Do you pack a lunch for your kids? This is a task which drains years off of my life, and yet it’s something I gotta do five times a week. With our oldest child heading to kindergarten this year, I asked some veteran mom friends for a lunch box recommendation. Without a doubt, the masses shouted “Bentgo!” So of course we had to try one out. Here’s my honest review of the Bentgo Kids Lunch Box System, complete with photos and a video demo at the end.
We’ve paid for all of these products ourselves and so there are affiliate links in this article. No extra cost to you, but I’ll get a small cut of the sales. Thanks for supporting my little family!
What is Bentgo?
Bentgo is a brand of lunch box kits which boast various “bento-esque” sections within a larger shell. The two pieces separate, and can be mixed-and-matched however you like.
When you buy Bentgo Kids specifically, you get three pieces: there’s the main “inner compartment” which is where the food actually goes. It’s one color, top-rack dishwasher safe, and can also be microwaved for up to 3 minutes at a time (so for reheating, but not for cooking).
You also receive the “case” which is the outer, two-toned part. This piece features the snaps and the rubber seals along the top, to keep the inner compartment clean and food in its respective slots.
You’ll also receive a “lid” which is just a clear plastic piece that can snap over the inner compartment. This is good if you pack more than one lunch at a time, and have an extra hanging out in the fridge.
You can see the Bentgo Kids product page here. And their brand FAQs, including warranty and safety information, can be found here. Bentgo Kids product dimensions are as follows:
Dimensions: 8.5” x 6.5” x 2”
Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz.
No BPA, Vinyl, Lead, or PVC
FDA Food Grade Materials
Note: Bentgo Kids does NOT fit in the Bentgo Insulated Bag.
What We Love About Bentgo
I think that the concept is fantastic. I love that my child can pick various things to put in his lunch and keep them separated. He loves to dip pizzadillas or wontons and with Bentgo I don’t worry about The Soy Sauce Incident of 2018 happening. The rubber seal on the case really does work well overall.
Considering you have small sections and two different pieces, I don’t have a problem cleaning the Bentgo insert and case.
I think you can also help teach kids about portion control, and healthy balanced meals, by showing them the kinds of foods you can put in each section. If you’d like to read more about how we talk to our kids about food to encourage healthy habits for life, check it out here.
I also think that if you take a minute to show your school-aged kids how to open the snaps and lay the Bentgo flat, that they can use the Bentgo on their own without issue. (I use one with my toddler occasionally but she has my supervision.)
I also found out, through my own experience, that Bentgo has a two year warranty on their products. Just contact them with proof of purchase, your shipping address, and a photo of the issue, and they can send a replacement.
What’s Not So Great About Bentgo
For us, the initial deterrent was the price. Realistically you’d like to have multiple sets so that you don’t have to wash your Bentgo pieces every night (and then dry them, and then pack them again). So we currently have three inner pieces and one case. Bentgo, Zulily, and others will offer sales occasionally, but it looks like the original price is about $40.
Why don’t we still have the second case we bought? Because there was a defect and the rubber seal failed. You can see a photo below, but just imagine that teal seal looking like it’s peeling off (and thus no longer effective). Luckily, we’d gotten it on a sale with Zulily and I was able to utilize the two year warranty that I mentioned above. It was just disappointing to get a defective product and have to wait for a new one!
The other concern we had was making sure that this thing fits into our son’s lunch box. While he didn’t need to put more food in there – just the Bentgo and his water cup in an outside pocket – the Bentgo is still quite wide. So keep that in mind if you have an existing lunch box, or are letting your child pick out their own. Check out the dimensions I listed above.
Want to get some great ideas for what to pack in these things? Watch our second video at the end of this article.
I’ll finally say that while a ton of friends use Bentgo Kids (and have way before I jumped on the bandwagon), many are complaining that the new Bentgo Fresh line is not nearly as durable. Lots of breaks and other complaints. So be warned!
Overall Impressions of Bentgo
I think the concept of Bentgo is great. It makes a lot of sense, especially for kids. While I had a faulty one and the new Fresh line seems to be a flop, the Bentgo and Bentgo Kids lines are working for multiple years, for multiple kids. And Bentgo also makes other accessories, bowls, lunch boxes… Resist! Don’t get sucked into the abyss!
I do recommend that you check into the Bentgo warranty in-depth, and that you buy your Bentgo from a place that is friendly when it comes to returns. If you can afford it, it’s also nice to get more than one case so you’re not having to wash one every night.
So if you can afford the cost up-front, it looks like Bentgo really can be worth the money. But only you know if it’s the right fit for you (and your lunch box)!
I hope that this has been a helpful review – I appreciate you sharing it out, pinning it, and using my affiliate links! Now time to check out my video demo on YouTube:
And if you’d like some ideas on what to pack in the Bentgo, get all of our updated ideas here with Kiddo!
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