Wirecutter supervising editor Courtney Schley acknowledges that although the set is expensive ($38 at the time of publishing), “We’ve been using them every day for a year, and they are in great condition. Made to transport an array of foods, the Miniware GrowBento set comes with a double-coated stainless steel bento box (for things like pasta, sandwiches, cut-up fruit, and salads) and two leakproof silicone pods with lids that work well for dips and sauces. Although the included containers do, in theory, increase the options for which types of foods can be packed, Wirecutter editor Ingela Ratledge Amundson points out that keeping track of those bespoke vessels and their corresponding lids can be a challenge: “Since I could never seem to find them when I needed them, I basically just trained myself to pack dry foods only in the PlanetBox.” Both can go in the box or in the Velcro-secured pocket of the cloth carrier. The larger container is 3½ inches in diameter and about 1¼ inches tall, and the smaller container is 1¾ inches in diameter and about 1¼ inches tall (the right size for a dipping sauce).
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Instead, those items can go in the two included small round containers with silicone lids, which were leakproof in our tests. In our tests, water flowed freely from one end to the other, so (as with our other bento picks) we would avoid putting anything liquid-y in the compartments. Unlike the Bentgo, it has no silicone or rubber seals to prevent leaks (or to eventually grow mold). This heavy-duty, stainless steel lunch box is about the size of letter-size paper and 1½ inches thick. Despite these concerns, we believe that the Bentgo has enough significant advantages over the competition to warrant remaining our top bento pick. Although Bentgo’s two-year warranty does offer a measure of protection and recourse should anything go wrong, many folks would prefer to avoid the hassle of getting a replacement. (One Wirecutter staffer remarked, “They fall apart after a year.”) In addition to weak latches, there are reports that the hinges can break, and this is exacerbated by the box’s design: You have to carefully lift the lid over the 2-inch spine to properly place it on top of the food tray if you try to latch it closed with the lid out of place, you will strain the hinges at their weakest point. Since we first published this guide in 2018, we’ve heard complaints that the Bentgo lacks long-term durability.
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![bento 4 section lunch box bento 4 section lunch box](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71n+SFXXztL._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
Its rubber seal is not replaceable, and many online reviewers report that it grows moldy over time. Unlike our other picks, the Bentgo doesn’t have a handle (you can get the PlanetBox with a carrying case), so it’s best transported in a backpack. The Bentgo isn’t insulated and doesn’t have space for an ice pack, so it’s best used for lunches that don’t need to be kept cool.