Product Review--Reusies

[drcmk]

I've had my eye on Reusies or a similar product for a while now because we pack 12-15 lunches every week and I hate to waste all of those sandwich baggies. We tried using Rubbermaid or Tupperware sandwich sized containers but those take up too much space in the lunch box and don't leave room for the metal water bottles and a piece of fruit.

I ordered the Reusies because I had a deal from Groupon and I bought slightly irregular pouches so I spent about $12 and I got two sandwich sized pouches and three snack sized pouches. The Reusies are exactly as advertised--a good size, velcro keeps the flap closed, easily hand-washed or dishwasher-washed and kind of cute.

In my excitement to buy something ecologically sound I forgot to consider potential problems with the Reusies, although my husband mentioned it as soon as he saw them. They don't seal like baggies do. So the food stays significantly less fresh. I tasted my kids' food at the end of the day and the pretzels were stale enough that I didn't make my kids use them again. Also the flaps just fold over, which leaves lots of space for crumbs to fall out and get all over the lunchbag. My kids also said that their entire lunches smelled like peanut butter because the Reusies don't seal the smells in.

So my Reusies are sitting on the counter and I doubt that I will use them again, although I really wanted to like them. I thought I could post this review to help someone else who might be about to make the same purchase know more about the advantages and disadvantages.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

Thanks for the review. That confirms what I thought was probably true about these. I think I might use these but I won't make my kids use them.
I've been using various sizes of Rubbermaid (the "easy to find lids" kind) and they work great and are easy for the kids to use. But like you said they take up a lot of room. I'm thinking I need to buy bigger lunch boxes.

 

[Gnomegirl]

We use Lunchbots stainless steel containers for the lunches and snacks and we also have stainless steel Kids Konserve with rubber lids. We have had them for two years and they have held up well. As for water we use Kleen Kanteens.

When I add anything to the lunches that may not stay fresh (like cheese slices) I use a small amount of plastic wrap.

I've never had my one super picky child complain about food being stale, etc.

Oh, and we have the LL Bean Flip-Top lunchboxes. Everything fits in perfectly.

1 18oz Kleen Kanteen, 1 Lunchbots Duo, 1 Kids Konserve medium sized container or Lunchbots Pico.

 

[Swimalie]

We've used Lunch Saks for over a year now and do like them. The only draw back is that the inside liner takes on colors (jelly for example) but they clean up easy. My son can get them open easily and so far (knock on wood) hasn't lost any. I've tasted the food at the end of the day and it's fine. In fact I'll throw something in the fridge and give it again the next day without a problem.

But.... he's using them faster than they can dry (we don't use heat dry on our dishwasher so they come out quite wet) so I bought a Living Social deal for http://www.re-pacbags.com/ The deal is $10 for $22 of products. I'm going to buy more snack bags. I like that they are zipper close, not velcro.

 

[momof3ds]

I use laptop lunches for cold lunches and Lands end lunch bags with thermos containers and stainless steel kids konserve containers for hot lunches.

http://www.laptoplunches.com/

My kids have been using them for 2-3 years now and nothing has gotten lost. I also labeled everything with name labels from mabel's labels.

 

[drcmk]

We've used Lunch Saks for over a year now . . . I've tasted the food at the end of the day and it's fine. In fact I'll throw something in the fridge and give it again the next day without a problem. . . I like that they are zipper close, not velcro.

I'm sure the zipper makes a big difference. I wish I had thought about that before I bought what I did. The unsealed velcro flap is really unacceptable for us.

I washed my Reusies by hand and they weren't totally dry by the next morning either.

 

[Swimalie]

I'm sure the zipper makes a big difference. I wish I had thought about that before I bought what I did. The unsealed velcro flap is really unacceptable for us.

I washed my Reusies by hand and they weren't totally dry by the next morning either.

I'll let you know how the zipper ones work once I get them.

 

[scrapquitler]

I've had my eye on Reusies or a similar product for a while now because we pack 12-15 lunches every week and I hate to waste all of those sandwich baggies. We tried using Rubbermaid or Tupperware sandwich sized containers but those take up too much space in the lunch box and don't leave room for the metal water bottles and a piece of fruit.

I ordered the Reusies because I had a deal from Groupon and I bought slightly irregular pouches so I spent about $12 and I got two sandwich sized pouches and three snack sized pouches. The Reusies are exactly as advertised--a good size, velcro keeps the flap closed, easily hand-washed or dishwasher-washed and kind of cute.

In my excitement to buy something ecologically sound I forgot to consider potential problems with the Reusies, although my husband mentioned it as soon as he saw them. They don't seal like baggies do. So the food stays significantly less fresh. I tasted my kids' food at the end of the day and the pretzels were stale enough that I didn't make my kids use them again. Also the flaps just fold over, which leaves lots of space for crumbs to fall out and get all over the lunchbag. My kids also said that their entire lunches smelled like peanut butter because the Reusies don't seal the smells in.

So my Reusies are sitting on the counter and I doubt that I will use them again, although I really wanted to like them. I thought I could post this review to help someone else who might be about to make the same purchase know more about the advantages and disadvantages.

You can still use the ziploc bags, just have your kids save them and wash them out and reuse them. It's not going to eliminate their use entirely, but you'll still have fresh foods and you can reuse the same bags for several days.

 

[zoemariesmamma]

We started using the set we got from disney movie rewards. They have zippers though and we have had no problems so far. You can even stick them in the dishwasher.

 

[apnep]

I bought the kids Lock-n-Lock containers with dividers in them. I really love them because you can configure them different ways and they are dishwasher safe too. The kids love them too because they hate cafeteria food! Anyway, I started making them bento boxes this year and now they refuse to eat anything else.

Here's the Lock-n-Lock container I got them. I actually bought many and they fit great inside a regular lunch bag with their small juice or water bottle.
bento container