Lunch boxes

[lovehoney]

I need to find new lunch boxes for my boys DS10 and DS7. Since they are getting older I need to find something bigger than the little things they sell at Target but I also don't want to break the bank.

I usually put a water bottle (reusable) and blue ice in their pack, so that takes a lot of room. I find that water bottles almost always leak, so I need a lunch box that will hold any leaks.

Any suggestions?

 

[GinnyEmma]

We use the ll bean bags that look like small soft sided coolers. We've use our original for about 15 years!

 

[Toystoryfan32]

I found these great cooler bags at Big Lots for $5.00. They can hold alot of stuff. They came in tons of colors and patterns. I bought them for my girls and they love them. We use them for day camp in the summer and for taking lunches to school during the school year. They are also easy to wash.

 

[v.t.]

My boys use the igloo lunch boxes that hold the sandwich on the top. They have used the same on for three years. While still in good shape, they were looking a liitle worn, so I broke down and got them new ones last week. I got them at Academy Sporting Goods for $10 a piece.

 

[HelenePA]

I was going to suggest big lots as well.. this sunday is friends and family day and they should have 20% off coupons someplace... My dh works for them (at a distribution center) and he brings them home so I"m not sure where they are online.. google should be your friend!

 

[Grendalynn]

We get ours from LLBean... they can be a little pricey, but we have an outlet here in town so we get the returns, mis-monogrammed names or over stock. The nice thing about them is that they have a lifetime guarantee... no questions asked. You can bring it back if the zipper breaks, the stitching comes out or whatever. DS12 is getting a new LLBean backpack this year (entering 7th grade)... he had his since Kindergarten.. it was finally just worn out, stained and nasty.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Target has a good selection. So does Big Lots.

 

[Styx Fan]

I have purchased some really nice ones at Costco for about $12. An insulated inner compartment, an expandable outer pocket, nets for water bottles, etc. Seem very well made as well. Holds plenty for my 9th grader.

 

[Mrs. Sojourner]

I agree with those who have suggested LL Bean. We bought lunch boxes from the Disney Store last year and they didn't even make it through the school year without falling apart (mostly zipper issues). We've had LL. Bean backpacks for 3+ years now that are in wonderful shape and wash really well (that is saying a lot for life in Africa, because it is very hard on most things!). I see them lasting, many, many more years. So, I decided to splurge and get the lunch boxes this year and love them. They are having a Summer Sale right now so prices are not too bad and they are having free shipping with no minimum order.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/502274/1/Relevance/1?nav=gnro

ETA: If you are looking for a little more room I'd go with the flip top one.

 

[eduk8r26]

Lands' End has theirs on sale right now for $15.50. They will keep stuff cold up to 5 hours with a small ice pack.

 

[lovehoney]

DS10 has a LL Bean backpack and DS7 has a Lands End backpack. They are both great quality but the Lands End backpack has a lot less problems getting the zipper caught in the fabric of the cover.

I think I will check Big Lots and if I don't like anything there go with the Lands End lunch kit. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Mom2m&k]

Walmart sells one for $5 that is the size of a 6pack. Everyone in our family has one for packing lunches. They have them in the camping/sporting goods section. They are just solid colors.

 

[aprilgail2]

Maybe it is just here but once kids hit 10/11 and are in Jr High (6th grade) they wouldn't be caught dead carrying a lunch box! Its all paper bags/plastic bags (like from the grocery store)....I was so glad I hadn't bought a new one for my daughter last year when she was 10 and went into Jr high cause it would have be wasted!

 

[Poohforyou]

Maybe it is just here but once kids hit 10/11 and are in Jr High (6th grade) they wouldn't be caught dead carrying a lunch box! Its all paper bags/plastic bags (like from the grocery store)....I was so glad I hadn't bought a new one for my daughter last year when she was 10 and went into Jr high cause it would have be wasted!

It must be a local thing because my DD is in middle school and carries a lunch box along with most of her friends that bring lunch. Granted hers looks more like a purse than a lunch box but it serves the same purpose. How do kids keep their lunch fresh in a brown bag without an ice pack?

OP, I'd check out LLBean or Lands End for your boys.

 

[aprilgail2]

How do kids keep their lunch fresh in a brown bag without an ice pack?

.

frozen juice box or water bottle- defrosts by the time they have lunch

 

[lovehoney]

It might be regional or by school. Food goes bad really fast here. Especially with the summer we've been having. It was 106 in my backyard yesterday - in the shade!

 

[tapplebapple]

Ok, so you all might think I am crazy, but I love the PackIt - yes the one you may have seen advertised on TV. It really works!!! It is large and holds a great amount of food and a water bottle. You fold it up and stick it in the freezer overnight and it has freezer packs inside it so you don't need to add them. Everything stays cold all day! I have taken it to work and liked it, but the true test was DD11 taking it to camp and on a field trip to the beach where it sat in the sun all morning and she said the fruit snacks I packed for her were too cold to eat come lunchtime!

It does not sweat at all, either inside or out and it has a nice interior that has been very easy to wipe clean - like the other day when she stuck her 1/2 eaten gogurt in there to save for later

I did notice that they are having a BOGO sale on the website right now. http://www.packit.com/

By the way - I am not anywhere close to your typical buy from TV type

 

[Swimalie]

Ok, so you all might think I am crazy, but I love the PackIt - yes the one you may have seen advertised on TV. It really works!!! It is large and holds a great amount of food and a water bottle. You fold it up and stick it in the freezer overnight and it has freezer packs inside it so you don't need to add them. Everything stays cold all day! I have taken it to work and liked it, but the true test was DD11 taking it to camp and on a field trip to the beach where it sat in the sun all morning and she said the fruit snacks I packed for her were too cold to eat come lunchtime!

It does not sweat at all, either inside or out and it has a nice interior that has been very easy to wipe clean - like the other day when she stuck her 1/2 eaten gogurt in there to save for later

I did notice that they are having a BOGO sale on the website right now. http://www.packit.com/

By the way - I am not anywhere close to your typical buy from TV type

I have never heard of this and we're in the market for a new lunch box. So it really works? They have a buy-one, get-one free deal now. We were going to get the LL Bean one but this looks good too.

By the way, we bought a Land's End one at the beginning of last school year and it ripped about 5 months in to it. I was so disappointed. I love their products but this one was not worth the money.

 

[Swimalie]

Ok, so you all might think I am crazy, but I love the PackIt - yes the one you may have seen advertised on TV. It really works!!! It is large and holds a great amount of food and a water bottle. You fold it up and stick it in the freezer overnight and it has freezer packs inside it so you don't need to add them. Everything stays cold all day! I have taken it to work and liked it, but the true test was DD11 taking it to camp and on a field trip to the beach where it sat in the sun all morning and she said the fruit snacks I packed for her were too cold to eat come lunchtime!
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By the way - I am not anywhere close to your typical buy from TV type

Okay, I got our pack-it's in the mail today and so far we really like them. Now I can put my son's food in there on the end, instead of tipping it. Thanks for the tip!

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I have purchased some really nice ones at Costco for about $12. An insulated inner compartment, an expandable outer pocket, nets for water bottles, etc. Seem very well made as well. Holds plenty for my 9th grader.

I was going to suggest these also. And there's a coupon for I believe $2 off in the current Costco coupon book. (I think it ends 8/7.) They come with a nice water bottle also.