Rotomolded coolers beat lunch boxes on durability.

If you’re on a jobsite, skip the lunch box and get a rotomolded cooler. The Yeti Roadie, Pelican, Engel, or similar will outlast every traditional lunchbox by years — and it doubles as a seat.

Here’s why. Regular lunch boxes have thin plastic shells and tiny latches that snap off the first time they hit a truck bed. Rotomolded coolers are made by spinning plastic powder around a mold, which gives you thick, single-piece walls with no seams. They’re not indestructible, but they’re close. Guys use these things as steps and tool stands, and they shrug it off.

You don’t need a huge one. A 20- to 30-quart size fits lunch, drinks, and maybe a sweatshirt. Look for rubber latches that flip out of the way, a sturdy handle, and ask if it’s bear-proof — that’s the standard for tough plastic. The cheap rotomolded brands are often just as durable as the name brands, so you don’t have to spend Yeti money to get the toughness.

One warning: these things are heavy when empty, and they don’t fit in a standard backpack. But if you drive to the site or don’t mind carrying it by the handle, that’s a good trade.

Buy once, cry once. Or just let it ride in the truck bed like it’s already earned its keep.