Cold Shipping

[grendel88]

Hey Everyone,
I would like to hear some opinions on how to ship in cold weather (30s-50s). I had a shipment die a few months back due to the cold and I want to know where I went wrong. I know this has been covered in previous posts, but I can't get to them (site trouble?). Please be concise.

[gary1218]

I just sent a shipment of 16 froglets when the weather was in the 30's. NO PROBLEM.

I made my own custom shipping box. All the walls inside the box are lined with a 4" layer of foam insulation. The other big key in my opinion is to use the Phase Change Material gel packs. Under "normal" shipping conditions I use 2 of these gel packs. For this winter shipment I used 4 gel packs.

AND YES, I did several tests on this shipping box before I ever thought of shipping live frogs in it

[grendel88]

Thanks for the quick response! I have seen your method and it is great. Where do you get the gel packs? Also, how many heat packs did you use and where were they placed?

[Mikee]

No problems.. as long as its packaged properly.

[Mikee]

I forgot too add that when i got my order the gel packs were also used in them and styrofoam around outside. This was when it was in those lows and all 6 darts arrived in perfect health.

[gary1218]

Originally Posted by grendel88

Thanks for the quick response! I have seen your method and it is great. Where do you get the gel packs? Also, how many heat packs did you use and where were they placed?

I think there are a few places to get them. I got mine from here - http://saftpak.com/

When I did the testing on the box I actually did it in colder conditions - temps in the teens - with no heat packs. Even under those conditions the froglets would have been fine. But, just to play it safe, I did use 1 heat pack taped to the side.