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?

Empty your backpack completely and go to work with nothing except your lunch

I have - have I missed the OP detailing this?

@greenteaandlimes well many other people have and it's pretty clear that some people need to take a lot of stuff to work! Also, if you walk / cycle / travel by public transport it's a bit different to going by car.

yeah they'll be thrilled when i turn up without my laptop 🙄

What are you on about @MiddleAgedDread? I asked the OP in response to their original question what they carry in their bag - it is irrelevant what other posters carry in their bags! And your suggestion that I carry things in a car is so off-base, I don’t own a car and never have, and I currently and always have for many decades travelled to and from work on public transport, using a backpack and carrying my lunch and everything else I need in it. So I was hoping that if OP tells us what they have in their bag, those of us with experience could more helpfully advise.

I’ve for an insualated lunch bag - the kind of
thing primary school kids have. It’s customised with a photo of one of our pets on it. Bit childish but I love it.

Ahh the joys of laptops. I wish employers reverted back to desktop computers and we can leave the laptops for home working. Anyway, this could be an option which will save your back and convert to a rucksack on the commute home.

www.johnlewis.com/samsonite-evosight-17-3-inch-wheeled-laptop-backpack-black/p113455928?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20151163389&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1zI6SDG8RYeMZHtZhs2i657o

Because I don't go to the office every day.

Insulated bag with ice block and food for the day in it - we don’t have a kitchen space (our work deem the onsite pay yourself catering as sufficient welfare facilities) it’s ££££ so in I go with my work back pack bag, insulated food bag, travel coffee cup, water bottle clipped to my backpack and my walking stick. In our previous setting we had a kitchen area so could at least take soup in to reheat or noodles to prep. One of the many reasons I am grateful to be hybrid and have protected WFH adjustments so I’m not in everyday!!

Bigger backpack or shoulder bag. You could also consider a wheelie bag, not the done thing i know, but makes it so much easier!

I have a smallish but smart black leather backpack that I use for my laptop and a charger and headphones plus can slip a few bits like a book in. And then I carry a Rains tote bag into which I throw remaining junk and my lunch if I’m taking it in. The backpack was a Christmas present a few years ago and I really like it - but having read the above I am now wondering whether I should just get a bigger backpack and ditch the tote bag!

So you take your laptop home, what else is in your bag? I manage to fit in my laptop, charger, headset, notepad, water bottle and a glass container with lunch in.

Pack minimally both in terms of work stuff and lunch. Like lightweight backpackers. Laptop, notebook, couple of pens, etc. can you leave a spare charger at home if you have docking station at work? Obviously depends on your workplace setup too, but try and optimise what you really need. I've bought some of my own compact accessories (mouse, webcam) rather than the bulky company issue ones.

Basically OP I think you just bought the wrong backpack. Side bottle pockets and a separate laptop compartment make a big difference. It doesn't need to be huge or they get too heavy but it clearly needs to be a bit bigger.

I’m at home now but when office based I used a Herschel backpack and had a matching lunch bag which depending on how full backpack was either went inside of was carried separately

Just to be clear, I carry tons of things, including shoes, including books - but they're in shoulder bags or occasionally totes. I see people with backpacks - but not taking them to work.

Ask for lockers. There's numerous reasons why you should be able to leave IT equipment at work overnight:

• the risk of damage, loss, or theft during your commute;
• anyone who needs adaptive equipment (e.g. specialist keyboard or mouse) should be able to leave that at work;
• anyone with back, neck, or shoulder disabilities shouldn't be forced to commute with IT equipment.

i have a tote bag

I got the insulated lunch bag from ikea and I just carry it separately to my backpack. I could usually fit a lunch box in my backpack but if I need a larger one for what I’m taking or something it’s a faff so I just keep it separate. Means I can keep cutlery etc in it if needed

These are microwavable but they get so hot it can be impossible to hold when you have reheated unless you want to pack oven gloves along with the box. Never gave that a thought when I bought mine so now only use it for cold food.

I’ve ordered this

https://amzn.to/4tGns6I

I use the press to seal ikea food bags to put my lunch in they hold any leaks then it all goes in a tote bag if it doesnt fit in my rucksack

Lunch box that should say. The larger bags