5 Must-Have Features in a 5-Compartment Lunch Box
The 5 Best Lunch Boxes of , Tested & Reviewed - Serious Eats
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.
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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 liked 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 weren’t 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, it’s chic enough to wear with no lunch box shame.
What we didn’t 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
- Weight: 0.7 Pounds
- Dimensions: 10 x 9 x 7 inches
- Materials: 600D water-repellent polyester
- Can capacity: 12
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 it’s not so big that food slid around—plus, there’s an interior pocket for things like silverware or napkins. The BPA-free plastic interior is easy to clean (I hardly needed dish 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 didn’t like: This box is on the heavier side at over a pound, and it’s too bulky to fit into a standard bag or backpack. While the top handle is comfortable to hold, it’s 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
- Weight: 1.2 Pounds
- Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.6 x 5 inches
- Materials: Polyester
- Can capacity: 6
What we liked: While this attractive Yeti number was rigid and sturdy enough to keep its shape and protect food, it’s 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 you’ll have just enough space to pack a balanced lunch without worrying about items shifting during transit. The brand’s proprietary Coldcell Flex insulation—flexible foam that keeps items hot or cold—proved very effective in my cold retention tests. The interior was cleaned easily, and the water-resistant interior and exterior air-dried rapidly.
What we didn’t 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, you’ll 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.
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Key Specs
- Weight: 1.2 pounds
- Dimensions: 8.75 x 5.75 x 8.75 inches
- Materials: Rubber and foam
- Can capacity: 6
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 you’re 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.
What we didn’t like: The double-stitched fabric took longer than other lunch boxes to dry, and like the Yeti, it 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
- Weight: 0.6 Pounds
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 9 inches
- Materials: Nylon; insulating 3-layer foil
- Can capacity: 12
What we liked: The Bentgo has a movable partition—we liked that we could customize how big or small the compartments were. In our tests, it was very easy to clean and never retained odors or stains. The silicone-lined lid creates a tight (leak-proof!) seal.
What we didn't like: We couldn't determine whether this box was microwave-safe (another box from Bentgo is, but this model didn't specify). The lid can be tricky to open due to that silicone liner.
Key Specs
- Materials: Stainless steel, silicone
- Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 2 inches
- Capacity: 5 cups
- Compartments: Up to two
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes (top-shelf only), though the brand recommends hand washing the lid to increase the longevity of the silicone seal
The Competition
- Igloo Modern Lunch Cooler: The Igloo was easy to pack and clean, but it did not insulate as well as its competitors, and the shape (and lack of shoulder strap) made it difficult to carry and store.
- REI Pack-Away Soft Cooler: This is a good option for people merely looking to tote around beverages, but the soft, flat format makes it difficult to pack lunch without reliably squished food. It leaked a good deal through the zipper when filled with ice.
- Coleman Chiller Collection Soft Cooler: The Coleman did a great job keeping things cold and intact throughout the day, but I found the shape and style to be particularly bulky and awkward to carry. It offered too much space for a standard lunch. The fabric showed dirt and wear very quickly.
- Corkcicle Crush-Proof Cooler: This square lunch box is a great size and made with a nice-looking neoprene material. If you are cool with a square shape and a top handle, this is a strong option, though I worry that the exterior fabric might not hold up over time.
- Built Prime Lunch Bag: The Built Prime was light enough to carry around, but the flimsy fabric and pliant material meant that food got squished in transit.
- Mier Adult Lunch Box: The Mier is a great alternative to the winning Carhartt pick. The spacious capacity is no joke: There are dual compartments, and it can be worn comfortably over the shoulder. That said, it may run a bit too large for many.
- Packit Freezable Lunch Box: This lunch box can indeed be tossed right into the freezer, so the gel built directly into the fabric hardens. That said, it’s heavy (the gel inserts are not removable) and it will keep products colder than a standard lunch requires.
- FlowFly Double-Layer Cooler The FlowFly was roomy and lightweight when empty, but the bulky, dual-compartment cooler’s zippers caught on the fabric and were more finicky to open and close than other options.
- Coobiiya Lunch Bag: The Coobiiya is designed to resemble a handbag, and it certainly looks nice. But it was too small and uniquely shaped to pack a standard lunch. It leaked when filled with ice.
FAQs
What's the best lunch box for a commuter?
An insulated lunch box will help keep your food fat a safe temperature. Just as important is a shoulder strap, which makes the lunch box easier to carry (this is especially important for commuters who use public transportation!). The Carhartt lunch box I tested has a traditional handle and a shoulder strap, making it a versatile option.
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.
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 easily—all 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 We’re the Experts
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