Sistema KLIP IT PLUS 3.35L Rectangle Food Storage Containers, 3-Pack (82016)

Sistema KLIP IT PLUS 3.35L Review: Clip-Lid Dry Storage for a Moving Kitchen

A van pantry has a problem a house pantry doesn't: the pantry moves. Bags of rice and pasta split, push-on lids pop off on washboard roads, and round canisters waste the corners of a drawer. The Sistema KLIP IT PLUS 3.35L is a plain answer to that. It's a rectangular plastic box with a built-in seal and a lid held down by locking clips, sized to hold a bag of pasta or rice, and designed to stack with others and nest when empty.

What the Amazon link sells: the Sistema KLIP IT+ 3.35L Rectangle Food Storage Containers, 3-Pack, Amazon model 82016, in blue. That's three identical 3.35-litre containers. Sistema's own product code for a single 3.35L rectangle is 881830. Sistema sells many other KLIP IT and KLIP IT PLUS sizes and mixed packs. The figures here are for the 3.35L rectangle.

This review is research-based. VanLifeKitchens doesn't test products hands-on. The specs come from Sistema's product page and FAQ, and from the Amazon listing we link to.

Choose this if:

• You want dry goods (pasta, rice, oats, snacks, flour) in containers that stay shut on rough roads.
• You want rectangular boxes that use the full footprint of a drawer or bin.
• You'd like the same box to work in the pantry and in a 12 V fridge.

Skip this if:

• You want a set of mixed sizes, from spice jars to large canisters. This pack is three of one size.
• You want glass or stainless rather than plastic.
• You want a long warranty. Sistema's FAQ gives one year.

Why clipped lids matter in a van

Most home pantry canisters are designed to stay on a shelf. Push-button and press-fit lids rely on friction or a light seal to stay closed, which is fine when nothing moves. In a vehicle, containers get shaken, tipped and squeezed by whatever is packed next to them. A container that pops open in a drawer turns rice into a cleanup job.

Sistema's KLIP IT PLUS lids are held down by locking clips around the edge, and Sistema describes the design as "a built-in leak proof seal plus Sistema easy-locking clips to keep food fresher for longer." The clips are a mechanical latch rather than friction, so a sharp jolt is less likely to open them. That doesn't make any container immune to a hard drop, but it's the right type of closure for a moving kitchen.

We haven't found a published drop test or a leak-proof test method from Sistema. Treat "leak-proof" as Sistema's design claim. For liquids, keep the box upright and inside another bin or a tray, which is good practice in a van for any container.

Specifications and sources

Care and materials, per Sistema:

• Dishwasher: top rack only.
• Microwave: safe without the lid. Sistema's FAQ adds that only products with the microwave symbol on the base or packaging are microwave safe.
• Fridge and freezer: safe, where the freezer symbol appears. The 3.35L rectangle page lists it as freezer safe.
• Material: food-grade plastic, BPA and phthalate free, made in New Zealand.
• Washing: Sistema recommends washing before first use and hand washing with warm soapy water. Avoid abrasive cleaners and sharp utensils.
• Warranty: one year from purchase for material defects and workmanship, per the FAQ.

How it fits a van or camp kitchen

Drawer and bin footprint. At 255 x 175 mm, two boxes sit side by side in a space about 350 mm (13.8 in) wide and 255 mm (10 in) deep. Stacked two high, they reach about 234 mm (9.2 in). Before you buy, measure the inside of your drawer or bin, not the outside. Allow a little room for the clips and for your fingers to lift each box out. Many van drawers are shallow, so check the 117 mm (4.6 in) height against yours.

Inside a larger bin. Many vans keep food in a few large bins rather than drawers. A box like the IRIS USA Weathertight 19-Qt is a good outer container, and the Sistema boxes are a good inner one. The outer bin keeps the set from sliding. The inner boxes keep each food sealed and separate, so a split bag of flour stays in its own box.

In a 12 V fridge. Sistema rates the box for fridge and freezer use. A rectangular box uses a chest fridge's floor area better than round tubs, and the lid keeps meltwater and spills contained. Measure your fridge's internal depth first. Many 35 to 45 litre chest fridges have a stepped floor over the compressor, which limits where a 117 mm box can go. Our what size 12V fridge guide shows typical internal layouts.

Nesting when empty. Sistema says corner shoulders on the base let the boxes nest compactly when empty. On a trip where you carry less food, they don't take up the full stacked height.

What to put in them. The 3.35-litre size suits a 1 lb or 1 kg bag of pasta or rice, a couple of bags of oats, snack bars, or a stack of tortillas. For a full list of pantry staples worth carrying, see van pantry shelf-stable staples.

Pests, moisture and food safety

Sealed containers help with two common van food problems:

• Pests. Ants and pantry moths find open bags quickly in a parked vehicle. A closed, sealed box keeps them out of the food, though no container stops a determined rodent from damaging plastic.
• Humidity. Vans get damp from cooking and breathing, especially in cool weather. A sealed box slows moisture getting into crackers, flour and cereal.

Keep raw meat out of these boxes and in the fridge, in its own sealed container. Wash boxes between different foods, and dry them fully before you close the lid.

Limitations

• One size. You get three 3.35L boxes. Spices, coffee and small items need other containers. Sistema sells other KLIP IT PLUS sizes separately.
• Plastic. It's light and won't shatter like glass, but it can scratch and stain, and it isn't for very hot food. Keep it off hot stovetops.
• Lids need care. The lid isn't microwave safe, and the box is top-rack dishwasher only.
• Short warranty. One year, per Sistema's FAQ.
• No published drop or leak test. The seal and clip claims are Sistema's design descriptions.

How it compares on this site

The Stasher bags fill spaces a rigid box can't, but they offer no crush protection. The IRIS and Front Runner boxes are outer containers, not food boxes. The Sistema sits between them as the sealed food container that goes inside a bin or drawer.

Verdict

The Sistema KLIP IT PLUS 3.35L 3-pack does one thing that matters in a van: it keeps dry food sealed in a rectangular box whose lid is clipped shut rather than pressed on. Sistema publishes the exact size (255 x 175 x 117 mm), capacity, weight and care rules, and says the boxes stack and nest. They don't come in mixed sizes in this pack, they're plastic, and the warranty is only a year. As the inner layer of a van pantry, they're a sensible, space-efficient choice.

FAQ

What are the dimensions of the Sistema KLIP IT PLUS 3.35L? Sistema lists 255 mm long, 175 mm wide and 117 mm tall (10.0 x 6.9 x 4.6 inches). Each container weighs 265.7 g empty.

Are Sistema containers airtight? Sistema says the KLIP IT PLUS range has a built-in leak-proof seal with locking clips. It doesn't publish a test method, so treat it as a design claim.

Can I microwave them? The 3.35L rectangle is microwave safe without the lid, per Sistema. Its FAQ says only products marked with the microwave symbol are microwave safe.

Are they dishwasher safe? Yes, on the top rack. Sistema also recommends hand washing with warm soapy water and no abrasive cleaners.

Can they go in a 12 V fridge or freezer? Sistema lists the 3.35L rectangle as freezer safe. Measure the inside of your fridge first, because the box is 117 mm tall.

Are they BPA free? Yes. Sistema says the container is BPA and phthalate free.

What warranty do they have? Sistema's FAQ gives one year from purchase for material defects and workmanship under normal use.

Sources and verification

• Sistema, 3.35L Rectangle product page: capacity, dimensions, empty weight, built-in seal and locking clips, nesting, dishwasher, microwave and freezer guidance, BPA and phthalate free, made in New Zealand. https://sistemaplastics.com/3-35l-rectangle-1 (checked 2026-10-11)
• Sistema, KLIP IT PLUS rectangular range page: product code 881830 for the 3.35L rectangle. https://sistemaplastics.com/our-ranges/klip-it-plus/rectangular (checked 2026-10-11)
• Sistema, FAQs: microwave, dishwasher and freezer symbols, one-year warranty, pre-use washing. https://sistemaplastics.com/faqs (checked 2026-10-11)
• Amazon listing for ASIN B09RGV7R5V, the listing this review links to: title (KLIP IT+ 3.35L Rectangle, 3-Pack), model 82016, availability (checked 2026-10-11)