To-Go Ware 3-Tier Stainless Lunch Box

I'm one of the people who does way too much research before making even the smallest purchase, so in my quest for a new lunch box, I looked around for a few days before settling on this guy. I'm headed to law school in just a few weeks, so I was looking for something durable, environmentally-friendly, and (most of all) inexpensive. And so far, I'm really happy with the choice I made.Best features:* The top tin can be carried independently of the whole set for smaller lunches or snacks.* The whole unit is super-easy to clean and doesn't get stinky, impossible-to-clean stains like icky plastic.* The included sidekick container is perfect for hummus (and for dressings, I guess, if you're into that).* The shape is perfect: small enough to be crammed into a backpack. (This may not be true once the backpack is also full of books, but in that case, there's a handle.)Minor, minor drawbacks (not enough to drop the star rating, though)* The clamps are LOUD! Beware if you open this in a library - you'll get some glares.* The top tin is the only one that's liquid-tight, so you can only carry one soup at a time. This will never be a problem for me, and it's difficult to imagine it being a problem for anyone else, but if you are a soup aficionado, I guess that could be a deal-breaker.* As other reviewers noted, if the lid is on the sidekick container, it will only fit in the top tin. This is not a huge drawback - unless you want to carry a liquid AND the sidekick.None of these drawbacks, except the first, apply to me. So for my money, this is 5 stars, but for others, it could be maybe 4.

I really was curious about the whole Bento idea, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on one--so I bought this.It is super sturdy, and I like the design. More than anything, I learned that I loved Bentos and the flexibility it gives me for meals. I can spend 16 hours on campus and have all the meals I need in one compact container. This was worth my money to help me experiment and find out that this system works well for me.However, it has some deep flaws.1. It doesn't seal, so anything liquidy leaks. This also caused things like pasta and rice to dry out quicker--which is odd once you read my third point...but true nonetheless.2. It's stainless steel, great for staining, hard to reheat food. I solved this by keeping paper plates on my locker.I knew about both of those before I bought it, there was one problem I didn't expect that caused me havoc.3. I knew that this doesn't keep heat or cold well, so I kept it in the fridge so my food wouldn't spoil. However, taking this in and out of the fridge multiple times a day caused it to cool down and heat up multiple times a day. This process, combined with the steel, created condensation inside of the container (and outside, but that doesn't matter). As a result, salads, breads, and such would get soggy.I ended up buying a better bento. In conclusion, this is a great unit to buy to test the bento concept. It isn't a very good long term investment though...unless you have some creative ways to get around the sealing and condensation problems....

This product has worked out very well for my breakfast and lunch foods for my work. It keeps the food sealed well with no spills. 100% stainless steel with no plastic parts. My coworkers now want to purchase them too.

These are fantastic. Sometimes they are challenging for little hands to get apart or put back together. They are compact, clean, pretty to look at, clean up nicely. Clips are sturdy and the fit is tight, but not tight enough for liquids. The included container does close tight enough for condiments though.

very durable

I really like the 3 tier carrier and carry my lunch almost daily. It's great for keeping cold lunches cool. Not so great for hot lunches. You'll need to carry a ceramic plate and have access to a microwave (or stove), if you want a hot meal--this product is not insulated. The inner canister has not worked for me from day one, however. The poorly designed closing system or lid doesn't allow for easy opening/closing. Once you've closed it, you may as well call in the cavalry! I once had about three strong young men try to help me with this little unassuming looking container. Not one of these guys could get it opened! It literally was KO for 4...RIDICULOUS! So, I no longer use the small container and happily put my yummy rice pudding or yogurt or deserts in one of the larger tier containers. I just have to use a little self control in the measuring out my serving. Admittedly, that's a much harder task then expected. Curse you small container!!!

My husband works swing shift and we all know working at night makes your metabolism confused. He has to eat all three meals at work and packing all these things can become a serious challenge, as well as trying to plan meals. I saw these and thought my search for meal organization and packing has ended!It's great for portion control as well. I opened the box and am very very impressed with the feel and fit of the stacking containers. I put water in the top container and shook it vigorously. It did leak a bit, so I figure the Glad stretch and seal stuff across the top, then locking it down with the clamps it uses should make it water tight. Use the top container for liquids as recommended!I am also pleased with the shipping from Gaiam, it arrived in a short time and included an interesting catalog of environmentally sensitive items that may convince me to use a few more green things in my lifestyle ;)In short, I my have solved the last minute dash and stash lunch preparation drama with the purchase of these containers! I may order one more for snacks as well...