School Year-End Survey: Lunchboxes and Backpacks

[Anonymous]

Very happy with the Crocodile creek backpack and lunchboxes...
as others I never tried putting them in the washing machine but use a Chorox wipe daily.

For warm lunches, I use a wide Thermos adult size and put an ikea kid plate and cutlery in the lunchbox.

For water, I use adult size ones... my kids drink tons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LL Bean backpacks are great. My son used to go through at least 2 cheap backpacks a year before we got him an LL Bean, and it doesn't even look used after a year.

We have an LL Bean backpack for my 4th grader. She's tough on stuff, and while it definitely looks worse for the wear we'll probably be able to get another year out of it. It's wasn't particularly expensive either; 50 bucks or so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, we sprung for a planetbox lunch box for my husband and he loves it. If I could promise my kid wouldn't loose it I say it's the best bet for long lasting, non smelling lunch box. But they are crazy expensive and I would never buy one for my kid. We use target. We've been very happy with the GAP backpack/ lunchbox combo, but it has ripped the backpack since my daughter insists on snapping them together. And she carrys a 12 oz water bottle in her lunch its on the heavy side...

http://www.planetbox.com/shop

is there a beverage holder? All three of my kids take a water bottle in their lunch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- THANK YOU everyone for all these wonderful ideas.

The http://www.easylunchboxes.com look really great. For the PP who uses them, do they fit in a PBK or LLBean lunchbox?

The bags the Easylunchboxes site sells are pretty boring and I'd like to get something a little more fun. The containers look so easy though!

Thanks again.

new poster...yes they do and I don't get fancy with mine. I put a sandwich in the large compartment, fruit in the other-grapes, an orange, apple slices etc and something crunchy in the third-goldfish, tortilla chips, pretzels, chips etc all three kids use them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an LL Bean lunchbag. It's worked great but it stinks! I try to keep it clean but ugh. Not to hijack the thread but any suggestions on how to keep those nylon lunchbags clean?

Maybe wash it with a vinegar/water mixture?

Throw it in the washer and then air dry.

[Anonymous]

I bought my older DD the Target Swiss brand backpack three or four years ago. She has passed it on to her sister as she got an LL bean backpack. The Target one has been through 4 years at this point, I think. It's every bit as sturdy as the LL Bean one.

[Anonymous]

Pack it and thermos