Best Personal Lunch Cooler

What are the Best Lunch Boxes to Keep Food Cold?

We often have time to take breakfast before leaving for work or errands, however little. It is an important meal of the day, and a good way to start your duties. When the clock strikes noon, and your stomach gets grumbly, you could enjoy a personal delicacy that you packed in a cooler.

Don’t forget how important it is to get something down when the sun is overhead. You could visit a cafeteria, your favorite eat-in, or you could enjoy the work of your hands. Pack some food in a cooler, and remember to be generous, please. Carry a few drinks with you.

The beauty of using a cooler is that your food and drinks will remain at the desired temperature and quality for long. Some coolers will give you up to 30 hours of efficiency! If you’ll need to revisit it several times along the day, therefore, you comfortably can.

How then, do you choose the best cooler from the available options? Every cooler out in the market has something to offer, and it can get confusing to determine what will work best for you. In this article, however, we’re going to look at some of the best coolers out there.

I hope that by the end, you’ll be able to choose your desired product with no stress! Why then don’t we jump right to our top five list?

Top Personal Lunch Cooler

① BALORAY -TOP PICK
② Coleman
③ Pelican
④ PuTwo
⑤ Fit & Fresh

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① BALORAY

 

You will love the BALORAY cooler for many reasons, and one is the reason why it’s coming first in our list—the cooler is quite affordable, and the cheapest among the five reviewed in this article. You will also love it for its capacity. 

The cooler may not seem as large on the surface. It, however, can hold a decent sized lunch, with about two food casseroles. It should also have some more space for about two drinks. If you’re looking to get something simple, that doesn’t shout: COOLER, then this is the product for you! 

The BALORAY looks like a normal bag. Someone may even mistake it for a purse. You may also love it for the comfortable and sturdy handles. It has a pleasing exterior fabric, coming in stylish patterns. One setback that has been noted with this cooler, however, is that you may have to wash it whole whenever something spills in it. This is because of the lining, which isn’t as easy to clean.

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② Coleman

 

You’ll find this product by Coleman to be easily portable, with a capacity enough to hold 9 cans. The adjustable shoulder straps are comfortable and together with the large side handles, you should find the cooler’s weight to be manageable even when full. Using it to work and back on a daily basis should, therefore, be easy.

It comes in a simple, effective design, guaranteeing hours of freshness to your food and drinks. The duration it will serve you depends on how much ice you pack in. The adequate storage that Coleman offers is enough for some food casseroles and up to 9 cans. Its three non-insulated pockets offer dry storage, with enough space for napkins and some utensils.

If you’d like an extension to this cooler’s carrying capacity, you can always make use of the bungees on the top. The bungee cord should secure your items. This cooler also features a soft liner with antimicrobial properties. These help resist mould, mildew, and odour. The liner also has heat-welded seams to prevent leaks.

This product has a setback, which is in its zippers. You should be careful when locking them. Arrange the insulation liner after packing the cooler so that the zippers don’t snag it.

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③ Pelican

 

This cooler by Pelican provides good ice retention, making it suitable for use by anyone who doesn’t have access to a fridge. This unit is powerful enough, with its high-density closed-cell foam insulation. The material liner is FDA-approved. You should expect this cooler to keep your food fresh for long.

That’s not all on this cooler’s effective cooling. Its cooling capacity challenges premium models, with the ability to retain the cold for up to or even more than 24 hours on a single ice pack. You should also find it to be 55% lighter than premium coolers.

The Pelican offers storage enough for up to 12 cans; however, for maximum and better cooling, it would be recommended to pack a maximum of 10. Its zipper is leak-proof, and is complimented with a quick access dual-lock buckle. It is durable with a TPU double-coated outer covering and has a three-year warranty.

While everything looks great with this Pelican cooler, its price seems to be on the high. Considering all features, however, you’ll be able to decide on what will work best for you..

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④ PuTwo

 

The PuTwo can keep your food fresh for 6-8 hours, thanks to its 10mm inner EPE foam. It is also leak-proof, easy to clean, and its 600D exterior enhances the cooler’s water-resistance. It uses YKK zippers, which open easily, and uses two layers of insulation. 

The first layer is meant for the bottom’s protection, while the first layer is meant for keeping sensitive objects away from the ice, or getting smashed. You may love this cooler’s design, which can accommodate lunch boxes and cans comfortably. It has enhanced portability, thanks to its adjustable shoulder straps and padded handles. 

It also comes with three additional dry pockets. They are only large enough for a few utensils, gadgets, and perhaps keys. The PuTwo cooler offers adequate storage, with its 8L capacity. It can generously accommodate up to 10 soft-drink cans plus two beverage cans and a lunch box. 

While more can be said about this lunch cooler, it has one set back that you may want to consider. Its shoulder strap is thin, and can thus get uncomfortable.

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⑤ Fit & Fresh

 

Despite this cooler’s affordability, it offers features that you may love. It has a small storage for only six cans. You can, however, arrange your food and drinks so that you’ll easily access them. The Fit & Fresh also has a zippered front pocket, in which you can keep a few personal items.  It offers an additional side mesh pocket.

You may find this cooler easy to carry, with its adjustable shoulder strap and comfortable handle. This top handle is also easy to grab. You will find the cooler suitable to carry to work, the zoo, fishing, picnic or even golfing; wherever you’ll need to take your snack or drinks. You should expect it to serve you for several hours, and may need a few ice packs to keep going.

Fit Fresh cooler’s interior is made of thick insulation. It also features a full-length zipper that will help keep your food and drinks fresh. While this cooler’s small size can be a good thing for the ease in carrying it, you may be disappointed by the six-can capacity. This is because with ice, you may be able to keep only four, which is a small number.

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The thought of having the food I cooked with me all day warms my inners. It is not only expensive to regularly buy cooked food but can also be unhealthy. You can simply cook your lunch alongside breakfast if you’re an early riser. Don’t worry about it going bad; a cooler can help you keep the food cool and fresh.

Why a cooler? You can easily personalize it! A fridge is not as easy to do so. See, if you live with other people under the same roof, then you’ll find that you will often not be the only one using it; unless you’re a loner. In any case that you are, a fridge isn’t easily portable, so you may not be able to move around with.

It is bulky and meant for installation in homes and offices. What if you’d like to carry your lunch with you or the meal you cooked last night and loved? Pack it! Some personal coolers can keep your food fresh for up to 30 hours. That’s long enough to enjoy your lunch and evening snack.

Is this all, however? Shouldn’t there be more reasons why a personal cooler should deserve your consideration? There are plenty! One is their compact design. Coming in small, manageable sizes makes it easy to store your cooler where your cooler. Desirable positions would be anywhere close to you.

So, a cooler that is small enough to fit on top of or under your desk, is definitely a go-to! How is this good for you? Comfort and ease! At the end of the day, you’ll also get satisfied and have taken down something fresh and healthy.

Are you worried that a small cooler size may compromise with your portion size? Well, some of the compact designs are meant to save up on space while delivering more. So, a good cooler will provide adequate space for up to two meals, while at the same time coming in a nice, compact size.

Good lunch coolers also come light-weight, making it pretty easy to carry them wherever you go. If you’re packing up for work, then you probably have a few more things with you. A heavy cooler will give you a hard time manoeuvring.

Remember, also, that lunch is a regular thing, so you will need something that you will manage every day, and not only when you’re energetic. You will find good lunch coolers that won’t break your sweat even when fully loaded.

Speaking of how regular you’ll be using your cooler; a durable model will serve you optimally for long. You do need something durable enough to withstand conditions that you’ll be subjecting it to on a daily basis. Rotomolded coolers will, in this case, offer more durable options. However, a lunch cooler will do excellently fine as long as it is constructed with strong and sturdy materials that can last.

As aforementioned, a compact, light cooler design is easy to carry. Lunch coolers should be easy to move around with, so that getting to work doesn’t take all day, or more effort than it should. A few other factors, however, could improve portability.

You will find coolers that come with padded shoulders or straps. This means that the weight your lunch exerts will be eased by the pads. Good, comfortable straps help with distributing the weight of the cooler.

It would beat logic to get a cooler that needs regular maintenance. A good design should serve you for long without requiring any fixing or checking. What you’ll need to do, however, is clean it and handle it with care. Cleaning most lunch coolers should be easy and fast. You don’t need much often, but water and a mild detergent. 

How much do you hope to spend on your cooler? If you are going to invest much, then you could go for something that offers unique features. Otherwise, a lunch cooler doesn’t and shouldn’t cost you so much. They are affordable.

Due to varied features, nonetheless, a model may cost more than another, and yet be worth it. One of such distinguishing features is the duration your cooler can keep food and drinks cool. Some could do for as little as five hours, while others could give you a whopping 30 hours!

Some features, therefore, are worth the high cost. Make a decision on whether you’ll need certain features, since that is one way to figure out what won’t work for you. Work with your budget, but don’t be afraid to spend a little more or less than planned.

As aforementioned, a good cooler will come light-weight but with no compromise to space. Lunch coolers can offer adequate storage at no extra weight! Get a model spacious enough for your food and drinks. If you work out, then you may want some more storage space for fruits and a few more stuff.

Since you’ll be taking your cooler through public places and possibly to work, you may want to get a desirable design. Something simple, but pleasant will do. The different colour patterns that most of these coolers come with, make them suitable for different environments.

While lunch coolers are not the best option to keep your food cold for days, you may love how they’re able to maintain a constant temperature in an insulated compartment. You will often find your food neither warm nor cold at lunch time. Models which can serve you for up to 30 hours are ideal for people who work long hours.

Can you imagine your little one carrying a tiny cooler in one hand, with their bags over their backs? Well, there are models available for children; they’re light enough for them to carry and come in various designs.

Do children need it? why not! It’s especially the little ones that need to eat healthy meals throughout the day. A parent knows what’s best for their children; so, you could cook them something, pack it up in their coolers, and kiss them bye. They’ll sure enjoy your delicacy, and be happy for the fresh meal!

From the products we’ve discussed, why don’t we have a look at a few setbacks you should expect and should thus be watchful for? We’ll also quickly recap the rest of what they offer. Starting from the bottom of our list, they are:

Space. Because lunch coolers are generally small, some come with limited space. Fit & Fresh is a small, compact cooler that can accommodate only six cans. To save more space for ice, the number may go down to four cans. This cooler is, nonetheless , affordable and offers features that you may love. 

You can arrange your food and drinks in this cooler, so that you’ll easily access them. The Fit & Fresh also has a zippered front pocket, in which you can keep a few personal items. It offers an additional side mesh pocket.

You may find this cooler easy to carry, with its adjustable shoulder strap and comfortable handle. You should expect it to serve you for several hours, and may need a few ice packs to keep going. Fit Fresh cooler’s interior is made of thick insulation. It also features a full-length zipper that will help keep your food and drinks fresh.

Straps. The PuTwo is a good product, but its straps are thin and can get uncomfortable to carry. It’s still good, nonetheless, for its cooling, which can go for 6-8 hours, thanks to its 10mm inner EPE foam. It is also leak-proof, easy to clean, and its 600D exterior enhances the cooler’s water-resistance. It uses YKK zippers, which open easily, and uses two layers of insulation. 

You may love this cooler’s design, which can accommodate lunch boxes and cans comfortably. It has enhanced portability, thanks to its adjustable shoulder straps and padded handles. 

It also comes with three additional dry pockets. They are only large enough for a few utensils, gadgets, and perhaps keys. The PuTwo cooler offers adequate storage, with its 8L capacity. It can generously accommodate up to 10 soft-drink cans plus two beverage cans and a lunch box. 

Price. Some of the coolers, like the Pelican, can come steeply priced. It’s, however, always a good idea to consider what it offers. The cooler provides good ice retention. This unit is powerful, with its high-density closed-cell foam insulation. The material liner is FDA-approved.

Its cooling capacity challenges premium models, with the ability to retain the cold for up to or even more than 24 hours on a single ice pack. You should also find it to be 55% lighter than premium coolers. The Pelican offers storage enough for up to 12 cans. 

Its zipper is leak-proof, and is complimented with a quick access dual-lock buckle. It is durable with a TPU double-coated outer covering and has a three-year warranty.

Zippers. The Coleman seems to have a problem with its zippers, which could snag on the insulation liner. You should, therefore, be careful when locking them; arrange the insulation liner after packing the cooler.

This product, however, is still good for its portability, and a capacity enough to hold 9 cans. The adjustable shoulder straps are comfortable and together with the large side handles, you should find the cooler’s weight to be manageable even when full. 

It comes in a simple, effective design, guaranteeing hours of freshness to your food and drinks. Its three non-insulated pockets offer dry storage, with enough space for napkins and some utensils. This cooler also features a soft liner with antimicrobial properties. The liner also has heat-welded seams to prevent leaks.

Lining. Some cooler linings aren’t easy to was, like BALORAY’s, and you may have to wash them whole. However, the product is still good for many reasons, and one is its affordability. It is the cheapest among the five reviewed in this article. You will also love BALORAY for its capacity. 

The cooler may not seem as large on the surface, but it can hold a decent sized lunch, with about two food casseroles. It should also have some more space for about two drinks. The BALORAY looks like a normal bag. You may also love it for the comfortable and sturdy handles. It has a pleasing exterior fabric, coming in stylish patterns.

Bottom Line

Your lunch doesn’t have to be boring or distasteful. Enjoy a delicious meal you reserved, fresh and along with a cold drink; a cooler can help with all that. The best lunch cooler, however, can be hard to choose from all the available options.

It’s important that you have a look at the features of products out in the market. Find out what will work for you, and what won’t. With the discussed factors, you should be able to narrow down to a desirable product.

From our list, nonetheless, I would highly recommend that you get the BALORAY Insulated Lunch Bag. You will love the BALORAY cooler for its affordability. It also offers good capacity. The cooler can hold a decent sized lunch, with about two food casseroles even though it doesn’t look large. 

It should also have some more space for about two drinks. The BALORAY looks like a normal bag. You may also love it for the comfortable and sturdy handles. It has a pleasing exterior fabric, coming in stylish patterns. 

Get the BALORAY today!