Best Lunch Coolers for Construction Workers - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide
by Scott Miller Updated on
Every worker knows how important it is to have a good lunch cooler when you have to have lunch at the working place.
That is why so many manufacturers started making various models and they are all available on the market today.
Furthermore, not only workers at a construction site use these lunch boxes, but also children and office workers.
The difference that you can make between models can be based on your needs, whether you need a heavy-duty one that can keep food cold in the heat and stand abuses that happen on the jobsite, or you need less effective one for not so hot places.
Manufacturers tend to tell you everything that is great about their product in theory but they do not speak about the negative sides of their products.
So, we gathered both positive and negative reviews of the products in our descriptions and offered you a buyer’s guide which covers details so that you can ensure you get a great deal for your money.
The first model is always the best one and that is the Stanley 7QT Heritage Cooler.
The model has simple green coloring which was used for these kinds of boxes in the past, but is updated with modern tech that keeps food cold for long period of time.
Additionally, it is quite lighter model which comes with a vacuum bottle to keep hot beverages hot and cold beverages cold for up to 24 hours.
What is even better, it can keep iced drinks iced for up to 120 hours.
What users appreciate is the fact that the bottle and the cooler are leak-proof extremely useful when transporting food and drinks.
The manufacturers believe in this model so they offer a lifetime warranty.
It has a good size, neither too large nor so small.
Some users take it as disadvantage the fact that it is not as large as other lunchboxes and that the inner compartments are small.
All in all, this is an amazing box which delivers exceptional quality at a good price.
The runner-up on our list is the Klein Tools Work Cooler 17-Quart.
This model is more than a lunchbox, being that you can carry dinner and breakfast and with its large capacity you can also carry a lot of drinks in addition to the food.
Everything will be kept cool for up to 30 hours.
This model can support up to 300 pounds and has an interior compartment which can be used to hold small items separate from the food and drinks.
Generally, the cooler is well made but what users complain about is the poor quality of the strap and the point where the strap attaches to the cooler.
If those parts are improved, this model would be the best on the market.
All in all, if you do not expect the straps to last forever, this is ideal model for you.
The IceMule Classic Insulated Backpack Cooler Bag is actually a flexible and collapsible bag that you can fold and put it away in your toolbox when you’re done eating.
The bag comes in three different sizes, and it is up to you whether you need the smallest one to carry just your meal or you will get the largest one for both meal and drinks.
The positive characteristics are that it is leak-proof and it does not sweat in the heat as some coolers do.
You should know that this model will keep things cool through lunchtime, but not more than a day of coolness is available with it.
It is soft-sided, so do not expect you meal to be protected if something falls on it.
The Carhartt Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag has a simple design, but there is a number of significant disadvantages that affect its usefulness.
But let’s first speak about the positive side of it.
It is rainproof and your meal will not get spoiled by any kind of water coming from outside.
The weight is just 7.2 ounces which is considered great.
Unfortunately, this model will not protect your meal from getting crushed if something falls on it.
It is not the biggest cooler and has some issues with quality control.
The users liked that it is not an expensive lunch cooler, but when you take into consideration the poor quality, it is better to invest some more money and get a model with which you will be satisfied.
Lunch Coolers for Construction Workers: The Ultimate Buying Guide
In our buyer’s guide we wanted to draw your attention to some significant features and factors that you need to have in mind prior to purchasing any lunch cooler model.
What are the most important things to consider?
There are three most important things to consider when shopping for a lunch cooler for construction work.
Those are heat resistance, durability, and capacity and if these three are satisfactory, you can get even the one that is not on the most expensive side.
Heat resistance is crucial as you might leave the lunchbox outside on a summer day.
If it does not come with adequate insulation, your sandwich and drinks will be destroyed and you will get a disappointing lunch.
Make sure to get a cooler that can keep your food cold for the necessary amount of time.
It can be either days or one day up to lunch.
Strength and durability often come together.
You need to know that not all coolers are made to resist crushing.
If you need it to be sturdy so as to protect your meal if something falls on it, we suggest you get hard-sided cases.
Capacity is the third thing to think about before you buy and this depends on the amount of food you want to put inside.
Getting a model that has the capacity you need would be ideal solution.
If you get the one which has too much capacity, you will end up carrying around too much weight.
On the other hand, the one with too capacity little will leave you wishing you had more space.
Conclusion
In conclusion we can just repeat what is already said.
The Stanley 7QT Heritage Cooler is our favorite lunch cooler due to its amazing warranty, leakproof cooler, and a vacuum bottle.
The runner up – the Klein Tools Work Cooler 17-Quart has a large capacity, but its inferior strap keeps it out of first place.
The Igloo 14.8 Quart Playmate cooler is the one that you can get at a great price, so it is named the best model for the money on our list.
The IceMule Classic Insulated Backpack Cooler Bag has no crush protection while the Carhartt Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag has poor quality control.
We hope that those reviews and buyer’s guide have helped you decide which model is the right one for you.