Sep. 30, 2024
Luggage, Bags & Cases
The best all-purpose lunchbox we tested was the Carhartt Insulated Classic. Its an aesthetically pleasing lunch box, and it's efficient at keeping things cold. The Yeti Daytrip is also a good investment thats practically indestructible.
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Many of us have experienced the sadness that comes from opening up a lunch box only to find a sandwich so thoroughly mangled it could be mistaken for something else entirely. And the truth is, whether your lunch box mishap transpired in second grade or last week en route to a meeting, the essential traits for a lunch container that protects your PB&J are manifold.
I put 13 lunch boxes through rigorous testing to find the best ones. After coating them in tomato sauce, analyzing the rate at which ice melted over eight hours, testing opening and closing mechanisms, and, of course, packing lunches to take along on daily commutes, I am certain that each of my recommendations will keep your lunch in pristine condition, and look good doing it.
The Winners, at a Glance
This lunchbox is proof of Carhartts quality. The Classic Cooler bag hung comfortably over my shoulder without feeling bulky or heavy. It has two insulated compartments, both of which kept ice cubes frozen for several hours. It was easy to pack and kept all of my lunchtime accouterments safe. (Softer items like sandwiches and fruit can live in the structured upper compartment while heavier containers or beverages remain separate in the lower chamber).
This Hydro Flask is a welcome reimagining of the classic, square lunch box you likely took to school as a kid. Theres no shoulder strap and its too large to fit in a standard tote, but it stands up to the Hydro Flask name, which is to say: It works. Upholstered with quick-drying recycled polyester, the BPA-free plastic interior was easy to wipe clean. And yep, itll keep your lunch at its optimal temperature for hours.
This one is a bit pricey, but its about as all-purpose as a lunch box can get. Treat it as a cooler and keep up to six cans cold for hours, or use it to store food and marvel at its efficient insulation. While opting for a soft cooler rather than a hard one might seem like a risky choice, the Yeti Daytrip is plenty rigid and structured. Its also light, waterproof, and easy to fold up flat after emptying. It comes with Yeti's reliable warranty, too.
For folks looking to keep things as low-maintenance as possible, this Sunnybird lunch bag is a good pick. Made of light, waterproof nylon, it can fold up completely flat, and even when full, itll fit in a standard tote bag. Its made with three layers of insulation, and the roll-top seals in temperature and freshness. This Amazon bestseller held its own in my coldness retention tests.
The Tests
What We Learned
Zippers Were Risky Business
While zippers may seem to be the obvious closure mechanism for lunch vessels, I found latch options easier to use in the long run. Even well-made zippers catch at times, and my tests showed that seams and zipper tracks were prone to getting gunked with food, making the lunchbox more difficult to clean. In nearly all cases, zippers took longer to seal and reseal than latches.
That said, while the Yeti and Sunnybird lunch boxes were quicker, more efficient, and cleaner in their closure mechanisms, the zippers on the Carhartt and Hyrdro Flask options were snag-free, sturdy, and smooththe best of the zippered options.
Size Mattered, and Bigger Wasnt Always Better
While, yes, its a plus to have more space in most packing scenarios, negative space is not helpful when it comes to lunch boxes. In my lunch-packing simulations, the larger lunchboxes proved more likely to damage or smush food, because items moved about in the container. This is especially true of items packed in soft containers and bags. Unless you intend to use your lunch box as a cooler for beverages exclusively, its best to select an option that leaves just enough room for the quantity of food you intend to pack.
Compartments Were a Major Asset
If you are looking at more spacious lunch box options, consider something with dual compartments. During the use tests, I found lunch boxes that provided separate spaces for hard and soft items were more likely to keep food intact, while also keeping each separate, smaller chamber maximally cold. Side pockets and zipper pouches for things like silverware or beverages also played a role in ensuring that goods didnt destroy one another in transit.
Consider Transportation
Whether youre a public transit commuter, a cyclist, a walk-to-work person, or you drive a car, consider how well your lunch box will move through the world with you. Is it essential that you have a shoulder strap to keep your hands free? Will you need a lunch box that can fit in your bag for packed train rides? I loved the comfort and ease of the Carhartt shoulder strap, although the bag itself does take up quite a bit of space. Both the Sunnybird and Yeti options were compact enough to fit into a tote and could collapse when emptied for post-lunch storage. And while the Hydro Flask lunch box is certainly on the lighter side, I found the handheld design less convenient for most styles of commute. Finally, softshell options were lighter, easier to travel with, and easier to store.
Plastic, Nylon, and Polyester Were All Easy to Clean
While hard plastic (like the interior of our Hydro Flask box) was the most painless to wipe clean with no residual smell, I found that nylon and polyester were plenty easy to clean. Although they dried at a slower pace than plastic, a water rinse was still an efficient way to clean them. That said, zipper boxes like our Carhartt option, were trickier to clean, thanks to the bunched seams in and around the track.
All of my top picks were lined with some version of BPA-free food-safe polyester, nylon, or plastic, which was equally effective at keeping food cold for a long time. The added foil layer in the Sunnybird model was especially helpful at keeping ice frozen (after a full eight hours, it contained the greatest amount of solid ice cubes).
The Criteria: What to Look for in a Lunch Box
Above all else, your lunch box must be as convenient to use as it is efficient. I preferred soft shell options that were still rigid enough to keep all food safe and un-squished, but that still could be collapsed or flattened when emptied. While I preferred lunch boxes that could be stored easily in a tote bag (alongside laptops, books, and other essentials), I found that boxes with shoulder straps were plenty comfortable to transport. Bags with top handles werent as easy to tote along. Lunch boxes that weighed less than one pound were preferable. I found that a six-can capacity was optimal. Less than that, and it could be difficult to store enough food for a proper lunch, while more than that gives room for food to slide around in transit. As for materials, nylon and polyester cleaned up efficiently and insulated well.
Our Favorite Lunch Boxes
What we liked: For starters, this thing can keep food and drinks cool seemingly forever. The insulated, zippered technology proved incredibly effective, even over eight hours. Thanks to the dual-compartment layout, heavier items like hard fruits and beverages could live in the bottom compartment and softer items and sandwiches can remain tucked away in the upper chamber. You could store a six-pack in the bottom compartment and still have room for your lunch. Although the Carhartt is a bit too large to fit into a tote or a backpack, it comes with a comfortable shoulder strap. And in a matte black, stamped with the Carhartt logo, its chic enough to wear with no lunch box shame.
What we didnt like: While I liked the look of this bag, it is larger than many of its competitors. It can be bulky and inconvenient on crowded commutes, and the strap does not extend, which means that, for taller people, it may hit at an awkward height. Cleaning dual-compartments can be time-consuming, especially for a zippered lunch box where food and sauces get caught around seams and zipper tracks.
Key Specs
What we liked: Packing this square, hard-plastic-lined lunch box was very satisfying (like a game of Tetris, if you will). The shape left room for a substantial lunch, but its not so big that food slid aroundplus, theres an interior pocket for things like silverware or napkins. The BPA-free plastic interior is easy to clean (I hardly needed soap), and it certainly kept things cold. It zipped tightly enough to ensure that any spills or liquids stayed inside the container. It proved to be durable in transit, and both the interior and exterior air-dried quickly after cleaning.
What we didnt like: This box is on the heavier side at over a pound, and its too bulky to fit into a standard bag or backpack. While the top handle is comfortable to hold, its inconvenient for commuters who need both hands (which is most commuters). The top handle design may feel a bit juvenile for lunch-boxing adults. Plus, due to the rigidity of the hard-cooler material, awkwardly shaped items can be tricky to finagle inside.
Key Specs
What we liked: While this attractive Yeti number was rigid and sturdy enough to keep its shape and protect food, its still a softshell lunch box, which means it is lighter and more malleable when packing and can collapse flat once emptied. Not only is the Yeti aesthetically pleasing (just about as cool-kid-rugged as a lunch box can get) even at its petite size, it still fits six cans comfortably. That means youll have just enough space to pack a balanced lunch without worrying about items shifting during transit. The brands proprietary Coldcell Flex insulationflexible foam that keeps items hot or coldproved very effective in my cold retention tests. The interior was cleaned easily and the water-resistant interior and exterior air-dried rapidly.
What we didnt like: For people who are not looking to store their lunch box in a larger bag, this option does not come with a shoulder strap, just a short top handle. And while there are fabric loops on the back that could be used to attach it to the outside of a backpack or perhaps a bicycle, youll need additional equipment to do so. I liked the latch closure, but the hook-and-clip mechanism took some time to get used to. While the material itself cleaned quite efficiently, the shape of the lunch box made it difficult to reach inside and scrub the corners.
Key Specs
What we liked: I loved the look of this two-toned roll-top lunch box, but more importantly, I was pleased with how lightweight it was, how easily it could fit in a larger work bag, and how readily it collapsed entirely flat. The roll top kept the interior insulated and I found the clip-style closure to be quite satisfying to use. If youre determined, the Sunnybird can fit 12 cans, but for the sake of a more typical lunch, the top can be rolled up or down to allow for just the right amount of room without any dead space. Given how lightweight it is, this option, which contains three-layered foil insulation, punches above its weight in terms of temperature control.
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What we didnt like: The double-stitched fabric took longer than other lunch boxes to dry, and like the Yeti, was more difficult to clean in deeper corners. Additionally, while the bag kept things cold, I did notice some condensation on the outside after several hours.
Key Specs
The Competition
FAQs
Are lunch boxes always insulated?
No, but the majority of lunch boxes on the market right now offer some form of insulation technology. I only tested insulated options to ensure that the winners would keep food at a safe temperature. When shopping for a lunch box, look for language that promises an insulated interior.
Are lunch boxes microwavable?
I did not test any microwavable lunch boxesthis is not exactly a standard feature, because a lunch box is merely designed as a vessel. That said, your lunch box may certainly contain any variety of microwave-safe food storage containers.
Are all lunch boxes safe to eat out of?
Any lunch box you purchase should be made of BPA-free, certified food-safe materials. This should be listed in any and all product descriptions.
What is the best material for a lunch box?
My favorite lunch boxes were made of nylon and polyester, given that they were insulated effectively, cleaned well, and dried easilyall while holding up against exterior damage.
How long will a lunchbox keep my food cold?
It depends on the lunch box. But any well-insulated option packed with an ice pack should keep things cool for up to eight hours (a full workday, essentially).
How should I clean my lunch box?
While all models and materials are different, each lunch box I tested was designed to be hand-washed with soap and water and air-dried. Certain models had exteriors that were more sensitive to stains and water, in which case, spot cleaning can be a better idea than dumping the whole enterprise into the sink. The majority of the lunch boxes were neither dishwasher- nor washing machine-safe, so check the label carefully before using either.
Why Were the Experts
Heres the thing.
While many hospital policies say nurses working on 12-hour shifts should get at least 3 to 15-minute breaks and at least one undisturbed mealtime, youll be lucky to get any of that regularly.
You could demand for it but we both know that you cant just take a break when your colleagues are swamped which is more often the case than not.
The truth is putting your patients needs first as a nurse is a reflex action. That means that your breaks and mealtime are an afterthought but you still need these breaks and as far as mealtime goes, you can solve that by getting a lunch bag you can carry around with you effortlessly.
So, we went nurse lunch bag window shopping and found 8 nursing lunch bags you can choose from for you, or to gift your best friend nurse:
Because its hard to tell how long of a break youll get enough for a full meal or just a snack you could do with a bag with enough space to pack a variety of foods to eat when you can.
This is the Lokass Lunch Bags best feature. It holds one 8 x 6 x 2.5 inches container, two 8 x 5 x 3 inches containers, 3 soda cans, and on top of it:
However, only one compartment is insulated. You cant carry two types of food that you need to keep cold or warm. You can only carry one type or choose to deal with room temperature.
Plus, it does not come with a container so youll have to provide one.
A reviewer said, Cute and functional.
This bag is quite roomy with the main compartment able to seat a dozen soda cans. But in case thats not exactly what you plan to do, here are more pros to think about:
On the downside, the Opux Dual Compartment Insulated Lunch Box sags awkwardly if you dont fill it up. The nylon material, although its mixed with polyester, doesnt last too long.
In fact, the lining begins to tear just a few months after purchase.
A recent review on Amazon reads, Great bargain. High quality for the price paid.
If youre driven by the durability in a lunch bag above every other feature, then youll find that value in this polyester-made bag. Here are more positive features:
MIER could have done a better job with the MIER Adult Lunch Box Insulated Lunch Bags color range.
The price is 19.99 for the medium size and 24.99 for the large size.
A reviewer says, I really like the separate compartments.
It doesnt seem fair to spend as much as $39.95 on a nurse lunch bag but if you know what its like when the insulation on your bag barely kept your soup warm, you may want to check out this bags features:
There are a few turnoffs though. For example, you need a cigarette lighter port to use the Hot Logic Mini and unfortunately, it doesnt come with a container -youll have to spend extra money to get one.
One Amazon reviewer calls it a home health miracle.
Picture this: A lunch bag with a strong exterior and insulation reinforced with foam padding and aluminum. Its a really great starting point if your top considerations are durability and insulation that could keep your food warm for an entire shift.
However, those two features alone dont make a lunch bag worthy of a nurses schedule, so heres more to the Insignia X lunch bag:
However, the interior lining barely makes it beyond a handful of uses and the zippers are weak. You need to get a Tupperware container too because it doesnt come with one.
Its only found in red and black so it may not be your top pick if you dont like red unless the 13.99 price tag is too good to resist.
A reviewer said, So good. My first use of this bag was impressive.
As far as boring bag designs go, the Lily Pulitzer Thermal Insulated Lunch bag is certainly not one of them. It has a bold print in 5 vibrant colors that may be just right for a nurse with a bubbly personality. Beyond the aesthetics:
One hard-to-ignore disadvantage is that Lily Pulitzer doesnt promise you a leakage-free time with this lunch bag. Youll also have to provide a food container, and while at it, and choose to live with only one compartment.
Finally, $29.95 is a little too much to pay for a lunch bag with a single compartment and no guarantee of preventing leaks.
One Amazon reviewer says it has great insulation and comfortably carries a container of salad, bag of strawberries, and cheese stick, crackers, and a large icepack.
Sometimes, simple classy works well for a nurse lunch bag too. Baloray seems to have hacked that style with this bag with the black and white stripes and a warm pink with brown handles variants. In addition to that:
Heres the catch. Every food item you want to carry has to go into the same compartment. Youre also stuck with two shades of colors to choose from.
The price is $15.99 for the pink variant and $17.99 for the black and white stripes variant.
A satisfied reviewer said it was the best lunch bag ever, acts as a purse, and is very spacious.
STNTUS chose to divide the color palette on this bag between four dark colors and two bright ones. While that doesnt do much for you if youre looking for a wider color range, these functional aspects seem to make up for it:
Even with these STNTUS Lunch Bag pros, the nylon material barely makes it past a year without developing wear and tear.
The purple and navy blue varieties cost $18.99 each while the navy, grey & dark, gray, and dark cost $15.99 each.
A reviewer says, Its amazing. Works well in keeping your food warm or cold and I love how its flexible material so once its empty you can fold it smaller.
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With the Nursing.com app, you can get access to learning material with an affordable subscription. That way, you can study wherever you are at whatever time. Its a thoughtful consideration for the nursing student who juggles between work and school.
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This simulator makes the questions harder or simpler depending on how you perform on the test.
Occasionally, you will get questions framed in a different way including those based on image or SATA. These questions help you to master important nursing content and ready you for the real NCLEX questions.
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Nursing.com provides a boatload of practice questions (over ) in addition to video tutorials. All of them are constructed the same way as the actual NCLEX, while some are formatted differently to up your chances of passing the exam. In other words, these questions figuratively put you in an NCLEX exam room which works well in preparing your mind to excel.
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