drinks you put in the cooler are already cold or close to it. You can even put them in the freezer for a few hours before leaving, so they’ll be extra cold. If you do this, make sure to put them in a separate cooler from the food, so they don’t get frozen.
Pack strategically.
When packing your cooler, be sure to place the heavier items on the bottom and the lighter items on top. This will help to keep the contents of your cooler cold for longer periods. You can also pack your cooler with ice packs or frozen water bottles. These will help to keep your drinks cold and prevent them from getting watered down as the ice melts.
Organise your cooler.
To open your cooler fast to take what you need and close the lid, make sure your coolers are organised when you pack and replenish them. For example, put all the sodas in one area, all the beers in another, etc. This way, you can grab what you need without having to search through the entire cooler. Additionally, you can also label your cooler with what’s inside, so you know exactly where to find what you’re looking for.
Use ice packs that can be re-frozen.
One way to keep your cooler contents cold is to use re-freezable ice packs. These are great because you can reuse them over and over again. Simply put them in the freezer overnight and then use them in your cooler during the day. They’ll help to keep your drinks cold and prevent them from getting watered down as the ice melts. And if you happen to have a freezer at the campground, you can simply re-freeze them once they’ve thawed out. Check out the freezer bullets that have long lasting freezer power of up to 8 hours!
Use a thermos.
A thermos is not as effective as the Coolenator, but it’s still a good option for keeping your drinks cold when camping. It will help to keep your drink cold for longer periods of time, and you don’t have to worry about ice cubes diluting your drink. Simply fill the thermos with your drink of choice and screw on the lid tightly. Then, when you’re ready to drink it, simply unscrew the lid and enjoy.
