So I’m gonna just jump right in and provide some info I have collected about a few different bento boxes and lunch containers I have used over the years.

PlanetBox Rover 
I will start off by noting I haven’t used the newer silicone cover dippers, I have the older style with the metal cover. That was one of my cons, the covers were almost impossible for me, a grown adult, to remove. They fixed it! Yay! Now little hands can probably pry them open to the delicious goodness inside.
Pros:
-Metal-no plastic leeching into foods
-Silicone covers-leak proof, food grade and easy to open and close
-Solid construction
-Lots of space and enough room for a full sandwich/entrée plus sides and dessert
-Adorable magnets to adorn the outside
-Easy to open latch
-One piece-no lids to lose (unless you send the dippers and lids)

Cons:
– Not leakproof (Only the dippers with silicone covers are, so you have that 😉
– Heavier than most bento boxes
– Don’t fit into many brands of lunchbags other than the planetbox rover lunchbag or their backpack with built in lunchbag.
– Price-this isn’t your budget lunchbox that you won’t cry when it doesn’t come home from school, you will! lol so it’s great for little ones who are very responsible. ($55.95 USD on their site)
– Need the dippers and lids if you want to send foods that will transfer to other compartments or outside of the box

Yumbox
Panino (4 compartment)
There is another 6 compartment called the original (same dimensions but more sections of different sizes for children who like a wider variety) also there is a larger size called the Tapas that comes in 4 and 6 compartment, this designed for bigger appetites and good for adults as well.
I also have the MiniSnack (3 compartment) it is smaller box designed for snacks, I find it perfect for my 6 year old. I pack a yogourt and fruit, or cheese/meat and crackers.

 

Pros:
– Only 2 pieces (hinged box and bento insert)
– Easy open, single latch is super easy, even for pre-school age children
– Leakproof-Out of the box AND compartment to compartment (Yogourt in one and crackers/sandwich in another)
– Cute colours and inner designs
-Can fit many different brands of lunchbags and not just their own
-Can fit a whole bagel and an entire sandwich (depending on size of bread, some I have to cut the crust off)
-BPA free
-Replaceable inserts

 

 

Cons:
– Handwash-Although they say top rack safe, I have handwashed ours from day one and the design on the insert has begun to come off it isn’t printed on the inside at least but it sucks since I treat it so delicately
– Watch for mould-Don’t store it away closed because it’s hard to get this perfectly dry (a lot of crevices, etc) make sure it air dries well before storing open!

Go Green Lunchbox

  
Pros:
– A lot of room!! You can fit lunch and snacks in this baby, or lunch and a bottle of water (like the stock photo above, but I’ve only seen their brand in it, it’s a small bottle) I pack enough food in this thing to feed our entire family of 4 on the road.
-Leakproof if you use the “turn ‘n lock” on the cover top (each compartment is leakproof as well as the entire box)
-Removable and replaceable silicone seals you can wash or replace if they wear out or break.
-BPA free
-100% stainless steel bottle
-Lid is attached with a cord, albeit thin but functional so it doesn’t get separated from the box at school. (clasp to unlatch for cleaning separately)
– You can replace the box, lid and seals separately if needed on their website instead of buying an entire box.

Cons:
-Not dishwasher safe (I avoid putting plastics in the dishwasher, so it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me)
-Removing silicone seals to wash after every use to avoid mildew *barf*
-It’s HUGE- this is a pro AND a con. This isn’t the best for a small child unless you buy the smaller version that doesn’t have the bottle compartment IMO. Won’t leave much space in a backpack.
-Big enough that you kind of need their lunchbag (which is pretty cool actually, it has a whiteboard!)

Skip Hop Zoo Little Kid Lunch Kit

Pros:
-Perfect size for snacks
-Leak proof
-Removable rubber seal for easy washing
-Easy to open
-Lot’s of cute designs and characters
-Fits almost anywhere
-BPA, PVC and Phthalate free
-Top rack dishwasher “safe” (again, I don’t think washing plastic in the dishwasher is safe, but that is 100% your decision)

Cons:
-4 pieces-lids aren’t attached, therefore easier to lose
-Harder for preschool/kindergarten to line up the cover to seal and close it (easy for adults and bigger kids)
-Not the sturdiest-We owned this half of the year and the plastic outer latch broke from just regular use.

Sistema-Snack Attack

Pros:
-Perfect size for small snacks
-Leakproof (not between compartments though)
-Super easy to open and close (even little hands)
-BPA and Phthalate free
-Top rack dishwasher, freezer and microwave “safe” (Do what you will with that info)
-Very inexpensive!!!

Cons:
-separate lid (easy to lose at school)
-inner flap lid is kind of pointless since it isn’t leakproof AND hard for tiny fingers to open (to be honest, I removed it and it is somewhere in our randoms drawer, lol)

Sistema-Small Split Lunch


Pros:
-Leakproof (not between compartments though)
-Super easy to open and close (even little hands)
-BPA and Phthalate free
-Top rack dishwasher, freezer and microwave “safe” (Do what you will with that info)
-I find all Sistema containers to be a very easy quick container to use for snacks when yumbox minisnack is dirty or in use, I’d say it’s my second choice for snacks
-Inexpensive!! this baby is the best budget snack container you will find IMO. There are lot’s of budget containers, but this is nice because of the hinged easy locking latches and it has the no leak rim so it won’t make a mess in the lunchbag.

Cons:
-separate lid (easy to lose at school)
-Not leakproof between compartments (I would never put humid carrots and cheese in this container with crackers (See stock photo above), they would be soft spongey crackers by lunch)