Quick Summary: When looking for the best-insulated lunch box that offers enough space for a filling and healthy lunch, we selected the Pwrxtreme Insulated Lunch Bag. With large inner storage space and large external pockets, it has enough space for lunch, snacks, and some personals. The price is great for any budget, and the waterproof qualities protect your product and your investment.
When I was younger and still going to school, I loved it when I could open my lunch box and find that my food is always fresh. Later on, I sought comfort in good food on busy days in the office in life. So, I got myself an insulated lunch box, and my life has never been safe. But positively so.
Having an insulated Lunch Box sounds fun, but at first, I had trouble selecting an insulated lunch box. So, I feel I should share more on how I went about it so that you will have an easier time than I did making a selection.
The first thing I looked at is the capacity of the lunch box. The best one is to carry more food because you never know when you might come across someone who would like to share your meal with you.
One other thing that was keen on is a lunch box’s ability to keep cold food cold and warm food warm. I prefer mine warm.
The high quality insulated lunch boxes will meet their value. That means that the amount you pay for it should match its usefulness to you.
When it comes to selecting an insulated lunch container, make sure that it works for hot and cold meals. You can check out our listings on bestpickist.com for further assistance, selecting the best-insulated lunch box.
Quick Navigation
- 10 Best Insulated Lunch Boxes Comparison
- Reviews of Top 10 Insulated Lunch Boxes
- What Are The Top Features Of A Good Insulated Lunch Box
- How To Choose The Best Insulated Lunch Box
10 Best Insulated Lunch Boxes Comparison
1. Pwrxtreme Insulated Lunch Bag (Best overall)Measuring at 9 ½” wide,7.1” deep, and 9.3” tall, this bag is big enough to hold for bowls so that you can enjoy homemade food anywhere. | Read Our Review |
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2. Wildkin Insulated Lunch Box Bag for Boys and Girls (Best Budget)There are elastic reinforcement s inside to keep all its contents in a good position. Also, it has a meshed region for cutlery and napkins. | Read Our Review |
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3. MIER 2 Compartment Leakproof Insulated Cooler Lunch BagWhen it comes to carrying this bag since the shoulder strap is adjustable and detachable, in case you decide to detach the strap. It has a handle on top of the bag to hold as you carry it | Read Our Review |
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4. Insulated Lunch Bag for Adult Lunch BoxYou don’t have to worry about cleaning this bag since you can wipe it off. Storing it also comes easy since you can collapse it and put it away. | Read Our Review |
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5. OmieBox Bento Box for Kids - Insulated Bento Lunch BoxThis insulated lunch box comes with a leak proof stainless steel thermos. You can pack your child’s favorite soups and runny snacks in the thermos. | Read Our Review |
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6. BALORAY Lunch Bags for Women LeakproofThe material used to make this bag is durable Oxford cloth. This feature allows you to use it for a long time without any sign of wearing off. | Read Our Review |
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7. Lifewit Lunch Box for Adult 9L Insulated Large Lunch BagThis bag is one of those lunch bags with a large front pocket, which features a zipper. This feature, combined with two large side pockets, leaves ample room that best serves nursing mums to carry supplies. | Read Our Review |
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8. HANGO Insulated Lunch Bag For Women & Men - Easy to CleanInstead of having more compartments to pack snacks in, this is an available set of a small bag and a larger one for more packing space. | Read Our Review |
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9. Meal Prep Lunch Bag Box For Men, WomenThis bag has a kit that includes leakproof containers to carry and enjoy homemade meals with soup. | Read Our Review |
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10. Insulated Lunch Bag 18L Leakproof Large Capacity BagThis bag has one of the best features on any lunch bag in that it has three separate compartments to separate warm foods from cold ones to maintain freshness. | Read Our Review |
Reviews of Top 10 Insulated Lunch Boxes
We searched through reviews and product information of multiple insulated lunch boxes. After careful consideration, we put together a list of the seven lunch boxes we consider the best. Our reviews are based on storage capacity, durability, cleaning ease, and insulation.
Best Overall
1. Pwrxtreme Insulated Lunch Bag With Best 2 Way Zipper Closures
What You Will Love: The Pwrxtreme was designed by a mother of three who addressed the biggest concerns of trying to provide healthy eating away from home.
Healthy options are not available for most employed adults, so they often purchase fast food.
If you are looking to change that habit and take some healthy food, such as a salad or cold fruit, to school or work, but have no way to store it, the Pwrxtreme is a great solution.
It is made with materials that can keep food cold for up to eight hours. When I was a child, all I wanted for lunch was ham and mayo sandwiches, but I was never allowed to take them to school.
My mom said they would be hot and nasty by lunchtime. This would have been excellent to have back then so I would not have been stuck eating grotesque cafeteria food.
The Pwrxtreme is 9 ½ “ wide, 7.1” deep, and 9.3” tall which gives you plenty of room for storage bowls of homemade food and healthy snacks.
An extra front pocket provides space for utensils, keys, your phone, or other personal items. Two mesh pockets on the sides provide enough space for drinks.
Pwrxtreme Insulated Lunch Bag is lightweight and versatile. You can use the shoulder strap or easily detach that and carry it by the handle. It is also collapsible so when it is empty, you can fold it up and put it in your purse or briefcase. A child could easily use it and store it in his or her backpack after lunch.
The downside to the Pwrxtreme is that the zipper tends to get caught when it comes around the corner. It does not stop completely; it is just a little tougher to move. For all the benefits it offers, a finicky zipper may be easy to overlook. The price is definitely reasonable for such great benefits.
Pros:
- Plenty of space, versatile, lightweight, keeps food cold for up to eight hours, a good choice for any age
Cons:
- The zipper can be finicky
Best Budget
2. Wildkin Insulated Lunch Box Bag For Boys And Girls Perfect Size
What You Will Love: Wildkin is a line of eco-friendly lunch boxes with multiple bold patterns to choose from at a decent price. Wildkin lunch boxes are moisture resistant and easy to clean by just wiping them down.
You can choose from solid colors or bold patterns, including unicorns and dinosaurs, for your school kids to enjoy.
These lunchboxes also coordinate with other Wildkin items such as backpacks and nap mats so your child can do lunch and school in style. The extra items, however, cost more than the lunch box and may put a strain on your budget.
They are spacious enough to hold a food container, snacks, and utensils providing you or your child with a filling, healthy lunch.
Inside you will find elastic bands that can be used to hold down ice pack and/or bottles preventing them from squishing sandwiches and soft foods. There is also a mesh pouch inside that can be used to store items such as napkins and utensils.
The front zippered pocket can be used for healthy snacks such as granola bars. One downside is that if wet foods, such as spaghetti sauce or soup, spill into the lunch box, it can soak into the seam. This can cause a nasty smell and even mold to grow.
If you are purchasing for a child, you know that spills are likely to happen. My children can have something for less than a day before it is ruined by spills. If you purchase this item, especially as a kids’ lunch box, you should stick to solid foods.
Another downside is that depending on how much food you pack, you will probably not have space for a drink. If you do, it would have to be something small like a Capri Sun pouch.
As Wildkin Insulated Lunch Box is made with durable material, you may be able to attach a thermos to the outside of the box if you choose. Also, the zipper can be a little difficult to manage for a young child as it takes a little more force to move than they may have.
However, many parents have simply moved the zipper back and forth for a while to loosen it up before sending it with their little ones.
Pros:
- Great designs to choose from, spacious enough for a healthy lunch and snacks, places to secure heavy or loose items, excellent price
Cons:
- Can produce mold and nasty smells if a liquid is spilled in the seams, may not have space for a drink and filling meal, the zipper may be difficult for small children
Best for Adults
3. MIER 2 Compartment Leakproof Insulated Cooler Lunch Bag For Work
What You Will Love: This insulated lunch bag has an upper and lower compartment to keep cold and hot food separate. This MIER adult lunch bag is great for working women and men, especially those that are away from home for long work shifts.
There
You may also decide to use the lower deck for heavier items, like drinks, apples and oranges, while you store chips, salad kit, and other light items in the top deck to keep them from being squished. The versatility allows you to pack for a long day without worrying about what you will eat.
You have extra storage with the front zippered pocket and the two side pockets that you can use for utensils, keys, change, your cell phone, and other personal items.
The attached shoulder strap is both adjustable and detachable and a smaller handle is located on top of the bag. You can easily wipe the interior clean. This
Anyone from teachers to office employees to construction workers may find this useful. When I worked ten-hour shifts from which I had no official lunch breaks, I was limited as to how much food I could bring to work because we only had a small refrigerator.
I would often find myself needing to order from somewhere to keep from being hungry the last half of my shift. Having this spacious lunch bag would have been a life saver to me during that time.
The only downside is that some of these units have ripped around the zippers and pockets in short amounts of time. MIER 2 Compartment Leakproof bag may not be an issue for you if you know how to sew and can just mend the rips and tears.
I would have had no problem paying such a great price for what this product would have given me. Also, as the shoulder strap is not tightly secured, it would be wise to keep an eye on it.
Pros:
- Two separate compartments for storing food and snacks
- Extra storage in front and on sides
- Eco friendly, wipe clean, multiple colors
- Able to keep food cold for long work shifts
Cons:
- Zippers and pockets may rip easily and soon after purchase
- The shoulder strap is not secured tightly
Best for Men
4. Insulated Lunch Bag For Adult Lunch Box
What You Will Love: It is a very nice size lunch bag that is freezer safe and easy to clean.
This Everyday Lunch Bag is great for men who leave early in the morning for work. Instead of waiting until you need to leave for work to pack a lunch or having to leave the lunch behind because you have no time, you can prepare early.
As this bag is freezer safe, you can pack your lunch the night before and leave it in the freezer to stay cool until you leave the next morning. It will then stay cool until your lunch break.
The size of this double insulated lunch bag is rather impressive. It can hold up to 9 bottles of water or soda cans.
That is enough space to pack a bowl or two of homemade leftovers and a couple of snacks. There is a mesh pocket on the inside of the lid that is generously sized for things you do not want squished, such as granola bars, chips, muffins or cookies.
It could also be used for utensils and napkins or condiments that you like to use with your food. Additionally, there are two mesh pockets on the sides of the main compartment that could hold an extra drink, and a zippered pocket in the front for extra storage. The adjustable shoulder strap is equipped with a shoulder pad for extra comfort.
Insulated Lunch Bag is easy to clean by merely wiping it off, and it can be collapsed when not in use for easy storage. It is also a good price for the use you can get from it.
Unfortunately, this lunch bag does present a couple of issues. Since the bag is not made from any hard material, it can collapse in on itself if it is not placed on a flat surface meaning that hard items in the bag can fall over and squish your soft foods.
Keeping these foods in storage containers may solve that problem. The lack of hard material can also make it difficult to keep items upright while you are packing them. Additionally, the stitching may come loose soon after you begin to use it.
Pros:
- Padded shoulder strap, collapsible for easy storage, spacious enough for a decently sized meal and snacks
- Double insulated
- Freezer safe
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- May collapse while packing or when not on a flat surface squishing food, stitching may come loose easily
Best for Kids
5. OmieBox Bento Box For Kids – Insulated Bento Lunch Box With Leak Proof
What You Will Love: It was designed by a mother who was concerned about the way her child was eating at school. She found a way to improve this that our children can now benefit from.
This OmieBox kids’ lunch box if my favorite for school kids It is built with three compartments- two for cold or neutral temperature foods and one that can be used for hot or cold food.
The cold compartments are double-walled and air insulated so cold foods stay cold. These sections are great for juice boxes, fruits and veggies, cold finger foods, and healthy snacks. It makes it easy to provide healthy food for your child.
The main compartment can be used in two different ways. If you leave the thermos on, you can store hot foods.
This stainless steel thermos is shaped like a bowl and is vacuum insulated and leak proof. It is great for storing soups, pastas, macaroni and cheese, homemade food, or your child’s other favorite hot foods.
The thermos is also removable so that you can use the third compartment as a sandwich box. The sandwich box is not leak proof so you probably only want to store solid foods there.
This lunchbox is made with an easy to lift lever so small children can open it without help or strain. The thermos has a lid that is easy for children to twist off.
OmieBox Bento Box is also dishwasher safe and comes with a built-in handle so a separate bag is not necessary though it can fit into a separate lunch bag if you choose to use one for extra drinks.
I have only found two downsides to this product. One is that the thermos may be a bit small for children with large appetites. It is advertised for children 3-8 but it would really depend on how much your child eats.
Two of my children are 1 ½ years apart but are basically the same size. One eats like crazy while the other eats like a bird. The thermos would be big enough for my light eater but I would probably stick to sending solid foods for my child who eats more or sending a separate bowl for wet foods.
The other downside is that it can be a bit pricey. However, the benefit of easily providing healthy food and the durability of the product that may have it lasting for years makes the cost a good trade off to me.
Pros:
- 3 compartments for meal versatility, dishwasher safe, built-in handle, easy to lift lever for small children, well-insulated
Cons:
- Thermos may not hold enough food for children with larger appetites, a little pricey
Best for Women
6. BALORAY Insulated Lunch Bags For Women
What You Will Love: This lunch bag looks great, holds enough food, and can function as a purse.
The
It has enough space inside for up to 8 soda cans, which is enough space for a healthy salad or lunch and a couple of snacks. It also has two large outside pockets that you can use for your wallet, phone, etc.
Unless you have tons of items to carry in your purse, you can downsize to carrying just the
The lunch bag is made from durable Oxford cloth and has an equally durable handle. It also comes with an adjustable shoulder strap and handles for versatility. The shoulder strap is long enough that it can be worn across the body as well as wearing it as a shoulder bag or carrying it as a handbag.
BALORAY Insulated Lunch Bags is available in three designs: black and white striped, blue and grey. There is both a zipper and extra side fasteners to help keep cool air in the lunch bag for up to 8 hours. The design and quality of the bag makes the great price even better.
One downside is that the inside insulation is not as thick as expected so food may not stay cold for 8 hours in hot temperatures. It may be possible to counter this with a couple of ice packs.
However, if you are planning on spending a hot day at the park or work in a hot office, this may not be the best lunch bag for you. You should search for a lunch bag with more insulation or consider a cooler instead.
Another possible issue is that it often looks bigger in the picture than it does in person, but it is still a great size. Before deciding you made a mistake purchasing it, try it out. You will likely be surprised at how much you can fit in there.
Pros:
- The attractive design resembles a purse, with enough space for a good lunch and snacks
- Adjustable strap, durable quality, large external pockets for storage
- A great deal for a great product can be carried three different ways
Cons:
- Thin insulation inside of the lunch bag
- May appear smaller than expected when you receive it
Best for Durability
7. Lifewit Lunch Box For Adult 9L Insulated Large Lunch Bag
What You Will Love: The excellent durability of the product along with the surprising amount of space.
The outside of the Lifewit lunch box is made from water resistant Oxford fabric. The inside is made with 8mm of EPE foam covered with seamless food grade aluminum foil, which offers great thermal resistance.
Cold food will stay cold and hot food will stay hot for hours in this lunchbox. The inner lining is leakproof. Additionally, the inside and outside can be easily cleaned by wiping it down.
The Lifewit insulated lunch box is lightweight but can hold a decent amount of food. It has enough space for 12 soda cans or three meals.
That capacity makes it a great choice for adults who are away from home for more than one meal. Working moms may find it useful for bringing healthy food to work, but the benefits reach beyond that.
Many moms also use it for storing nursing supplies so they can continue to nurse while working. It is also great for family activities, such as picnics, beach trips
There
Lifewit Lunch Box comes in four colors- grey, black, read and blue. It is equipped with an adjustable strap and a padded handle so that it can be carried as a shoulder bag, a cross body bag, or a handbag.
The only downside to this bag is that the zipper seems to break quite easily. It does not seem like too great of an issue, however, because the company seems to have no problem replacing broken products.
The durable quality, versatile carrying options, and large capacity storage space make this product a great buy for the cost.
Pros:
- Well insulated, seamless thermal resistant lining, easy to clean, large storage space including the external pockets
- Lightweight
- Durable quality
- Great buy
Cons:
- Zipper may break easily
Best for Easy Cleaning
8. HANGO Insulated Lunch Bag For Women & Men – Easy To Clean
What You Will Love: This bag is convenient for people who prefer to keep up with their style. It has a unique design that best speaks volumes about your personality. It can keep your food at the ideal temperature throughout the day while conserving the food’s natural fresh flavors.
The foam insulation system in this bag enhances its ability to keep food and beverages at stable temperatures.
You can carry it comfortably to work or school without worrying about your snacks going bad. If you would like to go on picnics, this is the bag for you since it comes in twos for one’s price.
Features
- Has foam insulation-This kind of insulation keep at stable temperatures
- Comes as a set-The set has two bags, one small one and one larger one, making it a right candidate for picnics and other outdoor activities in case you want to carry more food and snacks
- Clean cut design-When you carry it around; it complements your look rather than undermining it
- HANGO Insulated Lunch Bag is made of good quality polyester canvas- the fabric combined with the fact that the had had heavy-duty zippers gives it durability
Pros:
- It is durable
- Worth its value
- It is lightweight, which makes it portable
- Eco friendly
Cons:
- Some parts of the bags, like the handle, are on the offside
Best for Large Size
9. Meal Prep Lunch Bag Box For Men, Women + 3 Large Food Containers
What You Will Love: This lunch bag comes as a kit. It comes with three food containers, ice packs, and a shaker. This feature saves you the trouble of searching for containers that will fit right in the lunch box.
Also, you will love the fact that the containers are dishwasher safe. If you are a person who likes to carry extra food, you can fit enough food in this roomy bag to feed an additional person.
You don’t have to worry about leaks when it comes to containers. The design used for the boxes makes them leakproof so that you can enjoy meals that have soup in them.
The containers are also reusable, which should save you the trouble and finances of looking for new boxes every time you have to carry meals somewhere.
Features
- It comes as a kit- The complete kit contains three containers, ice packs, and a 22oz shaker
- The lunch bag is ultra-tough 1680D PVC material- This creates an insulation system to keep food cold for 10 hours
- The containers are leaking proof-The lids lock tightly
- The shaker has built-in storage – it has three extra cups which you can use to hold protein powder and supplements
- This lunch bag has a padded shoulder strap and reinforced bottom- This feature is there so that you can carry it around
Pros:
- Durable
- Highly convenient
- Leakproof
- It is large enough to take plenty of food
- Easy to carry
Cons:
- Has stitching issues
Best for Versatility
10. Insulated Lunch Bag 18L Leakproof Reusable Large Capacity Bag
What You Will Love: This bag can hold up to 30 cans. If you are not planning to take canned drinks, you can fit all your snacks and fruits to last you the whole day. All this space is available since it has three separate storage compartments.
It has a bottom deck where you can place your hot or cold drinks or boxes, the middle deck fit for a tablecloth, and a mesh pocket for water bottles or small thermos. Also, it has a front zippered pocket and mesh pockets for tiny packets.
Suppose you are an advocate for environment-friendly material; you will appreciate that this lunch box has a high-quality soft PEVA lining, combined with thermal insulation foam, to maintain meals at optimum temperature.
Features
- Has internal separations- This separation allows you to pack warm and cool meals in a way that they are separated
- The insulation is foam lining- It is suitable for maintaining optimum temperature
- It has a triple compartment cooling system- Each section allows you to pack different items
- Insulated Lunch Bag has a detachable shoulder strap -It allows you to adjust to different ways of carrying the bag
Pros:
- It is leak-free
- Durable
- Environmentally friendly
- Has features that increase convenience like being spacious
- Easy to clean
- Portable
Cons:
- Somewhat Expensive
What are the Top Features of A Good Insulated Lunch Box
Insulated lunch box needs can vary depending on the needs of the individual using it and where they will be using it.
Children going to school may need different specifications from a construction worker or office employee. Even with different needs, there are specific qualities that help rank an insulated lunch box with the best.
Storage Capacity
A lunch box is intended to carry a meal for the user. It is important to find an insulated lunch box with enough storage capacity for the person who will be using it.
Value
Regardless of the actual price, the benefits should equal or outweigh the cost.
Insulation
The best-insulated lunch boxes are those that are insulated enough to keep cold food cold and hot food hot until at least lunchtime.
Durability
The best lunch boxes are those that will last for a while. Insulated lunch boxes made of flimsy material are not worth the time or money spent on them.
Ease of Use
If the lunch box is too complicated for you or a child to get into when it is time to eat, it is a waste of money. Good lunch boxes are those that are easy to use, especially when lunch breaks are not very long.
How to Choose the Best Insulated Lunch Box
If you are looking for an alternative to fast food and cafeteria food, you are probably looking for an insulated lunch box to take to work or school. This alternative will offer healthier options for you or your children.
Before choosing one, there are some things to consider and specifications to search for in order to find the
Use and User
To choose the best option, it is important to be clear on who will be using it and how they will be using it.
For instance, is if for a school kid to carry a small lunch and snack? Is it for an adult who has access to a refrigerator at work? Or is it for a construction worker who will have it outside all day?
While some lunch boxes are for versatile uses, not all are. You should search for one that fits the particular use and user.
Size
Depending on the user and the use, the size needed may vary. Some insulated lunch boxes can only hold a small meal and snack while others can hold three times that much. Search for the size the user needs.
Padding and Inner Lining
These items make up the insulation, which is what keeps your food at the right temperature. Look for thick padding, 8 mm is a great thickness and a thermal resistant inner lining. If you can locate one with a seamless inner lining, leaks will be less likely to occur.
Outer Material
Because you want your insulated lunch box to last, it is important to find durable outer material. Oxford material is an excellent choice. Additionally, any straps of handles should be secured to the lunch box.
Ease of Cleaning
Your lunch box will be holding food and might experience some spills. It is important to find a lunch box that can be cleaned easily, preferably able to be machine-washed, so that no mold or mildew will grow.
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