Bentgo Kids vs Yumbox Review – Which One is Best and Why!
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Bentgo Kids vs Yumbox – two of the most popular bento style lunchboxes on the market.. but which one should you buy?
Hi friends,
Trying to decide between the Bentgo Kids and Yumbox?
We’re here to help!
As a mom of three and an avid lunch box packer – I’ve accumulated my fair share of lunch boxes!
More specifically, I’ve packed my fair share of bento lunches.. because they’re the only kind I pack.
When my daughter first started Kindergarten we used a Bentgo Kids Prints that entire year. The following couple of years we switched between Bentgo, Yumbox, Munchbox and Omiebox.
All in all, our family has definitely gained a lot of insight into bento style lunchboxes and know them pretty well from tons of first hand experience day in and day out.
But first, let’s get some things out of the way first before we deep dive:
What’s a bento lunch box and why are they so popular?
Bento lunch boxes are reusable single portioned boxes that originated from Japan!
In recent years bento boxes have grown in popularity for several reasons:
- Bento boxes are reusable
- They help eliminate waste
- Great for snack-y eaters
- Last for years
- They’re aesthetically pleasing
What is the difference between a lunch box and bento box?
When talking about lunch boxes most people aren’t referring to an actual box but rather a bag that holds a variety of individually wrapped or packaged lunch items.
Bento boxes, on the other hand, actually are boxes often made of hard plastic or stainless steel and have multiple sections within itself to hold food.
Alright, now that the basics are out of the way, let’s get into the real debate:
Bentogo Kids vs Yumbox
Bentgo Kids
The Bentgo Kids was the first bento style lunch box we ever purchased and the only lunch box my daughter used her entire kindergarten year!
Bentgo offers three versions of their “Kids” line:
The classic, the original! At the time of writing this, they currently offer 8 different solid color combinations! Nothing too flashy but still cute!
There are tons and tons of different print styles to choose from that are great for boys and girls alike. From trains, trucks, dinos and space to mermaids, unicorns and fairies – they really have something for every kid!
Keeping with the same internal style of 5 compartments, the glitter edition is the latest addition and omg – it’s beyond cute! I have yet to purchase this style personally but have seen it all over social media and it seems to live up to the hype!
The Bentgo Kids is probably the most widely known and seen bento lunch boxes for kids. It’s sold in Target and Walmart so you can easily get your hands on one before you buy it!
The lunch box is advertised and marketed as geared for kids ages 3-7 and I would solidly agree with that!
Bentgo Kids Appearance:
This box measures 6in x 8.5in and has rounded corners.
On the outside, the Bentgo Kids has a durable rubber trim and two smaller latches. I also like the latches are more inset into a rubber groove meaning they can only be pushed back so far and aren’t at a risk of being snapped.
I really appreciate how sturdy and durable the design is. The rubber trim absorbs some of the shock when it’s dropped and also acts as a nice grip of sorts when eating out of the lunch box. It doesn’t slip around, it stays put!
Once you open the lunch box you’ll find a removable tray inside with 5 different compartments. The layout of these 5 compartments does not change among the Kids variations. You can swap trays for different color combinations though!
Is the Bentgo Kids leak proof?
Yes! I’ve used yogurt, salad dressing and even maple syrup in it before without it leaking out of the box or even into other compartments!
Is the Bentgo Kids dishwasher safe?
Kinda! The website says that you can wash the inner tray in the dishwasher on the top rack. They do recommend that you wash the butter shell by hand though.
We’ve personally never put it in the dishwasher. We prefer to wash our lunch boxes by hand so I can’t personally attest to if it holds up well in the dishwasher or not.
Personally, I think hand washing the best option since you’ll already be there washing the shell. Cleaning the tray by hand will take an extra thirty seconds or so at that point.
What I like about the Bentgo Kids:
- It’s super sturdy yet compact
- Portions are the perfect size for younger kids
- The latches are easy to open and close
- The inner rubber seal makes this lunch box seriously leak proof
- They come in tons of cute prints
What I don’t like about the Bentgo Kids:
- The layout of the five compartments is always the same
- You cannot fit a full sized sandwich in the largest compartment
- I feel like the tray design waste a lot of space with bulky plastic dividers
- The bottom of the tray is grooved where the compartments are making it somewhat harder to clean
Yumbox
Okay, now lets get into the Yumbox and I’ll tell you all about our experience with them!
Yumbox offers a few different variations of their lunchboxes. For comparison purposes we’ll be talking about these two versions:
This yumbox has six compartments and comes in a variety of different colors and tray designs!
The Yumbox Panino has four compartments including a larger compartment that fits a full sized sandwich!
These two boxes have different compartment layouts but are the same size making them interchangeable!
Yumbox lunchboxes are available in some stores but aren’t currently widely available in stores like Target and Walmart yet.
These lunch boxes aren’t advertised as for any specific age range, just “kids”.
Yumbox holds a little bit more food than the Bentgo Kids because the compartments are slightly bigger since there isn’t large plastic sections between them.
Yumbox does offer a bigger bento lunch box called the Tapas which comes with either 4 or 5 compartments and is advertised as for both kids and adults.
For this comparison of Bentgo vs Yumbox, we’re only focusing the Panino and Original since they’re most closely alike.
Yumbox Appearance:
The Yumbox measures 6 x 8.5 and has a smooth, hard plastic outer shell.
There are no grips at the bottom so it might slip and slide around some while eating out of it. It’s never been much a problem for us personally though! On the flip side, the solid plastic body does make it extremely easy to clean!
Instead of two latches, the Yumbox has one larger latch in the middle. It thankfully hasn’t happened to us yet but the latch definitely feels like it would snap if pushed back too far while opening the lunchbox.
Depending on which lunch box you purchase, the tray inside will have either have six or four compartments. They are interchangeable and come in a couple different designs.
Is the Yumbox leak proof?
Yes.. for the most part!
We haven’t had any issues with things like yogurt and dressing but have seen some leaking with thinner liquids like syrup on occasion.
They do specifically say on their box that it’s not leakproof to water so I appreciate the transparency!
Side note: If you purchase both of the lunchboxes, be careful when switching the trays. The Panino can be swapped into the original without issue but since the silicone liner on the top won’t match up when switching the original into the Panino outer shell, you might experience leaking.
Is the Yumbox dishwasher safe?
Yes, the outer shell is dishwasher safe but they do say to hand wash the tray.
Again, I prefer to hand wash the entire thing so I don’t have any experience with dishwashing the Yumbox.
They do give very detailed care instructions so be sure to keep those handy or snap a pic of them for future reference!
What I like about the Yumbox:
- Interchangeable trays
- Less wasted space between compartments
- The Panino fits a full sized sandwich
- Removable tray is solid on the bottom making it easier to clean
What I dislike about the Yumbox:
- Some of the tray designs label each compartment in ways that don’t always make sense
- The latch isn’t as sturdy and could be potentially be snapped back
- No grip on the outside
Which lunch bags fit the Yumbox / Bentgo Kids?
Most average lunchbags will fit either of these bento lunchboxes.
Since both lunchboxes are the same size if you find one that fits, the other will fit as well!
Bentgo has their own line of lunch bags that match the prints on the lunchboxes which are really cool. They also have a pocket for a water bottle. I’ve never personally owned one these lunch bags but they’re highly rated on Amazon!
How do you keep the lunches cold?
Neither one of the these bento boxes will keep food cold on their own.
You’ll need to add in an ice pack or two into a lunch bag to keep them cold as long as possible.
This most recent back to school season I found this lunch bag at Target and was immediately intrigued. After using it for a while now, I can hands down say this is my favorite lunch bag I’ve ever purchased!
This lunch bag is crazy cool! The entire bag acts as an ice pack.. “the Freezable Lunch Box is made from nontoxic gel and gel liner built into the walls: the entire bag freezes!”
Yup, you collapse the bag and place the entire thing in the freezer at night. It stays cold all day and by the time I unpack the kids lunches at the end of the day the bag is still mostly frozen. I have no idea how they do it.
To be fair, I almost didn’t purchase it at first because it is a bit heavier than the average lunch bag but it’s really not a huge issue. Even my 4 year old in Pre-K doesn’t have troubles carrying it. Definitely still worth it in my opinion.
I can’t stop raving about this lunch bag if you can’t tell lol
Bentgo Kids vs Yumbox: Which one should you buy?
So, which one should you buy?
Although they’re about the same size, both lunch boxes have different features.
If your child:
- In pre-k – 2rd grade
- Doesn’t have a huge appetite for lunch
- Is likely to drop/ be rough with their lunchbox
The best lunchbox to purchase would be the Bentgo Kids
If your child:
- In Kindergarten – 5th grade
- Has a larger appetite
- Wants to be able to take a full sandwich
The best lunchbox to purchase would be the Yumbox
