For eternity: Do Black + Blum products deliver what they promise?
3.12.2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Anna Sandner
Tested: thermos flasks, bento boxes, stainless steel containers and a lunch bag. What are they really good for in stressful everyday life?
«I'm not rich enough to buy cheap things.» - This adage characterises the philosophy of Black + Blum, founder and head designer Dan Black recently revealed here in an interview. The London brand's goal: products that last a lifetime and become cherished companions with a history.
Does the sustainable philosophy work in everyday life? I wanted to find out and tested a cross-section of the Black + Blum range.
Insulated water bottle
For me, the motto «Less is more» is usually true. For example, when it comes to a bottle for everyday use. I don't want any extra parts that could break or require time-consuming rinsing. Bottle with lid - done. That's all you need, right? Yes, I wouldn't want to be without the leather strap on this bottle. Apart from the fact that it gives the bottle a nice retro charm and ensures that I don't lose the lid, this little strap has proved to be extremely practical. It's amazing how often the opportunity arises to simply hang the bottle up somewhere or carry it around with me hooked loosely over my finger.
However, there is another less practical (watch out for the pun!) «catch»: the 4.5-centimetre diameter opening is so large that I give myself a face shower every time I try to drink directly from the bottle. Annoying. As a thermos flask, the Insulated Water Bottle is probably intended for pouring the hot contents into a mug rather than directly into your mouth. However, I usually only drink water and don't want to carry an extra mug with me. In this case, I would go straight for the Explorer Flask Duo. It comes with two integrated cups.
For this reason, a different bottle came out on top in my test:
Explorer
With an opening diameter of 3.5 centimetres, I can drink directly from the Explorer without involuntarily washing my face.
The grooves on the bottle sleeve provide a good grip. However, I have to take care of the lid myself as it is not attached to the bottle. I can still hang it up, though, as there is a mould-proof paracord strap attached to the lid. Compared to the leather strap on the other bottle, it has the advantage that I can take it off and wash it or easily replace it with a new one.
Lunch bowl made from glass
I love having overnight oats for breakfast and they absolutely have to be in a jar just for the sake of looks. But it's always impractical when I want to take my muesli with me. The solution is the glass bowl from Black + Blum with a silicone lid, which is surrounded by a leak-proof base container made of polypropylene with wood fibres and a stainless steel lid. This prevents the glass from breaking during transport.
The glass bowl is microwave-safe. After reheating, I can put it back in the base container, so the meal stays warm for longer and I don't burn my fingers. The glass bowl is available in three sizes: 450, 600 and 700 ml.
Lunchbox
The classic: a simple lunch box with a separating element including a fork. The box comes with a silicone band that protects against leakage and secures the fork. However, the band is hardly necessary for leak protection. The lid is also bombproof thanks to the integrated vacuum vent valve. I lift the valve to open the box and push it back in to close it. Thanks to the double-layer silicone seal, the box is now watertight.
What makes it special: The lunchbox can be used in the oven (without the lid) as well as in the freezer. I can simply finish cooking my prepared lunch in it, which I like. I don't like the silicone strap so much: it's so tight that it's a pain to slide up and down. I like the nylon strap of the Double Bento Box better. It also fits tightly, but is easier to attach. The second downside: although the bowl, insert and fork can go in the dishwasher, I have to wash the lid and the silicone band by hand.
After the first few uses, the lunchbox makes an extremely stable impression on me. To verify this, I put it to the ultimate endurance test with a heavy heart: as a lunch box at primary school. In my opinion, a lunch box could hardly be worse. Many less robust predecessors have not returned from this trip unscathed... But the lunchbox lives up to the promises made by founder Dan Black in the interview in terms of durability and robustness. I can't get it down, I can't even find a dent or a scratch after the first school visit.
Double Bento Box
These stainless steel boxes are my favourite. If it's up to me, a lunch box can never have enough compartments. Who wants to pull the once crispy bread crust out of the box soaked in tomato juice? It's better to give each snack its own compartment. This is possible with the Double Bento Box. There are two containers, each with a sliding divider and its own lid. The boxes are stacked on top of each other and held together with a nylon strap so that they have survived some wild trips in my rucksack without slipping.
The lids are fitted with a small cutlery compartment, which is covered with a bamboo cutting board in the top box. This means I can slice my tomatoes freshly on the go and don't run the risk of drowning the rest of my food in their juice. A fork for the cutlery compartment is also included. I would have preferred a knife here (why else would I need the chopping board?), but I simply added one myself. All in all, the Double Bento Box has quickly become a faithful companion. What I particularly like: I can also use the bentos individually depending on my needs.
Food Flask
And the thermal container with spoon has also quickly found its way into my regular use. The container and lid are made of stainless steel, so my food doesn't come into contact with plastic. Like all other cans and bottles so far, this cup has also been absolutely leak-proof during my test period.
I never forget the spoon either. It's in a small loop of the nylon strap that comes with the cup. The designers have put some thought into this: the handle is curved so that I can spoon up my soup without having to contort myself.
Lunch bag
Last but not least, the bottles and boxes also need to be stored appropriately. Black + Blum also has something for this in its range. I really like the lunch bag. It's insulated on the inside, so it also works as a cool bag.
The size is tailored to the boxes, my double bento and the glass lunch box fit in well, and there's also room for an apple or two. It is made from recycled PET: six bottles per bag are chopped into granulate and processed into a fibre yarn, from which the bag fabric is woven.
Anna Sandner
Senior Editor
Anna.Sandner@galaxus.deScience editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always the outdoors - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.
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