Nothing kills a morning faster than expecting a hot sip of coffee, only to be met with lukewarm disappointment. Insulated travel mugs can keep your beverage at the ideal temperature, whether you’re commuting, hiking, or just desk-bound. There’s a wide world of stainless steel mugs, bottles, and tumblers out there, but here are the ones we think are worth carrying around.
Be sure to check out our guides to the Best Coffee Subscriptions, Best Coffee Grinders, Best Espresso Machines, Best Portable Coffee Makers, Best AeroPress Coffee Makers, and How to Make Better Coffee at Home.
Updated November 2024: We flagged picks that confirm lead use and added information on how we test. We also updated links and prices.
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Since we began testing reusable water bottles and travel mugs, we’ve discovered that some brands use lead soldering to seal their insulated bottles. While exposure is unlikely, we still believe it’s an unnecessary risk, especially since many of our top choices use safer sealing methods. We’ve flagged any brands that confirmed lead use and will keep this list updated as we hear from others.
- Stanley Cup
- Contigo Luxe Autoseal
- Yeti Rambler
- OtterBox Elevation
To put these bottles to the test, we filled each with cold water and hot coffee, then left them both outside in indirect sunlight and inside with the AC running. All of them held up to their promised insulation times, keeping cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. Then again, it’s rare to run across an insulated bottle that’s a total failure at its one job these days. But also, it’s rare to find a travel mug that stands out. We looked for features that make or break the experience—leak-proofing, exterior coating, and the cap design.
Note: While all of these bottles can handle cold beverages, you may prefer a reusable water bottle or tumbler (especially if you’re an ice coffee drinker).
