Who are these options for?

Host of a regular multiplayer night

You want enough crisps for several players. The amount in each pack and a flavour that works for the group are important to you.

Group with different snacking preferences

You don’t want to be limited to one flavour. Individual packs or a mix give players more choice and make sharing easier.

Gamer saving snacks for more than one session

You want to be able to close the pack after you’ve finished. If allergies or dietary requirements are a concern, you’ll also check the label on each variant you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether everyone will share the same crisps, choose their own flavour or have crisps with dip during your gaming night. Then consider the quantity and packaging.

What to considerWhat to checkWho is it important for?
Pack size Compare the net weight with the number of players and the other snacks on the table. If several players are sharing a bag, I want to know in advance whether there’ll be enough. Around 33% of consumers put having enough in the pack first.
Flavours and portions Check which flavours are in the mix and how many individual packs you can hand out. When our preferences differ, I want to give players a choice rather than take a chance on one flavour. For around 27% of consumers, flavour choice and portioning are the main concern.
Storage and labelling Check whether the pack can be resealed and, if there are allergies, read the ingredients and allergen information for each variant. If there are crisps left over or someone has an allergy, I want to know how to close the pack and what’s inside. Storage or checking the label comes first for around 20% of consumers.
Dipping Choose between potato crisps and tortilla chips, and check the pack size. If there’s dip with the snacks, I want to choose crisps that work well with it. Suitability for dipping is the main deciding factor for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing one strong flavour for the whole group

    A large bag doesn’t give players who prefer a different flavour any choice. Jumbo describes its sharing bags as several small bags containing different flavours.

    Ask about preferences in advance, or choose a mix if you don’t know what everyone likes.

  • Relying on the flavour name when allergies are a concern

    The flavour name doesn’t tell you which ingredients and allergens are in the exact variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information on the labels of prepacked foods.

    Ask anyone with an allergy to check the current label on the chosen pack before eating.

  • Treating a sharing bag as one portion

    A pack to share isn’t the same as a portion for each player. For example, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses a 40 g bowl of crisps in its nutritional information for crisps in various flavours; this isn’t the nutritional value for every specific bag.

    Put crisps in bowls and top them up as needed, rather than placing the whole bag next to controllers or keyboards.

Brands to consider

Lay's

Potato crisps, including plain varieties; Jumbo lists a 300 g bag of Lay's Ready Salted.

  • A 300 g bag is an option when several players want to share the same flavour.
  • A single flavour offers less choice for a group with varied preferences.

Pringles

Stackable crisps in a tube; according to Pringles, Original is available in 165 g, 70 g and 40 g sizes.

  • Pringles says the tube is resealable, which is handy if there are crisps left over.
  • A 165 g tube contains less than the large bags of 250 g or more mentioned here. If there are allergies, check the label for your chosen flavour.

Albert Heijn

Own-brand plain and ridged crisps, both listed by Albert Heijn in 250 g packs.

  • The stated pack sizes make it easy to compare plain and ridged crisps by quantity.
  • Check the current pack for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information; product details may change.

Jumbo

Own-brand crisps, including 335 g bags of Ready Salted Ridged Crisps and 300 g bags of Ready Salted Tortilla Chips.

  • The ridged crisps come in a large sharing bag; Jumbo describes the tortilla chips as suitable for dipping.
  • Potato crisps and tortilla chips don’t necessarily serve the same purpose on the table, so decide whether you’ll be serving dip.

Lidl Snack Day

Snack Day is Lidl’s own brand of savoury snacks.

  • If you’re looking at different snacks in store, you can compare the packs side by side.
  • If you have dietary requirements or allergies, check the physical label; Lidl doesn’t provide an online list of ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for food products.

Products for your gaming night

These products include sharing packs, flavour mixes and tubes for snacks you want to enjoy over more than one session. Compare the quantity of each product and, if there are allergies, check the packaging for the variant you choose.

Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box Multipack, 20 pieces

Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box Multipack, 20 pieces

A multipack for sharing different snacks with a group.

The product name states that it contains 20 pieces. Check the contents of each pack to see if there’s enough for your group, and read the labels on the individual variants if there are allergies.

View at Joybuy
Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g

Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g

A mix of crisps for a group who want to choose from more than one flavour.

The pack states that it contains 180 g. Check which varieties are included if someone dislikes a particular flavour or needs to avoid allergens.

View at Joybuy
Pringles Original, 3 × 165 g

Pringles Original, 3 × 165 g

Three separate tubes are a good option if you don’t want to open everything during one gaming session.

The product name states that it contains three tubes of 165 g each. Pringles says the tubes are resealable; if there are allergies, check the label for this variant.

View at Joybuy
Lay's Family Box, 15 pieces

Lay's Family Box, 15 pieces

A box of snacks to share between players when not everyone wants the same thing.

The product name states that it contains 15 pieces. Check what’s in each pack and read the labels on the individual snacks before choosing this box for your group.

View at Joybuy
Lay's Paprika Crisps, 300 g

Lay's Paprika Crisps, 300 g

A bag to share if the players fancy paprika flavour.

The product name states that it contains 300 g. It’s a single flavour, so if there are allergies, check the current packaging and ingredients list.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I work out how many crisps the group will need?

Start with the net weight and number of players, rather than the number of packs. A 300 g bag and a 165 g tube contain different amounts; also consider whether you’ll be sharing other snacks.

When are individual packs more convenient than one large bag?

Individual packs are handy when players want different flavours or everyone needs their own portion. Check how many packs and which flavours are actually included; Jumbo describes its sharing bags as containing several small bags in different flavours.

How should I store crisps if there are some left after gaming?

Close the pack after use and follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen. Pringles says its tube is resealable; for other packaging, follow the information on the label.

Is an online product page enough to check for allergens?

If there are allergies, also check the current label on the exact variant you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the allergen information required on prepacked foods; ingredients and product information may also change.