The 16 Best Lunch Boxes For Grown Men
Pictured Above: Yeti Daytrip Lunch Box
Everyone eats lunch, and if you’re looking to save some dough, you’re probably into brown bagging it on work days. Unfortunately, paper bags are boring, weak, and totally incapable of keeping your lunch items cold or hot in preparation for eating when lunch time rolls around. These disposable options also aren’t terribly eco-friendly.
Still, you’re probably not too keen on using the same lunch box you took to school as a kid, even if you did somehow manage to keep the thermos intact. Showing up for lunch meetings with your The Empire Strikes Back lunch box won’t score you any brownie points with the boss, even if he is a fan of Solo and the Wookie.
How can you keep your man card and enjoy a cold beverage with lunch? Whether you’re looking for a lunch box that’s suitable for work or a one that will hold up under camping conditions, there are plenty of adult lunch boxes that are ideal for use by men. Some are even designed to go from the office to a tailgate party or a river-rafting trip thanks to versatile styling and features. Where can you find your perfect lunch box? Here are the best lunch boxes we could find for grown men.
Yeti Daytrip Lunch Box
Yeti coolers have built an admirable reputation for toughness and lasting insulative properties, so it’s no surprise that they’d pint-size the tech to account for daily lunch box toting. If you’re looking for a lunch box that’s simple, lightweight, and water resistant, you’re sure to appreciate the closed-cell foam technology, which offers some flexibility to cram in a major meal, while holding form so you don’t squish your massive burrito. Magnetic Thermo Snap Closure keeps food hot or cold for hours, and you’ll enjoy five color choices for this essential EDC accessory.
Engel Drybox Lunch Box
Engel has offered portable refrigeration technology since 1962, so it’s no wonder their practical, streamlined coolers look performance-ready. The 7.5-quart, leak-proof, airtight storage drybox, cooler, and lunch box is no exception, with boxy shaping, sturdy latches, a recessed EVA gasket seal, and high-grade molded polystyrene foam insulation. It’s a little on the large side for your average lunch, but it’s great for day trips to the river or your local park for a picnic. Comes in eight great colors for personalization.
Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Tough Lunch Box
It’s hard to imagine what the designers at Klein Tools were thinking when they created this stylized lunch box. While the gray-and-orange color scheme is certainly on brand, the indented molding defies explanation. Still, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and boy, do they get it right, with 17-quart capacity that accommodates up to 18 cans and up to 300 pounds, and keeps items cool up to 30 hours. Other handy features include a shoulder strap that keeps the lid closed during carry, as well as a lock hasp to keep pesky critters away from your sandwiches and suds.
Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag
Yeti adds flexibility and tons of style to your brown bag experience with their reusable, scalable lunch bag that folds flat for easy storage when not in use. Like their Daytrip Lunch Box, the bag version features lightweight, closed-cell foam that offers superior temperature preservation, especially when paired with the magnetic Thermo Snap Closure. Even better, it’s suited for meals of many sizes, from a couple pieces of fruit to a Tupperware full of hearty lasagna. Simply fold the top flap to keep your lunch snug and temperature controlled until meal time.
RTIC Everyday Cooler
A heavy-duty polyester shell and high-density insulation lining are enough to recommend this day cooler, which purports to lock in cool temps for up to 24 hours. It’s a simple enough setup, to be sure, but extras like an adjustable shoulder strap and a zippered front pocket for non-perishable snacks or utensils add to EDC appeal, as do interior surfaces resistant to mold, mildew, microbes, and odor. With 11 colors to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect pack to perk up your lunchtime experience.
Stanley Classic Lunch Box
This aptly named classic looks like it came straight out of an old-timey movie about factory workers. If you’re following in your father’s proud tradition of carrying your coffee in a sturdy Stanley thermos, you’ll be glad to find that the domed lid of this steel lunch box is not only the perfect size for branded vacuum bottles and mugs (not included), but it comes equipped with metal brackets to keep your drink nestled securely in place above your lunch.
Bellroy Lite Cooler Caddy
Store everything you want and need in this roll-top, fully waterproof cooler caddy by Bellroy. The Bellroy Lite fits up to six bottles standing upright, with a built-in bottle opener that makes it easy to crack open a drink at the end of the work day. The wide-mouthed opening makes it easy to slide containers in and out, and the soft webbing grab handle is perfect for carrying it or securing it to your backpack for hands-free carry.
Thanks to its flat bottom, it’ll stand upright when you set it down, and the base is made extra-tough so it won’t scratch or scuff. Best of all, when not in use, it folds down and rolls up beautifully small to fit in any backpack or briefcase.
Gafetrey Tactical Lunch Box
If you’re looking for something with space to store a lot of food, the Gafetrey Tactical Lunch Box is a great choice. The fifteen-liter size gives you space enough for everything you could want to bring, plus a dual-compartment design that lets you pack the way that suits your meals best.
The smaller top compartment will store fruits, snacks, and baked goods, with a “keep fresh” design complemented by a mesh utensil pocket. On the spacious lower compartment, you’ve got room enough for eight cans and all the ice you need to keep them cold, or large containers and thick triple-layered insulation that will trap the heat in so your food stays nice and warm.
The water-resistant 900-denier Oxford fabric exterior will shrug off rain, mud, stains, and scratches, and the outer pockets give you extra room to pack napkins, your water bottle, more snacks, backup utensils, and so much more. With the MOLLE-style system on the right side, you’ve got extra room to hang your sunglasses and secure extra attachments, plus secure phone storage in the zippered rear pocket.
Under Armour Sideline Lunch Box
Whether you’re hiking, running, or heading into the office, the Under Armour Sideline Lunch Box will make an excellent companion. Not only does it provide you with enough internal storage space for protein bars, fruit, snacks, small containers, and drinks, but it’s also got an external pocket to house your water bottle.
The top grab handle makes it easy to carry, but you can always clip it onto your tool belt or bag thanks to the tough steel clip. The same technology that makes UA’s clothing waterproof ensures everything inside the lunch box stays dry even in a heavy downpour. And don’t worry about spills or messes; the rigid waterproof liner makes it a breeze to rinse out in seconds.
Duluth Trading Slim’s Lunch Box
For guys who like to pack a light lunch or snack to eat on the job, the Duluth Trading Slim’s Lunch Box is built for you. It’s not going to house a massive amount of food, but it’ll fit a small container, a few pieces of fruit, a small bag of chips, or a handful of your favorite bars.
The mesh organizer pocket gives you a convenient place to store your utensils, while the exterior zippered pocket gives you room to pack napkins. Pack a soda or beer and trust it’ll stay cold for hours thanks to the insulated lid. And don’t worry: it’s built “jobsite tough”, using sturdy woven polyester for the exterior, with a seam-welded TPU interior that will shrug off spills and messes with ease.
Yeti Hopper Flip 12
The price tag is enough to make your heart skip a beat. It’s not like it’s an original 1954 Superman lunch box in mint condition. Okay, for real, that’s like a $10,000 lunch box. Still, you might wonder why you should drop 250 bills when you could use a brown paper bag for the same purpose. Aside from the slick, modern styling, this durable cooler bag is made to keep your drinks super icy with coldcell insulation. It’s also totally leakproof and resistant to mildew, punctures, and UV rays, thanks to high-density fabric and a hydrolock zipper. If you want a lunch box that can go from the office to the outdoors and last you the rest of your life, she’s a real beauty.
Carhartt Deluxe Lunch Box
Best known for their signature tan jackets worn by generation after generation of working men, Carhartt may not immediately come to mind when you’re looking for a lunch box. That said, their lunch tote is durable, water repellant, insulated, and designed to hold six cans or bottles, which means it can easily perform double duty as a lunch box during the week and a beer caddy for weekend games or camping trips. At the low price point, it’s hard to think of a reason not to get one.
Duluth Trading Louie’s Lunch Box
If you’re looking to expand your lineup of rugged and durable Duluth products, hold off on buying another pair of pants. Instead, snap up this impressive lunch box, dedicated to an unapologetically hungry contractor named Louie. This roomy cooler bag can fit all three meals for the day with a lower compartment big enough to hold a 6-pack and an almost equally large upper storage space, plus zippered and mesh pockets perfect for utensils and hot sauce. It comes in just one manly shade: burlap.
HSD Tactical Lunch Bag
“Badass. Durable. Awesome. Enough said.” So says the description of this “coyote brown” bag that practically screams man cred. First of all, it’s brown canvas with black detailing, so it looks rough and tumble. What’s even better is what you don’t see: it’s made from durable and waterproof tactical, military grade materials. So, you know, the next time you need to base jump into enemy territory, you’ll have the right lunch bag for the job. It also admirably totes Hot Pockets for office workers and weekend warriors.
Everest Cooler Lunch Bag
Chances are you’re not going to take this bad boy up its namesake mountain, but it’s perfect for toting your lunch to work on a daily basis. The durable canvas comes in a variety of masculine colors and two shades of purple. With an insulated inner, waterproof vinyl lining, a sizable front zippered pocket, and mesh pockets on the sides, this bag is nothing if not utilitarian, and the low price makes it one of the cheapest lunch boxes on the list.
Igloo Playmate
Igloo is the gold standard for small, portable coolers, if not necessarily for lunch boxes. That said, if you’re looking for a great way to keep your lunch cold, this resilient, roomy, and convenient cooler is the way to go. Your choices for color include Diablo Red and Majestic Blue, as well as the somewhat less manly Aqua Blossoms, which might be more your grannie’s speed. Still, the standard molded plastic, secure lid with push-button entry, and 30-can capacity are enough to tempt any dude seeking a robust lunch pail.
Hydro Flask 5 L Carry Out Lunch Box
Bring your daily meal to work in this mid-sized, ultra-tough lunch box. The Hydro Flask 5 L Carry Out Lunch Box fits a medium-sized container along with a small container, some fruit, a drink or two, and an ice pack to keep everything cool. It’s sized perfectly for HydroFlask’s insulated food jars, which allow you to keep hot food hot and cold food cold all day long.
The recycled polyester body features a coating that adds both water-resistance and durability, and the insulation is lightweight but highly efficient. You’ll be glad to know you can store fruits and veggies directly in the lunch box (no packaging needed) because the interior features a BPA-free food-grade liner that will never leech plastics or particulates into your food.
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