Pack a Little Fun into Every School Day with Ello
Back-to-school season always comes with a long list of things to get ready, but finding the right water bottle and lunch box is definitely high on our list. These are things our kids use every single school day, so they need to be more than just cute. They have to be durable, easy to use, easy to clean, and able to keep up with busy school days, from the morning rush to lunchtime and everything in between. That’s why we were so happy to discover Ello!
Their products immediately caught our attention because, seriously, how cute are they?! The fun colors and adorable designs make packing for school a little more exciting, but what we really love is that Ello doesn’t sacrifice function for style. Their products feel well-made, thoughtfully designed, and created with real everyday use in mind. Ello has quickly become one of those brands we’re excited to have in our back-to-school routine.
About Ello
Student Loved. School Approved.
Ello has found the perfect mix of creative designers, engineers, marketing experts, sales professionals, and operations specialists who work together to come up with thoughtful and innovative products. Based right here in Chicago, the Ello team focuses on creating products that are not only practical, but also stylish and fun to use.
Their mission is all about creating reusable food and drink products that can take the place of single-use containers. And I love that they don’t settle when it comes to design, if something doesn’t have that “ooh, I love that!” factor, it isn’t ready to leave their design lab!
Ello also puts a lot of thought into the materials they use, including stainless steel, wood, bamboo, silicone, and Tritan plastic. Their products are designed to be used over and over again and to stick around for the long haul instead of quickly ending up in the trash. It’s a combination of quality, sustainability, and seriously cute designs, which is exactly why I was so excited to discover them!
My Thoughts:
I was fortunate enough to try a little bit of everything from Ello. It gave us the chance to see how their products fit into our everyday routine. We tried water bottles for school, a bento box for lunchtime, and even a toddler plate for meals at home. We got such a fun variety!
Our line up of choices included the Construction Bundle Water Bottles, Pop & Fill Kids Water Bottle, Oasis Kids Stainless Steel Tumbler, Benni Kids Bento Lunchbox, and Clean Start Toddler Dinner Plate. Right away, I could tell Ello puts a lot of thought into their products. They are practical, but also super cute! The fun colors and kid-friendly designs immediately caught our attention. After trying everything, I can see why Ello is such a great fit for busy families.
What I appreciate most is that these products aren’t just cute. They’re things we can actually use every day. They’re fun for the kids and practical for me. They also make our busy back-to-school routine feel a little easier.
Oasis Kids Stainless Steel Tumbler
I picked the Purple Holographic Oasis Kids Stainless Steel Tumbler, and it is even cuter in person! I love the fun, shimmery look, but Ello also has so many other colors and designs to choose from, so there really is something for every kid.
As a mom, though, the feature that really sold me is the Hide a Straw technology. With a simple twist, the soft silicone straw tucks away, which helps keep the drinking surface clean when it’s being carried around. Even better, it’s 100% leakproof. We all know what can happen when a water bottle gets tossed sideways into a backpack, so having one less spill to worry about is a huge plus for me!
It also keeps drinks cold for hours and is a great size for school, the car, activities, or just everyday use. It’s one of those products that manages to be really cute for the kids while still having all the practical features parents actually care about.
Construction Bundle
The Construction Bundle was such a fun pick, especially because you get two different water bottles, the 12 oz Pop & Fill Kids Stainless Steel Bottle and the 14 oz Oasis Kids Stainless Steel Tumbler. The construction design is adorable for little ones, and I love having two different styles to choose from depending on what we’re doing that day.
The Pop & Fill has quickly become a favorite because of the Quick Fill lid. Instead of having to completely unscrew the top every time it needs a refill, the lid pops open, making refilling it so much easier. Its the cutest thing seeing my toddler pick up his water bottle and fill it up all by himself. Kids can also choose between sipping through the straw or drinking from the wider opening. The locking lid is another feature I appreciate because it helps prevent those dreaded backpack spills!
Then you also get the Oasis with its retractable Hide-a-Straw design. Between the two, this bundle gives us some really useful options for school, outings, sports, or just keeping a cold drink nearby throughout the day.
Pop & Fill Kids Water Bottle
For the 18 oz Pop & Fill Kids Water Bottle, we chose the Preppy Cherries design, and I absolutely love it! It’s such a cute print and adds a little extra fun to something they’re going to be carrying around all day anyway.
This one is especially nice for school because kids can handle refills themselves. The Quick Fill lid flips open wide without having to twist off a cap, and they can either sip from the soft straw or chug from the wider opening. It also has a locking lid to help keep everything secure inside a backpack.
I really like the larger 18 oz size for longer school days and activities, while still being slim enough to carry around easily. Plus, it keeps drinks cold for up to 20 hours, which means no sad, warm water by lunchtime!
Benni Kids Bento Lunch Box
The Benni Kids Bento Lunch Box might be one of my favorite Ello products because it makes packing lunch feel so much more organized. We got the Wave Rider and Sugar Coated designs, and both are seriously adorable!
What makes this bento box stand out to me is that I can pack hot and cold foods together in one lunch box. It includes a 7.5 oz insulated food jar for things like pasta, mac and cheese, or soup, plus an ice pack to help keep fruits, veggies, and other cold foods fresh. The removable tray also has three compartments, so I can easily separate their main food, fruit, snacks, and sides without packing a bunch of little containers.
And of course, the kids get something fun too; the lid can be personalized with compatible charms! I love anything that gets them excited about opening their lunch at school. Cleanup is also pretty simple since the tray and seals can be removed and the lunch box is top-rack dishwasher safe. Anything that makes packing and cleaning lunches easier gets a big yes from me!
Clean Start Toddler Dinner Plates
Ello isn’t only making school lunches easier! We also tried the Clean Start Toddler Dinner Plates. They have been such a nice addition to mealtime at home. The set comes with two divided ceramic plates. Each one has a soft silicone bumper around it.
I really like the three divided sections. Toddler meals are usually a little bit of everything! The larger section is perfect for the main meal. The two smaller sections work great for fruits, veggies, or sides. It’s also helpful for toddlers who don’t like their foods touching.
I especially love the materials used. The plates are made from porcelain ceramic and food-grade silicone. They’re also free from BPA, melamine, phthalates, and forever chemicals. Plus, they’re microwave- and dishwasher-safe. That’s a big win because toddler meals already come with plenty of cleanup!
The plates also fit most high chair trays. Even better, they can grow with your little one. You can use them in the high chair now and later at the big-kid table.
A Back-to-School Must-Have
Having products that are cute, practical, and dependable makes one less thing to worry about during the busy back-to-school season. Ello products definitely made getting ready for another school year a lot more fun!
They would also make such a great back-to-school gift. From colorful water bottles to convenient lunch boxes, these are products kids can enjoy and parents can actually appreciate. With so many cute designs and useful features, Ello is a fun and practical addition to any back-to-school routine.
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You can find Ello on our 2026 Back-to-School Gift Guide
