From those very first days at school, lunch boxes are a staple EDC item for anyone hauling a homemade meal to work. Sure, it might not offer the exotic appeal of a lunch out, but there&#;s ample benefit to be had from brown-bagging it. Whether it comes down to cost-efficiency, nutritional needs, or using up leftovers &#; amongst a host of other reasons &#; there&#;s no shame in bringing your lunch from home. Besides, there&#;s no feeling worse than a mediocre meal out &#; especially when your pantry featured far better options. To help you pick the container you&#;ll use to transport your midday meals, we&#;ve tested the best lunch boxes around.
How We Tested
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Picking a lunch box that won&#;t make you the laughingstock of the lunchroom is a tricky proposition. While some offer superior functionality, they&#;re not necessarily workplace-approved. And though a brown paper bag is almost always a safe bet, we&#;re well past the days of single-use products being en vogue. So rather than settling for a subpar lunch box or &#; worse yet &#; succumbing to the snack bar, we&#;ve tested our favorite options to find the best available right now. In order to settle on our final list, we first surveyed the landscape to come up with potential candidates for testing. These included ones we were familiar with from using ourselves or well-known favorites in the space. We looked at options from both respected brands and cult boutique brands as well, taking into account size, material, usage, insulation, weight, and aesthetics.
Since it&#;s difficult to judge a quality lunch box from specs and pictures on the internet, we got hands-on with each sample that we procured for review. For the insulated models intended to hold food at safe temperatures (the USDA recommends food over 40ºF be chilled after two hours, but this can vary depending on the nature of the food; some are fine up to 4 hours and even longer), we conducted a temperature retention test. This meant taking refrigerated yogurt around 35ºF and putting it against an ice pack for 4 hours. The results ranged from 53ºF to 57ºF. We also dropped several of the harder-shelled boxes to see how durable and leak-proof they were. All of our findings and more are revealed below.
What to Look For
Aesthetic: If you&#;ll be taking your lunch box with you on the daily, you&#;ll probably want something that looks good. There are a lot of great lunch boxes that function incredibly well but lest we forget that the form is really important as well.
Size: Being able to pack everything you need inside your lunch box is important but also, the larger your container is, the more space it takes up. This may not be an issue for people who work in a vehicle or looking for a lunch box for a day trip to the beach. However, those needing a lunch box to fit inside of their backpack or commuter bag will want to optimize size appropriately.
Weight: Along with the size of the lunch box, its weight is also of importance. The last thing you want as a daily commuter is to have an extra 4 pounds to carry &#;&#; and that&#;s not even including the weight of your food itself.
Material: Material will play a big factor in weight but also temperature retention and durability. None of us want smashed sandwiches, so if your lunch box will be squeezed into a bag or backpack, you&#;ll want something that won&#;t cave in as easily. That said, metal, while the classic choice, will add unwanted weight most of the time, although there&#;s no denying how tough it is. Resin or rugged plastic materials provide a good balance.
Temperature Retention: While not every lunch box needs to hold its temperature, this is an important feature for many, especially when packing perishables or beverages meant to be consumed cold.
Igloo Retro Playmate Mini
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Pros
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Attractive retro style
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Cheap
-
Protects your food well
-
Solid temp retention
Cons
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Not super practical for certain situations due to its bulk
-
Fixed handle isn&#;t flexible
Best Cooler Lunch Box: First released in , the Igloo Playmate has since become a staple of the hard-side cooler scene. With the 4-quart Playmate Mini, you get the same tent-top design and insulative qualities of the full-scale models, but with the addition of grab-and-go convenience. So whether you&#;re sneaking in a 6-pack (for happy hour purposes) or you&#;re just territorial about leftovers, kiss the frustrations of the communal office fridge behind. Because with room for a sandwich and a drink, there&#;s little else you could ask for in an insulated lunchbox. And when paired with Igloo&#;s optional Maxcold Ice Freeze Block, this carry-ready cooler makes a perfect adventure accessory come time to wind down and crack open a cold one.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
There are several colorways of this retro-inspired Playmate, all of which evoke family road trips in the &#;80s and &#;90s, and you&#;ll get that hit of nostalgia every time you use this cooler. We love how the &#;Igloo&#; logo is secondary to the &#;Playmate&#; product name, and also much, much smaller &#;&#; perhaps yet another throwback to a time when it wasn&#;t deemed counterintuitive for the model&#;s notoriety to surpass that of the brand. At 4qts, it&#;s relatively lightweight and large enough to store most of what you need, including ice packs and a drink or two. It only gained 18.2ºF after four hours for our temperature retention test, coming in second place. Although, it may not be incredibly practical for people who already have a lot to carry on a daily basis; it&#;s bulky and only has a single, unflexible carrying handle.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
While the mini cooler-style lunch box will certainly protect your sandwiches from unfortunate misshaping, the physical durability of the cooler itself is undetermined. After dropping it several times, the sound the box made wasn&#;t terribly promising but no visible cracks or fractures appeared on the inside or outside. Igloo coolers may last you decades, but they&#;re not meant to last forever, especially when used daily (I&#;ve had several non-daily Igloo coolers crack over the years). But considering it&#;s just $20, longevity shouldn&#;t be at the forefront of the conversation. As far as opening the cooler, the swivel lid, while period-correct, has never been ideal when compared to more modern, practical methods like snap-tops or clamps. The button requires a bit of counterforce and never deploys as smoothly or quickly as it should. However, I do love how you can open these on either side, which is great for both righties and lefties.
Verdict: A retro delight, the Igloo Playmate Mini is a durable way to carry your lunch to work every day. It will definitely keep your food protected, however, its practicality comes into question when considering its bulk, lack of handle flexibility, and tricky lid operation. Yet, if you&#;re looking for a nice nostalgia kick, this one can&#;t be beat.
Capacity: 4qts
Material: Plastic with THERMECOOL foam insulation
Weight: 1.5lbs
Dimensions: 9.69&#; x 6.88&#; x 9.69&#;
Temperature Gain (4hrs): 18.2ºF
Colony Co. Canvas Lunch Bag
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Pros
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Very affordable
-
Durable
-
Stays closed without extra hardware
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Lightweight yet large
Cons
-
Has a strong odor that rubs off onto other things
Best Classic Brown Lunch Bag: Few things are as classic as the brown-bagged lunch. With a history reaching back as far as , the humble paper bag is well-steeped in lunchroom culture. But this is the 21st century, and if you care about the health of our planet, it&#;s high time that paper goes the way of its plastic sibling. So, for those who want the look of a classic brown paper bag without the environmental impact, Colony&#;s Canvas Lunch Bag offers the ideal sustainable alternative. Made of durable waxed canvas made of organic cotton, this sack offers water resistance and easy cleaning, meaning no stubborn spots or stains should you experience a spill. And with a simple design free of unnecessary buckles or zippers, there are few points for failure on this roll-top bag. To put it another way &#; this is one brown bagger you can bring to lunch again and again.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
You&#;d think the biggest difference between actual paper and a cloth version of the same style is the ability to fold down the lid to keep the contents inside. Yet Colony manages to mimic this very ability with the starchiness of its cotton canvas. The bag&#;s rigidity and firmness not only helps keep itself closed but also creates a makeshift layer of protection if you drop the bag from shorter distances or have it stored in a relatively full backpack. Of course, it won&#;t prevent the interior contents from getting smashed entirely but it&#;s a nice added layer of security over straight paper. Likewise, I loved how it could easily stand up on its own whether opened or closed, making it easier to peer inside.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Compared to other wax cotton products, this Colony bag is very well-priced at under $25. You could realistically buy one for everyone in your household. However, because of the lack of a handle, and the fact that the top, when rolled, is somewhat difficult to grip firmly, these bags would be relegated to being carried inside your backpack. The main issue with this is the smell of the beeswax that emits from the bag quite strongly. I wanted to see how my food would do inside the bag for a couple of hours. After this time, the smell was imparted onto the items inside as well, although it didn&#;t affect the taste that I could tell. This would undoubtedly have the same effect with the things the bag is packed next to inside a backpack, such as books, clothing, computer gear, etc.
Verdict: A unique, affordable substitution for the classic brown paper bag, this Colony Co. Canvas Lunch Bag is also a surprisingly durable way to transport your food. However, the noticeable smell of the wax, which can be imparted on other items, may cause you to reconsider exactly how you travel with it.
Capacity: 9.7qts (opened)
Material: Organic cotton waxed with beeswax
Weight: 8.2oz
Dimensions: 14&#; x 8&#; x 5&#;
Temperature Gain (4hrs): N/A
Coleman CHILLER 9-Can Soft-Sided Portable Cooler
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Pros
-
Cheap
-
Lots of exterior pouches and pockets
-
Solid temp retention
-
Removable hard-shell interior makes it easy to clean
Cons
-
Zipper is annoying
-
Side pockets don&#;t hold much
-
Shoulder pad needs to be easier to adjust
Best Sling Lunch Box: Coleman is yet another brand of outdoor gear that&#;s reasonably priced. From sleeping bags to lanterns, the Chicago-based company can do a lot of things really well. Capable of holding 9 12-ounce cans or 4.5qts, its Chiller is a soft-sided cooler with a hard-sided interior. For just under $30, this lightweight lunch box can do a whole lot, with a spacious interior that won&#;t get crushed, an interior mesh pocket, an exterior zippered pocket, two exterior mesh pockets, and a bungee compartment on the lid. Insulated with proprietary TempLock, this soft cooler can be compacted by removing the plastic interior if you want to.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
As lightweight as this lunch box is, it can become even lighter. The inside shell can be taken out with ease, and there are even handles to make it a cinch. This came in clutch when trying to wash the inside. However, packing the bag down won&#;t be as easy since the walls are pretty rigid regardless and don&#;t fold down like you&#;d expect. I loved the exterior compartment options but found the side mesh pockets to be limited in utility. A standard 16.9-ounce water bottle will work but only without the inside skeleton; you&#;re better off putting this on the top bungee compartment. Napkins or small snack packets would probably be the best use for these. Likewise, anything small enough for these pockets could probably fit either inside the cooler or on the exterior zippered pocket.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
In terms of improvements, it would have been nice to have one or two grab handles on the outside. As it stands, the only dedicated handle is the sling strap itself, which is annoying to adjust. There&#;s a pad for your shoulder, but it can&#;t be centered along the strap unless you have the strap at the right adjusted size, which can be difficult to do quickly. Another thing I had trouble with, whether or not the skeleton was inside, was zipping and unzipping the cooler. The insulation on the inner wall rises above the zipper so it&#;s constantly getting in the way. And it always feels like I&#;m going to break one of the zipper teeth from forcing it. For our temperature retention test, the Coleman landed in the middle with a 19.6-degree increase.
Verdict: Better zipper quality, upgraded straps, and wider exterior pockets would be welcomed improvements for this Coleman Chiller. However, at $27, you&#;re still getting a great deal on an insulated lunch box that&#;s spacious, lightweight, and easy to clean.
Capacity: 4.5qts
Material: Recycled polyester with TempLock insulation
Weight: 1.6lbs
Dimensions: 7.3&#; x 10.3&#; x 8.5&#;
Temperature Gain (4hrs): 19.6ºF
Monbento MB Original
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Pros
-
Compact
-
Stackable
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Hidden lid compartment for utensils and napkins
-
Microwave-friendly
Cons
-
Lid compartment won&#;t stay on easily
-
Not completely leak-proof
Best Bento Box: A premium bento box offering made in France, the Monbento MB Original comes loaded with features in a sleek, modern package. For instance, the lid and upper container are made from BPA-free plastic. So while that plastic Tupperware container is liable to crack or stain, the MB Original will last for years to come. And should a messy meal be on the menu, this bento box comes with intermediary lids fitted with a silicone seal, ensuring that both containers are airtight and leak-free. When it comes to warming up leftovers, this bento box is also microwave-safe (3 minutes max), making hot meals a cinch during your lunch break. With a host of colors to choose from and the option for further personalization, the Monbento MB Original offers a look for everyone. Oh, and with a Red Dot Design Award under its belt and a three-year warranty to boot, this choice is a no-brainer.
The company is the world’s best Lunch bags for men Manufacturer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
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Traditional lunch boxes are great for those who pack traditional lunches: Sandwiches, apples, maybe a drink. But for people who like their daily food intake to consist of a few smaller portions instead of larger items, bento boxes are a better alternative. Since the food goes directly into the containers themselves, they are more streamlined, albeit requiring more consistent cleaning. Once you take the band off the pair of containers, you&#;ll notice the top box is a bit difficult to open up before removing the thin top compartment designed to store utensils or napkins, although it won&#;t stay attached as easily without the outer band. From there, you use the corner tab to unveil the main compartment. However, I do wish there were a tab on both sides of the lid for convenience. There&#;s also a silicone tab that opens up a small hole for ventilating when microwaving or when cooling off hotter food.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
If you decide to separate these two units to use individually, this won&#;t be a problem. However, when in tandem, the two boxes need to be wrapped with the band because they don&#;t stay connected very well without it. There seems to be the ability to attach more boxes down below but, again, this would only really work for stacking because the band isn&#;t stretchy enough. Just like Tupperware, the Monbento definitely kept your food fresh and didn&#;t impart any smells or flavors after storing snacks inside. While these boxes are compact enough to fit inside your bag, they might not be wide enough for certain foods. It&#;s important to note that while the silicone seal won&#;t come apart easily, you might need to press down on all sides of the lid to ensure that it&#;s flush with the base. I also found it a bit too easy to seal only part of the lid, which might lead to spills if not vigilant when closing. Likewise, the seal isn&#;t entirely leak-proof if you happen to drop the individual box. I filled it about halfway with water and dropped it onto its side on the floor, with small water marks appearing on the carpet afterward.
Verdict: In terms of both form and function, Monbento&#;s MB Original is stylish and will keep your food absolutely fresh &#;&#; although it&#;s not 100% leak-proof. The reheating feature comes in handy, as does the ability to fit multiple foods in one unit. When it comes to bento boxes, this one is the clear winner.
Capacity: 1.1qts
Material: BPA-free PBT plastic
Weight: 1.1lbs
Dimensions: 7.3&#; x 3.7&#; x 3.9&#;
Temperature Gain (4hrs): N/A
Stanley Classic Metal Lunch Box
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Pros
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Compartment in lid to hold water bottle
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Very durable
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Vintage aesthetic
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Reasonably priced
Cons
-
Heavy and cumbersome
-
Lacks insulation
Most Durable Lunch Box: With a history reaching back well over 100 years, Stanley is a brand that knows how to make a product as lastingly impactful as it is durable. From all-steel vacuum bottles to camp cookware, they&#;ve remained committed to making high-quality sustainable products. Perfectly sized for Stanley-branded bottles and thermoses, this utilitarian stainless steel lunch box makes a great addition to your steel supplies or a solid piece around which you can build your break-time essentials. Sure, it doesn&#;t have some of the bells and whistles of these other options, but there&#;s no substitute for a dependable design that just works. Backed by Stanley&#;s industry-leading guarantee, if you aren&#;t happy with the product, they&#;ll replace it. Shameless rugged simplicity from a brand you can trust makes this one a true modern classic.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
There&#;s no denying the legendary status of the Stanley Classic Metal Lunch Box, which is the biggest draw of this model. Honestly, a large metal lunch box isn&#;t the most practical way to carry your food, aside from the undeniable protection it provides &#;&#; a great asset if it meets your specific daily needs. For instance, if you work a job where this will get banged up a lot. The metal interior also makes this easy to wipe down, plus it&#;s dishwasher-safe, which is a big bonus. Despite having a deep lid, I really loved how the space isn&#;t completely wasted. There&#;s a leaf spring bracket up top that firmly clamps around your bottle without fearing that it will come loose in transit. On the outside, the handle isn&#;t the most practical, but it fits this style of box better than one that makes more sense. A lot of latches on these steel boxes might feel a bit flimsy, but the hardware on the Stanley is incredibly sturdy.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Easily the biggest downside of the Stanley Lunch Box is its cumbersome weight. At 4.4lbs, it&#;s the heaviest on this list, and it&#;s not even close. You could complain that, despite having a single-wall stainless steel body, it still lacks meaningful insulation. However, if Stanley had made this with double-wall construction, it would have been even heavier. It&#;s also important to note that a lot of people won&#;t mind the extra weight. After all, 4.4lbs isn&#;t heavy in the grand scheme of things, and if your job consists of, say, sitting in a car or truck all day, the heaviness won&#;t be an issue.
Verdict: If you&#;re choosing to get this Stanley Classic Lunch Box, you&#;re likely buying it for the heritage and the style and are likely to make some concessions. That said, there is some value to the interior size and its rugged durability for certain situations. Plus, for $55, you can&#;t beat this old-school favorite.
Capacity: 10qts
Material: Stainless steel
Weight: 4.4lbs
Dimensions: 12.99&#; x 6.5&#; x 10&#;
Temperature Gain (4hrs): N/A
Hydro Flask 8L Insulated Lunch Bag
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Pros
-
Two useful grab handles
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Zippers are easy to open/close
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Large exterior and interior pockets
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Lightweight
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Several gear loops on top
Cons
-
Could maybe use yet another grab handle while we&#;re at it
Best Outdoor Lunch Box: Specializing in all things insulation, it should come as no surprise that Hydro Flask also happens to make a quality insulated lunch box deserving of a spot on our list. Featuring a large interior compartment like the Stanley above but at a much lighter weight, which is great for hikes, picnics, or people who just eat a lot every day. The multiple gear loops on the lid help with hooking this onto your backpack or bike, while the dual grab handles provide carrying options as well. With its abrasion- and water-resistant exterior material, the unit is rigid and can keep your contents safe, barring any major smash-downs. There&#;s a large zippered pocket on the inside for utensils or an ice pack (keeping it from squishing your food) and an exterior pouch to hold smaller items like condiments.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Without an interior skeleton, the Hydro Flask lunch box is surprisingly rigid and easy to clean despite having soft polyester walls on the inside and out. The inside fabric can be pulled out for wiping or even more thorough washing &#;&#; even the exterior pocket can be turned inside out, which is a big deal. Although there&#;s only one, that pocket is large enough to actually be useful. I was able to fit a medium-sized apple inside. This is another benefit of not having the hard-shell interior layer like some others do. In terms of transporting your food, the 11-ounce bag won&#;t add much extra weight at all, which is great if you&#;re already lugging around a lot of gear. Unlike the Coleman above, the zipper here feels incredibly reliable and is easy to open and close &#;&#; made even easier with the addition of a zipper pull.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
To be honest, there&#;s not much you&#;d need to change on this Hydro Flask insulated lunch box. Perhaps the addition of a second grab handle on the opposite side would be nice. Also, of the bags I tested for insulation, this one had the worst score, but by a small margin. Most lunch boxes gained around 20 degrees after 4 hours but this one gained the most (21.1ºF). Still, this is only minor and shouldn&#;t remotely dissuade you from picking up this lunch box. And if you&#;ve already got one of the brand&#;s insulated bottles or mugs, there&#;s a good chance it will fit inside (as long as it&#;s under 11.5&#; in height).
Verdict: $45 might feel like a lot for a bag that&#;s intended to carry your food, but Hydro Flask&#;s insulated lunch box is a sturdy, easy-to-use option that&#;s also incredibly lightweight. With loops perfect for lashing to your bag and exterior durability that won&#;t get punctured easily by the elements, this bag isn&#;t just the best option for the outdoors but arguably the best lunch box on this guide, period. And if the 8L is too big, there&#;s a 5L option too.
Capacity: 8.45qts
Material: Abrasion-resistant polyester with insulation
Weight: 11oz
Dimensions: 11.8&#; x 9.5&#; x 6.3&#;
Temperature Gain (4hrs): 21.1ºF
Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Pros
-
Heavy-duty
-
Highest temp retention
-
Compact
Cons
-
Relatively heavy
-
G-hook closure doesn&#;t work well on all loops
Best Upgrade Lunch Box: The king of cool, YETI rightfully deserves to be featured on any list including insulative materials. With the Daytrip Lunch Bag, you get a reboot on a classic form factor, resulting in a capable offering from a brand that knows how to hold its own against the heat. Combining Coldcell Flex Insulation with Fold-And-Go packing, the Daytrip Lunch Bag offers unmatched temperature retention while still being flexible enough to pack down in tight spaces. Top it off with Adjustable Grid webbing and a magnetic Thermo-Snap Closure, and you have a secure lunchbox capable of changing its size on the fly. In other words, you&#;re packing it to hold your lunch &#; not unused space.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
If you&#;re happy with your Hydro Flask 8L above but perhaps want to save some room in your work backpack, the YETI is a fine substitute, holding 6.5qts while remaining really compact. You don&#;t need to read a list of specs to notice how much more rigid the soft-sided exterior is on this one. Despite being relatively more heavy for less interior capacity, the Daytrip is incredibly tough. The thickness of the material and insulation also allowed it to meet the highest score on our temperature retention test, only increasing 15.7ºF over four hours. I love the G-hook closure on the outside, with the ability to optimize your packing with 6 different loop options. And if you pack too much, or simply forget to hook it shut, the wide mouth still stays closed with a heavy-duty magnetic closure.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
The one caveat about the G-hook closure system is how difficult it can be to latch onto the top couple of loops. Like we said, the material here is very thick and it will take some extra force to latch this at times, especially when it&#;s packed pretty full. Likewise, since there is really only one grab handle, the position of this handle can become less convenient and ergonomic the more you change the closure point. This could be resolved with an extra hand on the top of the lid, which might alter the attractive aesthetic at the onset. I can also imagine the interior max capacity drastically shrinking due to this closure system, which can be an issue if you&#;re counting on the full 6.5qts.
Verdict: Compact, extra-tough, and aesthetically pleasing, the YETI is still relatively heavy for its size, and you might run into some issues with the unique closing mechanism. However, if you&#;re looking for a top-tier option to maximize your food&#;s temperature, this high-end option should be the one you&#;re looking at.
Capacity: 6.5qts
Material: Polyester with closed-cell foam insulation
Weight: 1.16lbs
Dimensions: 11&#; x 8.7&#; x 6.9&#;
Temperature Gain (4hrs): 15.7ºF
ARTIFACT No. 215 Wax Canvas Lunch Tote
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Pros
-
Elegant aesthetic
-
Top-tier construction
-
Simple yet useful design
-
Creates a useful loop after buckled
Cons
-
Won&#;t protect or insulate food much
-
Pricey
Best Waxed Canvas Lunch Box: Born out of the Great Recession, ARTIFACT is a bonified labor of American love. The original No. 215 bag was created by Chris Hughes in and featured a simple leather strap closure. It became so popular that he was able to operate full-time by , which eventually led to the buckle closure you see here. Since that time, the tote has been copied by brands all over but never truly replicated. Made from waxed canvas and featuring a Chromexel leather strap from the Horween tannery in Chicago, the No. 215 Lunch Tote offers premium construction with a simple silhouette. In addition to being naturally water-resistant, the waxed cotton will develop a rich patina over time, meaning this bag will only get better with use. Available in khaki, olive, and slate wax colorways, you can&#;t go wrong with any of these classy lunch bags.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
The ARTIFACT Tote may not seem like much but when you hold it in your hand, you want to relish it. Fully empty, the bag can be stowed away almost flat or rolled up. Thanks to the four-notch belt buckle, it&#;s easy to eliminate air from inside the bag to save space and help preserve the food inside. While it won&#;t protect your food from getting squished, it&#;s certainly firm enough to add a layer of protection. Plus, if you situate it properly, the tote can stand up on its own when empty and open. Unlike the YETI Daytrip we tested, the buckle here is easy to use and adjust. After it&#;s closed, the buckle that traverses over the top of the bag operates as a makeshift loop for strapping onto your backpack or bike.
Photo: HICONSUMPTION
Compared to the Colony Co. canvas bag above, the ARTIFACT Tote has a much better smell, swapping in a heirloom-quality leather aroma. I wanted to see if, like the Colony bag, the food on the inside would have the smell imparted upon it. After a couple of hours, there was a more subtle leather smell, which didn&#;t get imbued into the taste of the food itself. Moreover, the scent was much more pleasing than that of the varnishy odor of the Colony bag. When opened, the No. 215 claims to hold 8.5qts but your results may vary depending on what you have inside and how full you&#;re leaving it, so keep that in mind.
Verdict: Classy, rugged, and lightweight at 7.6oz, the beautiful No. 215 Waxed Canvas Tote from ARTIFACT is a superb lunch bag that will give you years of use. Considering the higher price, it won&#;t insulate or protect your food the same way as some other options but it features superb hand-made construction and top-shelf materials that will make you proud to rock this bag on any occasion.
Capacity: 8.5qts (opened)
Material: 14oz waxed canvas with American-sourced leather strap, solid brass hardware, and cotton binding
Weight: 7.6oz
Dimensions: 11.75&#; x 5.75&#; x 7.25&#;
Temperature Gain (4hrs): N/A
Lunch Boxes Comparison Chart
Lunch Box
Capacity
Material
Weight
Dimensions
Temperature Gain (
4hrs)
Igloo Retro Playmate Mini
4qts
Plastic with THERMECOOL foam insulation
1.5lbs
9.69&#; x 6.88&#; x 9.69&#;
19.6ºF
Colony Co. Canvas Lunch Bag
9.7qts (opened)
Organic cotton waxed with beeswax
8.2oz
14&#; x 8&#; x 5&#;
N/A
Coleman CHILLER 9-Can Soft-Sided Portable Cooler
4.5qts
Recycled polyester with TempLock insulation
1.6lbs
7.3&#; x 10.3&#; x 8.5&#;
18.2ºF
Monbento MB Original
1.1qts
BPA-free PBT plastic
1.1lbs
7.3&#; x 3.7&#; x 3.9&#;
N/A
Stanley Classic Metal Lunch Box
10qts
Stainless steel
4.4lbs
12.99&#; x 6.5&#; x 10&#;
N/A
Hydro Flask Large Insulated Lunch Bag
5qts
Abrasion-resistant polyester with insulation
9.44oz
9.5&#; x 8.7&#; x 5.5&#;
21.1ºF
Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag
6.5qts
Polyester with closed-cell foam insulation
1.16lbs
11&#; x 8.7&#; x 6.9&#;
15.7ºF
ARTIFACT No. 215 Wax Canvas Lunch Tote
8.5qts (opened)
14oz waxed canvas with American-sourced leather strap, solid brass hardware, and cotton binding
7.6oz
11.75&#; x 5.75&#; x 7.25&#;
N/A
Bento Box vs. Lunch Box
A lunch box might not have clearly defined criteria other than fulfilling the requirement of holding your lunch. They can be brown paper bags, a plastic box with Transformers graphics on the outside, or an insulated cooler-style chest. On the other hand, bento boxes are a bit more specific. Usually without any sort of handle for carrying, a bento box can be thought of as a more sophisticated Tupperware container tailor-made for compact food storage. Unlike a lunch box where you could easily toss everything inside before leaving for work, a bento box requires more meticulous organization methods. Known for having smaller removable sections on the inside, these are better options if you want a good selection of food and even want to reheat inside of a microwave without having to put your food in a different container entirely. On the other hand, you&#;ll almost always have to clean these before and after every use.
Why Use a Lunch Box?
Anyone who&#;s had a Ziploc bag leak onto their laptop inside their backpack knows the necessity of a quality lunch box. Not only do these bags keep your food separated from your expensive tech but many of them can keep your food from getting smashed or ruined. A lot of them are also insulated, which can be better for keeping your food at a safe temperature later in the day.
Honorable Mentions
If you&#;re looking for another great budget option, check out the L.L. Bean Lunch Box, a classic polyester-shelled option that might not look as good as the ones above but has an attractive price tag.
Carhartt&#;s Vertical Lunch Cooler is one lunch box we wanted to include on our guide but couldn&#;t because of availability issues. Made with -denier heavy-duty polyester, a DWR coating, and a front zip pocket, this insulated soft-sided cooler can fit up to six 12-ounce bottles inside its main compartment, with room for condiments and utensils in its front zip pocket as well as an additional exterior mesh pouch for a water bottle. Unlike a lot of the options on this list, the Vertical Lunch Cooler comes standard with an adjustable shoulder strap, freeing up your hands for anything else that might be a part of the job.
Reminiscent of school days, this Pop Quiz from Herschel evokes a ton of nostalgia but also has a really sleek design that fits our brand. However, we couldn&#;t justify including it over the Hydro Flask, Coleman, or YETI options, which do similar things at better or similar price points.
A modern, budget-friendly take on the bento box, the ECOlunchbox offers modular convenience in a compact package. Swapping plastic for stainless steel, this box is worthy of your attention but just didn&#;t impress us quite like the Monbento above, which aptly represents the category well.
First made in by a miner working for a Canadian nickel giant, The Good Liver&#;s Aluminum Lunch Box is a utilitarian lunchbox that has inspired its fair share of imitators &#; it&#;s simple and incredibly functional. Designed for the days of on-the-job lunches without chairs or benches, the miner&#;s lunchbox proved the perfect companion when no seating was to be found. As such, it isn&#;t just built tough; it&#;s built to hold the weight of a grown man and his lunch. So whether you&#;re on the job site or doing desk duty, this nickel-plated aluminum lunchbox has your back (side) day in and day out &#; even if there&#;s a far more comfortable office chair nearby. Formidable enough for our main list, we opted to put this in the honorable mentions because of its steep price.
Tested: The Best Insulated Water Bottles for Daily Use
All Photography: HICONSUMPTION
Every lunch box needs a proper water bottle so you can wash down your sustenance. Head over to our latest guide where we&#;ve tested out the best insulated water bottles around.
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