SHO Food Flask 530ml review

I’ve got something to “Sho” you! I’ve been making the switch from plastic containers to stainless steel for a little while now, and this SHO Food Flask replaced my plastic lunch box I have had for a long time. I also reviewed the Stanley Iceflow after having used plastic bottles for ages.

These food flasks come in two sizes – 530ml and 800ml. The 530ml is meant for a single person and the 800ml is designed for sharing (or if you just want a really big lunch haha). They come in a range of colours and patterns. The patterned food flasks are a bit more expensive – this one is called “Leopard Sunset” and was designed by Amy Williamson and retails at £28. The plain colour 530ml flasks retail at £25. There always seems to be a special offer on though so they’re often available for much less, I picked this one up for £20.80.

I think looks wise, the flask is really cute. It arrived really well packaged, in a cylinder shaped cardboard box with one end matching the pattern of the flask. The pattern I chose I think is really nice as well and I like the shape. It feels sturdy but not too bulky or heavy.

SHO Food Flask – my thoughts

I think the design is really functional. It unscrews in two places. There is a lid, and another layer with a built in spot for the spork that comes with the flask. They have thought of everything, and having a spork means you can eat pasta dishes or soups without needing to bring extra cutlery out with you. I like how the spork is stored within the lid instead of clipped to the side of the flask. It just feels a bit more hygienic, especially if you’re chucking it in your bag. Which leads me on to my next point – the flask is 100% leakproof and won’t condensate. So you don’t have to worry about any nasty surprises in your backpack!

To get the most out of its insulating properties, SHO recommends you preheat it with boiling water first or precool it and leave for ten minutes (depending on whether you are filling it with hot or cold food). Then you should fill it to near capacity. If you’re using it for hot food, make sure it goes in really hot, and then close the lid and keep it closed until you plan to eat. SHO claims that the food flasks keep food hot for 10 hours and cold for 20. I’ve used it for both and although I haven’t needed to keep it either hot or cold for that long, it does keep the food at a decent temperature.

The only negative thing I can think of is that the flask is not dishwasher safe. So if you hate washing things by hand this might not be for you.

About SHO as a company

There are so many flasks and insulated mugs and bottles out there to choose from. I chose this one because it’s really functional, looks really good for a decent price, and the company itself donates a portion of their profits to charity. I think if you’re going to buy something anyway, things like that might give one company an edge over another.

All in all, I’m really happy with it. I’d definitely recommend SHO to anyone looking at insulated mugs, bottles or food flasks. They seem more moderately priced than others on the market, they’re so functional, come in a range of designs and colours and a portion of the money goes to a good cause. I also have one of their little Pacto tumblers which I use when I have back-to-back meetings at work.

Do you use insulated mugs or food flasks in your day-to-day life?