Why it's on the list
A soft bag is warm by the afternoon of day one. A 70-quart hard cooler is the size that carries food for a small camp and still fits in a car. The maker says the ice can last days around 90°F. Noon on the playa is hotter than that test, so pre-chill it, freeze bottles, and keep it in the shade with the lid shut.
How we use it
Drain it. Melt water is heavy, and it is not your drinking plan. Block ice or frozen bottles outlast cubes. Raise the cooler off the playa and keep a reflective cover on it in the shade. If you can, one cooler is food and stays shut, and a second is drinks. Sit on the lid if you need a seat. Wipe the gasket before the drive home.
Heads up
Do not count on five days of ice in full sun. Shade and a closed lid are part of the product.
