We've bought a lot of lunchboxes over the years. Not because they wore out or broke, just the ordinary way things disappear from a school bag. At some point we stopped trying new brands and just kept buying the same one, without really thinking about why.
What it's actually been like, three years in
The size is exactly right, not so big it's awkward in a school bag, not so small that a proper lunch doesn't fit. The compartments are the kind that actually get used rather than ignored, keeping things separate instead of everything sliding around into one soggy pile by lunchtime. It goes straight in the dishwasher, no handwashing faff, no bits that need special care.
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We've never had a Sistema box wear out or break. Made in New Zealand and BPA-free, the only reason we've ever needed a new one is losing it, which says more about school bags than the lunchbox itself.
The compartments, actually in use.
The one thing worth knowing before buying
The compartments are separate pieces, which is useful when you're packing it but means there's more than one thing to lose. We lost the lid to one of the little round tubs recently and never did find it, so we just used a spare lid from a different Sistema tub instead. It fit perfectly. That's either a happy accident or proof they've kept the fittings consistent across the range for years, we're not sure which, but it meant a lost lid was a two-minute fix rather than a reason to buy a whole new box.
Was it worth it?
We honestly can't remember what we paid originally, and looking at the price history it fluctuates a lot rather than sitting at one fixed number. Right now it's a genuine bargain at around £4. At that price, and with three years of daily use without a single one failing, it's difficult to think of many household purchases that have delivered more for less.
The next chapter
One of our children still uses theirs every day. The other has moved on to a flask instead, nothing to do with the lunchbox letting anyone down, just what suits them better now. The one still in daily use shows no sign of needing replacing.
Still worth keeping?
- Durability
- Excellent. Three years in, never worn out or broken, only ever replaced after being lost.
- Design
- 1.65L bento-style lunchbox with separate compartments, dishwasher safe and designed for everyday school use.
- Would we buy it again?
- Yes, we already have, several times over.
- Best for
- Genuinely useful compartments at a genuinely low price. Proof that worth keeping isn't only about expensive things.
