Tony Carrick | posted January 28, 2021 at 7:02 AM

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Gone are the days when a packed lunch was equivalent to a sandwich in a kraft paper bag. Today’s adult lunch boxes allow us to carry a wider range of food choices than in the past, thanks to the innovative lunch box design that can keep food cool or hot for hours.

Adult lunch boxes have a larger capacity than children's lunch boxes; they are spacious enough to hold more food and cool packaging to keep food fresh. Not to be confused with the bright colors and design of the children's lunch box, the lunch box for adults has a professional appearance and is suitable for working at home.

If you want to bring lunch to work more frequently this year, read on to learn more about what to look for when buying the best adult lunch box, and find out why the recommended lunch box here is the best on the market choose.

For a lunch box to be useful, it needs to be large enough to hold a complete meal, comfortable to carry, well insulated to keep food warm and cold, and stylish enough to fit in the workplace.

From packing in the morning to lunchtime, the key to keeping food warm (or cold) is to keep it warm. Most lunch boxes use polyethylene foam insulation, which is a closed-cell material that is durable, lightweight, and has excellent insulation properties. A lunch box with 5 or 6 mm insulation should be able to keep food cool or warm for up to five hours (or longer when used with ice packs). Some high-end lunch boxes use liner insulation up to 8 mm thick. Many lunch box manufacturers use vinyl foil in their products to help keep the lunch box warm or cold.

Like their name, many adult lunch boxes are indeed box-shaped. They usually open the zipper on three sides for easy access to the entire contents of the lunch box. Box-shaped lunch boxes are particularly effective when used together with box-shaped reusable plastic food containers. This style of lunch box usually comes with a shoulder strap and/or handle for easy carrying.

Other lunch boxes have a bag-like design with an opening at the top, similar to a tote bag. This type of bag is not as bulky as a box-shaped lunch box, but it does not open completely, and it usually has a smaller capacity than a box-shaped lunch tote bag.

There are other lunch boxes that imitate the classic metalworker's lunch box, which has a large upper part that opens with a hinge from the lower part. The modern version of this design divides the lid and body of the lunch box into separate upper and lower compartments. These two insulated compartments allow the use of two temperature zones-a cold zone for drinks, vegetables and fruits, and a hot zone for hot meals.

Unlike children's lunch tote bags with bright colors, characters and interesting designs, adult lunch boxes are designed to look professional and have a sophisticated style suitable for an office.

Like any bag or tote, the size and carrying capacity of adult lunch boxes vary. The larger lunch box is about 10 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 10 inches high, enough to carry a large meal or a few small meals. The smaller lunch box is 9 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 9 inches high, enough to hold a medium-sized lunch. Large-capacity lunch boxes are ideal for preparing meals, and may be 16 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 10 inches high.

By its very nature, the lunch box is portable, and the manufacturer designed it to be easy to carry. Most have double handles: a small handle that allows users to carry it as a traditional lunch box, and a shoulder strap so it can be worn like a handbag or crossbody bag. Many handles and straps are filled with neoprene and foam to make the lunch box very comfortable to carry.

Some adult lunch boxes have convenient pockets that can be used to organize meals. The inner mesh pocket and the outer side pocket are places for storing cutlery and napkins. The side pockets are convenient for storing water bottles.

Some lunch boxes are also equipped with accessories, such as plastic storage containers and ice packs, to organize meals and keep them cold.

Considering these main functions and shopping skills, we narrowed down the range of the most highly rated products. Any of these suggestions on the best lunch box for adults should meet your needs.

This handsome lunch bag has a thick insulation layer, large capacity and multiple compartments for organizing, all of which make it a great tool for packed lunches. This lunch box is 10 inches long, 7.5 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. It provides plenty of space for food and ice packs, but it's not too bulky when commuting. Its lower space is large enough to hold 10 soda cans or a large lunch, and its upper space is large enough to hold three beverage bottles or food containers. These individual compartments have thick foam insulation, allowing users to separate hot food from cold drinks.

The OPUX lunch bag has an internal mesh pocket for storing snacks and cutlery, and an external front and side pockets for storing small personal items and water bottles. It has a convenient handle and shoulder strap, so users can carry this bag as a traditional lunch box or on the shoulder. The tear-resistant nylon shell increases the durability of travel from home to office. This bag comes in 12 colors; some are professional enough for an office, while others are casual enough for a school cafeteria.

This lunch box from MIER has a thoughtful design and large capacity, making it the perfect choice for hungry commuters. It has two separate compartments, so you can keep hot and cold drinks when needed. The spacious top pouch is ideal for holding drinks and snacks, while the large bottom is suitable for holding sandwiches, salads and other lunch staples. A convenient front zipper pocket provides a convenient location for cutlery, napkins and valuables.

The thick foam lining keeps this lunch box cool or warm for hours. The soft handle strap and large shoulder strap provide two options for carrying this lunch box. Its dimensions are 10.2 inches long, 9.9 inches wide and 11 inches high. This bag is available in nine different colors, suitable for many tastes. For those who do not need to carry food all day, the same lunch box also has a smaller size.

HighSpeedDaddy or HSD is a company owned and operated by veterans, so it makes sense that this heavy-duty bag has durable YKK zippers and military style. This lunch box uses a 600 denier polyester structure to withstand difficult commutes to work and rugged camping trips. It has enough capacity to hold six beer bottles or soda cans, and there is a front pocket for tableware or personal belongings.

The thickness of the inner lining of this lunch box is 8 mm, which can keep things cool or warm for a long time. The tactical webbing on the back can conveniently hang keys, water bottles or storage bags. The large hook and loop pad mounted on the side is a good place to personalize the lunch box with patches, while the padded handle and large shoulder strap add comfort when moving. This lunch bag has a variety of military style colors, including black, olive green, camouflage and khaki. It is 10 inches long, 6.5 inches wide, and 7.5 inches high.

Rubbermaid's moderately priced lunch boxes have enough insulation to keep food and drinks warm or cold. It is only 9 inches long, 5.4 inches wide, and 9 inches high. It is easy to carry to and from the workplace, but it is large enough to hold a large number of lunches and ice packs. This lunch box is designed to easily hold Rubbermaid's LunchBlox food container.

The three-sided zipper allows you to fully enter the inside of the lunch box, making it easier for you to get food, and it is also easier to clean. The thick foam insulation keeps food warm or cool, and the mesh pocket on the flip cover is a convenient place for tableware and condiments. Mesh side pockets are sized for water bottles, and top handles and shoulder straps are easy to carry.

This lunch container inspired by the Japanese bento box provides a compact way of transporting lunch. This compact box is 8.25 inches long, 5.5 inches wide, and 2.75 inches deep, making it easy to fit in a backpack or bag. Its 1400 mm interior is divided into three independent compartments, which can accommodate one main dish and two side dishes. The lunch box is equipped with a fork and spoon, which can be conveniently placed in the moulded compartment on the top of the lid and fastened tightly to the box with three buckle straps.

With its sturdy food-grade plastic structure, this box can be safely packed into a complete backpack or bag without being crushed. Although it is not insulated, this lunch box can be heated in a microwave oven, and it is easy to heat hot meals in the office, and it can be cleaned in a dishwasher, making cleaning a breeze.

This lunch bag from Lifewit is big enough to carry a full box of soda cans. It is a good choice for those who carry lunch for two or pack more than one meal for themselves. Due to its waterproof, stain-proof, 600 denier Oxford fabric, it is durable enough to withstand the hustle and bustle of morning commuting. There is a zipper on the top that spans three sides, which can be opened for easy access to the contents of the bag. Thick 6mm foam insulation and reflective foil lining can keep food warm or refrigerated for more than five hours.

We like that the Lifewit lunch bag has a large external pocket and mesh side pockets, which can be used to store utensils, napkins, keys, smartphones or other valuables. This square bag is 12 inches long, 9 inches deep, 9 inches high, and has a capacity of 15 liters.

Those who regularly bring lunch for the whole family or provide food for the entire team in the office will benefit from MDMP meal preparation lunch bags. It measures 16.5 inches x 7 inches x 10.6 inches and is equipped with three large containers with buckles and two ice packs. A large top compartment contains loose food such as fruits and vegetables, while the middle compartment contains three food containers and two ice packs.

The large side pockets can hold water bottles or other food, and the foam insulation keeps everything cool. This lunch bag also comes with a 22-ounce shaker water bottle, which has a separate storage compartment for mixed drinks and vitamin supplements. The wide padded shoulder strap makes carrying heavy objects more comfortable. This bag is made of durable PVC material with a YKK zipper.

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