If you want good results with any cooler, don’t start with a hot cooler. In fact, most cooler manufacturers recommend that you pre-chill or “season” your coolers by cooling the cooler before you load it with ice. I generally don’t bother seasoning my coolers, but I do follow these recommendations:
Make sure all of your drinks have been pre-chilled. Don’t expect your ice to work well with room-temperature drinks. Most of it will melt as it cools the drinks. You can use ice packs, but strive for a 2-to-1 ratio of ice-to-drinks for best results. Keep your cooler out of direct sun. Insulate soft coolers from hot sand or surfaces with a towel. Don’t frequently open the cooler, and make sure you seal it shut quickly. Watch out for kids because they leave coolers open. Don’t yell at them. They’re kids! And you’re outside to have fun, so keep it fun.
