10 Best Lunch Boxes [Tested and Reviewed]

The Classic Soft Sided Lunch Box is a product by Packit, known for their freezable lunch boxes and snack bags to take on the go. It has built-in ice packs on the top and bottom of the inner compartment. These work extremely well, as the internal temperature of this insulated lunch box showed 41.5 degrees Fahrenheit even after six hours. The ice packs themselves were about 80 percent frozen. Even after eight hours, they were still about 60 percent frozen, so you can expect great cold retention from when you prepare lunch in the morning all the way to evening.

The front features a zippered pocket that's great to store small items. Although the walls are thin, it has a large storage capacity because the material is soft and elastic. Packing a 17-ounce water bottle, plastic container, apple, and banana caused it to bulge only a little. The inside is lined with vinyl so that water can't seep through, but the zipper isn't leak-proof, so try not to let any liquid spill inside. This is the insulated lunch box you should choose if you're looking for the best one to use during the hot summer months.

The Freezable Lunch Box by Packit comes with an ice pack built into the bottom. It's collapsible when empty. It has a magnificent level of cold retention, as the inside was measured at 49.1 degrees Fahrenheit after six hours. While the ice pack was partially melted, almost half of it was still in a frozen state.

Even though it's considered small, this lunch box has plenty of storage space thanks to its vertical design. We packed a 17-ounce water bottle standing up and even had room left over after putting in a Tupperware container, apple, and banana. Don't hope for great protection from leaks, though, as we found it drips from the corners. Be careful not to spill any liquids inside. If you don't use reusable hard containers for lunch, then we highly recommend this foldable insulated lunch box if you want to reduce your daily luggage.

The Premium Thermal Insulated Mini Lunch Bag by Opux has a drink holder on the side. It's made with flexible material for better elasticity and even had a little bit of room to spare after putting in a 17-ounce bottle, plastic container, apple, and banana. We were able to easily zip it shut without any bulging. There's a pocket on the front and drink holder built into the side. If you want to keep your lunch tidy and in order, then this is the lunch box we recommend. It has abundant storage space and even includes an inner mesh pocket.

On the other hand, we don't think it's the most reliable for long-term cold retention, as the internal temperature was at 68 degrees Fahrenheit after six hours, so it's best to pack extra ice packs. The inside is lined with vinyl, which is resistant to liquid seeping out, but it can still leak from the zipper, so be careful not to spill anything inside.

The Pop Quiz Lunch Box is made by Hershel, a long-established maker of bags from Canada. It comes with a zippered pocket on the front. This insulated lunch box is well-made and has thick walls. The temperature inside was 65.6 degrees after six hours, making this the only soft-sided lunch box that could maintain an internal temperature under 68 Fahrenheit. Although inferior to ones with built-in ice packs, you can expect good cold retention for an insulated lunch box that needs to use separate ice packs.

Even if it's on the smaller side, we felt it could store plenty, as there was space left over after packing a water bottle and plastic container. It bulged a bit after putting in a banana, but the zipper closed just fine, so we can say with confidence that it has plenty of storage capacity while also being compact. It's lined with a leak-resistant vinyl, but don't expect perfect protection against dripping, as water leaked from the zipper when we stood it up. That being said, we recommend this as one of your choices if you're interested in a soft-sided lunch box.

This is a dual-compartment insulated lunch box from the American workwear brand Carhartt. It's a lunch box that includes both a shoulder strap and handle. It's wide and long, so you'll have no problem packing in food and drinks, no matter their size or shape. The front has its own zippered pocket and the top portion can be used as additional storage space, as the inside is separated from the bottom compartment.

The inner vinyl lining can guard against leaks and the zipper doesn't face downward, so as long as you avoid dropping it, it won't leak. It doesn't have the best cold retention, as the internal temperature was at 68.54 degrees after our six-hour test. Although it's a slightly bulky size, it'll be invaluable to big eaters and kids with a healthy appetite.

This is the Day Trip insulated lunch box by outdoor brand Yeti. The lid is designed to shut tight using the magnets attached to this lunch box's opening in addition to its zipper. Our testing for how well it guards against leaks found that only a little water dripped a little from the gaps in the zipper while holding it by the handle. But even if you pack something with lots of liquid that could spill, there will be little concern about the lunch box itself becoming soaked, since the inside is lined with vinyl that repels water easily.

We found it convenient that there's a handle on the top and side, but because it weighs about a pound, you may find it difficult to carry around if you put heavy things like a drink inside. It has a deep storage space, so things like plastic bottles and apples fit perfectly. However, it lacks inner and outer pockets, so it may not be best for anyone who wants to neatly organize their cutlery and seasonings. Additionally, the internal temperature rose to 68.5 degrees Fahrenheit after six hours went by, which is cold retention you probably can't depend on.

This is a lunch box by backpack and travel bag seller Dakine. The inside has a zippered mesh pocket. It's extremely light, as the lunch box weighs only 6.5 ounces by itself. It's made of soft, elastic materials, and because we cleverly arranged a 17-ounce water bottle, plastic container, apple, and banana inside, we were able to get the zipper to shut. Just be aware that it's a smaller size that will bulge out if you stuff too much inside.

It doesn't have great cold retention, as after six hours, the internal temperature was found to be 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though the inside is lined with vinyl, it'll leak from the zipper if you stand this lunch box upright. This lunch box is best suited for anyone with a short commute who prefers a light lunch.

The Lunch Break lunch box is made by Jansport. The lid is designed to lie flat on a table when opened so it can be used as a tray. It has a handle and seems easy to carry around since it only weighs about eight ounces when empty. It's made of a soft material that provides the handle area with some extra space, so you'll be able to fasten the zipper even if you pack a banana on top of a plastic container. 

However, it will bulge slightly if you try and pack something such as an apple. It also may not be best for anyone who wants to organize the things stored inside, as it does not have inner pockets. You can't expect the best cold retention with this lunch box since the internal temperature went up to 71.4 degrees Fahrenheit after six hours. The inner material is one that repels water, but water leaked from the corners and zipper in our test, so be careful not to spill the drinks or foods you pack.

Urban Food is made by the Spanish plastic manufacturing company Plasticos Tatay. It comes with two plastic containers included, one that's seven ounces and one that's 17. We found it useful that you can carry it like a normal bag since it has both a handle and shoulder strap. The inside and outside both have one pocket, so you'll be able to pack assorted small items. 

However, we couldn't fit a half-liter plastic bottle in this compact lunch box. The zipper would not shut. There isn't much depth to the storage space, so packing a plastic container made it so that an apple wouldn't fit. We feel it doesn't have enough space to pack round foods like fruit. But, you'll be able to neatly pack your food in the included plastic containers.

It isn't the best for long-term cold retention because internal temperatures rose to 68.7 degrees Fahrenheit after the six-hour mark. When we tested if it could guard against leaks, this lunch box started dripping water from the zipper the moment we stood it up. We don't think it can repel liquids very well, as water ended up soaking into the sides of it.

This lunch box is a product made by American insulated bottle brand Hydro Flask. This is a hard-case insulated lunch box made with double-wall insulation. It is surprisingly not too heavy, even though it's made with a solid build. You can carry your lunch without crushing it, and the inner pockets can store extra ice packs or napkins. However, it has no elasticity, so you'll have to think about how you pack your lunch if you want the zipper to shut.

Don't expect this lunch box to keep your food cold for too long, as the internal temperature was at 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit after six hours. The inside is plastic that won't let water pass through, but liquids will seep through the zipper. We recommend this lunch box to anyone who wants to pack food that could get crushed easily.