I Tried to Find a Lunch Box Befitting a Working Adult

I appreciate the main function of the HeatsBox GO, which is to heat your food through a battery-powered mechanism inside. But practically speaking — especially given the steep price — it doesn’t feel worth it to me. It takes around 15 to 25 minutes to reach temperature (which you can set on their app to be between 131 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit) and only lasts two cycles before it needs a charge. The divider inside, meant to fit snugly between the walls of the stainless-steel tray to create two distinct compartments, is made from plastic and doesn’t stay put. There are two parts you have to bring with you: the HeatsBox itself, and then the tray where you put your food, which comes with its own lid. Once you’re ready to eat, you remove the lid and place the tray inside the HeatsBox to warm it. It’s decidedly heavy (a little over two pounds). All this means I would not want to put it in my tote or backpack to commute if I could help it. While I understand there are probably certain jobs or circumstances where such a container would prove useful, I don’t think that’s the case for the majority of people.

The PackIt has a few things going for it: It’s inexpensive, very lightweight, the lid click-locks down securely, and the two dividers allow you to make customizable compartment sizes. However, it’s made from plastic, which degrades and gets stained and smelly faster than stainless steel or glass. And the divots along the bottom — the things that allow you to slot in those dividers in a variety of positions — make the vessel a bit annoying to eat out of, or even decant from. Anything too small gets stuck in between. If I wanted to buy something cheap for snacks (things like crudités, cut-up fruit, or chips), it’s not a bad bet — just not my favorite.

I’ve been using and lovingZwilling’s Fresh & Save glass food storage containersfor storing leftovers for years, so I had high hopes for this. But sadly, I just don’t love it. The fact that it vacuum seals is, of course, the big appeal: You could prep lunch days ahead and it would stay fresh (buy a handful, and they’d last all week). However, it’s an all-plastic container. I understand why the brand did that (the glass versions are truly heavy, and therefore not fit for commuting), but when it comes to lightweight materials, I prefer stainless steel. Like with the HeatsBox, the plastic divider that comes with it doesn’t stay put. The system also requires you to buy the actualvacuum-sealing pump, which costs $90. I think the investment makes more sense when paired with theglass set, but less so this.

Like the HeatsBox, I appreciate what Bentgo was trying to do with the functionality here: The middle piece, which you can remove, works as an ice pack. Freeze it overnight, assemble the box back together, and it will keep your food cool until lunch time. But the reality is that it’s quite heavy — the same weight, in fact, as the HeatsBox. It’s made from plastic and the lid doesn’t come off, which makes it both a bit cumbersome to eat from and difficult to clean.

I like this Bentgo lunch box better than the Chill Max, but it’s not my favorite of the models I tried (you’ll find that pick in the section right below). It’s lightweight, but the compartments are small, both in their perimeter dimensions and, crucially, in depth. You couldn’t fit much taller than a super flat peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread, for example, which gives you fewer options to pack overall.

The MicroSteel Lunch Box is my favorite model I tested from Bentgo. The container itself is made from stainless steel, with a few silicone pieces: a divider that lets you create two compartments, a gasket around the lid, and a small seal you pop off to reveal a hole, which then creates a vent so that you can safely microwave your food. I like its material makeup. I also appreciate the two decently sized compartments, which I personally prefer over three or four small ones (which is what the other models of theirs I tried offer). And the divider itself works well: It’s easy to move anywhere you like, but stays snugly in place once you leave it alone. While of course it’s a plus to be able to microwave your food, my biggest qualm is that — unlikeBentgo’s food storage containers, which I love — the vent seal comes out entirely, instead of being attached to the lid, such that you have to keep track of it. And finally, the lid seals very tightly, but it takes a bit of force to get it off.

This set has a lot going on, but for those who want a one-and-done situation that comes with all the pieces you could need, this is a nice version. The lid itself is made from plastic — but at the end of the day, that’s not something I feel too fussy about. The chances of it touching your food are slim. I like the click-lock lid, which I find easy to take off and put on, but it still feels secure when it’s on. The divider, which you can move around to create different-size compartments, fits well inside. The sauce container didn’t leak when I filled it with aioli and stuck it in a tote bag and walked around, though it did let a bit of oil out the sides when I tried the same thing with chili crisp — so I would pack it snugly inside, as opposed to separately. The utensil holder keeps all the pieces compact and in place, muffling any potential clanking sounds. And when empty, all the spare parts fit inside of the main container, so you can store it neatly.

PlanetBox’s Salad Bowl Kit is made with great materials: a borosilicate glass bowl (so it’s not too fragile), a stainless-steel three-compartment tray with an accompanying stainless-steel dressing jar that nests on top, and a silicone-lined lid. All the pieces fit well together and are easy to stack and then undo when it’s time to eat. It’s a smart construction. My only gripe is that the compartments up top — meant, of course, for various toppings — are on the smaller side. But depending on your salad composition, it’s easy enough to change the ratios as needed (like putting a protein in two of them, or adding certain vegetables or grains into the bowl itself, along with the lettuce, as long as they won’t cause wilting). You can also use just the bowl for any dress-ahead salad with longevity, like noodle salads and pasta salads, bean salads, or even kale salads that won’t get yucky hanging out in dressing.

If you’re after something simpler, I’m a big fan of Yeti’s insulated bowls. They make two styles: the lower-sided, flatter-bottomed one here, which is my favorite, and a more traditionallybowl-shaped one. Each of these comes in larger sizes (which I also got my hands on and have to say, would be very nice for schlepping foods to other people’s houses, if that’s something you do). But in both cases, the smallest of each is perfect for a lunch portion. There are no extras here: no dividers, no separate containers, no vent. But that fits how I most often like to eat lunch when I take it on the go. As described above, a one-and-done grain salad, bean salad, or kale salad, or else leftover noodles or fried rice, for example, are all neat and easy to pack, and this vessel accommodates such things perfectly. The insulated interior is helpful, though I wouldn’t rely on it in the same way I would a cooler packed with ice packs, or a thermos meant to keep food hot. The temperature dissipates in either direction after a couple of hours.

Another favorite from PlanetBox is the Explorer, a stainless-steel lunch box with two tiers: the larger main vessel, and a microwavable tray that fits directly inside, hanging on the rim, above the bottom. I like that you can separate foods if you want, but it’s also not overly compartmentalized. The material looks quite nice — and also allows every component to go in the dishwasher (there’s a silicone gasket, too, the only non-stainless-steel piece). The clasps on each side of the lid lock down firmly, and the lid stays on even when jostled around.

This Klean Kanteen set seems expensive, but you get three versatile containers. Considering that, the price isn’t too shabby. The largest comes with a plastic divider, but unlike the HeatsBox and Bentgo Chill Max, it locks into one of two positions and doesn’t slide around. And sure, it’s not ideal that it’s plastic, but you can forgo using it altogether (and I personally don’t think such a small piece near your food is a big deal). The middle size is perfect for snacks or a more moderate portion, and the smallest is nice for fruits, cheese, or a sweet treat. The lids secure well (there are small clasps on the sides of the big and medium). And the two smaller ones fit inside of the largest for compact storage.