Cool bag, insulated bag, thermal bag: same products
An insulated shipping bag goes by many names: same products, different names. Cool bag, insulated bag and thermal bag all describe a lightweight bag that protects the temperature of your shipment together with a coolant. Below you will find which names you will come across and how to choose the number of layers.
Insulated shipping bags, thermal bags and cool bags: all the names at a glance
You find the same product under many names. In our range of insulated shipping bags they are insulated shipping bag, insulated bag, thermal bag, thermal shipping bag, isothermal bag, insulated pouch and cool bag. In every case it is the same thing: a bag that, together with ice packs, keeps the cold chain intact.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Insulated shipping bag, insulated shipping bags | The same product |
| Insulated bag, insulated bags for shipping | The same product, written in a shorter form |
| Thermal bag, thermal shipping bag, thermal bag for shipping | The same product |
| Isothermal bag, insulated pouch | The same product |
| Cool bag, foil insulated shipping bags | Other names for the same bag |
The insulated shipping bags come as 2-layer, 4-layer and 6-layer bags, made in our own production since 1972 and available from stock.
Insulated shipping bag: what a layer does
The 4-layer and 6-layer versions combine reflective metalized PET film with bubble film. The metalized PET layer reflects heat from outside, and the air in the bubble film acts as an insulating buffer. The 2-layer bag is built differently: insulating foam with a reflective outer film, a white inside and a self-adhesive closing strip.
Choosing a thermal bag: 2, 4 or 6 layer
2 layer: the lightest version
An isothermal bag or 2-layer thermal bag is suitable for same-day deliveries and shipments that arrive the next day. The advantage is that you avoid the weight and volume of a heavier bag and the shipping costs that come with it. There are six sizes, all with a closing strip.
4 layer: the standard choice
The efficient standard solution for shipments of 24 to 48 hours and the most economical choice for spring, fall and winter. Suitable for fresh fish, meat, dairy and meal kits. In our own test with a 400 gram gel ice pack at a constant 25 °C, the contents stayed below 0 °C for about 17 hours and below 8 °C for well over 40 hours.
6 layer: for frozen goods and long transit
For shipments of 48 to 72 hours, warm summer days, long transit times and tightly controlled shipments such as pharma and international air freight. In the same test, the contents stayed below 0 °C for well over 30 hours and below 8 °C for 48 hours with a single gel ice pack. With enough cooling elements, this is the choice for shipments of 48 to 72 hours.
Use these figures as a guideline. Actual performance depends on the fill, the number of gel ice packs and the outside temperature. We therefore do not give a fixed number of hours per layer.
What do you use an insulated bag for?
- Meals and meal prep. Fresh ingredients and prepared meals stay at temperature, even if the recipient does not accept the parcel right away.
- Meat and fish. Butchers and fishmongers with an online shop use an insulated bag to keep the cold chain intact.
- Dairy, vegetables and fruit. Optionally with an absorbent mat against moisture.
- Pharma and air freight. With the 6-layer version for tightly controlled shipments.
Want to be more sustainable? There is also an insulated shipping bag made with 95% recycled material and a paper insulated bag with a closing strip. You use both in the same way with gel ice packs.
An insulated bag does not cool
A bag does not supply cold. It holds on to the cold your coolant gives off. You will find suitable cooling elements in our range, and the calculation method in Shipping ice packs: what determines the number?.
In practice the products go in the bag and the bag goes in a cardboard box. Put the gel ice packs on top, because cold air sinks. Fill the bag as tightly as possible: the less empty space, the better the cooling performance. Close the 2-layer bag with its closing strip and the other versions carefully with tape. See also packing an insulated bag: seven points.
More about shipping in warm periods is in 7 tips for shipping chilled goods in hot summers.
Frequently asked questions about insulated shipping bags
What is the difference between a cool bag and a thermal bag?
There is no difference. Insulated shipping bag, insulated bag, thermal bag and cool bag are names for the same product. The difference lies in the number of layers and the size.
Is a 6 layer insulated bag always better than a 4 layer?
Not always. According to our own test, 4 layer is suitable for shipments of 24 to 48 hours and 6 layer for shipments of 48 to 72 hours.
Do I need cooling elements with an insulated bag?
Yes. The bag slows down warming, and the coolant supplies the cold. Use gel packs or ice packs, depending on the temperature you need.
Order directly
View all thermal bags and insulated bags, in several sizes, available directly from stock. An insulated bag combines best with ice packs. Not sure about the number of layers or gel ice packs? Request a sample.
You will find all names in our glossary.
