Built NY Lunch Tote - Cranberry Red (Item #8021076) Review

Quick View: I have low blood sugar and, when I don't eat for a long time, I get shaky and very uncomfortable. I used to carry a protein bar with me but now that I have the Built NY Lunch Tote - Cranberry Red (Item #8021076), I carry fresher foods and they are waiting for me - hot or cold - when I want them. This is also a great lunch tote for kids.

My Take on the Built NY Lunch Tote - Cranberry Red (Item #8021076)

This unique lunch tote is made of neoprene and has a self repairing zipper. It folds out to become a place mat when empty and it is washable. It is all soft with no hard edges or parts. It measures 12.5" X 12.5".

One thing I love is that it has a separate compartment for a water bottle. A 32 ounce bottle will fit in there and will stay cold for around four hours. You can then keep food hot in the main compartment for around four hours (longer depending on temperature the tote is kept in).

The inside will hold a plastic container with a sandwich, fruit, raw veggies, and even a snack with no problems. I can carry my water bottle on one side and a turkey sandwich, banana, and some carrot sticks and even toss in some pretzels. Or I can carry a container of hot soup or a cooked frozen Lean Cuisine with sides. I find that I can fit a lot more stuff in the tote than it appears to hold. It is stretchy so it does accommodate odd sizes.

When I eat, I can spread the tote out flat and use it to catch crumbs or protect my clothing from drips. It folds down nearly flat when empty and can be carried in my purse or tote bag. It's super light and has a great soft carry handle that makes it easy to carry around.

The Built NY Lunch Tote comes in other colors but the Cranberry Red seems to be the most popular. I believe there is a regular red color, a black, and a navy. There may be other colors as well. They are all the same except for the color. This company makes lots of kinds of totes and food carriers in all sizes. This one is a small one but perfect for me. It would be great in a kid's backpack because it is soft, keeps food hot or cold without an ice pack (for cold foods) and accommodates a large drink.When kids are done eating, they can toss the foldable tote into their backpacks where it will barely take up any room.

My viewpoint

The Built NY Lunch Tote - Cranberry Red (Item #8021076) is super durable and easy to carry. It keeps foods cold or hot and keeps drinks cold regardless of what is inside the main compartment. The cost varies from $17.00 to around $26.00. You may be able to find one for cheaper offline. This tote has served me well so I bought a larger one for my son to carry food in when he went to California this spring. He loved it and all his friends wanted one. They had brown bags. Ha! 4 stars. It's almost a 5 star tote but it does start to lose its ability to hold heat or cold after 4-5 hours.