Get a hard-sided lunch box and pack it against the back panel

A hard-sided lunch box packed against the back panel of your bag will survive almost anything.

Soft lunch bags get crushed because they end up in the middle of the bag, where all the pressure from books, shoes, and whatever else you’re hauling collects. Rigid walls distribute that force instead of absorbing it. A cheap hard-sided box costs about the same as a decent soft one.

Placement matters just as much. Pack it last, against the flat side of the bag that sits against your spine. That side of the bag has the least pressure on it, and the bag’s own structure takes the hits. If you’re using a duffel, put it in last and keep it toward the top.

If you’re stuck with a soft lunch bag, wrap it in a sweatshirt. That’s your poor man’s shock absorber. Also, fill empty space inside the lunch box itself — a half-empty box crushes way easier than a full one.

Future sandwiches deserve better.