Continuing our look at in-cab catering kit, here’s our pick of the best and most cab-worthy food and drink containers for taking your meals on the road

We’re throwing drinks flasks and portable food containers under the spotlight to see which ones are worth your money. There’s a huge range of models on offer, but quality can vary massively – and while it might be tempting to buy the cheapest brand you can find, the results can be disappointing in terms of performance.

So in this round-up, we’ve picked out our favourite mugs, flasks, pots, containers and lunch boxes which actually deliver good results. Whether they are keeping drinks cold, soups hot, warming lunches or just providing a bullet-proof grub tin, these products have got you covered…

 

Chilly’s Water Bottles
Manufacturer: Chilly’s
Web: Buy it from www.chillysbottles.com
Price: £15-35 (inc VAT)
We all know buying plastic bottles of water isn’t great for the environment, so instead why not invest in one of these stylish, high-performance water bottles that can be reused as many times as you like? Constructed with a double-walled vacuum, these bottles are available in 260, 500, 750 ml and 1.8 litre volumes – and always keeps their contents crisply cool. They are also easy to clean, but the lid isn’t attached so be careful it doesn’t roll under your seat…

720 DGREE Thermo Mug
Manufacturer: 720 DGREE
Web: Buy it from https://720dgree.de
Price: From £20.97 (inc VAT, Amazon)
This high-spec, leak-proof travel mug from 720 DGREES keeps drinks super hot for up to five hours. Its clever 360-degree opening lid means its easy to drink from, and the mug can be operated one-handed with no annoying spouts etc. Downsides are that while the lid clicks up and down to drink, it’s not easy to tell which position it is in at a glance. We also found it a bit tricky to clean the lid as it’s difficult to get right into the gaps.

 

Chilly’s Food Pots
Manufacturer: Chilly’s
Web: Buy it from www.chillysbottles.com
Price: £18-22 (inc VAT)
These food pots are a good solution if you’re after a robust thermo-insulated container. Available in a wide range of colours and finishes, these pots come in two sizes: a 500 ml one that can keep your food hot or cold for up to six hours, or a 300 ml one that maintains temperature for up to four hours. Perfect for soups, salads, fruit or hot porridge – and there are some more good recipes on the Chilly’s website. 

Thermos King Food Flask
Manufacturer: Thermos
Web: Buy it at www.thermos.co.uk
Price: £19.99-25.00 (inc VAT)
Thermos has been making drinks flasks for years, but its range of vacuum-insulated food containers is also well worth a look. Available in two sizes (470 ml and 710 ml), the smaller version comes with a stainless steel cup, handy fold-out serving spoon and can keep contents warm for up to seven hours, or cold for 12 hours. The larger flask doesn’t have a spoon, but can keep contents hot for up to 14 hours or cold for 24 hours.

Elephant Box lunch box
Manufacturer: Elephant Box
Web: Buy it from https://elephantbox.co.uk
Price: £31.00 (inc VAT)
Billed as ’the last lunchbox you’ll ever have to buy’, this large and deep 2-litre capacity tin is made from 304 grade stainless steel. The lid is held on by sturdy roll clips for a secure fit, and it’s super-easy to clean – just bung it in the dishwasher. You can even use it to store food in a fridge or freezer; plus for reheating, it’s oven-safe up to 240 degrees C. Just be aware it’s not leakproof, as the lid has no rubber seal.

AUTOPkio Electric Lunch Box
Manufacturer: AUTOPkio
Web: Buy it from www.amazon.co.uk
Price: £24.98 (inc VAT)
Nothing beats a hot meal – and even if your cab doesn’t have an oven or microwave, you’re not relegated to cold sarnies. This portable lunch warmer plugs into a 24V socket and can heat up food from room temperature in about 25 minutes (though it obviously takes longer if your meal’s been in the fridge). Made from food-grade plastic with a 304-grade stainless steel inner container, it features two removable inner containers (0.45 litres and 1.5 litres) to help separate different dishes. It also includes a spoon, fork and pair of chopsticks stored in the lid.

Sigg HOT & COLD ONE Thermo Bottle
Manufacturer: SIGG
Web: Buy it from www.sportsshoes.com
Price: From £13.99 (inc VAT)
Though it sports a range of useful features, the best thing about this insulated bottle is it’s ‘Lock-Button’ cap, which is easy to open one-handed when you’re on the go. This Swiss-designed leakproof bottle is made from stainless steel, holds 500 ml of liquid and can keep things hot for 12 hours or cold for 20 hours. It even has a removable tea strainer in the lid if you fancy a brew.

Hydro Flask Coffee
Manufacturer: Hydro Flask
Web: Buy it at https://www.hydroflask.com/coffee
Price: £29.95 (inc VAT)
This high-tech drinking flask has been specifically created to cater for coffee-lovers. Boasting a leak-proof lid, it has a smooth flow opening which enables you to sip hot liquids in comfort (though of course it can be used with any drink really). With a capacity of 473 ml, the dishwasher-safe flask can sit under most coffee brewing machines and can be used as a ‘small’ container at most coffee shops.