So after having packed about, oh 1/2 million, lunches in my FA journey thus far, my search for the perfect lunch box is not yet over. We've done the Crocodile Creek variety which are usually big enough, but are sometimes a problem with spills as they are packed flat and carried upright. This year we had ones that were rectangular and rounded at the top ( minions). The bottom was a shallow rectangular compartment that I had thought would be handy, but was mostly wasted for us. It wasn't insulated so we kept wipes and napkins in there. Would have liked a bit more room overall. Liked packing and carrying upright. Both boys will also be having snack and carry water every day. Right now they carry these separate, but a bag that incorporates everything with a shoulder strap would work as well. Needs to be wipeable bc egads they get grungy, don't they?!? Any suggestions?
Land's End. :yes:
Quote from: Macabre on February 10, 2014, 10:00:32 PM
Land's End. :yes:
Always! I've even tossed them in the washing machine and hung them out to dry!
I do that with the NY Built lunch bags.
Throw them in the washer on delicate and hang to dry. They dry really fast.
I've handwashed EVERY kind of soft-sided lunch bag that we've ever had. I just wash them with dishsoap inside and out, and then hang them to dry. I've used the delicate spin cycle on my washer on a few of them without any ill effects, too.
I probably won't do the spin cycle with DD's Dalek lunch box, though-- that's the one that she bought in Covent Garden, though, so it's special in ways that the others aren't.
I've found that having ONE lunchbox doesn't work. Invariably, it'll be the wrong shape/dimensions/orientation for something that I want to pack.
The mmost versatile lunchbox we own is this Rubbermaid one (http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-1813500-Lunch-small-durable/dp/B0078K40KG/ref=pd_sim_k_3); it holds a regular WATER BOTTLE on the side, and unzips from top-to-bottom. Yes, their lunch "blox" fit in the thing, but also a small Thermos bottle will---UPRIGHT-- as well. It's got great capacity for bento stuff in individual containers, and I find that I can put a sandwich into it, too.
It also has that long cross-body strap.
HTH.
At the preschool to early elementary age I primary stock up on whatever Toys R Us or Target has on sale, usually it's a soft-sided Thermos product possible to machine wash. DS1 did have a Totoro snaplock bento box he used for a year but now with his brother's allergies to manage I went to disposables. The boys backpacks in preschool and kindergarten tend to get so banged up and dirty.
CM- I had that very one in my hands at the start of the school year and put it back down. Since then Target has only had the girly colored variety. And all the Land's End-er's up top...are you talking about the soft sided one that's got a semi rigid interior? I was looking at that one online last night. It has awesome reviews. It's also not currently available. In fact every one that looked plausible, is not currently available. Guessing this is not the best time of year to be looking. I can't be the only only one grossed out by the state of their child's lunch box about now! :tongue:
my daughter loves her matsack: http://bit.ly/1h8J6dX (http://bit.ly/1h8J6dX) we have been using it for two years now (the first one we had ... pink ... did not wear as well and only lasted a year)
Have you seen the Planetbox? We've had them for 2 years. I'm totally in love with them. My kids are 8 and 5. We also have a Crocodile Creek for days when I pack them a hot lunch with a thermos.
On my phone so I can't link the Planetbox.
.
Nameless I think it was an honest mistake. There is another thread here that links to that article at our first home (and totally disses what the guy is saying). I bet ctmartin had that open as a window or tab and accidentally copied it instead of the lunchbox link to late into bit.ly
I think it was just in the memory cache as the last copied piece of text. Obviously the guy isn't a lunch box although you've got my vote on out to lunch.
;D True 'dat.
(http://cdn5.giltcdn.com/images/share/uploads/0000/0003/0075/300753258/420x560.jpg)
So no one need stare more into that abyss here's the matsack ctmartin was referring to. http://mymatsack.com (http://mymatsack.com)
um, yes, *I* am the one that posted the original article from that "other" place. sorry, i guess my "paste" from bitly was still "pasting" that link, since i did both minutes apart.
but yes, i still stand behind the matsack ;) and thanks for posting the correct link, TT! out to lunch ... funny!!
Helga gave up on lunch bags somewhere around 7th grade. She just throws the tub of whatever in her backpack now.
THe last one she had was this:
http://www.builtny.com/product/gourmet-getaway-mini-snack-tote-big-dot-black-white (http://www.builtny.com/product/gourmet-getaway-mini-snack-tote-big-dot-black-white)
Regarding the planet box.... I've debated on these before. Is there room in the bags for other items? Such as whole fruit( apple, banana, etc)?
We've been using the matsacks for two years now. It is the most attached I have ever become to a lunch box.
These have been great -- new to us this year:
http://www.rei.com/product/812299/rei-lunch-bag (http://www.rei.com/product/812299/rei-lunch-bag)
Can clip on to the backpack, if won't fit inside.
I've found some thin, about 5" square freezer blocks that are great to slip between sandwich and milk/yogurt. Fits great in these lunchbags.
I've gotten creative with the containers size/shape so that we can fit leftover / container food in too. Works well.
We've used the Built NY bags. They're great. DD is using a small Scout bag (the Nooner, I think) when she has a sandwich for lunch. If she takes a larger lunch, then she has a larger lunch bag that we bought last year.
Quote from: MandCmama on February 15, 2014, 02:32:10 PM
Regarding the planet box.... I've debated on these before. Is there room in the bags for other items? Such as whole fruit( apple, banana, etc)?
Yes, there is a pocket on the inside and one on the outside. I put a juice box, napkin, utensils in the inside pocket. An apple may be a bit too large. We really love these lunch boxes. Another child stole my daughter's planet box last year, so if theft is an issue in your child's class, you may want to consider that. Fortunately my daughter realized it was missing and the teacher went through all the backpacks until she found it.