Lunch bag for work commute, is it worth it?

[Aabbaas]

I need to stop spending a fortune in pret or m&s during office days and be more organised with my lunches.
I have a long-ish commute (London), 1 hr and 15 mins or so, door to door. Office has a fridge but I am considering getting myself an insulated lunch bag to keep food fresh longer. I have seen some very lovely ones and wanted to treat myself to one but is it worth it? Curious to know how people use these. I don’t want to hold it with my hand as I commute with a backpack for practicality and comfort and want my hands free. They seem a bit too bulky to put in my backpack though once I also have the laptop, work stuff and change of shoes etc.
How does everyone do this? 😅

What do you envisage taking for lunch?

I think you are overthinking this one a bit. Just buy a smaller lunch bag that will fit in your bag, you can get ones that will just fit around your food tub and then collapse down. Google compact lunch bags

I dont bother with a lunch bag. I pack some left overs usually but also I highly rate the merchant pouch bags. Lentils, beans etc. i have one of those for lunches. Very filling

I am also planning to take breakfast as I always eat it in the office when I go. So it would be a pot of yogurt and fruit or oats and then a lunch container which can be anything really

Unless you are taking anything weird other than usual packed lunch stuff, just stick it in a Tupperware or wrap in foil and bung it in your bag. I use a compartment Sistema and usually have a few other bits in different containers. What needs to go in the fridge does when I get to work, other than that it goes in my desk drawer/stays in my bag. I'm pretty gung-ho about things needing a fridge though.

Yeah I know. I have started a new job and wanted to treat myself to a nice one and build good habits etc.
Do people also use an ice bag inside?

I also want to avoid leaks in the bag so an insulated lunch bag feels “safer”

I would in the height of summer but otherwise no I’ve not found it necessary

Hence asking what you envisaged taking.

I would take mainly leftovers of whatever we have for dinner so it can be anything: pasta, curry, soup, cous cous etc

Right so leak proof critical!

If I take soup, I usually make lots and freeze it in containers, take one out when I get up and take it still semi frozen - defrosts mostly by lunch - I get up at 6, lunch 1 ISH - may just need a bit longer in the microwave but saves it slopping about en route.

For an hour or so I wouldn’t bother with a lunch bag. I just take my food in a Tupperware or ziplock bag depending on what it is

I've got a lovely insulated bag from Dunelm for £6

Works wonders and lotsa lovely designs

A cold drink works as an ice pack. Your commute isn’t that long and it’ll be in the fridge once you arrive.

But if it helps you break the Pret habit then its totally worth the money.

I carry mine! It fits in my backpack but not with most of the other stuff I take to the office.

I did the same... Make soup & freeze it in the microwave cups. Nuke it in the microwave at lunchtime.

Works well for most leftovers as well.... I used takeaway containers. By the time I got to the office they were still frozen so no chance of spilling.

Rather than a lunch bag, which I find pretty useless, I’d treat yourself to one of these:
https://black-blum.com/collections/meal-prep-sets

never had a leak, but put in a plastic sealable bag (that I reuse everyday). You can microwave them too. Not too big for a bag. The only issue I find is remembering to take it!!

This doesn't really answer your question but I use the anxious preoccupied midi bag with the insert, which has great pockets, perfect for 1 of those circular tupperware things for yoghurt and oats and fruit, and then another for lunch.
It's big enough to get a laptop inside and to be honest, anything you really want to take. It's massive. Or you could get the maxi one, which is ridiculously big. None of its a coolbag but I think you're overworrying about that.

Get an insulated lunch bag with a shoulder strap. It is far easier - and feels lighter - to have your lunch in a separate bag, rather than weighing down and stretching a leather work bag. And there is always the day where the seal on the actual box or the thermos mug doesn't quite work - washing a £10-20 lunch bag out is a lot less stressful than an £80 leather one.

I have always taken lunch to work, the container depends on what I am taking but lock & lock and simester are both good like pp if I am taking something liquidy it gets frozen 1st and defrosted enroute.

I definitely cba with a separate lunch bag and like you I normally use a rucksack so I bought one with a insulated separate section at the bottom.
This means even if I'm clumsy ( often ) whatever leaks doesn't go all over the rest of my stuff in my bag.
The one I have currently is a Quechua ( yeah I'd never heard of them either) from Decathlon, I think it was about £60
I'd also recommend a contigo travel cup , the one with the locking lid it never leaks and keeps drinks hot for about 3/4 hrs

Just looking the rucksacks. Interested as to which one exactly you have. Thanks

I've just ordered one of these. I bring breakfast (e.g. overnight oats), lunch and snacks. Water bottle and coffee cup. But found I wasn't bringing enough as the bag I had was too small. So I was starving at 5pm and buying a sandwich then!

I'm surprised how long the insulated bags seem to keep the food cold for, even without an ice bag.

Anyway it should come on Monday so I'll have to check back in next week.

This is the rucksack and travel cup I use .
Don't get excited about the picnic sheet , it's just a square sheet of plastic nothing fancy .
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/arpenaz-500-30l-insulated-hiking-backpack-ice-grey/309158/c71m8844404

https://www.mycontigo.com/products/thermal-mugs/west-loop-autoseal-mini-travel-mug-300-ml/SAP_2203552.html

I just got a lunch bag from Amazon - you can either stick it in the freezer on it's own or remove the built in ice packs and just freeze them. It fits a sandwich and e.g. a pot of oats. Or would fit a tupperware of leftovers... I found I just need to freeze one of the ice pads or it's too cold.