How To Keep Drinks Cold In A Backpack
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How to Keep Drinks Cold in a Backpack
Imagine you’ve just stopped for a rest after a multi-hour hike or backpacking excursion. Sitting down feels fantastic! You drop your pack to your feet, open it up, and pull out your beverage of choice. You can’t wait to get a sip of that refreshing [insert drink type here], because it has been an extremely hot day. In an instant, your visions of an ice cold retreat turn to dismay as what was once a snowy tundra is now more like the Sahara desert. While it is inevitable that your drinks will get warm eventually, there are ways you can keep them cooler for longer, allowing you to better enjoy the hydration process.
So, what’s the secret on how to keep drinks cold in a backpack? No matter what you do, your drinks won’t stay cold forever without providing a source of cooling, such as ice. With that said, it is possible to keep drinks that are already cold cooler for longer via an insulated enclosure. This includes things such as an ice chest (also known as a chest cooler), or a thermos. There are even backpacks created specifically with insulated pockets solely for keeping cold things cold, and hot things hot. When it comes to backpacks, space is limited, so stick with travel sized coolers, specialized backpacks, and thermos containers. But if you’re looking for the longest duration, nothing will beat an insulated cooler filled with ice. If possible, be sure to keep your container of choice out of direct sunlight to extend the lifespan of your cold beverages. If you follow these steps, then you should be armed with the knowledge of how to keep drinks cold when camping, backpacking, or hiking.
What is Insulation?
You might be thinking that this insulation stuff sounds like a bunch of witchcraft mumbo jumbo. Maybe even some fairy tale nonsense. Well, let me assure you that it really is as amazing as it sounds, and very real. In a nutshell, insulation is the process of using certain materials to fill spaces around an object to reduce the loss of cold or heat. Using cold drinks as an example, the insulation vessel interior cools off as a result of your drink, and helps hold onto it longer. At the same time, the insulation is working to keep the warmer outside air away from your precious beverage. Insulation can also work in the opposite manner, keeping your hot chocolate or coffee steaming in the winter.
What Materials Do Coolers Use for Insulation?
When it comes to regulating temperatures of your favorite foods and beverages, there is one insulator that rules them all. If you’ve ever wondered what materials keep things cold, then this is for you. Sometimes called Styrofoam (a trademarked name), polystyrene foam is the most frequently used material you’ll find in your run-of-the-mill coolers.
What is Polystyrene?
Polystyrene is a type of plastic product used in everything from insulation to food packaging. It can be converted into a foam-like state, often referred to as expanded polystyrene. This creation has numerous applications, including insulation, packing, and noise dampening.
How is Polystyrene Foam Made?
EPS, or expanded polystyrene, is made via a three step process. During the first phase, steam is introduced into polystyrene beads, after which an internal hydrocarbon begins to boil. This causes them to expand upwards of 50 times their original size. Next, the beads are processed in an effort to reach the correct temperatures and internal pressure. Finally, the beads are placed into a mold and reheated. This results in continued expansion, allowing for a complete fill. One thing to note is that once finished, expanded polystyrene is around 95% air.
Why is Polystyrene Used for Insulation?
This amazing material isn’t just used for insulation because it’s good at it. Polystyrene is extremely lightweight, resistant to moisture, recyclable, durable, easy to shape, and cheap to manufacture. It is used as insulation in everything from foam cups, coolers and refrigerators, to panel systems for floors, walls, and roofs.
Recommendations
The good news is, no matter which route you choose to keep your backpack drinks cold, they’re all fairly inexpensive. For the sake of variety, I’m going to offer 2 suggestions per category – backpack, cooler, and bottle/thermos. These choices are based on their features, reputation, build quality, and overall value.
Backpacks
Starting things off we have the C003 Soft Backpack Cooler by Coleman. Featuring a spacious front zippered pocket for your dry goods, the C003 comes in south of $25, making it extremely affordable. Adjustable waist and shoulder straps mean a custom fit for everyone, and the extra padding in the straps and back provides added comfort. Able to hold up to 28 cans of hydrating goodness, the C003 is phthalate and BPA free. The inner lining provides an antimicrobial function, to help prevent mold, mildew, and odor. Coleman is a name that has been around since the early 1900s, and exudes quality in all their products. Definitely a name you can trust.
Next up is the Igloo Outdoorsman Gizmo Backpack. Even just the name Igloo makes me think about cold things! Available in three colors, the Gizmo Backpack is made of a nylon poly blend and features “MaxCold” technology. What’s MaxCold technology? Just Igloo’s fancy way of saying this pack has 25% more foam than your average cooler backpack. But hey, more foam is always good when it comes to insulation! Like the Coleman, it has adjustable padded shoulder straps, as well as a weight distributing sternum piece. Many of the overall features between the Coleman and Igloo overlap, but if color choice and additional foam is worth a few extra bucks, this one is worth picking up.
Coolers
Another entry from Coleman, this 16-Can Soft Cooler with Removable Liner is a nice option for a compact cooler. Featuring an adjustable shoulder strap, this cooler gives you the added option of not only storing it inside your backpack, but shouldering it. Depending on your preference, this can be a great way to add extra space without really “carrying” anything else. In turn, it saves space in your pack, for what that’s worth. It also has 2 mesh pockets on the sides, dry storage pouch, and additional bungees if you need even more storage. Like their backpack, you’ll find an antimicrobial layer here as well. All in all, this little guy has everything you could want in a portable cooler. Keeping your drinks cold and staying hydrated on the go has never been this easy!
If you need a bit more storage than the Coleman has to offer, then this might be what you’re looking for. This 24-Can Insulated Soft Cooler from Lifewit is a great alternative to the Coleman. With a larger capacity, as you can imagine this is a little bit bigger than the previous entry, but still allows shoulder carry. The size is far from unruly, at 11.8”x9.1”x9.1”, the Lifewit will still fit easily in the bottom of most backpacks as well. By using seemly hot press construction, the Lifewit touts being 100% leak proof. It also features a bit more of a stylish appearance, almost making it a fashion statement. Finally, the Lifewit cooler comes in just shy of $20, making it an absolute steal.
Bottles / Thermos
To stay hydrated, obviously you need some sort of vessel to contain your beverage of choice. In the bottle and thermos category, It should come as no surprise that Coleman finds its way into this lineup yet again. Starting off this section, their FreeFlow AUTOSEAL Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle is a 40 Oz behemoth that comes in seven different colors. It is constructed of double-walled 18/8 stainless steel, and claims to keep drinks cold up to 58 hours, and hot up to 20. On the side you’ll find a button dedicated to completely seal off the lid, effectively preventing leaks and spills. Most importantly, Coleman comes in clutch with 100% BPA-free construction. This feature-rich bottle is one of the greats, and is even offered in a 24 Oz version.
Last on our list we have the HYDRO CELL Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle. If I had to say one thing to differentiate this from other bottles on the market, is that it is the king of variety. HYDRO CELL offers 7 different colors, all with the option of 4 different sizes – 40, 32, 24, and 18 Oz. It is worth noting that only the 18 and 24 Oz versions fit in standard cup holders, so keep that in mind. Another interesting feature is the inclusion of an anti-slip layer of powder coating, which is a nice touch. It also comes with a second lid, tailored to more athletic situations.
How to Keep Drinks Cold in a Backpack - Conclusion
Keeping drinks cold is something we take for granted every day. It’s so convenient to be able to walk over to a refrigerator and pull out a nice chilled bottle of water. It isn’t until you need to be on the go for extended periods that you really start to wonder how things really work. The power of quality insulation really is a wonder to behold. Hopefully I’ve armed you with the knowledge to help keep your drinks cold inside your backpack. Now the next time you head out to enjoy your favorite outdoor activity, you can safely anticipate a nice chilled beverage to keep you hydrated when the need arises. If you’re looking for more backpacking information, check out our article “DIY Mini First Aid Kit Guide for Safety”. Safe travels and happy backpacking!
