Hitting the road with a travel mug can make an enormous difference to the quality of your journey. Every time I forget to bring one, I realise how much such a simple item can do for you.
The best travel mug will keep your beverage hot or cold throughout and give you an option for sorting out your fluid needs for the day.
You can also use them for storing small items inside your travel bag. Or, if you need to save space, you can carry objects in the cup and clip them to the outside of your bag, freeing up space. Travel coffee mugs reduce the environmental damage caused by disposable options, as you can reuse them when you buy drinks in hotels or cafes.
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Most regular cups and tumblers are ceramic, metal, glass or plastic-made, whereas a travel mug is generally made using stainless steel. Unlike a typical cup, the travel ones come with insulation and a lid to protect your drinks from contamination and temperature changes.
Here are five of the finest travel mugs to make your next trip more comfortable and stress-free:
- Hydro Flask insulated coffee mugs – the portable option
- YETI Rambler Tumbler – the miniature choice
- S’well coffee mugs – the temperature expert
- Thermos Stainless King™ mugs – the reliable option
- Contigo Autoseal Luxe – the fashion-friendly look
1. Hydro Flask insulated coffee mugs – the portable option
Hydro Flask has some of the best travel coffee mugs available on the market. It has a durable stainless steel body with easy-to-grip powder coat sides, which are also sweat resistant. On the inside, the mug has TempShield™ double-wall vacuum insulation for temperature control.
The smaller 12 Ounce (oz) coffee mug is US$24.95 and comes with a handle and a soft-touch finish on the sides. It has a splash-resistant press-in lid using Honeycomb Insulation™ technology to help keep your drink hot or cold.
If you want a mug you can move about without worrying about leaks, the 20 oz version at US$34.95 is perfect for you. It has a Flex Sip™ Lid to prevent your drink from seeping out and a Flex Strap for easier transport. You can use it at a cafe and wash it later with your dishwasher.
Both options are BPA-Free and Phthalate-Free and available in colours, such as Olive and Black.
2. YETI Rambler Tumbler – the miniature choice
YETI’s Rambler Tumbler travel mugs range includes lowball, wine, and regular tumbler versions that are stainless steel and sturdy enough to survive drops and resist dents. They all have double-wall vacuum insulation to maintain your drink’s temperature.
The Rambler has a Magslider magnetic lid, which keeps beverages safe from contaminants. Its body protects from condensation, avoiding the danger of surfaces or hands becoming wet. Size choices include the 10 oz to the 30 oz mug, with the smaller version having a price of US$19.99, the 20 oz at US$29.99, and the large one going for US$34.99.
Available in stainless steel and DuraCoat options with colours such as Navy, Highlands Olive, Prickly Pear Pink, and Seafoam, both the lid and body are dishwasher-safe.
Unfortunately, one downside is that the Ramblers are not entirely leakproof, releasing pressure when shaken, leading to some leakage.
3. S’well coffee mugs – the temperature expert
This could be the best travel coffee mug on this list, and its options are still pleasant to look at. S’well’s offering is a BPA-free pro-grade stainless steel mug with a wide mouth shape, conducive for adding ice cubes or stirring your drink.
Unlike other mugs, it has a triple layer vacuum insulation with Therma-S’well® Technology. This means it keeps drinks colder and hotter for a longer time than its competitors—the 20 oz version offers up to 36 hours of cooling and 15 hours of heat.
The exterior is condensation-free and sweat-free and comes in a variety of patterns and colours. It fits seamlessly in your backpack, or you can carry it by adding a S’well Traveler Handle.
Its price ranges from US$35 for the 16 oz to US$40 for the 20 oz option. Aside from the high cost, the other downside is you can only hand wash it.
4. Thermos Stainless King™ mugs – the reliable option
The best travel mug should be durable and ready to overcome the rigours of road travel. Thermos’ Stainless King™ mugs do both of those things well. It offers a 16 0z vacuum-insulated stainless steel mug, which keeps drinks hot for 7 hours and cold for 18.
It comes with a DrinkLock™ sealing lid that is leakproof when locked. The side has a sturdy handle for easy carry, or you can choose the tumbler, which has a shaped frame for a better grip.
These mugs retail at US$24.99 and have colours such as Midnight Blue, Matte Stainless Steel, Rustic Red, and Army Green. It is dishwasher-safe, but you should place it on the top rack when cleaning it.
5. Contigo Autoseal Luxe – the fashion-friendly look
The Contigo Autoseal Luxe stainless steel travel mug comes with spill-proof technology. It has vacuum insulation that keeps drinks hot for about 5 hours or cold for about 12 hours and retails at £30.99.
Its lid is BPA-free and, as it is one piece, does not have easy-to-misplace parts. It has a push-button to open it when you are ready to drink and is lockable when you are on the move.
The Contigo mug is dishwasher-safe—just pop out the lid when you want to wash the top and bottom pieces. The body has a metallic finish, available in different colours, such as Biscay Bay, Licorice, and Merlot, and it is simple to handle even with one hand.
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Choose the correct travel mug for your needs
The ideal travel mugs are durable, convenient, easy to wash, and vacuum insulated to maintain your beverages at a suitable temperature. Best of all, since they are reusable, they are good for the environment, and you might even get a discount at some coffee shops.
If I had to pick the best travel coffee mug from the list above, I would go with the Thermos Stainless King™ Collection mug. It can survive challenging terrains while also looking classy in an office setting. Moreover, it keeps everything simple and does the job you need it to do.
