Time for a Bento Box....

I used the large for my HIM and IM.  I wouldn't consider a smaller one.

I used one for IM last year and it came in very handy!!  I have the small one and would have liked the big one.  Like others have said, you can carry all of your nutrition in there.  If it's in my jersey pocket, I have a tendency to forget it's there and then not eat.  If it's in your face, you're reminded to eat.

Also, depending on  your set-up, you can put your Gel flask on your stem.  That way you have a spot for your Bento Box on your top tube.

Curious...what is the big deal about Bento Box's over at ST or in general? 

I was going to try to write something on why a know-nothing, unsophisticated, baby to the sport like myself might be somewhat happy to see the much-maligned and ridiculed Bento Box get a reprieve. Because it does kinda suck to have people make fun of you for using one, and now maybe to some SMALL DEGREE we can feel vindicated. It's not ALL bad. That's all.

And if it annoys you super-sophisticated, fast, experienced, knowledgeable triathletes, I guess I understand a little bit. But I can't be an expert on everything, and all I am saying is that I would like to maybe get a new Bento Box because it seems rather harmless to this 14:30 IMer who doesn't have race wheels or an aero helmet and already looks stupid enough going 16 MPH on my 5,000 dollar bike.  

But did they weigh the miniscule aerodynamic advantage of a bento box against the weight disadvantage that it adds when climbing hills?  If some MIT nut case is gonna throw out numbers to validate his study, he better make sure he looks under the other side of the rock too.

I planned on using a large Bento at an IM, but at an expo tent I ran across an Akona BioSpeed Accessory Box that had a better shape to get a (Hammer) gel flask into comfortably. I could put a few more things in it as well.

It has a tapered body unlike the rectangular bricklike Bento Box. Of course I have yet to confirm whether or not it has any bearing on aerodynamics and the dork factor is negated by my inherent bad-assness and my "like I really give a crap what anyone thinks" attitude.

It has been the best impulse purchase I've ever made.

What is ST?

Edit: to add the pic

I have the same one and it is so much better than the name brand "Bento Box" I have on my road bike.  The furthest edges away from the stem/closest to your seat is not only tapered but pliable enough that it does not scrath up your knees.

Btw, "ST" = slowtwitch.com

Wow I thought I was the only one whose knees got assaulted by the Bento.

Unless you are at 5% body fat and ride a $8000 carbon frame with all the bells and whistles, and you rarely if ever come up out of aero for the 112 miles, then the aero disadvantages of a bento are probably not going to make much difference to you.  It's like a weekend golfer spending $1000 on a new driver because the pros hit it 3 yards farther on average.  Like he's going to remotely come close to reproducing those results. 

If the bento really affects your time due to what infintesimal aero disadvantage it has, then what the he11 are you doing working?  You should be littered with sponsors and raking in $$ at your IM performances year round.

LMAO!!!