Sometimes I think that if I hear another sentence that begins with “in these tough economic times” I’m going to have no choice but to jump off our 21st-floor balcony. The phrase has just gotten so overused, and is being attached to so many ridiculous things that it’s kind of run its course, for me.
Except, of course, these ARE lean times. For many of us, that means evaluating our day-to-day spending and trying to make smarter, more frugal choices. One of the easiest ways to do this, as I’m sure you’ve heard, is to bring your lunch instead of buying it. This holds true for adults and kids, though I’m thinking specifically of adults here- I don’t know about your town, but in Chicago it’s alarmingly easy to drop $8 or $10 on a fairly average, not-particularly-healthy lunch from a downtown purveyor. Not awesome.
So I try to bring my lunch most days. This has led to a comical parade of lunch-toting products that I’ve tried over the years. I’m looking for the right balance of function and non-nerdiness: it’s hard to convey a professional image when one is toting a My Little Pony lunchbox, or when one’s soup has leaked all over one’s important files.
That’s why, when Lands’ End offered to send me one of their lunch bags to test-drive, I happily agreed.
And I have to say: it’s been a while since I used a basic insulated lunch bag, and the design of these things has come a LONG way since I was in junior high.
The first thing I noticed were all the little design features designed to make the bag more useful: a front pocket that closes with Velcro, perfect for holding a napkin, (or a note if you’re the kind of parent who leaves notes in your kids lunch); a sturdy reinforced handle and mini-carabiner at the top so you could clip the bag to another bag; a cushioned bottom to prevent fruit bruising; a lining that pulls out so it’s easy to clean; and a nice long band of velcro along the top to close it securely.
It’s got the right look, too- it’s slim and low profile and comes in many colors, including a bunch of neutrals. And this may seem like a small thing, but there’s no big logo on the outside, just a small reflective patch and a very subtle “Lands’ End” badge on the side. This thing would blend in, is what I’m saying.
It’s not perfect, though. I tend to bring a lot of leftovers in my lunch, and this bag’s slim design can be a liability- it’s a little too small to comfortably accommodate most of the Tupperware I use, so I end up putting them in sideways and then awkwardly carrying the bag sideways to keep the containers inside upright. Not ideal. Because of the hefty insulation inside, it’s also a little bulky- it doesn’t fold down all that small for when I have to put it back in my bag to take it home at the end of the day. The handle on the top seems more kid-sized than adult-sized (fine if you’re using it for your kids, and not a huge deal even for adults, but when your hands are already full it would be nice if it were a little bigger so you could slide the bag over your wrist).
On the whole, though, if you’re looking for a basic, sturdy, thoughtfully-designed lunch bag for you or your kids (which doesn’t cost a bloody FORTUNE, like some of the lunch bags I’ve seen out there), the Lands’ End model is a good bet.
The Lands’ End folks have graciously agreed to sponsor a giveaway for one LiveWellSpendWell reader. If you’re interested in trying out this bag for yourself, leave a comment on this post (mandatory) describing your favorite things to pack in a brown bag lunch (for you or your kids).
You can get additional entries to the contest if you:
–Mention this contest on twitter with the following text: “Win a free Lands’ End lunch bag from @livespend – check out http://livewellspendwell.com/?p=375” and be sure to come back and in a separate comment and leave us the link to your tweet
–Link to Livewellspendwell.com in a blog post and leave a comment linking back to your post.
–Refer others to this contest- if they tell us you sent them (“Sam sent me!”) both you and the person you referred will get a BONUS entry!
Contest will run until October 5, 11:59 pm CDT. For full information on how we run our contests, see our Disclosure policy.
Lands’ End School Uniform Lunch Sack, $10.50 each or $8.50 when you order 2 or more, on landsend.com
Amanda
Favorite things to pack in a lunch? Yogurt, some fruit, maybe a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a cheese/cucumber/mayo sandwich.
September 30th, 2009 @ 11:06 am
Jen
Chicken salad sandwich, cheese stick, and some cookies.
September 30th, 2009 @ 11:23 am
Jen
I tweeted this too :) (but I’m not able to view twitter.com at the moment, stupid company blocks it, but I promise it’s there! hehe)
September 30th, 2009 @ 11:30 am
Jonnie H
My favorite thing to pack for lunch is a peanut butter sandwich and grapes.
September 30th, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
Kristi
I usually pack a cheese sandwich, crackers and fruit for my son – boring!! He loves peanut butter, but of course it’s not allowed in the school because of nut allergies. Roll-ups are good too.
September 30th, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
Sharon
We have all the insulated lunch bags we need, so I’m not entering the contest. Just wanted to say that I think Lands’ End carries other lunch bags more appropriate for adult use. This one strikes me as being better-suited for school kids who are just packing a PBJ and a piece of fruit. Oh, and I too am sick of every single news story starting out with “in these lean economic times”. We’ve ALWAYS made a point of not wasting our money and that includes packing lunches at home. It cracks me up that people seem to think this a new concept! Maybe that’s why we can still afford our mortgage payment???
October 1st, 2009 @ 8:15 am
Condo Blues
My favorite thing to pack for lunch is leftover 15 bean soup and a chunk of homemade bread. Especially on very slushy cold winter days. bliss.
October 1st, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
Bridget
My favorite things to pack (due to convenience, not necessarily taste) is a sandwich, low fat chips or crackers, apple or banana, yogurt, and protein bar. I don’t eat it all at once, I tend to graze from 11:00-1:00.
October 2nd, 2009 @ 8:25 am
Tracy
Take my lunch to work everyday — would love a reusable bag!!!
October 3rd, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
Tracy
Here’s my tweet:
http://twitter.com/tracystew/status/4586940993
October 3rd, 2009 @ 3:36 pm
carla Pullum
I love to pack uncrustables, salad, and drink with a cookie!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
October 3rd, 2009 @ 11:58 pm
Tien
Everyday, I pack two bottles of milk for my daughter, plus yogurt or cheese, fruit, cereal bar, and crackers. Looking for a good insulated bag!
October 4th, 2009 @ 8:16 am
Patti Bright
In a lunchbox, good ole peanutbutter & jelly is best with some ice cold milk to drink :) Both me & the kids love it. Sometimes for a change of pace..I like salad or yogurt too :)
plb8156@aol.com
October 5th, 2009 @ 9:48 am