If you bike commute and want to bring your own lunch, it can sometimes be difficult to get the various containers right for transporting your food. So I was pretty excited about getting the Laptop Iced Bento Lunch Box from Rove, because I thought it would help me avoid spilling, forgetting utensils or any of the other minor inconveniences this brings with it. I was a little less enthusiastic about the 14-Ounce Double Wall Hot & Cold Hydration Mug because I have so many similar mugs already.
But after using both for a few months, I had my enthusiasm backwards.
Rove bills itself as "providing fashionable, sustainable, functional and easy-to-use products that make life more comfortable for today's active, on-the-go generation."
The Bento box does everything it says it will do. The BPA-free Bento Box includes multiple compartments, cutlery and an ice-pack compartment to keep food cold. The box is sleek looking and satisfying to hold. When llatched properly, it will not spill. But the small, triangle shaped compartments don't work if you like to bring larger items, like a sandwich or a chicken leg. It would be great if the dividers could be removed or reconfigured, but then you would probably would get contamination across compartments.
The ice pack does keep the lunch cool and the whole thing is relatively easy to clean. If I have a complaint, it is with the latches which are somewhat hard to lock. Still, I really wanted to love this, it just doesn't work for the way I eat lunch. Someone out there would surely like it more than me. If you think you're that person, leave a comment on this post and I'll arrange to get it to you.
The mug, on the other hand, I'm keeping. This has become my go-to mug and I use it any morning that my wife does not steal it from me. Though the 360 degree access takes some getting use to (you really do have to lock it when not drinking, because the design makes it unforgiving to forgetfulness) it is nice for use while biking - since you don't have to look at the mug to line it up with your coffee-hole and it fits in the average water bottle cage. The lock works well, the mug feels good in your hand and it has not yet broken despite my rough handling that has damaged many other well-made travel mugs.
My LLBean insulated lunch bag fits nicely in my Arkel Commuter pannier - even with heavy winter clothes and a towel stuffed in it. I can use any number of reusable boxes in it, and an ice pack. Also, I have found the holy grail of coffee mugs - a 20 oz. Kleen Kanteen insulated stainless bottle, which tucks nicely into my Topeak adjustable java cage.
Posted by: 7 | April 02, 2015 at 10:51 AM