REVIEW – I’ve noticed that when I go camping with our Scout troop, I usually shove my lunch into any nearby paper or plastic bag I can find. I never remember to use a small cooler. Now I get to try out a soft-sided lunch bag without a load of branding, which is exactly my taste.
What is it?
The Tacticism 12L lunch bag is a soft-sided insulated bag that comes in various colors, and has a matching detachable bottle caddy and shoulder strap.
What’s in the box?
- Tacticism 12L Lunch Bag
- American flag patch
- Detachable bottle caddy
- Shoulder strap
Hardware specs
10.63″ x 7.87″ x 9.45″(L*W*H)
Design and features
One of the first things that got me excited about the Tacticism 12L Lunch Bag was the hook and loop panels on the front. Add fun morale patches or name tapes. To get you started, you get an American flag patch. Thanks!
Each side is functional. On one end you’ll find a mesh pocket with a drawstring. Loops are on the other end.
On the back? Many, many more loops! Your imagination is the limit.
There’s a zippered panel in the front of the Tacticism 12L Lunch Bag that’s just perfect for a smartphone. It’s heavily padded to absorb impacts (I’m pinching the front “door” in this photo).
Unzip the lid and you’ll find a mesh pouch under the lid.
Here’s a look into the cavernous interior space. It’s waterproof and has about 12 L capacity.
There’s also a shoulder strap, but mine arrived… incomplete. There’s no way to attach the second hook. A quick fix on my sewing machine made it right.
The bottle caddy can attach to the Tacticism 12L Lunch Bag with a snap on a strap. It will hold a 16-ounce water bottle with ease (blue) but won’t fit a larger 32-oz bottle (orange). If you have a bottle the diameter of a soda can, you’ll be fine. 
Setup
The most obvious test I could think of was, “can I fit a six-pack”? Yes, with a lot of room to spare for ice, cold packs, a sandwich, snacks, etc.
Performance
I was curious how well the Tacticism 12L Lunch Bag could keep things cool, so I found a small hard-sided cooler. I placed a small bag of ice in each and let it sit overnight, indoors.
Overnight, I learned the hard-sided cooler had lost 29% of frozen ice to water. The Tacticism bag melted 32% to water. Slightly more, but it was just one experiment.
What I like
- Unbranded (no logos)
- Handy attachment points and pouches
- Waterproof interior
What I’d change
- Strap came defective
- The top handle causes the lid to crease under load
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for a low-key, soft-sided lunch bag, the Tacticism 12L bag is pretty nice for the price. Other colors and sizes are available. Don’t expect miracle cooling properties, and look out for the strap you get!
Price: $33.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tacticism
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Wow! This is a great review and the lunch Bag looks nice!