While the body of the mug is a bit hard to hold because of its sleekness, the handle is lined with cork, which our tester likes because it provides cushioning for your hand. Plus, the lid is leak-proof and has an easy-to-use slider. There are a few design details that could be improved, however: For example, the mug may not fit in most car cupholders due to its handle. This good-looking tumbler features great insulation, a full seal for tossing in your bag, and easy one-handed opening Size: The most popular tumblers hold around 30 ounces, and among the friends and coworkers who use them daily, that was unanimously the preferred size for sipping cold beverages or ice water. In our water bottle review and travel mug review, we’ve seen Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask go head-to-head competing for a position in our tests. For the first time, Hydro Flask offers something substantially different from Klean Kanteen: a bigger cup that actually matches what everyone else is offering. My tea stays hot for my entire commute home, which can sometimes be up to 2 hours if the traffic is bad or I get caught up. 6. Clear Instructions Provided With the Beast on How to Clean the Lid and Tumbler Itself

On the cleaning instructions provided by Greens Steel, there is a note stating you need to leave the lid slider open for 1-2 minutes before closing to prevent this from happening.What about the dishwasher, though? RTIC and Hydro Flask say that you should hand-wash only, while YETI specifically claims their tumblers will survive dishwashing. (Pelican doesn’t comment either way.) Given the number of outright contradictions we’ve seen over our years researching vacuum-insulated products, we’re not surprised by either answer. Extra-hot drying cycles will make the metal expand and contract, so there’s some risk to every mug, but the biggest problems are usually with color coatings and glued-on plastic pieces. Consider how you’re going to be using your tumbler. There are lighter options for hikers and campers, but they may not hold as much liquid or keep it as cold or hot. Going on a super-long road trip and need enough coffee to fuel you for a day straight? Go for something a bit larger that you may not be toting around very often. There are also plenty of minimal options for those who may have their insulated tumbler on display throughout the day (like in an open-plan office). These mugs are safe for the microwave if you need to heat or reheat a beverage, as well as the freezer, so you can, for example, freeze portions of fruit in each glass. Unlike some insulated glasses, they can be washed in the dishwasher, so cleaning is easy when the party is over. RTIC compromises on quality very slightly, with some plastic parts, but the vacuum insulation is all that it needs to be. Erika Owen is a big fan of super cold water. A simple water bottle doesn't pass the temperature test. She's been testing insulated tumblers for years and is constantly searching for the perfect travel-friendly option that doesn't eat up (too much) precious carry-on space.

If you’re looking for something that keeps your drinks well-insulated, this model boasts double-wall insulation that keeps your drink’s temperature no matter what the outside weather. This 20-ounce tumbler stands 6.88 inches high and has a 3.5-inch diameter that fits most standard-size cupholders. This is a rare, yet very special feature we totally love! 3. Comes With x2 Premium Unbreakable, Rust & Scratch-Proof Stainless Steel Straws The one category YETI manages to squeak ahead of some competition is in spill prevention. The Rambler’s slide cover actually stops most (but not all) leakage and only lets drops escape. In comparison, the Pelican will dribble out a stream. The RTIC is more leak-proof, but the YETI really is ready for those times when your friend fires up the motor on the jet boat and you haven’t finished your drink.

Greens Steel BEAST Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Cup, 30-Ounce

Spout stoppers: Flip-up stoppers and slide-over stoppers are the two common approaches to keeping a tumbler closed. Look closely at what you’re buying, though: Many tumblers are made with a few different lid styles if you look for them. RTIC's Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Tumbler does exactly what an insulated tumbler should do. It keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. And at a lower price point than its competitors, our testers didn't see a drop-off in performance. Our testers found the RTIC tumbler held the same temperature an hour after the liquid was placed in the container for cold beverages. And for hot drinks, the temperature did cool, but it stayed hot enough. This excellent temperature regulation is thanks to the double-wall vacuum insulation and the stainless steel construction. The differences between these tumblers is so small that it would be impossible to tell them apart. The real difference is between the tumblers and the water bottle: because the vacuum-sandwich stainless steel walls provide the most effective insulation, the wide lid of a tumbler is a real liability. Even the fact that the Hydro Flask tumbler has no seal to keep steam in made only a tiny difference in the test. Hydro Flask’s tumbler cup does a great job on all fronts with its TempShield double-wall vacuum insulation. It can keep hot beverages warm for up to six hours with the lid and keeps beverages cold for up to 24 hours, something reviewers rave about. The design also prevents the tumbler from sweating, so there's no worrying about getting rings on your furniture.

So, the ideal setting for an insulated tumbler is on a hot afternoon where you want to keep your drink insulated, but you’re more worried about convenience more than spills. Drinking something cold poolside on a scorching-hot day is a perfect example. Reading on the patio in the early morning with a cup of coffee is also a case where the tumbler works better than an ordinary cup. The bottom line It’s also advertised to be sweat and rust-resistant, which is cool if I happen to leave it in my car while I’m on a few days vacation… For quite a while, the Yeti tumbler was the only vacuum-insulated tumbler on the market that was dishwasher safe. It paved several paths in the tumbler industry as far as durability and versatility were concerned. Obviously, there are many durable and dishwasher-safe tumblers on the market now, but Yeti's leadership in the industry does say something about how innovative its design is and was. A tumbler is also available in much larger sizes than popular travel mugs. You can buy a thermos or a giant insulated water bottle, of course, but those aren’t easy to sip from. The RTIC’s lid is surprisingly secure, given the competition. You can usually hold this cup upside down, or even leave it sitting on a table upside down, and not see more than a few drops. As soon as you shake it or drop it on the floor, though, all bets are off. (The more fluid you have inside, the more explosive the spill will be when the flip-cap pops open.)

Analysis and Test Results

Our Lab team consists of testers with decades of experience in both professional and home kitchens. In addition to their testing, tumblers were sent out to our food and commerce writers who cook and meal prep consistently. Painted, coated or brushed finish: Color coordination is a nice benefit of painted or powder-coated tumblers, but they’ll show signs of wear eventually. Brushed stainless steel looks great even if it gets scratched, and there’s nothing that will peel off after a few years. How we tested Everyday use tests