The Best Lunch Cooler Bags

Bringing your lunch to school, park, or work is a tried-and-true technique of attaining your goal, whether you're on a strict diet, trying to save money, or have food needs that no restaurant or cafeteria can satisfy. If your food is perishable and you won't be able to brown bag it, or if you won't be near a refrigerator in the near future, a lunch cooler, such as the Stanley Adventure Cooler, or an insulated lunch bag, such as the Packit Freezable Lunch Bag, is a good idea.

There are numerous lunch-carrying choices, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, but don't worry, we've got you covered. To identify the best lunch container for you, we looked at the temperature control, usability, and versatility of eight different lunch containers, including compact coolers and insulated/freezable lunch bags.

Here's the list of top lunch coolers you desire to buy.

Our favorite choice:

1. Coleman 9-can Soft-Sided Cooler with Hard Liner (best overall)
2. Stanley Adventure Cooler (best in temperature control)

Other lunch coolers:

1. Yeti Hopper Flip 8 Soft-Sided Cooler
2. Clevermade SnapBasket 30-can Soft-Sided Collapsible Cooler
3. Igloo Playmate Elite Personal Cooler
4. Packit Freezable Lunch Bag
5. Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag
6. Rubbermaid LunchPak Insulated Freezable Lunch Bag
7. L. L. Bean Lunch Box

Top Picks Cooler Bags

Coleman 9-can Soft-Sided Lunch Cooler Bags

Coleman 9-can soft cooler – Price: $18.85 at Amazon

Best for: Lunch at work or school, automobile journeys, and occasions where it would only be carried a short distance.

The Coleman 9-can Soft Cooler is a compact, soft-sided lunch container that lives up to its name. It's a terrific lunch bag for grownups because of its carrying strap, a replaceable hard-liner, and additional storage possibilities.

This cooler kept the temperatures below 40°F for roughly six and a half hours after being filled full with frozen ballast and an extra ice pack (and utilizing the hard-liner), which is nothing to degrade; it will be plenty to keep the integrity of your turkey sub until lunchtime.

This cooler is large enough to hold an adult-sized lunch, both with and without the hard lining. It has room that's enough for at least two plastic containers and more than two sandwich bags. Because of the concave design of the cooler's top, you can sit a plastic water bottle upright without it squishing. You may also remove the hard-liner if you need a little extra room, and the soft-sided cooler will have enough flexibility to fit a few more items. However, if you don't require all of the space, the hard-liner serves as crush protection.

This cooler is definitely too huge to fit into a backpack; it's designed to be carried by its short, padded strap.

While the carrying strap is useful, it is not long enough to allow you to carry the cooler on your back. Because the strap is so short, it can only be carried in one hand or slung over one shoulder.

The many storage options on this Coleman cooler are also a nice bonus. The front zippered compartment and an elastic pocket on the interior of the top of the cooler are best for an additional ice pack or two, and the elastic side pockets and bungee cord on top are perfect for silverware or napkins.

Keep the Coleman upright when using it: user reviews claim that if it's tipped over, any liquids inside will spill out. Keep an eye out for crumbs and liquids that get stuck in the wrinkled liner material or absorb into it.

Summary: The Coleman 9-can Soft Cooler is a versatile lunch bag with plenty of storage options that can keep sandwiches and salads cold for up to six hours.

Pros

• Has a removable hard-liner
• Has good additional storage
• Temperature is preserved below 40˚F for 6.5hrs

Cons

• Can be leaked
• Crumb deposits in the crease of lining

Stanley Adventure Cooler

Stanley 16 Qt Adventure Cooler – Price: $69.99 at Amazon

Best for: Picnics with the family, a day at the beach, even lunch at work if you're going to be outside all day.

If you keep yourself away a lot of time from a refrigerator or air conditioning at school or work, you'll need a lunch container that can retain its cool, like the Stanley Adventure Cooler.

After more than 24hrs of testing outside on a hot summer day, this cooler was still keeping temperatures below 40°F because of its exceptional temperature protection. The robust rubber seal at the top of the cooler and the cooler's "roto-molded" structure, which got famous by high-end Yeti coolers in the early 2000s, share credit for keeping the cooler cold.

Roto-molding results in cooler walls with a more uniform thickness, which improves durability and insulation. The disadvantage of this manufacturing approach is that when the cooler is empty, it weighs around six pounds. While this may not look like a big deal, it's a significant difference in weight when compared to similarly-sized (non-roto-molded) coolers, which normally weigh around four pounds. Those extra two pounds made it difficult and inconvenient to tote around a workplace, especially when it was overcrowded.

A unique storage option is the little bungee cord included on the top of the cooler lid. It's made to keep little objects like silverware and napkins organized and accessible. The bungee may be adjusted to tie down a variety of goods, but be careful not to attach anything too heavy; if you do, the cooler will tip over while being carried.

Summary: If you want meat or cold cuts in your lunch, you'll want to invest in a cooler like the Stanley Adventure Cooler, which can keep your food chilled and safe all day.

Pros

• Durable
• Strong rubber seal
• Stays below 40˚F for 24hrs

Cons

• Quite heavy

Testing of Lunch Box Cooler Bags

I know that goods designed to maintain cool temperatures can cool more efficiently when they are packed with frozen stuff since I've tested freezers. Basically, if there's a lot of empty air in a lunch bag, it's more difficult for it to keep food cold since it has to compete with the ambient air trapped inside the bag, which is usually considerably warmer (i.e., room temperature) than the food that just came out of the fridge/freezer.

With that thing in mind, and after freezing the two freezable lunch bags overnight, I filled each lunch cooler to capacity (or nearly) with ice ballast (essentially, ice in plastic containers) and a temperature data collector, which is made of methylcellulose goo. It's not difficult to get an estimate of how food temperatures fluctuate over time by embedding a temperature data recorder in this goo, which acts as a proxy for lean meat.

I added some ice or ice packs into the coolers that still had big air holes to fill. In terms of temperature, I leave it to the bags/coolers to do the heavy lifting.

The bags were then placed outside overnight on a hot summer day in New England, where they went through a day/night cycle. I opened & closed each cooler twice in fast succession throughout the testing. After that, I gathered the temperature data and calculated how long it took for the temperature inside each lunch cooler to reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

This temperature marks the start of the "danger zone" for bacteria; it's when eating cold meats becomes a risky proposition.

I opened, closed, lifted, and carried these coolers around in addition to the raw temperature data. I wanted to get a sense of how easy each lunch cooler was to use and transport.

Difference between Lunch Cooler Bags and Regular Coolers

To cut a long tale short, lunch coolers are designed to keep food cool for roughly six hours—the normal time between when the lunch is packed and when it is eaten—in terms of both chilling performance and capacity. Lunch coolers must also be smaller and portable in order to fit inside a child's backpack or in the back seat of a car during a lengthy journey.

There are three major sorts of lunch coolers, in my opinion:

Small lunch coolers: Small coolers are hard-sided or soft-sided coolers with a maximum capacity of 20 to 30 cans (about 15-20 quarts). They're designed to sit upright and don't usually fit in backpacks or other forms of luggage. They're usually combined with ice or ice packs. Stanley Adventure Cooler, Coleman 9-can Soft Cooler with Hard Liner, Clevermade SnapBasket 30-can Soft-Sided Collapsible Cooler, Yeti Hopper Flip 8, Igloo Playmate Elite are some examples of coolers.

Insulated lunch bags with built-in freezing gel: These are lunch bags with insulated walls that can be frozen overnight to activate the built-in freezing gel. They can be used in conjunction with ice packs, but freezer gel is usually sufficient. They are not required to sit upright and can be carried in backpacks or other luggage (but maybe crushed in doing so). Packit Freezable Lunch Bag, Rubbermaid LunchPak Insulated Lunch Bag, YETI Daytrip Lunch Bag are all examples of freezable lunch bags.

Insulated cooler bags: These are bags with insulated walls that protect you from the elements more than a typical brown paper bag. They must be used in combination with ice packs if you want to keep food cold. They are not required to sit upright and can be carried in backpacks or other luggage (but maybe crushed in doing so). L. L. Bean Lunch Box, for example.

Best Lunch Coolers

Yeti Hopper Flip 8

Yeti Hopper Flip 8 – Price: $199.98 at Amazon

Best for: There are occasions when you can't afford to have a leak, such as when you're going on an outdoor trip.

Yeti's reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality but pricey goods is well-deserved. Its Hopper Flip 8 should make any consumer happy and brave enough to go outdoors with food and beverages (and some spare cash).

Despite without pre-chilling the cooler, the Hopper Flip was able to maintain the contents of the cooler below 40°F for slightly over six and a half hours (one option mentioned in the user manual). During a day trip or a workday in the concrete jungle, that's plenty of time to keep some adult beverages or sandwiches chilled. Yeti also suggests block ice, rock salt, and/or Yeti ice to keep the cooler cold for longer.

The Hopper is robust enough to survive being tossed around on the back of a four-wheeler, and it will give adequate crush protection if it gets lost at the bottom of a luggage pile because of its firm insulation and strong fabric.

With a carrying strap, firm handle, and tie-down options, it's evident that the Yeti lunch box cooler bag wants you to be able to carry this cooler in whatever method is most convenient for you. The strap is quite handy to me; it's long enough to be flung across your back and has a thick and strong shoulder pad with textured fabric that prevents it from sliding off your shoulder.

The zipper is one of the Yeti Hopper Flip's most appealing features. It's not sewed into the lining of this soft cooler like other zippers; instead, it's embedded into the fabric. This, paired with the cooler's absence of stitching on the inside, effectively renders it leakproof. The Hopper Flip will give you peace of mind if you're ever worried about your cooler falling into a river or leaks from the cooler, damaging the rest of your belongings.

The zipper's strength, on the other hand, can be problematic at times. Although Yeti supplies zipper lubricant to make the zipper easier to use, it is quite difficult to pull and requires two hands to open. This may not be the lunch box cooler for you if you intend to be opening and closing your cooler on a regular basis.

Whether they utilized it for a fishing trip or as a lunch cooler for a day at the office, most die-hard Yeti fans who try out the Hopper Flip remain faithful Yeti customers. However, with a price tag of around $200, some consumers thought they had overpaid and that the cooler didn't maintain its cool any better than a standard cooler; others complained that the thick insulation limited the amount of storage space available.

Summary: The Yeti Hopper Flip 8 is a pricey cooler, but it's a good investment if you need a cooler that can withstand a lot of abuse, doesn't leak, and keeps perishables chilled.

Pros

• Durable
• Leakproof
• Maintains temperature below 40˚F for 6.5hrs

Cons

• Expensive

Clevermade Snapbasket - Cooler Bags Review

CleverMade SnapBasket Cooler, 30 Cans – Price: $34.69 at Amazon

Best for: Cookouts, picnics with lunch, and one or two beverages.

The Clevermade SnapBasket is for you if you want all of the capacity of a standard lunch cooler bag without the arm strain of hauling it around everywhere.

With the help of the frozen ballast used for testing purposes and a couple of extra ice packs, this cooler was able to beat the summer heat by keeping inside temperatures below the "danger zone" by bacteria of 40°F for nearly seven hours.

The folding aspect of this cooler is its main selling point. The basket's sides snap into place with ease, and by gently pressing on the cooler's side, it compresses into a reasonably flat shape that makes storing a breeze. However, according to some user reviews, the cooler has a tendency to collapse when accidentally bumped or when something heavier is placed on top of it.

You can easily carry this cooler for extended distances without dropping it, thanks to carrying handles or a strap long enough to be draped across your back. While its flimsy nature isn't ideal for the beach, it's ideal for trekking and camping. It may be a little large for the ordinary person's lunch bag, but if you're bringing food and numerous beverages or lunch for more than one person, this cooler readily meets those needs. One of the carrying handles has a bottle opener sewed into it, which is a pleasant little surprise.

One disadvantage is that there is no additional storage on the cooler's outside. While there is plenty of storage within the cooler, having a couple of pockets on the outside is always useful in case you need to pack something little at the last minute.

Summary: This Clevermade cooler is lightweight, compact, and spacious enough to hold a single person's lunch.

Pros

• Can sustain below 40˚F for about 7hrs
• Collapsible

Cons

• No pockets outside of the cooler

Igloo Playmate Elite

Igloo Playmate Elite 16 Qt. Cooler – Price: $50.22 at Amazon

Best for: Picnics, a day at the beach, and those who work outside.

The Igloo Playmate Elite cooler is an updated version of one of the most popular (and nostalgic) coolers on the market. It's easy to pack for a day at the beach because of its simple design and remarkable cooling ability.

The Igloo Playmate Elite was able to keep temperatures below 40°F for more than seven and a half hours throughout the course of a day.

The cooler is roomy, and the angled top allows it to hold taller liquids. The cooler's top slides smoothly to either side when you press the button on the handle, making it easy to open with a single hand. The Igloo, however, feels less sturdy and breakable than the other coolers I tested; the top of the cooler felt particularly wobbly at points. Because the cooler's only carrying option is by its handle, it can be cumbersome and heavy to carry over long distances when it's full. It's also a little too big for an office setting, in my opinion, but it's ideal for individuals that work outside.

Others who have used this cooler were generally pleased with their purchase, especially given its modest price of $20. Others complained about the location of the button on the handle, which makes it easy to mistakenly open the cooler. The cooler's other big flaw is that it isn't sealed, so any liquids inside can readily spill out if it tips over.

Summary: There's a reason this cooler is a construction worker's favorite: it gets the job done thanks to its long chilling period and simple opening.

Pros

• Classic design
• Can sustain below 40˚F for about 7hrs

Cons

• Old-fashioned to carry
• No seal and no leakproof adjustment

Packit Freezable Lunch Bag - Packit Freezable Lunch Bag Review

PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag – Price: $19.99 at Amazon

Best for: Bottle storage for babysitting/daycare, adult lunches.

The Packit Freezable Lunch Bag, as the name implies, has freezer gel incorporated into the back lining that, when frozen the night before, can keep your food cool on the fly.

The Packit kept temperatures below 40°F for just over five hours after being frozen overnight and supplemented with an additional ice pack.

The Packit can be folded by half and frozen overnight in its "storage" mode (where it takes up almost similar area as a clutch pocketbook); when it's being used, it unfolds to about the same size & shape as a textbook. The bag has a Velcro-fastened flap as well as a zippered closure. It's possible to put an adult-sized meal in here, but lunch, a beverage, and an ice pack would be a tight fit.

The Packit also features a handle on top, which can be easily attached to a hiking bag or other luggage using the built-in snap buckle. Unfortunately, the Velcro isn't strong enough to keep the bag closed after repeated bouncing on a hiking trail, therefore we recommend storing it in a backpack rather than carrying it by hand.

The Velcro came off the bag or failed to keep the outside flap close, rendering the Packit's handle worthless, according to a number of customer reviews. Furthermore, because some of the bag's stitching is on the insulated lining and inside the bag, it may be more prone to storing crumbs and odors from spills.

Summary: This freezable lunch bag is fantastic for keeping your food fresh for a few hours. However, because of the unreliable Velcro, it should be carried in a backpack or bag rather than carried by hand.

Pros

• Can sustain below 40˚F for about 5hrs
• Freezable gel in the lining

Cons

• Velcro closure is unreliable

Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag - Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag Reviews

Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag – Price: $79.98 at Amazon

Best for: adult lunches, beach munchies, and other outdoor activities.

The Yeti Daytrip is a tough, well-designed lunch cooler that is sure to elicit admiring glances and jealous stares from passers-by.

The Daytrip kept temperatures below 40°F for just under five hours after being folded flat and frozen overnight (and supplemented with two additional ice packs).

The Daytrip has a magnetic closure mechanism on the top of the lunch bag that helps it keep cool (or warm) temperatures inside. The top of the Daytrip is foldable, and you can fasten it in one of a number of loops to completely close the lunch bag. Because there are various loop choices, the Daytrip can be sealed whether or not it is totally full. Both the handle and the bag's material are tough and will hold up well in a rough-and-tumble outdoor setting.

While I appreciated the latching mechanism, I found it challenging to slip the latch into and out of the loop; it will most likely take an adult's hand strength and would be too difficult for a child to use. Furthermore, while the adjustable storage configuration is a great idea, the quantity of room available may be less than you expect because the top of the bag folds over.

As usual, many YETI customers are happy with the appearance and durability of this lunch bag. Some reviewers complained about the lack of additional carrying straps or side pockets, citing instances where the Daytrip couldn't keep the contents cool until lunchtime.

Summary: While the Daytrip lunch bag does not provide all-day cooling, its folding shape is ideal for keeping snacks chilled during beach vacations and day hikes.

Pros

• Attractive
• Good for rough surface
• Durable in closing options

Cons

• Lacks straps and storage
• Additional ice packs are required

Rubbermaid Lunch Box - Rubbermaid Lunch Box Review

 

Rubbermaid LunchPak – Price: $9.97 at Amazon

Best for: Lunches for children, tiny adult lunches/snacks, and keeping drinks chilled while driving.

The freezable gel within the Rubbermaid LunchPak's liner helps your kids keep their lunches cool on the way to school.

Note: The following information applies to the "small" Rubbermaid LunchPak; a "medium" model with a larger capacity is also available.

On a factual note, I didn't include an additional freezer pack (because of its small size). This lunch bag kept temperatures below 40°F for around four hours after being frozen overnight.

The LunchPak may be folded up in the freezer to around the size of a Nintendo 3DS (albeit a bit thicker). Its capacity is suitable for kids' lunches when unfolded and utilized for food storage, where the food is kept in sandwich bags rather than regular-sized plastic containers.

Rubbermaid offers a set of smaller plastic boxes (the Rubbermaid Lunchblox Sandwich Kit) that fits the "small" LunchPak and includes a small ice pack to save space. Because it's difficult to fit a larger ice pack inside the LunchPak, in addition to food or beverages, we recommend purchasing the Lunchblox Sandwich Kit. Fortunately, the LunchPak has additional storage on the outside, including a pocket attached to the main zippered compartment that can hold a small water bottle.

The LunchPak can be carried using the Velcro-joined handles, or it can be quickly put into a backpack. Because there is little crush protection, make sure that everything you place in the LunchPak can withstand being squeezed.

There were a lot of queries regarding how to clean lunch cooler bag. Many parents said they enjoy the LunchPak for their kids since it is well-made, easy to clean (use a damp cloth), and can withstand any rough handling from little children in user reviews. When the gel is fully frozen and packed with sweets, however, it may be too heavy for little toddlers to manage.

Summary: The Rubbermaid LunchPak is a freezable lunch pack that's perfect for kids' lunches and adults who want to keep drinks chilled for a few hours in the summer heat.

Pros

• Easily maintains temperature below 40˚F for 4hrs
• Lining has freezable gel
• Easy to clean

Cons

• No rigidity

L. Bean Lunch Box – Price: $19.95 at Amazon 

Best for: As a packing cube for a trip, use children's lunches.

For a reason, the L. L. Bean Lunch Box is a classic: it's simple, well-made, and available in a range of colors and customization possibilities.

The L. L. Bean Lunch Box kept temperatures below 40°F for roughly two and a half hours with the help of an additional ice pack. We recommend that you should use at least two ice packs to keep meals chilled until lunchtime.

L. Bean has a well-deserved status for producing high-quality goods. This lunchbox is well-made, with minimal moving parts to reduce the risk of ripping or breaking. The lunchbox is usually flat, with enough room for two water bottles and an ice pack. It's just big enough for a flat, square plastic container, although getting more than one of those into the lunchbox might be difficult. It's the perfect size for a sandwich in a sandwich bag, a few nibbles, and a couple of ice packs.

This lunchbox contains a carrying handle as well as two additional storage options: a zipped pocket on the outside for flat items like flatware and napkins and a mesh pocket on the inside of the top of the lunchbox for an ice pack. However, some consumers complained that the lunchbox's low, flat design made it difficult to fit a full meal and a beverage inside.

While packing a large lunch can be difficult, many parents appreciated that this lunch box cooler bag was long-lasting enough to endure more than one or two school years. Others said the lack of seams on the inside of the lunch box made it easy to clean, except for the white liner, which is quickly soiled by food or beverage spills.

Summary: With a few extra ice packs, this L. L. Bean Lunch Box can remain your child's lunch buddy for years.

Pros

• Durable and nicely manufactured
• Available in multiple colors
• Can be doubled as a packing cube

Cons

• Capacity is low
• Needs ice packs to maintain cold temperature