From working the jobsite during the week to fishing the flats on the weekend, no matter where the day takes you, you gotta eat. For those of us who prefer to pack a lunch, Yeti just dropped a new line of Daytrip lunch boxes and bags. I got my hands on a couple so I can give you a rundown of what to expect and help you decide which one is the best for your needs.
Yeti Daytrip Lunch Boxes
Basics
- ColdFlex Cell Insulation: Closed-cell foam insulation maintains a stable internal temperature to keep your food fresh.
- Weather-Resistant Materials: Dusty jobsites, rainy hikes, salty beaches… the Daytrip goes wherever you want.
- Wide Opening: Lid opens all the way to help you pack out your Daytrip perfectly.
- Internal PackAttic: Store silverware, condiments, and other items separate from your food.
- Quick-Grab Handles: Side and top handles offer a variety of ways to carry your lunch box.
- Compression-molded Top and Bottom: Offers rigidity so the top and bottom don’t crush your food while maintaining a soft feel.
Digging Deeper
The overall design of these lunch boxes is solid, with a couple of additions that make them more versatile. For starters, the three carry handles on the top and sides is nice. It might not seem like a big deal, but if you’re carrying an armful of stuff to take to the office, being able to grab the handle that offers the best weight balance is super-helpful.
You can also use Yeti’s Daytrip Shoulder Strap as an additional carry option. It clips in securely on the top corners, has plenty of length adjustment, and has a generous foam shoulder pad. Using it cross-body makes for a comfortable carry, even if you’re hiking in a few miles to reach that perfect backcountry picnic location.
The Daytrip Lunch Box is available in either a 3L or 5L size. The smaller of the two is a solid bet to hold a decent-sized lunch, along with a drink and a Yeti Ice Sheet to keep things cold.
On the other hand, the 5L is better if you tend to pack a big lunch, include a few extra snacks and drinks to get you through the day, or you’re packing for two. It can also fit two medium Yeti Ice Sheets side-by-side to avoid taking up too much room if you need the extra cooling.
The 3L model is available for $65 and comes in Rescue Red, Olive, Navy, Black, or Charcoal as base colors or Papaya as a seasonal color.
If the 5L is a better fit for you, it’s $80 and has the same five base colors, plus Papaya and Peach/Beekeeper as seasonal options.
Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag
Basics
- ColdFlex Cell Insulation: Closed-cell foam insulation maintains a stable internal temperature to keep your food fresh.
- MagSnap Closure: Hidden magnets securely keep the lip closed while offering easy access.
- Weather-Resistant Materials: Dusty jobsites, rainy hikes, salty beaches… the Daytrip goes wherever you want.
- External Stash Pockets: Magnetic front and zippered rear pockets to store silverware, condiments, and other items separate from your food.
- Hitch Point Grid: Connect additional accessories or gear to the sides.
- Compression-molded Bottom: Offers rigidity so the bag has a stable base while maintaining a soft feel.
Digging Deeper
The Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag is effectively a 6L mini soft cooler that’s purpose-built to carry a meal for one or two people. Featuring a MagSnap top closure, it has different characteristics than the Lunch Box, even though they share the same ColdFlex Cell Insulation. Because access to your food is so much easier on the go, it’s my first choice for days on the kayak.
Don’t miss the Hitch Point Grid. Not only can you strap other items to the bag, but you can also clip the bag to other gear. For example, if your day pack has MOLLE straps on the back, you’re two carabiners away from the DayTrip Lunch Bag being an add-on cooler. Since it’s compact to begin with, you won’t be adding an obnoxious amount of volume or weight to your backpack.
There are a couple of other elements I appreciate about the design as well. Like the Lunch Box, you can use the Shoulder Strap for hands-free carrying. The external pockets are also a nice addition to leave the inside all about food storage while offering a place to keep items like your phone that you wouldn’t normally stick inside your lunchbox.
The Lunch Bag is available for $80. It comes in one size (6L) and has the same color options as the 5L Lunch Box.
Yeti Daytrip Tote Bag
Basics
- ColdFlex Cell Insulation: Closed-cell foam insulation maintains a stable internal temperature to keep your food fresh.
- MagSnap Closure: Hidden magnets securely keep the lip closed while offering easy access.
- Weather-Resistant Materials: Dusty jobsites, rainy hikes, salty beaches… the Daytrip goes wherever you want.
- External Stash Pockets: Magnetic front and zippered rear pockets to store silverware, condiments, and other items separate from your food.
- Hitch Point Grid: Connect additional accessories or gear to the sides.
- Compression-molded Bottom: Offers rigidity so the bag has a stable base while maintaining a soft feel.
Digging Deeper
While I didn’t get my hands on the Tote Bag, it’s basically a 14L version of the Lunch Bag with a double-strap handle. Having 75% more storage space opens up even more possibilities, and it’s a great size for road-tripping or multi-day jobs.
Obviously, the more you pack into it, the heavier the load. However, like the 6L Lunch Bag, you can use the Shoulder Strap to bear it more easily, and the Hitch Point Grid opens up the opportunity to be more versatile.
The Tote Bag runs $135 and is available in the same colors as the 5L Lunch Box and 6L Lunch Bag, plus a Cape Taupe option that’s only available on this model.
Yeti Daytrip Must-Have Accessories
There are some accessories to make your Daytrip experience better and easier. Here are the ones I recommend:
- Daytrip Shoulder Strap: $15
- Ice Sheet: $13 – 28 each
- Food Storage: $10 – $25 each, $50 set
- MOLLE Bottle Opener: $10
- 3L Sidekick (attachable dry storage): $50
Should You Buy One?
If you pack your lunch and prefer not to carry a full-blown cooler, there’s likely a Yeti Daytrip that’s right for you. Their ability to keep your food cold and thrive in work or adventure environments makes them hard to pass up, especially for us here in Florida. Since they’re capable of doing more than your average lunch box, it’s a nice way to upgrade.
On the other hand, summer is upon us, and the heat is unrelenting. For many folks, it still makes sense to carry a Yeti cooler and pack it with both your lunch and plenty of hydration. However, that Pub Sub might stay cool, but it’s not going to stay dry on top of a bunch of ice, so the best bet is to have both!
