How do you carry lunch to work alongside a full backpack?

[Homeiswherethedogsare]

I commute with a backpack but it's usually full so no space for a packed lunch.
Need to start bringing my own food to the office and just wondering whether I need an insulated lunch bag? Or just a tote to carry on my shoulder as well as my backpack? Or just find a way to chuck it in in a plastic bag to avoid leaking?
What does everyone do?

Seriously??

I take mine in this little coolbag ❤️

Well, in my case it's because I work hybrid so take my laptop between home and office as I could be working in either location. Like millions of other people.

I use a supermarket small jute - it has a flat bottom so sits neatly between my feet on the tube. And pack the food in clip lock boxes thst never leak. No need for insulation - fridge & microwave at work. I also take coffee in a Lifeventure flask. This is essential - does not leak, keeps it hot (until lunchtime if necessary)

this looks great, I was thinking of getting one of these but I might have to go for the backpack version

https://amzn.eu/d/0fn7oFDk

I go in with 2 MBPs, tablet, a Remarkable, backup paper, a change of clothes and pyjamas, swimmers, cabling bag, washbag, and lunch bag. So basically inside the bag there's an armada of smaller single purpose bags. And then in all the pockets I've got things like pens and teabags and softcups and painkillers -- I'm basically packed for a mini break at all times, because of my ridiculous job. It fits under the seat on Ryanair.

I went to a meeting of loads of engineers last year and there was a vast shelf of these black waterproof rucksacks with millions of pockets and we all got mixed up. A lot of Mark Ryden bags in the nerd community for some reason. (I do myself have a Mark Ryden bag so I noticed.)

I wfh two or three days/week. For security reasons I'm only allowed to use a work computer. Wherever I work I have to have my laptop with me. Some weeks I'm lucky and my 2-3 days are consecutive. That means I can lock my laptop and backpack in my desk drawer and skip gaily out of the building carrying only a small bag.

I cycle 9 miles to work and we hot desk (can’t keep anything at work overnight apart from shower stuff) so I’m lugging in laptop, daybook, clothes, purse etc so I usually get my lunch on the go but if I do take a packed lunch I usually take stuff that doesn’t take up much space. A smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel can just be wrapped in foil and put at the top of my bag. Chopped salads, bulgar wheat type stuff goes in a collapsible container - Dunelm sell loads and they are great but not watertight. And I use a decent bag which is big enough and waterproof - mine is from Rivelo.

What do you do for a job?

I have a work bag that is huge (though doesn't actually look that big) with multiple compartments so it is possible to carry food etc and it not go over everything in the bag if it leaked, I love it. Get a bigger backpack. Is there some reason yours is so small, are you running/cycling on the commute?

Don't use a lunchbox. Use something soft that can squish better.

yeah cos eating salad out of a sandwich bag is going to end well!!

I have 2 laptops so they go into the office one morning and come home which ever evening is my last day in the office before WFH (I try to do consecutive days).
An A4 notebook.
Often have gym or running kit or work clothes if I've gone to the gym before work.
A breakfast of proper food e.g. yogurt & fruit with a tub of granola or overnight weetabix.
Fruit / veg for snacks.
"main course" for lunch e.g. soup and a sandwich, salad or something to reheat in a tupperware tub and a yogurt.
A water bottle.
We don't have a canteen and it costs a small fortune to buy food to go every day.
Sometimes I have footwear if a pair of shoes I keep at work has gone home for whatever reason.
I have a 30l rolltop backpack and lunchbag full some days!!

Outdoorwear is one of the only things I can be a bit brand snobby about. But I can hand on heart say everything I've bought from there has been brilliant, they supply replacement parts for lots of things to ensure longevity.

illness or injury overnight where I’m fit to work but not fit to come to office… I once fell on way home and needed stitches in my leg, I was fine to work next day but I was advised to stay at home with leg elevated to fix swelling.
Bad weather or other issues closing train lines so not possible (or ridiculously long journey to get into work - work are ok with us WFH rather than arriving at 11 and having to stay until 8pm to make up our working day)
Unexpected issues at home, like leak etc where need to stay in for emergency but again can work
And these days obviously hybrid working

Otherwise would be taking a lot of time off work or working long days to make for 2-3hr delayed commutes if left laptop in office (which is an hour away)

Answer is definitely a bigger backpack though!

Because I work from home 2 or 3 days a week plus I leave the office early to pick up DC from school and reconnect in the evenings

Bigger backpack is the answer.
I use one of thesew https://black-blum.com/products/stainless-steel-box?variant=7034006372380

its actually pretty compact and if you pack it at the base of the bag helps the pack stand up and not tip over.

Im a backpack nerd so very pleased to have all of this stuff figured out 😂🤓

My work has laptops/PCs at work so I don't need to bring mine in

I had to Google lots of this and still don't know what MBPs is. Are swimmers togs? Unusual to bring to work but I think you might be Australian? And pyjamas, washing etc, isn't that more for an overnight than just your standard work bag? A lot of stuff though.

@tofumad MBPs are just heavy laptops - MacBook Pros. I specified because of the weight. Swimmers == swimming costume. I'm not Australian but work a lot in an international team so maybe I pick up foreign phrasing?

I randomly have overnights because if I'm going in to, say, the London office if I don't get out until 7 or 8 (v common) then I can't make all my connections to get home. We work with people in California and you can't get a meeting with them until after 6pm.

Mine doesn't...

In a neoprene lunch bag like this. Very lightweight, takes up little space and is washable. Mine is much smaller than the one shown here.
Portable Zipper Handbags Diving Neoprene Lunch Bag | eBay UK

First post nails it.
What’s taking up all the room in your current backpack?

RTFT

What on earth had you got in your ruck sack? I used to use a small shoulder bag or rucksack and either carried my lunch in a paper carrier bag or bought lunch at work. Assuming you are using a regular size rucksack and not a tiny one you should be able to fit a small sandwich or lunch box inside.