
It does not matter if you’re an athlete, bodybuilder or gym enthusiast you’ll need a lunch bag. Both nutrition and exercise are valuable when trying to get healthy, however nutrition habits have a bigger impact on your body composition because it allows you to reduce body fat, lose weight and lower the risk of illness (verywellfit). Health enthusiasts opt to cook meals at home and bring them in their lunch bag so they have nutritious options on the go. However, not every lunch bag is built equal, but I’ve made it easy for you to find the best lunch bags for fitness.
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- Best Lunch Bags for Fitness
- 1. Best Lunch Bag for Men - Thermos Lunch Lugger
- 2. Best Lunch Bag for Women - Baloray Lunch Bag for Women
- 3. Best Lunch Bag for Limited Budgets - Mier Adult Lunch Box
- 4. Highest Quality Lunch Bag (with High Price) - Yeti Hopper Flip 8
- 5. Best Large Lunch Bag for Fitness or Family Picnic - Arctic Zone 30 Can Title Deep Freeze
- 6. Best Lunch Bag for Meal Preppers - Evolutionize Meal Prep Insulated Lunch Bag
- Important Information to Consider When Buying the Best Lunch Bag for Fitness
Best Lunch Bags for Fitness
Model | Item Dimensions (inches) | Weight (poumd) | |
---|---|---|---|
7.3 x 14 x 7 | 0.5 | ||
10 x 6.6 x 8.5 | 0.22 | ||
10.2 x 7.9 x 11 | 0.85 | ||
11 x 8 x 10 | 2.8 | ||
16.5 x 11 x 12.75 | 4.19 | ||
13.5 x 6.89 x 5.08 | 3.1 |
The product has several pockets allowing for easier storage of food and small snacks. It features a wide opening which is great because it makes it easier to store your food containers. I cannot tell you how much I hate it when I am trying to bring a container of leftovers and I cannot get it to fit correctly in my lunch bag. It’s the worst, but the wide opening helps eliminate that issue and it allows for easier cleaning.
This product also comes with a 40 oz Thermos conveniently connectable with hook and loop fasteners perfect to keep your morning coffee hot or your after-gym protein shake cold. Since you will be carrying a little bit of extra weight from the Thermos, it thoughtfully features a well-padded strap for comfort. This is my top pick for men because it has it all; lots of food storage space, a beverage container, is designed to hold temperature well and carry comfortably.
Pros
Cons
I love, love, love this lunch bag because it doesn’t look like a lunch bag, it looks like a handbag. A very stylish one! And it has good price on Amazon, they’re practically giving it away!
The Baloray lunch bag is waterproof. It is compact, with short straps, but can still fit lunch containers, snacks and even a shaker bottle. It offers a front pocket to allow you to store silverware, napkins or your phone. This bag is made from durable oxford material and features a durable smooth zipper, so you don’t have to worry about it wearing out quickly or the zipper catching. Additionally, it is lightweight and foldable for added convenience.
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Let’s be honest, some of us are not as flush as we’d like to be, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality when shopping for your lunch bag. This product is under $20 but doesn’t compromise on anything. It has two compartments so there is a ton of storage space, and there are a ton of zippers. These reliable zippers are on the top section, the bottom section and on each side. The top is great for storing dry goods, such as fruit, while the bottom is great for storing cold food. The interior is an insulated PEVA lining which is nontoxic so can safely store hot or cold food. This bag offers a long strap for cross body wearing, or you can opt to use the handle. I personally like that it has two options. If I’m already carrying my gym back, the cross-body strap is convenient.
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If you aren’t on a budget and want a crazy high-quality lunch bag, you can check out the Yeti Hopper Flip 8. Yeti is known for their durable high-quality products that can keep contents ice cold (or hot) longer than almost anything else on the market. Seriously, I can pour a cup of coffee at 8 a.m. and it’s still hot when I finally get to drink it at 8 p.m. (kids). This lunch bag has the power also. The dry hide shell is puncture proof and UV resistant which helps keep food cool.
Additionally, the product features a HydroLok Zipper that keeps water and air out, but keeps the cold in. It has a wide opening top so you can store food containers with ease and helps make cleaning it a breeze. It comes with multiple handles to carry it around or strap it to your gym bag. Furthermore, there is a Hitchpoint Grid so you can purchase accessories and attach them, which is convenient because this lunch bag is smaller in size.
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There is a lunch bag that almost everyone may like to bring a lot of food . It is unique from the rest of the products in that it does not have a zipper closure, it offers a Velcro closure instead. It an interior white bag with a removable divider shelf inside which is great because it will allow you to store heavy items, like soda, in the bottom of the back without worrying about it crushing your sandwich or bruising your fruit that you have stored on top. There are 3 extra pockets, the pocket on the front is insulated so you can keep fresh fruit and vegetable stacks cool and easily accessible. Additionally, it is fairly priced for how much carrying capacity it offers.
Pros
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This bag will make food prepping and nutrition so simple. Because it comes with 3 containers and 2 shaker bottles and still has the capacity to fit a fourth container which means you can carry four full meals. It also has four separate compartments and mesh side pockets for storing personal items. It’s insulated with eco-friendly material that is high-quality and protective. Additionally, the bag comes accompanied by a large gel pack to help keep food cool. At $39.99 it has a lot of bang for its buck.
Pros
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Important Information to Consider When Buying the Best Lunch Bag for Fitness

Is Finding the Best Lunch Bag for Fitness Necessary?
Yes. Many people who are fitness enthusiasts and live active lifestyles meal prep. Meal prepping can save money. It can help keep people on track with their eating choices, you’ll be less tempted to stop for fast food if you have a handy snack with you in your lunch box.
Additionally, it actually can save time. I personally meal prep on Sunday’s; I will cook lunches and dinners in bulk for the week and just store them in containers, and it’s actually faster to make one to two large meals that can feed my family and I all week then to have to individually make 10 to 20 meals. However, if you are a meal prepper you absolutely need a good quality lunch bags that will suit your needs.
What Should You Look for in a Lunch Bag?
Insulation
This is important to help you keep your food hot or cold.
Easy to Clean
None of us are perfect so we are bound to spill some food or drinks one in a while, so you don’t want a lunch bag that is a pain to clean. Maybe consider a bag that is machine washable.
Leakproof and Waterproof
In addition to the insulation, these are other quality features you may want to consider when choosing a lunch bag. If something does happen to spill, you will want to make sure it is contained.
Size
Think about the amount of food or snacks you will want to bring with you and choose accordingly.
Straps
Are you a long strap kind of person? Short strap? Padded strap? Handle? Think about what would suit you best.
Extra Storage
Some bags only offer one main compartment which is fine for some people, but can be inconvenient for others.
Perks
You can get more bang for your buck if you look for a lunch bag that comes with extras like containers, shaker bottles, ice packs, plasticware, etc.
Design
You can go for plain black, or something plastic, or you can get something more fun that shows off a little bit of personality.
Price point
Look for a bag that can suit your needs and fits your budget. And don’t feel like having a low budget means you have to scrimp on quality because there are really quality lunch bags out there under $20.
Types of Lunch Bags, Boxes, and Other Food Carriers
Throughout this guide I have referred to everything as a “lunch bag” however, that isn’t entirely an accurate descriptor of some of the products. There are a few notable types of food carriers that you can choose from:
- Lunch bag - The sides of these are typically more flexible and are not heavily structured.
- Lunch box - The have a more rigid shape, they can also be plastic or metal.
- Bento box - This is a Japanese-style lunch container. There’s a variety of different styles to choose from.
- Cooler - There are cooler style lunch boxes. These are usually hard plastic and are insulated with the intention of keep food cold.
All and all, the type of your food carrier isn’t super significant. One of these is not better than the other and as long as you are choosing a lunch bag, box or cooler that has the features you want, at the price you want, you will be good to go.
What Kinds of Food can You Pack in Your Lunch Bag?
You can store a variety of foods and drinks in your lunch bag, so you always have nutritious options on the go. You can pack:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Meats and other high protein foods such as hard-boiled eggs or nut butters
- Dairy products like cheeses, milk or yogurt
- Starches such as bread or crackers
- Water
- Protein shakes
- Smoothies
How to Care for Your Lunch Bag?
There are a few things you can do to maintain the quality of your lunch bag, so you don’t end up having to replace it every few months, or even once a year. Some lunch bag care tips include:
- Using leak proof containers – It’ll keep messes to a minimum
- Wash containers are use – You don’t want food product sitting in your lunch bag all day
- Empty your lunch bag each night – Again, it is inadvisable to leave food in your lunch bag. You want to keep your bag from getting gross.
- Wash it each day – Go ahead and give it a little wash each night to clean up any spills and remove crumbs that can hide in corners
- Let it air dry – You will want to leave it open to air dry. If it doesn’t dry thoroughly you run the risk of mildew and bacteria growth.
A quality lunch bag can last a long time if you take care if it by following these few simple tips.
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