Wirecutter

This stainless steel bento box is one of the only leakproof bentos we tested. It’s wide and shallow, with just one tier, and it fits neatly into a bag or backpack. You can’t microwave this metal bento, so it’s best for cold and room-temperature foods.

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TechGearLab

The PackIt Freezable is insulated with a re-freezable gel inside the walls of the bag; the bag is the ice pack! You can pop this in your freezer overnight and have a lunch box that will keep your food cold all day. It kept yogurt at a steady temperature &mdash; within two degrees of the refrigerated temperature &mdash; for the six-hour testing period. The fabric and construction of the bag are soft, and the profile is sleek.
While the PackIt is fantastic at keeping a cold and stable temperature and is easy to wipe clean, the liner of the bag is not leakproof, and neither is the zipper; when water was placed in the bag, it quickly soaked through the liner and outer fabric. We also found that the heavy reusable insulation made the bag slouchy and tricky to pack. The PackIt Freezable lunch bag is an excellent option for those concerned about food-safe temperatures and who need to keep their food cold all day.

The PackIt Freezable Classic is insulated with a re-freezable gel inside the walls of the bag; the bag is the ice pack! You can pop this in your freezer overnight and have a lunch box that will keep your food cold all day. It kept yogurt at a steady temperature &mdash; within two degrees of the refrigerated temperature &mdash; for the six-hour testing period. The fabric and construction of the bag are soft, and the profile is sleek.
While the PackIt is fantastic at keeping a cold and stable temperature and is easy to wipe clean, the liner of the bag is not leakproof, and neither is the zipper; when water was placed in the bag, it quickly soaked through the liner and outer fabric. We also found that the heavy reusable insulation made the bag slouchy and tricky to pack. The PackIt Freezable lunch bag is an excellent option for those concerned about food-safe temperatures and who need to keep their food cold all day.

Budget Pick

This plastic bento-style lunch box is easier for younger kids to use and has fewer parts to deal with, but it’s less durable than our other bento picks.

powerreviews

The Mazforce Original has a leakproof liner and average temperature control. The liner has no seams, so there are no weak points for leaking. It has an exterior zip pocket for extras like utensils or napkins and a drink mesh holder on the outside of the bag. 
Though the Mazforce has a seamless waterproof liner, we ran into the same issue as we did with the other waterproof options; the waterproof models with zippers were often prone to leaking at the zipper. The interior liner was a little difficult to wipe down because it has no shape and is not sewn to the exterior frame of the bag. 

The MAZFORCE Original Lunch Bag has a leakproof liner and average temperature control. The liner has no seams, so there are no weak points for leaking. It has an exterior zip pocket for extras like utensils or napkins and a drink mesh holder on the outside of the bag. 
Though the Mazforce has a seamless waterproof liner, we ran into the same issue as we did with the other waterproof options; the waterproof models with zippers were often prone to leaking at the zipper. The interior liner was a little difficult to wipe down because it has no shape and is not sewn to the exterior frame of the bag. 

America's Test Kitchen

Our winner had the largest capacity in the lineup, with two 4-ounce containers that could be used together or separately—the latter option allowing us to pack different foods or prep two meals at once. Both containers were more than 2 inches deep, so it was easy to stir in and eat from them without spilling. The airtight lids sometimes required a bit of strength to remove, but we didn't mind because it was the only container that never leaked. This plastic model retained a barely noticeable sardine smell after one wash, but that faded after a second wash. This model is available in a variety of colors.

The YETI Daytrip won us over with its durable, easy to clean waterproof material, excellent temperature control, and leakproof storage. It has a rigid frame that is easy to pack and was one of only three lunch bags with a waterproof liner. In testing, it held cool and hot temperatures better than most in our fleet, with only the PackIt Freezable topping the YETI's performance. We found it easy to pack, and food was protected from getting crushed in transport. The lid has a magnetic closure and a sturdy, large zipper. This bag is made of durable materials and is robust enough to stand on its own when you carry it with one of the three handles on the outside.
We tested all the limitations and packed it full of food to take on the go. We found that even though it's mostly leakproof, it did leak a bit at the zipper, which is its weak point. We also noted that the rigid design we liked &#40;for easy packing, cleaning, and protecting food from getting crushed&#41; also made the bag a little bulky compared to the softer designs that can squish down smaller depending on what's inside and slide into packs easier. The YETI Daytrip is an excellent option for people who want good temperature regulation and need a durable, protective cooler for their lunch.

The YETI Daytrip Lunch Box won us over with its durable, easy to clean waterproof material, excellent temperature control, and leakproof storage. It has a rigid frame that is easy to pack and was one of only three lunch bags with a waterproof liner. In testing, it held cool and hot temperatures better than most in our fleet, with only the PackIt Freezable topping the YETI's performance. We found it easy to pack, and food was protected from getting crushed in transport. The lid has a magnetic closure and a sturdy, large zipper. This bag is made of durable materials and is robust enough to stand on its own when you carry it with one of the three handles on the outside.
We tested all the limitations and packed it full of food to take on the go. We found that even though it's mostly leakproof, it did leak a bit at the zipper, which is its weak point. We also noted that the rigid design we liked &#40;for easy packing, cleaning, and protecting food from getting crushed&#41; also made the bag a little bulky compared to the softer designs that can squish down smaller depending on what's inside and slide into packs easier. The YETI Daytrip is an excellent option for people who want good temperature regulation and need a durable, protective cooler for their lunch.

The Lille Home Stackable Thermal Compartment was leakproof in our testing and managed warm and hot food well. It has three compartments that stack on top of each other, secured by threads that screw tight. It is built of plastic compartments lined with stainless steel, and when storing hot food, the insulated container is comfortable to touch and hold. We stacked curried lentils, rice, and a yogurt dish in the tiers and carried them around with no leaks. It boasts a smart design for people who like to keep portions separate or bring different courses. It comes with an attractive felt case that it slides into, with a long, adjustable strap for carrying. Cleaning was straightforward; just wash and let air dry in the dish rack.
Though we liked the design and the performance of the Lille Home Stackable set, it is best for warm or room temperature food, and in testing, didn't keep hot food warm for very long &mdash; at four hours, the food was just above room temperature. We recommend pre-heating the thermos compartments with hot water before packing hot food to help the food stay warm longer. The containers are also not microwavable; the stackable design means that condensation from hot food &#40;or food remnants&#41; can attach to the bottom of each dish when you are unstacking them, as they are used as the lid to the container below. Be prepared with napkins.

The Lille Home Stackable Stainless was leakproof in our testing and managed warm and hot food well. It has three compartments that stack on top of each other, secured by threads that screw tight. It is built of plastic compartments lined with stainless steel, and when storing hot food, the insulated container is comfortable to touch and hold. We stacked curried lentils, rice, and a yogurt dish in the tiers and carried them around with no leaks. It boasts a smart design for people who like to keep portions separate or bring different courses. It comes with an attractive felt case that it slides into, with a long, adjustable strap for carrying. Cleaning was straightforward; just wash and let air dry in the dish rack.
Though we liked the design and the performance of the Lille Home Stackable set, it is best for warm or room temperature food, and in testing, didn't keep hot food warm for very long &mdash; at four hours, the food was just above room temperature. We recommend pre-heating the thermos compartments with hot water before packing hot food to help the food stay warm longer. The containers are also not microwavable; the stackable design means that condensation from hot food &#40;or food remnants&#41; can attach to the bottom of each dish when you are unstacking them, as they are used as the lid to the container below. Be prepared with napkins.

Lunch Box Comparison