Best Lunch Boxes
Packing a lunch box is a solid way to save money and stay healthy at work. If you're reading this, you're probably already sick of spending $23 a day on take-out food that makes you feel bloated all afternoon and isn't in any way helping you fight the battle of the bulge.
Happily, packing your own lunch is a great alternative. But it all starts with a good lunch box. What are the best lunch boxes? Check out this buying guide for our best-of rundown of insulated lunch boxes.
Buckle up, and let's get to work - without forgetting our lunch.
1. Lifewit Insulated Lunch Box
The Lifewit Insulated Lunch Box is a worthwhile purchase. Its surprisingly effective insulation, solid features, and high capacity put it at the top of the heap of men's lunch boxes. At first, I was skeptical of Lifewit. There are plenty of predators and pretenders in the Amazon jungle (not talking about the Rainforest). The Lifewit Insulated Lunch Box seemed suspicious online but looked solid right out of the box. Apart from a loose stitch on the brand emblem, the construction was solid. The stitching on the top zipper seemed especially stout, and both zippers operated with ease - no tricky corners or sticky spots.
A detachable shoulder strap and two carry handles that velcro together were attached sturdily, and the lining was sewn securely. The Lifewit really impressed me in insulation testing. The lunch bag kept ice for around 15 hours, which is amazing for a soft-sided cooler. It's even more surprising that the bottom of the bag didn't leak when the ice melted. This held true after repeated testing and abrasion. Put up to 17 cans (with room for ice) in the generously sized Lifewit Insulated Lunch Box, or pack a lunch worthy of an audacious bulking cycle. Read the in-depth review here.
2. Columbia PFG Skiff Guide Zipperless Hardbody Lunch Box
Columbia PFG is a trusted name in fishing apparel and accessories. Its “Skiff Guide” insulated cooler constitutes a high-capacity, easy-cleaning outdoor lunch box option. The Skiff Guide Zipperless bag looks like a straightforward soft cooler, but several design innovations set it apart. It's zipperless, features a hard plastic removable liner, and its exterior is highly stain-resistant.
The top-opening bag's zipperless lid secures with one velcro attachment point, designed to be operated with one hand. When the bag is closed, a hard plastic liner inside the lid seats into the hard plastic interior shell - almost like a thermos lunch box. Though the liner won't leak, I thought the closure system seemed dubious in terms of insulation and security. But customer reviews, by and large, report that the bag insulates sufficiently.
3. PackIt Freezable Lunch Box
PackIt's Freezable Lunch Bag is a unique entry that eliminates the need for an ice pack (or ice) from your lunch kit. The tote-style bag's walls contain a non-toxic gel that freezes overnight. Empty the bag, fold it down (it collapses to about the size of a clutch purse), velcro it tight, and stick it in the freezer. The gel will be frozen in the morning, and the bag will be ready to keep your lunch cold.
It's a compact bag, big enough for several small bottles or a sandwich, plus some miscellaneous small containers or fruits - perfect for those who like to keep lunch light. The PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag is an innovative concept, but the brand exhibits developing execution. Some reviewers complain of popped stitching or eventual leakage (seemingly from spills inside the bag - not leaking gel). Pick up the PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag if you need a compact lunch bag, and you're looking for an alternative to ice packs or cubes.
4. ThinkFit Insulated Meal Prep Lunch Box
The ThinkFit Insulated Meal Prep Lunch Box is all about bang for your buck. Around forty bucks gets you a robust insulated food bag, six BPA- and phthalate-free containers with snap-lock lids, a 23-ounce shaker cup with screw-on compartments for supplements, protein, and pre-workout, plus two ice packs and a push-button pill dispenser.
Wowzers! For beast-mode meal-preppers, this looks as good as it gets. At the price (granted, the ThinkFit MSRP is $60 at this writing) and quantity, I would be wary of quality. Some users corroborate my suspicion, but it's a tiny fraction of a pretty big group - the vast majority of buyers are happy with ThinkFit's quality.
5. Corkcircle Nona Roll-Top Lunchbox
The Corkcircle Nona Roll-Top Lunchbox is a unique entry in a saturated field. The Nona's roll-top design is a nod to the classic brown paper bag aesthetic, updated for everyday reusability. Unrolled, it's a foot tall, 9 inches wide, and 6 inches deep. Pack your lunch in the insulated bag, then roll the top down until snug, clip the buckle and cinch the strap. Carry it with a top handle.
The Nona is unique in its category for its size adjustability, which is a useful feature: the tighter you pack your lunch, the less it will be susceptible to squishing, spillage, etc. Corkcircle builds the Nona in three colors, including a vivid turquoise and a manly-man's olive drab that gives the bag a utilitarian, army-surplus look. This unorthodox entry belongs anywhere you do and is a suitable choice for space-saving.
You may also be interested in these top-quality coolers for camping from our list. Check them out and pick your favorite.
6. HSD Insulated Lunch Bag
Veteran-owned HSD is serious about quality and durability. Its Insulated Lunch Bag displays both on a military-style bag designed for the man's man. Picture a soldier's backpack reconstructed as a lunch box, and you've got it. In my experience, shoddy materials and construction often doom soft coolers to early deaths in the garbage. HSD (or HighSpeedDaddy) builds its lunch bags for the long haul with waterproof polyester, reinforced carrying handles, and heavy-duty YKK zippers.
The proudly veteran-owned and operated company adds utility to its lunch bags with PALS webbing for attaching extra items, a high-capacity front zipper pocket, and a detachable shoulder strap. A velcro panel for attaching pride patches drives home its manly aesthetic. 8mm polyethylene foam insulation (an upgrade from the typical 5mm) keeps your drinks and chow cold or hot. The medium size bag (featured here) holds up to eight cans. A larger size is available.
7. Husky 600-Denier Weather Resistant Insulated Cooler
It's hard to imagine a more manly lunch box for work than one made by a brand known for making tool bags. Enter the Husky 600-Denier Weather Resistant Insulated Cooler. Husky's bag is a tough take on the insulated lunch bag designed to withstand the job site's rigors.
Husky's insulated cooler is built with the same materials as its tool bags, making it highly abrasion-resistant. Its 600-Denier fabric resists water and weather, and reviews overwhelmingly reflect its durability. That quality transfers to the interior lining as well, which various reviewers report is resistant to punctures and doesn't leak water if filled with ice.
Features to Look for in Lunch Boxes
Lunch boxes should always be durable: well-constructed from quality materials.
What does that look like? Especially in insulated lunch boxes, I always look for quality stitching and abrasion-resistant material. Components like zippers and handles should be attached with a single stitch of robust thread (while we're here, it's also a good idea to make sure zippers operate smoothly and have substantial teeth).
An outer material that resists abrasion is key. Your lunch box is going to go everywhere with you; it's going to get thrown around and stuffed in places. Make sure its shell is sturdy enough to meet the demands of your lifestyle.
