aadaken

Hi, I bike to work about 7 urban miles, and pack a lunch most days. Recently, I've managed to break almost every plastic container I've brought my lunch in. (Usually in canvas tote in a rack basket, along with my u-lock, my purse and the day's work clothes.) How do you avoid this?

Note: I need liquid-sealed lunch containers, since I often bring soup or similar.

no motor?

How about a thermos?

tdreyer1

What are you doing to those containers‽
I've never broken a plastic lunch container. I usually carry my lunch in cheapo plastic containers in a soft insulating lunchbox in my chrome messenger bag. For liquid tight containers, though, I use the screw-top ziploc containers. They're thicker too so they ought to work for you.... I hope!

SouthFLpix

There are lunch boxes and thermos made out of metal. If you can still break the metal ones, then there is probably some other issue going on that you should investigate.

Link to metal lunch box and thermos set:
https://www.lunchboxes.com/dome.html

"Made of black, heavy gauge steel
Thermos is made of stainless steel"

MichaelW

The ones with mechanical latches seem to be pretty strong

jeffpoulin

Perhaps you could put the container inside inside a bubble-wrap bag and keep the u-lock away from it.

exile

Without know what specifically is going on in your rear basket, I suspect things are bouncing around. How bout a cargo net or bungee cords to strap down the things that are bouncing around.

scroca

I carry soup in the unopened can, which fits in the water bottle cage.

LesterOfPuppets

I'd look into something like this for soups. Never tried one, though.


https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Stee.../dp/B004CYQHLG

HardyWeinberg

Things I worry about breaking I stuff inside my clothes for cushioning.

These pyrex containers are tough and watertight (and microwavable). We send our kids to school with them. And if one breaks (I would say unlikely but you have an interesting track record), you can reuse the lid and buy only a bottom next time...

making

I have a small thermos for soup, I have those little sandwich containers with "wonder bread" or "crayolas" on the lid. I put all my lunch in a plastic grocery bag in case something leaks. I also put my uniforms in a grocery bag just incase my coffee thremos leaks. I might be jinxing myself, but I have never broke are had a single thing leak. I think my bagging up stuff is holdover from by backpacking days. I have often used rubbermaid sealed containers with no problems either. Yea, if you are breaking up stuff on your ride maybe there is another problem. Do you ride on trails, streets, crosscountry?

Sorry, I see you said urban miles.

tdreyer1

Genius!

Praxis

I avoid this by carrying lunch in a messenger bag.

iceicebaby

+1 Pyrex. It's what i use in labs equipment and I've never had it break on me. They're a bit more pricey though

no motor?

Bento boxes look sturdy at the Mitsuwa down the street from me. They're made to keep liquids cold/hot for hours, and seem really sturdy - sturdyer than the ones in the link I posted.

LesterOfPuppets

This stuff is unbreakable also:

https://www.to-goware.com/store/cart....oduct_list&c=4

making

This stuff looks real nice, but I dont know if I coudl stand that much organization in my life.

CB HI

Maybe try a hard case trunk:
https://ridethisbike.com/products/acc...arry-trunk.htm

colleen c

If you have a microwave at work then put the soup in a plastic leak proof container and freeze it overnight. Then pack any extra food with that in a ziploc bag or plastic bag. The frozen soup will keep every thing else fresh. You have all morning to defrost the soup at room temp.

gerv 

+1. I use the Rubbermaid containers with the red top. Been doing this for a long, long time. Never broke one or spilled anything, so I have to ask...

aadaken

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions. I do have a bungee net holding everything down in the back, and usually there isn't a lot of room for bouncing. I thought so, anyway!

I think I'll try padding, and also see if I can figure out a way to get my u-lock out of the basket. I can't imagine what else would be breaking them - they way they fail looks like impact fractures, not stress fractures. If all else fails, I found a couple of different types of stainless steel bowls with plastic or silicone lids. As one poster said, if I can kill those, I'm in trouble! They are pricey though, an old towel is cheaper.

making

Impact fractures? I would like to ride to work with you someday. Think about how you would have to beat your plastic containers with a u-lock to break them. And you do that on the way to work. I think we need to think about this more. 7 miles, in the city? If you dont mind tell us more.

cooker

I know what you mean - I've done that since I was in diapers.

travelmama

Use a lunch box or put your food in ziploc bags and reuse them.

alhedges

I use gladware in a softsided insulated cooler in a backpack in a basket, bungied down. And I've never broken anything, even once. I think that there must be some packing flaw somewhere.