The Best Lunch Coolers of 2023

Yeti's heavy duty Hopper Flip 8 should make any person braving the elements with food and beverages (and with some disposable income) a happy camper.

In our experience, the Hopper Flip is able to keep the contents of the cooler cold for hours. More specifically, it kept our contents below 40°F for just over six and a half hours. To prolong the cooler’s cold conditions, Yeti also recommends block ice, rock salt, and/or Yeti ice.

Between the Hopper’s stiff insulation and tough fabric, it’s rigid enough that it can survive being bounced around on the back of a four-wheeler, and will provide a decent amount of crush protection if it happens to get lost at the bottom of a luggage pile.

With a carrying strap, water-resistant zipper, handle, and tie-down options, it's clear that Yeti wants you to be able to take this cooler with you wherever you go. The strap is long enough that it can be thrown across your back and has a thick, non-slip shoulder pad.

As for the zipper, its strength can be problematic at times. While Yeti provides zipper lubricant to make the zipper easier to operate, it’s really tough to pull.

Most die-hard Yeti fans who try out the Hopper Flip maintain their status as loyal Yeti customers. However, with a cost of about $200, some customers felt as though they paid too much. Others mentioned the fact that the thick insulation significantly reduced the available storage space.

The bottom line: The Yeti Hopper Flip 8 is a very expensive cooler, but consider it a sound investment if you need a cooler that can take a lot of damage, doesn’t leak, and still keep your perishables cool.

The Igloo Playmate Elite cooler is a variation on one of the oldest (and most nostalgia-inducing) coolers on the market. Over the course of a day, the Igloo Playmate Elite is able to maintain cool temperatures below 40°F for over seven and a half hours.

The cooler is spacious, and its angled top means that it can also fit taller drinks. By pressing the button on the handle, the cooler’s top smoothly slides to either side, making it easy to open with one hand. Compared to other coolers, though, the Igloo feels a bit less durable and more breakable; the top of the cooler feels particularly rickety at times.

As for other people who’ve used this cooler, most were very happy with their purchase, especially considering its low price of ~$20. Others had problems with the button on the handle; its location means that it is easy to open the cooler accidentally. The other major complaint about this cooler is that the cooler isn’t sealed, so if it tips over, any liquids can easily leak out.

The bottom line: There’s a reason why this is a staple of construction workers everywhere: this cooler gets the job done with its long cooling time and easy opening.

The Yeti Daytrip is a durable, cleverly-designed lunch cooler.

After folding it flat and freezing it overnight (and supplementing it with two additional ice packs), the Daytrip maintained temperatures lower than 40°F for just under five hours. The Daytrip has a magnetic closure mechanism at the top of the lunch bag, which helps it to seal in hot and cold temperatures.

To completely close the lunch bag, you can fold the top of the Daytrip over and latch it securely in one of a number of possible loops that make it easy to seal the Daytrip whether it's completely full or not. Both the handle and the material of the bag itself are durable, and will do fine in a rough-and-tumble outdoor environment.

Additionally, the adjustable storage configuration is a really neat idea, but because the top of the bag folds over, the amount of space available may be less than you expect.

The bottom line: While the Daytrip lunch bag doesn't provide all-day cooling, its folding design is perfect for keeping snacks cool during beach trips and day hikes.

The L. L. Bean Lunch Box is well-constructed and has very few moving parts in order to minimize ripping or breaking. The lunchbox typically lies flat, and can comfortably fit two water bottles and an ice pack or a large, square plastic container.

With the help of an additional ice pack, the L. L. Bean Lunch Box maintains temperatures lower than 40°F for about two and a half hours. To keep food cool until lunch time, we recommend using at least two ice packs.

This lunchbox has a carrying handle, as well as two additional storage options: a zippered pocket on the outside that is best for flat objects and a mesh pocket on the inside of the top of the lunchbox.

Reviewers note that the lack of seams on the inside of the lunch box makes it easy to clean, with the exception of the white liner, which is easily stained by food or beverage spills.

The bottom line: With a few extra ice packs, this L. L. Bean Lunch Box can be your kid’s lunch co-pilot for years to come.

To call this functional and easy-to-fit lunch bag handy would be an understatement. Its compact size, large inside pocket, and outside pocket with a key hook and loop makes it easy to bring this cooler to the office, a flight, or anywhere else you want to store some snacks and prepped meals.

With a durable metal zipper, heavy-duty polyester material, and no-rip liner, this bag is built to last. Its side can expand to create more storage capacity and its insulation keeps food fresh for hours. You can also transport this cooler easily with either the carry handle or adjustable shoulder strap.