The Best Kids’ Lunch Gear, According to the Experts

One of the top picks among parents asked, PackIt lunchboxes are essentially made entirely out of ice packs. The whole thing goes into the freezer overnight to help keep lunches cool for hours. They come in a handful of prints and solid black.

This basic lunchbox was picked for its classic look and durability. Available in several solids and prints, there’s something for every personality.

At $50, this bento-style lunchbox is no small investment, but its one-piece, stainless steel construction is durable. For a complete lunchbox system, Rover also sells an insulated lunchbag and ice pack.

Bentgo was one of the top-named products for preschool and early elementary-aged kids. Five smaller compartments mean lots of options for little ones, and the juice from the strawberries won’t leak onto the crackers. Bentgo also has insulated lunchboxes and ice packs available to complete the system.

Cubby contributor Stephanie Ganz's kids love their Yumbox bento boxes, and they're not just for school lunches. "We’ve taken ours for picnics, pool snacks, and road trips many times," she writes. "While they’re not insulated, they do a great job of keeping the items cool with an ice pack. And the silicone design inside the lunchbox keeps the foods from interacting with each other during transit." Read her full review here.

Our experts mentioned EasyLunchboxes as a good choice for kids from preschool to 8th grade. This container has one large compartment for a main plus two sides, but there's also a 4-compartment snack container. This set also comes in multiples, helpful if you’ve got more than one kid or one who tends to lose things. Or if you just don’t like doing dishes. (Fair!)

Similar to EasyLunchboxes, LunchBot Large Trio has space for a larger main and two sides. LunchBots is entirely stainless steel, and comes in two pieces.

This is one of the systems I’ve used for years, and it's worked really well for us. The squared off containers pack snugly and snap into the included ice packs. I like how I can choose which shapes work for what I have on hand for the day versus cutting things to fit little spaces. The modular nature of them is also helpful if your child has chosen an oddly-shaped lunch box.

Thermos is a trusted brand when it comes to insulated containers, and the prints and solids are fun for any age. With a spoon on the top of the jar, it makes transport super easy. I have two of these 10-ounce food jars and a 16-ounce version for my teenager.

Cubby's Managing Editor Cambria Bold's favorite, Thermos takes the title again when it comes to water bottles. “The 12-ounce insulated bottles are made of 18/8 stainless steel, and really do keep drinks cold for hours. The covered silicone straw is neatly hidden behind a push-button lid, so it stays clean,” she writes. “AND! — the bottle does not leak if it’s snapped tight.” Read her full review here.

These are popular to use in larger containers as makeshift dividers. Nice for presentation, especially helpful if you have a kid who doesn’t like their foods touching. You can keep the turkey separate from the cheese without having to devote an entire section to each one.

Durable and dishwasher safe, Stasher bags are a great alternative to single-use plastics. Pricey, but they work great if you’ve got a kid you can trust to bring things back at the end of the day.

If you’re trying to move away from single use plastics but not quite ready for the investment of Stashers, these compostable bags are a good compromise for some foods. They’re similar to a pastry sleeve you’ll see at bakeries.

I like this set specifically because there are two sizes of forks and spoons. The smaller ones are perfect for little hands and mouths. They do a much better job of scooping, stabbing, and twirling than any cafeteria-standard spork. If a smaller fork isn’t a necessity for you, this $6 set is also an option.