When searching for the perfect mug for traveling, you’ll want to find one which will keep your liquids at the right temperature (either hot or cold) while being able to hold the right amount of liquids, and at the same time look good and feel comfortable to hold. Good for a hot coffee or a cold beer.
You’ll want to have confidence in your travel mug being well-designed and solid enough not to dent or leak. Features such as carry handles and easy-to-drink-from lids and built-in straws are a huge plus.
Your travel mug is something that you should be proud of. Of course, the looks are never going to be the most important thing when it comes to the design of a travel mug, but it doesn’t hurt to have one that you don’t feel ashamed of using in public.
What to Look for in a Quality Travel Mug
Some of these travel mugs are suited more to particular kinds of people; if you’re an outdoors kind of person then you should definitely go for the more durable types of travel mugs available. These may not necessarily look as good as the more visually appealing (but often more fragile) travel mugs, but they will last longer, and they’ll be able to handle physical wear and tear much more than other mugs on the market.
Also, if you particularly care about the taste of your drink, then be sure to look at travel mugs which have a wide opening, allowing you to take in the aroma as you drink your beverage, therefore increasing the overall experience. Also take a look at ceramic-lined travel mugs which are adept at negating the unwanted metallic aftertaste that some drinkware is prone to add to beverages.
Reviews of the Best Travel Mugs
While there are tons of options on the market, they aren’t all going to be good buys. You should feel safe with any of the options reviewed below though.
CamelBak Forge
A sleek choice of travel mug which is suitable for both hot and cold drinks.
The vacuum seal is effective enough to keep your drink’s temperature at the same level for a number of hours. With a transportable travel mug, you really want to have confidence that it’s not going to spill or leak everywhere, and to this end, the CamelBak Forge has got you covered. This is a very reliable travel mug.
MAJOR FEATURES
- Capacity: 16 oz.
- Color: 10 Different Colors to Choose From
- Dimensions: 4.13” x 4.13” x 8.85”
- Weight: 0.78 lbs.
PROS & CONS
- Stainless steel is hardy and boasts scratch resistance
- Innovative cap design eliminates spills
- Vacuum insulation for temperature regulation of drinks
- check-circle-oLifetime guaranteed
- The cap’s seal can take some getting used to, there’s definitely a certain way you have to open and close it
A solid choice for a travel mug can be used to drink out of with one hand; perfect for athletes and other sporting enthusiasts who need to be able to drink on the go with a hand free. The seal is strong and reliable enough to allow you to lay this travel mug horizontal in your bag with the peace in mind that it’s not going to leak everywhere.
If you were out in the wilderness, miles from civilization or even a drinking water source, then you would be very thankful for the supply of liquid that this travel mug can hold at optimum temperature, allowing you to travel with the luxury of a restorative hot cup of coffee or a refreshingly cold drink of water. You simply can’t go wrong with the reliable, hardy, and lifetime guaranteed CamelBak Forge.
Thermos Sipp Drink Bottle
A very futuristic looking design from a reputable company, Thermos historically has dominated the market in portable drinkware which is able to keep your beverages at a constant temperature.
With this superb travel mug they’ve continued to design and engineer a top-end product which is able to keep liquids hot for 12 hours or liquids cold for 24 hours. The fact that it’s dishwasher safe is also a huge plus. Note that this is quite a tall travel mug.
MAJOR FEATURES
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- Capacity: 16 oz.
- Color: Black, Burgundy, Gold, Plum, Rose Gold, Teal, White
- Dimensions: 9.8” x 2.9” x 9.8”
- Weight: 8 oz.
PROS & CONS
- Very effective vacuum insulation keeps drinks hot or cold for a long time
- Sleek futuristic aesthetic; this is not your average-looking travel mug
- Can be safely cleaned in a dishwasher so you don’t have to waste time washing out the insides
- Durable stainless steel both interior and exterior gives tis travel mug longevity
- The lid is quite fragile, especially in relation to the rest of the durable design
Thermos brand drinkware is unmatched on the market for its insulation ability, always keeping your drinks at the correct temperature, often seeming to be able to do this much more effectively than competitor’s products. Whether that’s true or not, this travel mug reflects the popular conception, although prospective buyers should take note of the fragile lid, which is in no way representative of the quality of the rest of the travel mug.
The sheer ease with which this travel mug keeps your drinks at the right temperature means it’s all too easy to slip into a false sense of security when going back to other drinking vessels. So be very careful if you go back to other types of drinkware!
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Tumbler
A tall travel mug that comes in a vast array of colors, the Zojirushi will serve all of your hot or cold beverage needs.
It comes with a fixed-on flip-open lid that’s easy to open and close and forms a strong and reliable seal with the mug, putting your mind at rest when it comes to dropping it into your bag.
MAJOR FEATURES
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- Capacity: 16 oz.
- Color: Black, Cinnamon Gold, Clear Red, Coral Pink, Pearl Pink, Slate Gray, Turquoise Blue, Matte Black, Vivid Orange, Dark Brown
- Dimensions: 2.8” x 2.8” x 8.6”
- Weight: 8 oz.
PROS & CONS
- Flip-lid design allows you to enjoy the aroma of your drink (which is a very significant amount of the overall flavor and enjoyment)
- Slim design is very easy to pick up, carry, and drink from
- Lightweight and immensely portable
- Looks great with a plethora of exciting colors on offer, allowing you to choose your favorite
- Flip-lip might not be to everybody’s favor—it is unfortunately possible (and quite common apparently) to hit yourself in the nose when opening and drinking from this travel mug
This lightweight, slim-form travel mug looks great, feels great, and makes your drinks taste great (with its wide diameter cup enabling you to actually smell your beverage, unlike many travel mugs on offer). Plus, it keeps your drink at the right temperature level so you can enjoy it longer. Make sure you know what to expect with this travel mug, as it is one of the taller ones available.
Contigo AutoSeal West Loop Mug
With its elegant curves, this attractive travel mug really catches the attention of the eye. It wouldn’t be amiss to call this a true feat of aesthetic design engineering. But does it actually do a good job of being a travel mug? The answer to that is a resounding yes. This drinkware will keep your drinks hot for hours on end, without running any of the stress-inducing risks of spills if you happen to place it even the wrong way up inside your bag. This exceptional travel mug is an attractive combination of looks and extremely effective and reliable functionality.
There’s an absolute mass of colors available to choose from for this travel mug. The choice is slightly overwhelming, in fact, but the novel names they have for the range of colors is quite charming and you might end up picking a color based on the name. Do remember, however, that only the plainer colors are dishwasher safe—the others start to peel off in the dishwasher, so keep that in mind before making a decision.
MAJOR FEATURES
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- Capacity: 16 oz.
- Color: Biscay Bay, Bright Lavender, Stormy Weather, Black, Deep Blue, Grayed Jade, Latte, Matte Black, Monaco, Monaco Trans Matte, Polar White, Radiant Orchid, Radiant Orchid Trans Matte, Stainless Steel, Watermelon, Violet
- Dimensions: 3.2” x 7.8” x 3.5”
- Weight: 8.8 oz.
PROS & CONS
- THERMALOCK vacuum insulation keeps drinks hot for up to 5 hours, and can keep them cold for up to 12 hours
- Button-push system allows you to drink from this travel mug with one hand
- check-circle-oThe lid seals are leak and spill proof, meaning you don’t have to worry about accidentally flooding your bag, car, yourself, or anywhere else with your beverage
- A large number of colors are available for this mug, but only some of them are dishwasher safe (make sure to check before you buy)
This is perhaps the most elegant travel mug available today with its gracefully curving shape. But not only does it look really good, the Contigo travel mug really delivers on the points which matter when it comes to ensuring your drink is kept at the right temperature, and securely too. Again, enjoy the brilliant range of colors available, but be careful not to place the really colorful options in the dishwasher. If dishwasher convenience is important to you, then you can’t go wrong with the stainless steel option.
Stanley Classic One Hand Vacuum Mug
The Stanley Classic is a rugged and strong-looking travel mug that will protect your beverages from virtually anything, while at the same time keep it nice and hot or refreshingly cold for hours on end. This is a great choice for those who are constantly doing active things out and about: hiking, cycling, skiing…you name it.
This product is aimed squarely at the outdoors market, and admittedly they are perfect for that environment, but there’s also absolutely no reason why you couldn’t use one of these travel mugs inside on an everyday basis.
Owing to its durable design, this travel mug is perfectly suited to those who work on building sites etc. who need drinkware that will be able to withstand shocks and being dropped every now and then.
MAJOR FEATURES
- Capacity: 16 oz.
- Color: Hammertone Crimson, Hammertone Green, Hammertone Navy, Classic Green
- Dimensions: 3.2” x 3.2” x 9.4”
- Weight: 1 lb.
PROS & CONS
- Highly durable construction can take a beating or several
- Can fit easily into bike racks
- Non-spill lid design
- Lifetime guarantee ensures longevity
- A limited range of available colors, and none of them are particularly inspiring (but then again this is a travel mug, not a fashion accessory)
If you want something that you can depend upon to survive a long time in the role of keeping your drinks at the perfect temperature, then you can’t go far wrong with this superb travel mug. It’s not much in the looks department in all fairness, but then you wouldn’t buy this purely for the visuals anyway.
Also, if your travel mug doesn’t look all that exciting, this has a number of hidden advantages: 1. Less likely to be stolen or “borrowed” 2. You’ll feel less guilty if you accidentally drop the travel mug. 3. No wasting lots of time deciding which color you like best before making the purchase.
Bubba Hero Elite
The designers of this travel mug have taken into consideration one of the most important, but often overlooked, qualities of insulated mugs: that it doesn’t affect the taste of your drink.
There’s nothing worse than an arbitrarily metallic mouthful of coffee from a travel mug that does a great job of keeping your drink hot, but at the all-too-great expense of adding an unwanted taste profile to your cup of coffee. But with its clever ceramic coating on the inside, the Hero Elite travel mug does not leave an unpleasant taste in your drink.
There don’t seem to be that many ceramic-coated travel mugs available, which is a huge shame as the flavor of your drink should be one of your top priorities when buying a travel mug. You have to be slightly more careful with the ceramic though, be sure not to use metallic spoons to stir the inside contents as you might end up scratching the inner surface.
MAJOR FEATURES
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- Capacity: 16 oz.
- Color: Black, Silver
- Dimensions: 3.2” x 3.2” x 9”
- Weight: 11.7 oz.
PROS & CONS
- Textured grip means this travel mug is easy to pick up and drink from, eliminating the chance of you dropping it (and potentially dangerous spills)
- Ceramic lining “Tasteguard” alleviates the metallic flavor common in other travel mugs
- Two available colors are bold and attractive
- Ceramic interior needs to be treated with respect (no stirring with metallic spoons) and also cleaned more regularly than metal
The best choice if you’ve been haunted by the infamous metallic flavor in the past. This travel mug also looks good and feels good owing largely to the textured grip.
Admittedly there aren’t many colors available for this piece of drinkware (only two, in fact) but this is more than made up for by the bold quality of these two colors and how good the travel mug looks.
Final Word
All of these travel mugs have their own particular merits. Some are designed to maximize the flavor of your beverage; some to reduce the inimitable travel mug metallic quality of liquids stored inside; and some to maintain the temperature of your drink for as long as possible.
Keeping your drinks hot or cold seems like one of those things that ought to be very simple, but in actual fact, a lot of time has to be put into the construction of a travel mug that will be capable of doing this while also looking good and feeling comfortable to hold, all while containing an adequate amount of liquid for you to consume.
It’s up to you to decide exactly what you’re looking for in a travel mug, but with that being said, we have chosen the Bubba Hero Elite as our favorite, in particular for its ceramic Tasteguard interior which means your drinks actually taste the same as they would in normal domestic drinkware, without any unwanted metallic bitterness. Why anyone would choose anything other than a ceramic coated travel mug is beyond knowing, although, to be fair, it does have to be handled with more care than the all metallic ones on offer.