01
Freeze Completely
Freeze NUGSAX® completely before packing your cooler.
THE BETTER COOLER GUIDE
How to Use Reusable Ice in a Cooler
Better cooler performance starts before you leave home. Freeze completely, pack cold contents and position your NUGSAX® where it can work throughout the cooler.
How Do Reusable Ice Cubes Work?
Reusable ice cubes work by absorbing heat from their surroundings after being frozen. Each NUGSAX® cube contains filtered water sealed inside a reusable, BPA-free plastic shell. As the frozen water inside the cubes absorbs heat, it helps keep food and drinks cold without releasing melted ice water into your cooler.
Unlike traditional bagged ice, NUGSAX® can be refrozen and reused again and again.
Freeze. Pack. Chill. Repeat.
1. Freeze the cubes. Place your NUGSAX® in the freezer until completely frozen, ideally overnight.
2. Pack your cooler. Keep the cubes inside their mesh bag for easy handling, or pour them directly into your cooler to distribute cooling around your food and drinks.
3. Let them do their thing. The frozen cubes absorb heat as they warm, helping maintain a cold environment inside your insulated cooler.
4. Refreeze and reuse. After your trip, clean and dry the cubes and bag as needed, then return them to the freezer.
Why doesn't reusable ice leave water in the cooler?
The water stays sealed inside each cube, even after it melts internally. That means no puddles of melted ice water from the NUGSAX cubes themselves and no soggy food caused by melting bagged ice.
PACK IT RIGHT
Five Steps for Better Cooler Performance
Start cold, pack efficiently and help your cooler hold the chill.
SWIPE TO SEE ALL 5 STEPS →
01
02
Start Cold
Pre-chill your cooler when possible and start with cold food and drinks.
03
Pack Efficiently
Reduce unnecessary empty space so your cooler has less warm air to fight.
04
Distribute the Cold
Use the bag or loose cubes throughout the cooler instead of concentrating everything in one spot.
05
Protect the Chill
Keep your cooler shaded and minimize unnecessary lid opening.
PLAN YOUR PACK
How Much Reusable Ice Do You Need?
The right amount depends on your cooler, weather, trip length and how much food or drink you are packing.
01
Cooler size
02
Outside temperature
03
Trip length
04
Food and drink volume
05
How often the lid opens
06
Direct sunlight
COOLER BEST PRACTICES
Small Changes Make a Better Cooler
Keep the Lid Closed
Grab what you need and close the cooler quickly.
Find the Shade
Keep the cooler out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
Separate Food and Drinks
Separate coolers can reduce unnecessary opening on busy days.
Pack for Quick Access
Put frequently used items where you can reach them quickly.
Use a Good Cooler
Insulation and a secure lid seal make a big difference.
Add More When Needed
Hotter days, bigger coolers and longer trips may need more cooling capacity.
FLEXIBLE COOLING
Can You Combine Reusable Ice With Regular Ice?
Yes. Use NUGSAX® by itself for a reusable setup or combine it with traditional ice when your trip, cooler or conditions call for additional cooling capacity.
NUGSAX® cubes are designed to cool food and drinks inside the cooler, not to be used as beverage ice.
READY FOR THE ADVENTURE
Built for Wherever the Cooler Goes
Tailgates, road trips, tournaments, lake days and everything in between.
SWIPE TO EXPLORE →
Tailgates
Easy-access cold drinks without the cooler-water cleanup.
Camping and Road Trips
Pack food and drinks efficiently for the miles ahead.
Beach and Lake Days
Keep the cooler shaded and the cold where you need it.
Sports and Tournaments
Reusable cooling for long practices, games and tournament days.
Boating and Fishing
Pack around cans, bottles, food and gear without rigid ice packs.
Hosting and Cookouts
Use the bag or loose cubes wherever you need reusable cooling.
AFTER THE TRIP
Clean Refreeze Repeat
When cooler duty is done, bring NUGSAX® home, clean it when needed and put it back in the freezer.
01
REMOVE
Take NUGSAX® out when cooler duty is done.
02
CLEAN IF NEEDED
Hand wash the bag and cubes whenever needed.
03
REFREEZE
Dry completely and put NUGSAX® back in the freezer.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Reusable Ice Cooler FAQs
Quick answers for getting more out of reusable ice and your cooler.
Should reusable ice go on the top or bottom of a cooler?
For more balanced cooling, distribute NUGSAX® throughout the cooler rather than keeping all of it in one location.
Should drinks be cold before packing them?
Yes. Starting with cold drinks and food reduces the amount of heat your cooler and reusable ice need to absorb.
Can I use reusable ice in any cooler?
NUGSAX® can be used in most insulated coolers. Performance also depends on insulation quality, lid seal and how the cooler is packed.
Can I use NUGSAX® for a multi-day trip?
You can, but cooling time varies by conditions. Longer trips may require access to a freezer, additional NUGSAX® or supplemental traditional ice.
Can I combine NUGSAX® with regular ice?
Yes. Use NUGSAX® alone or combine it with traditional ice depending on the cooler, conditions and length of the trip.
What is inside NUGSAX® reusable ice cubes?
Each NUGSAX® cube contains filtered water sealed inside a reusable, BPA-free plastic shell. The water freezes and melts inside the cube, so it stays contained as the cubes help keep your cooler cold.
BUILD A BETTER COOLER
Freeze It Pack It Chill Repeat
Reusable cooler ice ready whenever the next trip begins.