Customer Reviews

EasyLunchboxes 3-compartment Bento Lunch Box Containers (Set of 4) BPA-Free. Easy-Open Lids (Not Leakproof)

5 star:		(140)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(31)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

First, I'll address what I'm guessing is likely to be the most common question/gripe . . . Yes, they are certainly worth whatever-multiple-of-the-cost of those nationally available ones (whatever name-brand you choose). These are different!

They may be inexpensive enough that your blood pressue won't spike if/when your child loses one at school, but they are most certainly not 'take and toss.' You'll know that the moment you hold one; they're heavier, thicker, sturdier. We have had ours for a few weeks shy of a year now, and they still look/work like brand new. No stains, no etchy shadows, no warping at all (not the bodies, not the lids). I've never hand-washed them, they've been run through the dishwasher every time.

The only downside you may not know about to question/gripe . . . the lids are NOT water-tight (it is mentioned right there, under product features, but in case it gets missed or skipped over). I wasn't thrilled about that to begin with, but it's not such a drawback in my mind anymore. I can use press-n-seal wrap over the whole thing or individual section(s) if I need to, and it also means that the lid isn't so snug that my 4yo can't open it.

SO glad to see them available through Amazon now! With super-fast, free Prime shipping, I think we'll add another set into our rotation for next year (when there will be 2 packing daily lunches!).

I really wish I could give these Easy Lunchboxes a 5-star rating. They are one of the best options for my lunches and for my 2 preschoolers's lunches/snacks. I love the 3 compartments, the lid is easy to get on and off, and I like that these are BPA-free.

There is only 1 thing that prevents me from giving 5 stars. Within a week after purchasing the set from easylunchboxes.com, each of the 4 lunchboxes became cracked or chipped, in which a small pieces broke off around the upper, outer edge (in different places on the different boxes). It doesn't affect the performance of the lunchboxes and is not dangerous or sharp for the kiddos. But I was very disappointed because I expected these to hold up longer. I followed directions and washed on the top rack of the dishwasher. And I didn't throw them around. I simply carried them in a backpack to work, so it wasn't even the use/abuse by a rambunctious child or anything.

Regardless of the cracks/chips to the outer edge, I continue to use these nearly every day, so definitely a great option, and I hope future improvements include more sturdiness. I also wish that the bag that is available to go with these would fit all 4 lunchboxes at one time. It only fits 3, so if we want to pack for my husband, myself, and our two sons, I have to use a different bag.

I have used them for almost one year and the concept is practical as I can send one container at school for my daughter. However, here are my complaints about this product, 1) the lids don't stay in place, so we need to make sure she doesn't turn her lunch box upside down and 2) they don't seal, so forget about any type of "humid" food (exemple strawberries that start to release their juice or drained canned fruit, the juice will end up coloring the sandwich or getting the whole lunch box dirty). To be honest, I don't think I'll buy them again. The concept is good but I think the company could invest in improving the product so the containers seal right and the lids stay on. Just my opinion.

These containers truly changed my whole way of thinking about how I pack my children's lunches. I wrote a post about it on my blog where I continue to post new lunchbox ideas (Just a Bunch of Momsense/What'sforlunch.) These containers just have a way of opening your mind to packing a wide range of healthy foods. From last night's leftovers, to "a little bit of everything" the possibilities are endless. And if you need more inspiration, there is a beautiful photo gallery of readers' ideas through the EasyLunchBoxes site. You'll never look at lunch-packing the same way again.

So what's so great about it?

- One container, 1 lid, 3 compartments = No more baggies (think landfill)or trying to keep track of lots of different containers/lids
- Compartments help control portion sizes
- Lots of great ideas through website
- Dishwasher safe
- Microwave safe
- BPA FREE
- Create your own freezer meals
- Sturdy design
- Stack & store easily & don't take up much space
- You'll save money (and the earth) not having to buy baggies, or individually packaged snacks
- You can create healthy "MOMables" instead of giving your kids those preservative-filled store-bought things
- Your kids will never think their packed lunches are boring (Sooo many creative ideas out there) Check out Easylunchboxes/fansites

We also use the EasyLunchBoxes coolers so we don't have issues with the lid not staying on and my kids are in middle & high school so we also have no issues with the lunchbox being turned upside down. The website AND the packaging for the containers, state that they are NOT leak-proof. They are meant for all ages so that a young child could handle them. Perhaps, that is something to consider before purchasing if the lunchbox has a chance to be turned sideways or upside-down at all throughout the day. I guess it's a compromise if you're trying to use a different style of lunchboxes for favorite characters, designs, etc. One option with these ELB coolers is to decorate them using iron-on transfers, puffy paints, hanging things from the grommet in the handle, etc. There are ideas for this on the ELB site as well.

I actually have 2 sets (so 8 in all,) so there are plenty in the rotation: 2 kids, 2 adults, plus a few freezer meals, lunchboxes left at school, dirty ones, & enough for picnics/day trips with friends, etc. I always wash the bowls in the dishwasher (top rack), and the lids are either tucked sideways against the side 'wall' of the top rack, or if they're not messy, I give them a quick squirt of soap under running hot water, rub with my hand or a sponge and rinse. They've all held up well.

I hope this review has helped you with your purchasing decision.

We've had these for over a year and love them. These worked really well for my daughter who was in a a Pre-K class, she could open them.

Do know the won't do liquids, so no soup for that. We have a thermos for soup days paired with half cup Klip Its for other items. Klip It 1760 6-Pack Value Set Also we use the dishwasher for them and have had no problems, that being said our dishwasher is set for air dry rather than a dry mode.

They have worked fantastic for family picnics, everyone has their own lunch packed.

I paired these with Wilton Square cupcakes to create more areas in the larger portion. Wilton Square Silicone Baking Cups, 12 Count

I discovered Easylunchboxes some time ago and tried some containers to use for my daughter's lunches. I now use them for lunches for all 4 of my kids at home every day. They make it very easy to portion out food nad keep it contained like my kids like it. They are dishwasher safe, sturdy, and easy for even kids to use. They stack nicely in my cabinet as well.
They are not liquid-tight, but you can use a piece of waxed paper or press & seal wrap over the top of the compartment and it helps. You still need to use caution when placing very liquidy and runny items in, but it's doable.

Love these. I've had mine for over a year, and there is little to no wear on them. Unlike the "disposables" brands, they haven't warped after a few washings or after being reheated in the microwave. They don't easily bend or crush (although I haven't tried really really hard to destroy one yet either.) They are PERFECT for little kids eating in the car - they are large enough they don't slide around or tip too much on a lap, yet small enough to fit easily between the armrests of a child's car seat. (I keep one in my car at all times for the unplanned Happy Meal-in-the-car.) And because the lids come off easily enough for a child, they are also easy enough for a one-handed removal by Mommy while driving.
The cooler bags (EasyLunchboxes Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag, Aqua) for these are also worth getting, not only because they fit perfectly (you can fit 2 plus an ice pack, or 3 without) but because they fit FLAT to prevent tipping, and the strap is short, which makes it harder for kids to swing their lunch bag around and destroy their lunch!

As for all the 'but they LEAK!' complaints, first off, they are designed to be carried flat. If you can get a glass of water from one end of your house to the other, you can manage to not spill your lunch all over itself. But since kids aren't always so careful, you can use a slip of wax paper or some plastic wrap between the container and lid over the compartment with the 'leaky food' and it helps create a better seal. Or just use a separate small container for the really leaky stuff that day. If for some reason your lid keeps popping off, 25cents worth of elastic and some hand-sewing with a little repair kit can make you a nifty little band to help keep it shut. And if you're only needing to pack ONE box in a cooler at a time, the BUILT Neoprene Spicy Relish Lunch Tote, Black holds one box snugly (laying flat,) with room for an ice pack underneath and a can or drink pouch/box on top. Plus usually a piece of fruit as well.
But anything truly 'leak-proof' is also pretty much 'little-kid proof.' My daughter is 3.5, and she can't open Tupperware, Ziploc, Gladware, etc. But she can do this all by herself. And get the lid back on. She has managed to prize off a Rubbermaid container lid when she was highly motivated (there were cupcakes inside) but no way could she seal it back up, which would be desirable for the return trip home! And while the Ziploc ones ARE water tight, they were a real hassle to open and seal. At one point I was banging it against the counter... until after a few washings, that is. Then the lid was too warped to seal properly.

[....]

The tops don't click on. They just rest there. They would compltely just fall off if you held it sideways (as most kids' lunchboxes do).

They are useless because of this. too bad. great idea.

I originally purchased two of the box containers sets for my 3 kids last year. All 3 of my kids really enjoy taking their lunches in the containers. There is plenty of space for a healthy and filling lunch. We also use the coolers that you can purchase from easy lunchboxes and we fit the lunch containers, juice and midday snack into the cooler bag with no problem. I have packed yogurt and applesauce in the containers for my kids before. If you do not keep them upright they will leak. I have a 4 year old who typically tips his lunch container at school when getting it out of the cooler. We remedied any kind of leaking by covering the compartment with a piece of wax paper. He simply takes the wax paper off once he gets the lid open and moves on about his business. I pack strawberries and cucumbers often as well and we have had no issue with any kind of wetness getting into other compartments. We also use the larger compartment for several items at a time and divide them up with silicon cupcake cups. We are more than pleased with this purchase! I have received several compliments from teachers, lunch staff and parents about how great the containers are. I also like that they help to provide some portion control for the kids. I would recommend these to other parents!

I'm 20 years old and I absolutely love these containers. I recently bought them so I can have better control over what I'm eating at babysitting jobs, and they are just wonderful.

Now, I would say that the "easy open" feature isn't such a big deal to me since I'm not a little kid, but after wrestling with a rubbermaid container and lid last night, I'm glad I can just get right to my lunch.

The containers can fit a lot more than I was expecting, especially if they're packed right. On nights I babysit, I'll use one container for dinner, and another for snacks. There's enough room in the cooler bag to add in additional snacks if needed. Yet, the cooler bag isn't so big that I need something different if I'm only packing one container.

They are also very durable. Now, they aren't leak proof, but I don't pack anything too wet in the containers (and the cooler bags keep the containers flat, which is a bonus). However, you have to keep in mind that you're picking between leak proof and easy to open.

One of my lids did chip, but I contacted the company, and I was sent a replacement. There was also an issue with the fabric around the metal grommet of my first bag (an issue which has been repaired in later versions), and I was immediately sent a replacement without any problems. Their customer service is amazing, which is worth about five stars alone.