I need a passive cooler that will work for three days...

[thell]

...but a bit cheaper than an Icey-tek.
I really would like one, but we are not yet in the swing of annual camping holidays, so I can't justify spending that much.

What are your experiences, peeps?

Thermos, Coleman and Igloo have all come up...

Will you be out of reach of a freezer? Lots of campsites have a freezer you can put your freezer packs in and keep swapping a thawed one for a frozen one. If no freezer you could buy a bag of ice from a supermarket on day 2.
Or will you really be out of reach of shops for 3 days?

Buy a bog standard cooler, take as much of your stuff as possible frozen - frozen burgers etc, take enough freezer packs to keep alternating if the site has a freezer, and on the 3rd day manage with fresh produce from the shop. Most sell milk, cool for morning.

And don't leave the lid open or let the kids keep opening it.

I'd second using a normal coolbox (not bag) with frozen stuff in (like bacon) and also lots of ice blocks.

We also (for a long weekend) put our stainless steel flasks in the fridge for a day before we go, then fill them with ice cold milk to the brim. This way, you don't need to use up space in your cool box and the milk will stay cold for at least 2 days. Best to use 2 small flasks rather than one large, as you don't need to open the second one til day 2. Sounds a bit faffy but is well worth it if you can't get to fresh milk all the time.

Flasks is a good tip.
You can freeze milk, too.

I have the smallest(*) Coleman Xtreme and it did well on a four day trip last year. I froze a lot of things before we went an also froze lots of small 500ml bottles of water which we used as drinking water as and when they defrosted. I don't think it would have lasted much past the four days though.

(*) it's the smallest in the range, but it is actually enormous. I have no idea how anyone could actually fit any of the larger ones in their car and still have room for a tent etc!

Ooh, thermos flask is a top tip :o)

Yes, we'll be in a field with no facilities except the hired portaloo. We'll be arriving on the afternoon of day 1, so only evening meal to worry about, one whole day of feeding ourselves, then maybe breakfast and lunch on the last day. I'll freeze everything I can lay my hands on, and pack the milk in a thermos.

The Coleman looked good, but way too big for our needs.

Thanks guys!!