It’s been about a year since I purchased my current day-hiking backpack, the Osprey Manta AG 28 and, quite recently, I’ve been having thoughts about whether I might actually require something larger.
Somehow, I persuaded myself that 30lt was big enough, twelve-months ago and, in an effort to reaffirm my believe, I’ve been looking at ways to reduce and minimise the essential load I currently carry.
So, before driving off to Snowdonia, I purchased a SIGG Metal Box Plus S aluminium food container.
I’d like to state what may be obvious to some who find their way to this page… This lunch box was not cheap! I shopped around on eBay and Amazon UK but still paid almost £20, including postage. It did arrive quickly and was left in my letterbox.
Let’s start with a direct comparison to my old lunchbox:
A plastic container, purchased from Lidl, with a flexible lid that’s liable to break when compressed in to a packed bag.
It should go without saying that’s my SIGG box is significantly smaller in every dimension. There’s also the reassurance of an aluminium construction, where I had been thinking to buy a slimmer plastic box.
Buy cheap and you often end up buying twice.
This should last decades.
Okay. So, it’s too small for your average banana and a whole apple probably won’t fit. But I can squeeze in my sandwiches (not pictured) and its the perfect width for flapjacks, chocolate and other kinds of bar.
Rest assured, my banana can sit in side the mesh pocket to the rear of my pack, above the new box (without being squashed) and where it’s easier to grab [although, this didn’t prevent me from forgetting the fruit for Sundays’ thirty-mile trek].
But really, I think this box is designed for the more ‘health-conscious’ hiker than myself… Someone who enjoys eating cold pasta, salads, fruit and nuts, perhaps.
There’s a silicone insert that fits perfectly inside and lifts out easily for cleaning (I don’t currently use it with bagged sandwiches inside). There’s even an optional divider to keep things separated (I do like my raisins).
Although, it’s not at all clear from my photos, there’s a silicone gasket strip around the inner edge of the lid that keeps things air-tight.
As I said, I expect this will last a considerable amount of time and the strong latches offer reassurance that everything you intend to eat will remain contained.
I haven’t yet tried to submerge this in water but I imagine it will hold up quite well… I should also really take some photos of the box when it’s properly packed.
I’d like to share a link to Splodz Blogz, where I first became aware of this item (and made the purchase very soon after). Zoe’s photos are superior to mine and other colours are also available.
Thanks for reading.
Walks With Olly 