As you may have noticed, I love to try out new lunch boxes, and when Polar Gear approached me recently to see if I would like to try some of their products, I jumped at the chance! I had seen their bento boxes and really wanted to try them, but I couldn’t justify buying yet another box to add to my rather ridiculously large pile, so I was delighted to be offered the chance to review one.
The Polar Gear Bento Box looks a lot like a traditional Japanese tiered bento box, with two main compartments which stack one on top of the other. With a 1.1 litre capacity, it holds a lot more than the Japanese ones designed for children that I have tried, which makes it great for packing western style foods which tend to need more space than traditional Japanese foods such as shaped rice and sushi.
The two main compartments are separated by a white cutlery tray, complete with a matching spoon and fork, which sits on top of the bottom compartment. The cutlery isn’t particularly sturdy, but would be easily replaced if necessary. The tray rests inside the bottom compartment, so you have to be careful not to overfill that layer, leaving a little space on top of your food for the tray. The top box is divided into two, with the divider built into the box.
I was very impressed with the design of the lid – it has built in clips which hold the whole box together. It does mean that you can’t use the layers individually, as the whole box needs to be put together in order for it to clip closed, but on the plus side there is no need for the bento strap that is normally needed to hold a traditional Japanese bento box closed (one less thing to lose!). Six year old Small Child had a little trouble getting the layers stacked correctly in order to clip the lid back on the first time (they have to be ‘just so’ in order for it to work), so it would be worth getting a young child to practice a few times before taking this box to school.
Small Child was delighted when I packed his first lunch in this box – he loves trying new lunch boxes and he really seemed to like the look of this one. In the bottom half of the box I packed tortilla wrap spirals (wholemeal tortilla wrap, cream cheese and ham, rolled and cut into slices), cucumber chunks (to get the flower effect, cut a chunk of cucumber in half by cutting a zig-zag pattern with a small sharp knife around the whole thing before pulling apart), and an orange mini pepper, cut in half and de-seeded. I used a lettuce effect silicone divider and silicone cup to separate the foods, and decorated them with a silicone flower pick and some animal forked picks.
In the top layer of the box I packed an apple, cored, sliced into wedges, dipped in orange juice and arranged up and down in a row, green grapes and some Organix animal biscuits in a square shaped silicone cup. I finished it off with a couple of bright animal fork picks which I added to the grapes. I didn’t need the cutlery for this lunch, so I would have had space to add a small cereal bar or similar in the cutlery tray if I had wanted to pack anything else, but the box held plenty of food so there was no need.
Small Child really enjoyed this lunch in his new bento box and ate the lot!
Overall, I am really impressed with this box. It’s a great size for this style of bento box, and if packed well, would be suitable for an adult as well as a child. It seems sturdy, looks really nice and would be great for a variety of foods. The only real downside I can find is that it can be tricky for a very young child to open and close, but a bit of practice should help there. The clips hold it together well and the cutlery tray would be handy for extra bits and pieces. This box is definitely a keeper – I can see myself using it regularly (despite my teetering lunch box pile!), as it would work well for every family member.
This box comes in four colours; black, pink, berry and turquoise. It is available directly from the Polar Gear website or from Amazon UK.
Disclosure; I received a free Polar Gear Bento Box for the purposes of carrying out this review, however all opinions expressed in this post are my own. I have no affiliation to Polar Gear, and was not otherwise compensated for this review.
This post contains Amazon affiliate links; I may receive commission on items purchased through the links.
Tabetha Howell says
October 8, 2014 at 10:28 amWould love to win. Master 7 is slowly coming round to bento style lunches instead of just sandwiches x
Lisa Don says
October 8, 2014 at 10:42 amI’d love to win one of these boxes, soamy great ideas from you to try out, it would be great to try them in a different box to our current sistema!
Tracey Peach says
October 8, 2014 at 10:50 amI would pack lots of different things to entice the little one
Haylee Hibbert says
October 8, 2014 at 11:49 amI would pack, cookies cutter animal shaped sandwiches, fruit, biscuits and a yougurt. Decorated with cute picks and acessories of cousrse 🙂
Hannah Elliott says
October 8, 2014 at 12:38 pmI LOVE the purple!
Nicky Reeve says
October 8, 2014 at 12:42 pmMy little boy loves a ‘picky’ lunch so i’d definitely use a bento box to carry all of his favourites – cheese, any veg, hummous, breadsticks and any fruit!
heather says
October 8, 2014 at 12:47 pmI would pack a different theme every day taking advice from different websites…it would also be a great help for portion control x
Charlene McConnachie says
October 8, 2014 at 1:02 pmWe would pack ham salad wraps, cucumber stars, cheese squares and carrott and bread sticks, then we would have a fruit layer with Apple bites, satsuma segments, raisins and grapes mmmmmmm!!!
Lauren (@laurenbigeejit) says
October 8, 2014 at 1:19 pmRice salad in the bottom, with some veg sticks and dip in the top!
Helen says
October 8, 2014 at 1:47 pmI’d pack lots of little ‘picky’ things – it would save using lots of individual containers every day!
Raquel Williams says
October 8, 2014 at 2:59 pmI’m a newbie to Bento Boxes but have been tyig with the idea of starting. I would pack lunch for my picky 8 year old to grab her attention & let her know healthy food can be fun & for my 2 year old!
Ola says
October 8, 2014 at 3:34 pmI like that this one is a bit bigger and so would work for adults too – am a bit jealous of all the amazing lunchboxes available for kids!
Tina Mahoney Maxwell Gaynor says
October 8, 2014 at 5:56 pmI have been wanting to try making this type of lunch!
Eilidh says
October 8, 2014 at 5:58 pmMy daughter doesn’t like sandwiches so I make picky lunches for her. This would make a fantastic lunch box for her.
Natasha Mairs says
October 8, 2014 at 6:39 pmI’d pack my cheese and ham shooting stars for my little man
Hayley F says
October 8, 2014 at 6:42 pmi would pack pasta salad and anything else i fancy in it x
kim plant says
October 8, 2014 at 6:50 pmwraps for the hubby x
olivia Kirby says
October 8, 2014 at 7:39 pmboiled eggs, olives, peppers, dipping pot, pitta strips
Victoria says
October 8, 2014 at 10:08 pmI think I might pack lunch for me in this one! It looks like it would fit well in my work bag, and why should the children have all the fun? (In reality, no doubt my 6 year old would see it and insist she got to use it!).
Helen at Casa Costello says
October 9, 2014 at 12:20 pmI’m into mini kebabs and sweet salads at the minute so would pack them for 8yo. I like the look of this that it could be large enough for an adult. x
oana79 says
October 9, 2014 at 3:06 pmEmma’s or hubby’s lunch.
Louise Perry Fairweather says
October 9, 2014 at 5:34 pmMy lunch for when we go to Legoland
Natalie Crossan says
October 9, 2014 at 8:24 pmsalad and fruit x
Jo welsh says
October 9, 2014 at 9:17 pmI would put my hubbies lunch in it
clair downham says
October 10, 2014 at 7:09 pmlots of different things like pasta cucumber carrots raisons and fruit
melanie stirling says
October 10, 2014 at 9:17 pmRice salad and vegetables.
Shons Sweeney says
October 10, 2014 at 9:40 pmBeen looking at Bento Boxes for a while now. My little girl is desperate to be like her big school boy brother. I’d love something like this to give her a big girl lunch. x
Rebecca Beesley says
October 10, 2014 at 10:48 pmI’d make a bear themed lunch. x
frances hopkins says
October 11, 2014 at 12:05 pmPasta and salad x
Cat Culmer says
October 11, 2014 at 12:57 pmI’d use it for pretty bites for my little mans lunches
Lorraine Gatton says
October 11, 2014 at 3:12 pmHam roll ups, cheese cubes, cucumber/carrot/pepper batons, ,strawberries, grapes, apple slices & a small treat 🙂
denise says
October 11, 2014 at 8:37 pmWould love any colour of these fab boxes. Working in a busy emergency department I need something quick at break times. This box could hold all for my shift. Brilliant design .
Lynsey Buchanan says
October 11, 2014 at 9:38 pmMy daughter gets a packed lunch we would use these everyday
Sharon says
October 11, 2014 at 10:38 pmLooks like a lovely box! I’d pack for my little one some fish fingers, carrot sticks (plus dip), pasta and some fruits for desert:)
Raizel says
October 12, 2014 at 8:33 amI’d selfishly use this for my own lunch! It is such a great size, I’d fit salad, wraps, fish and other yummy goodies.
Lorraine Tinsley says
October 12, 2014 at 10:33 pmMy hubby is on a diet so I would pack him a waist friendly lunch of loads of fruit, some boiled eggs, a nice little salad with a maybe a little, tiny chocolate bar
Felicity Kelly says
October 12, 2014 at 11:32 pmI would pack it with delicious things for my work lunch to stop me heading to the chocolate box!
Stacey Carnell says
October 12, 2014 at 11:42 pmLots of little fruit & vegetables, pitta pockets and homemade oat bars 🙂
Zoe G says
October 12, 2014 at 11:49 pmI would take inspiration from all of the fab bento ideas all over the internet and make it an exciting lunch for my son
mai says
October 13, 2014 at 12:01 amKimchi pancheon with side of bibimbap
Isabelle Smith says
October 13, 2014 at 1:00 amfruit
elizabeth doody says
October 13, 2014 at 5:54 amA pasta salad
winnie says
October 13, 2014 at 8:03 ampanda shape sushi 😀
sharon mead says
October 13, 2014 at 9:19 amcornish pasties and some chopped fruit for desert
Louise says
October 13, 2014 at 9:31 amSushi, salad bits, sandwiches, crisps, cake
Jan Roberts says
October 13, 2014 at 9:32 amWhat a great piece of kit. My head nearly exploded thinking of variations on the theme of ‘lunch’ !
Lorraine Foster says
October 13, 2014 at 9:50 amSome rice and salad
Pamela Gossage says
October 13, 2014 at 9:51 amMy husbands lunch as I pack it for him every day
darren hay says
October 13, 2014 at 9:55 ami would pack chicken and bacon wraps, a mixed salad and nuts for nibbles
Natasha M says
October 13, 2014 at 9:58 amSandwiches, cheese cubes, grapes & a pudding
EMMA WALTERS says
October 13, 2014 at 10:31 amgreat for fruits & veggie snacks as they can be bulky
kelly says
October 13, 2014 at 12:46 pmI love Bento Boxes – perfect for sandwiches/wraps/ pittas with veggies and fruit for a nice healthy lunch! 🙂
Marycarol says
October 13, 2014 at 2:37 pmLove this for sandwiches, fruit and cheese
leanne weir says
October 13, 2014 at 3:12 pmI would pack lots of different things to entice the little one
Gillian Holmes says
October 13, 2014 at 4:06 pmSushi and wasabi peas
Caroline H says
October 13, 2014 at 5:19 pmI’d go for pesto or tomato pasta with olives and cherry tomatoes, some mixed berries and satsuma segments and possibly a couple of cheese and pineapple sticks.
Hutch2 says
October 13, 2014 at 7:49 pmA healthy pack lunch with a couple of naughty nibbles
Stephanie Whitehouse says
October 13, 2014 at 8:02 pma nice picnic to go to the beach. I know it’s not summer any more, but the Norfolk coast is still beautiful
Mark Johnson says
October 13, 2014 at 8:05 pmsushi lunch
Holly Smith says
October 13, 2014 at 10:26 pmHam Sandwiches
Stephanie Tsang says
October 14, 2014 at 10:07 amI would pack some onigiri, some fruit and some carrot and cucumber sticks.
Helen says
October 14, 2014 at 3:03 pmLove the look of these lunch boxes. I would probably pack a ham wrap, cucumber sticks, raisins, frozen yogurt, and a pack of cheesy nibbles! They are Lily and Declan’s favourites!
sam swain says
October 14, 2014 at 7:33 pmCrispy duck wraps
Jayne T says
October 14, 2014 at 10:03 pmSome pasta and salad for my daughters lunch.
Jenny Harper says
October 14, 2014 at 10:29 pmSalad wraps with a portion of nibbles and Hummus
Jayne @ Tenacious Tinkering says
October 15, 2014 at 4:37 amI’m participating for my brother who’s studying in Wales now! He’s gotten very good at cooking his own lunches and dinners. He mentioned that he packs sandwiches to bring to campus for lunch with a couple of snacks so I think this bento box will be absolutely perfect for a frugal student. 🙂
Karen Barrett says
October 15, 2014 at 2:23 pmMy tuna salad and grapes
Karla T says
October 15, 2014 at 4:53 pmsandwich roll ups and fruit salad
Kate @ Family Fever says
October 15, 2014 at 7:57 pmLove the look of this. My daughter likes a cold pasta salad, so we would pack that and use the cutlery. Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested
Louisa says
October 15, 2014 at 8:03 pmI saw these on sale in Matalan last week and almost bought two. I wish I had got them! #triedandtested
stephen holman says
October 15, 2014 at 9:13 pmlots of room for my work sandwiches, saves having to squish them into tupperware like i normally do!!
leigh boyle says
October 15, 2014 at 10:08 pmpasta its mainly all my eldest eats
Naomi Hutchins says
October 16, 2014 at 11:02 amMy daughter likes the idea of getting inventive with food instead of just ‘boring sandwiches’.
barbara madden says
October 16, 2014 at 4:33 pmthis would be great for our days out just the right size and sturdy we would have our salad and sandwich all packed well i love the purple one, and being different colours ,everyone would have there own colour so no getting mixed up JUST BRILLIANT
laura jayne bates says
October 16, 2014 at 5:23 pmmy daughters lunch
Mark Palmer says
October 16, 2014 at 8:17 pmSandwiches and cherry tomatoes
Keshia Esgate says
October 16, 2014 at 8:26 pmHealthy salad and fruit portions
Heather Simpson says
October 16, 2014 at 9:33 pma lovely chicken salad, some fruit and carrot sticks
Diana says
October 16, 2014 at 10:09 pmSandwiches, fruits and a piece of cake 🙂
Gemma says
October 16, 2014 at 10:39 pmSalad, fruit and of course some sushi!
Katherine Coldicott says
October 17, 2014 at 9:58 amCouscous salad & grapes.
Laura Cooper says
October 17, 2014 at 11:42 amI wuld pack lunch for myself and my 1 year old daughter when we’re out and about.
Laura Kevlin says
October 17, 2014 at 2:23 pmI’d pack cream cheese and crudites, fruit, snack pitta sandwiches and a homemade biscuit ro cake x
Jenny Rogers says
October 17, 2014 at 4:47 pmI would pack snacks and fruit for a day out. The purple one looks very smart.
Fern says
October 17, 2014 at 5:03 pmcheese, bread sticks, apple, grapes, lots of picky bits
Laura W says
October 17, 2014 at 5:45 pmDelicious Caesar salad
Alison says
October 17, 2014 at 6:52 pmLove these, would pack salad, fruit and break sticks
Sarah Buckley says
October 17, 2014 at 7:12 pmI love bento boxes with a theme so would pack it with a different theme each day to cheer up my boyfriend when he opens his lunchbox at work – after all we are both big kids!! On days when I can’t be bothered I’d probably pack it with BLT sandwiches & chocolate, nuts & raisins for snacks!
louise e bennett says
October 17, 2014 at 7:46 pmsalad
Jess Howliston says
October 17, 2014 at 8:20 pmCold pizza pin wheels, boiled eggs, ham slices and salad! xx
Maria Jane Knight says
October 17, 2014 at 8:26 pmIm mummy to a 4 year old fussy eater and this magical box looks great for creating fun lunches…i would create sandwich fingers that olooked like catapillars xxx
Lisa Wilkinson says
October 17, 2014 at 8:28 pmMy little girl’s lunch. She prefers lots of things to pick at rather than a sandwich
RACHAEL JONES says
October 17, 2014 at 9:09 pmPasta & salad
Barbara Handley says
October 17, 2014 at 9:17 pmSandwiches, fruit, yoghurt and bottle of water.
Emma Davies says
October 17, 2014 at 9:18 pmSome salmon, cucumber and spring onions in a soy sauce/chilli dressing with some cold rice x
Karen R says
October 17, 2014 at 9:32 pmI’d love to pack in some different raw vegetables, fruit and nuts 🙂
Ellie M says
October 17, 2014 at 10:02 pmSome cheese, crackers and lots of colourful fruit. These look amazing!
Pete Schofield says
October 17, 2014 at 10:06 pmI would pack tiny tiny cheese and cucumber sandwich triangles. Some grapes and some chocolate.
Robyn Logan Clarke says
October 17, 2014 at 10:24 pmLots of fresh vegetables and fruit
ESME MCCRUBB says
October 17, 2014 at 10:46 pmLOVELY SALAD FOR LUNCH
Helen Garner says
October 17, 2014 at 11:13 pmI could take a whole three course lunch to work with me
Denise S says
October 17, 2014 at 11:28 pmfruit mini quiche and slices of pittas
Jamie says
October 18, 2014 at 12:19 amCream cheese wraps and salad 🙂
lisa86x says
October 18, 2014 at 2:07 amvery handy wee box to have
cathyj says
October 18, 2014 at 4:37 ammy daughters lunch, sandwich, cake and tomatoes,
Stephanie Burchatt says
October 18, 2014 at 9:27 amWe call it a deli lunch – lots of little things my son can pick up and eat: Cocktail sausages, cheese chunks, bread sticks broken into 4, cherry tomatoes, grapes, raisins all work well
Annamarie Riddiford says
October 18, 2014 at 9:50 amI would use this as an interesting lunch for my daughter
DENISE WILDEN says
October 18, 2014 at 11:00 amWhat a great lunch box I would take a chicken salad wrap with a fresh fruit salad.
Deborah Dixon says
October 18, 2014 at 11:18 amSalad, fruit and pittas
Caroline James says
October 18, 2014 at 12:09 pmI’d put little sushi rolls in, sliced cucumber, chopped cheese and tiny crackers.
Cheryl says
October 18, 2014 at 12:44 pmperfect for my sons lunchbox ~ sandwich, fruit, cucumber, and raisins
Joanna Sawka says
October 18, 2014 at 2:01 pmI would pack sandwiches, fruits and yoghurt
sarah pearce says
October 18, 2014 at 3:12 pmpasta salad
JACQUELINE ROBERTS says
October 18, 2014 at 3:35 pmMy youngest loves wraps and lots f fruit, this would be great.
Mary Chez says
October 18, 2014 at 3:44 pmSandwiches and fruit
chirag P says
October 18, 2014 at 4:04 pmpack the perfect fruit salad
Lelia says
October 18, 2014 at 4:14 pmPasta! 🙂
jen jackson says
October 18, 2014 at 4:44 pmLots of healthy snacks
twopointfourchildren says
October 18, 2014 at 8:29 pmI would finally make myself some lunch!
sam fernley says
October 18, 2014 at 10:20 pmLots of cheesy goodies and veggies.
Kiran Parry says
October 18, 2014 at 10:38 pmFruit, veg snacks and some cheese treats.
Alisa Moore says
October 18, 2014 at 10:41 pmSushi
Jayne B says
October 18, 2014 at 11:24 pmbanana, grapes, falafels, homous and crudites
Rosie says
October 18, 2014 at 11:29 pmI’d use it for hubby’s lunch 🙂
Angela Webster says
October 18, 2014 at 11:30 pmI’d pack a little salmon sushi, fruit salad and a bit of chocolate cake. Nom!