The Bentgo All-in-One is the compact lunch box that actually works

The most compact lunch box that still fits a full sandwich, a snack, and a drink is the Bentgo All-in-One.

It’s about the size of a hardcover book, with three sealed compartments and a side slot that holds a standard 16oz water bottle. The bottom compartment takes a full sandwich — you just have to cut it in half. That’s the tradeoff with every good bento-style box: halves only.

If you’re one of those people who refuses to cut a sandwich, skip bentos entirely. The Rubbermaid LunchBlox modular kit is the move — the drink bottle snaps directly onto the side of the containers, so the whole thing is one tight brick instead of a floppy bag. Not as slick as the Bentgo, but it keeps a whole sub or burger assembled.

Whatever you buy, ignore anything marketed as “portion control” and check the capacity. You want at least 800ml of food space plus a drink slot, or you’ll end up packing a second bag of snacks anyway. Also measure your normal sandwich — most plastic lunch boxes are built for kids, and the “full” sandwich in the product photos is about a third of a real one.

Bentgo makes several sizes, so get the All-in-One specifically. The smaller ones are for kids, not adults.

Future you at 1pm agrees.