I tried packing real ice cream once. It quickly turned into a very thick shake that hit the spot at the time but it's not real high on my list of successes. As I recall we had it on the second or third day of a July trip. It was cold alright, just not as expected.

A well soaked/placed towel ads a lot of time to any type of cooler. Even a white t-shirt helps. Most buckets I've seen are white anyway but...
  (You need to Login or Register

I wasn't big on cheesecake either, until I tried a nobake one trip. Been taking them ever since. On group trips, the veterans argue over who's plate gets used 'cause they know who gets the crumbs.

Gimme a bag of cheesecake and some good ol' perked decaf to sip while digesting a walleye and reclining in my thermarest chair, admiring the view... It just doesn't get any better. The first drink with ice (or whatever) after a trip runs a very distant second. As much as I love beer and Coke, on a trip, they are not cold enough for my taste unless it's freezing out and on those days I'd rather have something HOT.

A 5 gallon bucket won't be bear proof but it will make a welcome seat no matter what's in it.