Most character lunch boxes are junk. Buy these two instead.

Most character lunch boxes are junk, but the Thermos Funtainer and the Bentology character totes actually hold up for daily school use.

The cheap ones that come from Target or the grocery store — the hard plastic ones with a printed cartoon face — break fast. The latches crack, the “wood” panel peels, and after two weeks you’re zipping the whole thing into a bag because the lunch box doesn’t close anymore. They’re a costume, not a container.

Thermos Funtainer is the real exception. It’s basically a soft-sided insulated cooler with a zipper, and they slap Paw Patrol or Spider-Man on the outside. The zipper is a normal, boring zipper that works. The inside wipes clean. It will survive a school year, maybe two, and keep an applesauce cup cold until noon. Bentology is the backup — it’s a lighter tote bag, but it’s sturdy fabric with proper stitching, and they have a ton of licensed characters.

If your kid’s absolute favorite character isn’t available on either brand, skip the character lunch box altogether and buy a decent plain insulated bag (Bentgo is good) plus a set of character stickers. You’ll end up with something that lasts longer and costs less than the licensed novelty thing, and the kid still gets the “look what’s on my lunch box” moment.

Your kid will likely stop caring about the character by October, but the lunch box has to survive until June.