PackIt is a new and somewhat revolutionary meal cooler that keeps food refrigerator fresh and cold for up to ten hours. It makes the perfect school lunch box and is marketed to parents for school lunches, but it also could most certainly be used by adults and for any number of other uses.
The General Idea:
Let’s face it, ice is wet. That is just not practical when you are packing a lunch. Who wants a soggy lunch? The other most obvious option for keeping your lunch cool is an ice pack. How much do you hate messy leaky, toxic, slimy and let’s not forget, bulky gel ice packs? They are disgusting and they take up a lot of room in a lunch bag that could be filled with nutritious food or beverages. I really can’t stand them!
This is what makes PackIt kind of, possibly, absolutely brilliant in my humble opinion. This little cooler completely eliminates the need for ice and ice packs. Honestly, this fact alone made me want to buy this product.
The Stats and Claims:
- Keeps food “refrigerator” cold for up to 10 Hours; much longer than your average lunch bag or box.
- Eliminates the need for ice and icepacks when packing a lunch, hallelujah!
- Convenient and easy to use – It is compact, simply fold it and put it in the freezer until you need it again.
- Healthy and safe materials used in the manufacturing of this lunch bag.
How they do it:
This product has a patented eco-gel that is permanently constructed into the liner of the bag. It is the first product of its kind. You would have to use at least four ice packs to get that kind of cooling power. There would be no room for the food!
The eco-gel completely surrounds the walls of the bag, so your food will actually stay colder up to five times longer than other lunch bags available on the market, even when you use one of those nasty gel ice packs. It is highly earth friendly, healthy and safe because it is made of non-toxic materials, PVC and lead free as well as lead – tested. Also it is reusable so it will help avoid waste in a number of different ways. This product was actually designed by moms for moms and their children. Obviously they have their children’s best interest at heart, this carries over to yours too.
Ten hours of keeping your food “refrigerator cold” is a very long time! I am presuming that it was tested in optimal conditions. While it most definitely will keep your food cool longer than other lunch bags I am not so sure that I would count on the contents being icy cold at hour ten after sitting in the direct sunlight on a hot summer day. That just isn’t a reasonable expectation. When you have the chance, it is a good idea to just stick it in the fridge to prolong the cooling effect.
This product most likely has its limits, so to speak. The lunch bag has a durable exterior and a patented inner lining, these are great features, but most likely not indestructible. It makes no such claims either. The lining could be punctured by sharp objects, so I would advise to avoid bringing it into contact with sharp items like forks, knives and even sharp aluminum can parts and certain hard plastic container edges, just to be safe and prolong the lifespan.
When you love a product you tend to use it and abuse it. Sometimes things wear out and they need to be replaced. This product is is no different than any other in this sense. It is wonderful that this is a reusable lunch bag, but it does not come with any lifetime guarantees. This is why it is so great that they often have some BOGO deals!
The Cost and Value:
$19.95 + $11.99 with shipping and handling. You get a second bag free, but you have to pay for that shipping and handling too. Overall it is still a good value. At certain times they also include a couple of resealable plastic food containers that fit into the bag nicely and a leak proof, spill proof and shatter proof beverage bottle in addition to a handy lunch planning guide. Overall the cost of all of these products combined is estimated be about $70. When you get all of these extras for around $43 total, it is quite a decent value, especially when you consider the money and waste it will save you.
The amount of food that gets wasted and thrown away from school lunches is sad. Think of how much money you could save if there were leftovers! Don’t throw away that unopened yogurt or milk ever again. You can just put those untouched and uneaten items right back in the refrigerator when your child gets home from school.
The Verdict:
It is a known fact that fresh foods from vegetables and greens to dairy and proteins are far healthier and more nutritious than pre-packaged and processed foods with preservatives. That one is a no-brainer. All parents want their children to be well nourished.
PackIt makes it possible for you to safely pack a fresh and healthy lunch without the fear of spoilage. This is no ordinary lunch bag, it can be used for your child’s lunch, or yours, or your spouses. With one for every member of the family, you will all be eating healthy! Personally, I think it would even be a great option for traveling with medications that need to be refrigerated like insulin. The style of this convenient and fold-able bag is really great too! They have a number of hip and current looks that are gender neutral yet bright and fun.
