This review was written for several airtight storgae containers that we have bought on here under the Iris brand. We own:
2 pc pet food container set. To be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Iris-Airtight-2%252dpc%252e-Food-Container/dp/B000GABN7I/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1231380086&sr=8-38
30 quart container: http://www.amazon.com/Iris-301042-MP-8-Airtight-Container/dp/B000VZXRS6/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1231380086&sr=8-34
55 quart container: http://www.amazon.com/Iris-NMP-L-Premium-Airtight-Container/dp/B00186RU26/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1231380013&sr=8-16
and a smaller 21 quart container with one major difference other than size: no coasters/wheels.
Background you can skip:
We eat rice. Lots of it. Every day. Our home is the castle of ricealot. And then the Mrs. loves incompatible pets: Cats and Fish. Luckily we keep them separated in 2 categories: indoor cats and outdoor fish.
So what we need was affordable AIRTIGHT storage that would allow us to buy 25 to 50 lbs bulk items of Koi food, rice, cat food. Oh yeah: Mrs. also insist we eat only home baked bread (see bread machine review elsewhere) made out of spelt flour. This is either ridiculously expensive to buy in small quantities locally or, if bought online, not efficient from a shipping cost perspective unless we buy lots of it at once. So we needed containers that:
are airtight
mobile even when heavy / full
able to pack a lot
last with frequent use
Our findings:
The containers all came (except the 21 qt as it has no wheels) with wheels that you have to push into the bottom of the containers. That's the only assembly. Be ready to use some excessive force to push some in (but eventually they will go, maybe use a little oil if some are a real tight fit). Wifey opted to use my overweighted-ness (= new word)to push 'em in with force. Glad I'm too heavy.
The lids are basically clip on lids that have a little rim of foam to create the seal. Note that they are AIRTIGHT which does not equal VACUUM. One of the lids was a little short on foam but by redistributing it a bit with my thumb I was able to get it corrected.
I do have a little bit of doubt that all of them are airtight because of the lids however: the lids differ between the various sized as to how they latch closed (look at pictures before you buy). I found them all to work fairly well in that they open and close without Mrs. needing new nails so it scores in that respect.
The plastic is not so thin that it will crack under too much weight (i.e. it can hold what it was made for).
The wheels all rolled well and did not have trouble under full load.
The shape / form factor: these are narrow rather than wide so that you can fit several next to one another. Convenient as you don't want to stack heavy items. Notable exception is the 2pc version I bought where the upper bin is short and a little wide.
Conclusion:
These are decent value for the price on here. They handle the bulk foods well and we think that the food is genuinely protected better and easily accessible. The wheels are very convenient and the airtighted-ness (another new word!!) is fine but do spot check the foam seam.
We reduced our rating with one star for the fact that there is no clarity on the TYPE of plastic that is used for these. Since food will be in there for a while you'd hope it is the 'good' stuff. Given all the web-attention to water bottles and what they are and should be made of, you'd think Iris would be more forthcoming. BPA (Bisphenol A) is the alledged culprint and the fact that authorities are claiming how safe it is (see: http://www.ific.org/publications/qa/upload/Update-Q-A-on-Bisphenol-A_10-20-08.pdf) makes my triple-cringe. Anyways, until there are large BPA-free ones that are affordable I'll have to take the leap.
Hope you enjoy these!
PS: we bought 1 extra 30 qt to use under the kitched sink as an easy garbage can that can be pulled out a little. Maybe you can even use there to store dirty laundry in for months at a time: no smell!! Mrs. thinks not.
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