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The Best Travel Mugs & Reusable Coffee Cups

You'll have landed on this post, I'm guessing because you're looking for the best travel mugs or the best reusable coffee cups, and you've discovered that there's a lot more choice than you'd given credit for, so you need some help, and you've thought “Kev, he'll help me choose the best travel mug”, well – you're right, I will :-). 

Best travel mugs vs best reusable coffee cups – what's the difference?

The first thing to point out is that while these terms are often used interchangeably, as far as I'm concerned they're two completely different things. For this reason, I'm splitting this post into two sections, best travel mugs, and best reusable coffee cups.

I'm hoping this will help people to end up with something that fits their needs more closely, as it's quite common for people to buy the wrong kind of mug based on this misunderstanding. 

A really good example of this is when you read through the reviews for various popular travel mugs and reusable coffee cups, you'll find some people saying that a reusable cup didn't keep their coffee hot enough or wasn't leakproof.

You'll also find some people saying that a travel mug kept their drink too hot and they had to wait hours to drink it. These are examples of why there are different kinds of mugs/cups for different people or situations, as I'll describe.

I did at one point have two completely separate posts, one for travel mugs and one for reusable coffee cups, but I decided it would be more helpful to my fellow coffee botherers (coffeeblog readers, so that now includes you) to create one post that covers both so that the differences are made clear. 

So let's just briefly discuss what is a travel mug and what is a reusable coffee cup, so you can decide what it is you're looking for at the moment.

Reusable coffee cups

These are coffee cups that can be reused, vs using takeaway cups. The name refers to the fact that these cups were mainly designed to replace disposable takeaway cups. They're so popular for use in offices, at home, and so on that, the term “reusable” might not make much sense, as they're often used instead of normal coffee cups, and of course, normal coffee cups are reusable.

But when you recall the fact that these kinds of cups are intended as a more environmentally friendly replacement for disposable cups, it's easier to understand what you can expect from a cup of this kind, by considering the kind of cups they are replacing.

The most simple description for reusable coffee cups is that they're (usually) made as a direct replacement for disposable cups, and they're made for drinking your coffee (or tea, or whatever) more or less straight away, and not for keeping hot in to be sipped over a longer period of time (that's what travel mugs are for).

Disposable cups are relatively poor where thermal insulation is concerned, a card sleeve is often needed to be able to carry them, they don't do a great job of keeping your coffee hot, and they're not leakproof, in fact, most people will be accustomed to not trusting the lids on disposable cups, and double-checking they're on properly before drinking.

Most of the best reusable coffee cups I'll be sharing in a sec, do better in most of these areas than disposable coffee cups, and they're more environmentally friendly, but it's just worth keeping in mind that if you're buying a cup like this, you're not going to get the same kind of heat retention & spill prevention that you get from a travel mug, which we'll discuss next. 

If you're wanting a cup to make coffee in, or to take to a coffee shop to ask them to make your coffee in, and then to drink almost straight away, then you'll want a reusable cup vs a travel mug.

When you make a cup of coffee or tea in a normal ceramic, porcelain, earthenware, or glass cup or mug, it's usually far too hot to drink straight away, unless you're one of those people like my old boss who has an asbestos mouth & drinks instant coffee straight away after pouring boiling water in his cup from the kettle!

Normal cups allow the drink to cool down relatively quickly, resulting in a drinkable brew (for most people) within a few minutes. Disposable cups are, generally speaking, worse for this than ceramic mugs for example, which is one of the reasons it's good to use a reusable cup instead, in addition to the environmental reasons of course, as some people find that their coffee or tea is lukewarm by the time they get it to where they want to drink it. 

Most people, if they're wanting a drink to be at a drinkable temperature within 5 or 10 minutes, would be better off using a reusable mug or cup, and not a travel mug, for when they're buying or making a coffee or whatever, which they want to drink shortly. If you're like my old boss, however, and you like your coffee at the temperature of the surface of the sun, then you may want to go for a travel mug. 

Travel Mugs

While reusable coffee cups are intended as an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable coffee cups, travel mugs are mugs/cups that are made for travel. I know, the term “no shite Sherlock” is probably on your tongue now ;-), and yes this may be obvious where travel mugs are concerned, but I'm saying this to point out by contrast what reusable coffee cups are not made for, as a way to distinguish the two. 

If you imagine a thermos flask, but in more of a single cup size, and with a more convenient system for sealing (rather than just unscrewing a lid) then you'll have a good idea of most modern travel mugs. The main features travel mugs are known for are longer heat retention, and being leakproof.

If you want to make your coffee or tea, sling it in your bag and crack it open a couple of hours later, then you'll want a travel mug vs a reusable cup. If you want to drink your brew over a longer period of time, for example during a hike whenever you decide to have a breather, then again, you'll want a travel mug. 

I hear people complaining about reusable cups not being leakproof, not retaining the heat, not being spillproof, not being sturdy enough to throw around, and so on, and this is due to confusing these two types of cup/mug, so what I'm getting at here is that if you need a mug for travel and for travel-related features, you need a travel mug, not a reusable coffee cup. 

If you're using a mug for travel of any kind, you'll usually want your coffee (or whatever other hot drink you might be using it for) to stay hot until you get around to drinking it, and you'll need to know that it's not going to spill your drink all over the place while you're traveling with it and that it's not going to leak in your bag, for example. 

Another reason you may want a travel mug and not a reusable coffee cup is if you always like to drink your coffee or tea at the brew temperature (i.e. you have an asbestos mouth). If you're someone who doesn't want their brew to cool down at all prior to drinking, then you may prefer a travel mug over most reusable coffee cups even if you're not using it for any kind of travel-related activity.

You might not be surprised to discover that my home is full of different mugs ;-), I have travel mugs (including a number of the mugs discussed here) and reusable coffee cups. If I'm making a brew to drink later, I'll reach for a travel mug, or if I'm drinking it almost straight away while I'm driving to the office or walking into town or something, I'll reach for a reusable coffee cup.

So hopefully that makes things a bit more clear where travel mugs vs reusable coffee cups are concerned. So, now let's talk about what I reckon are among the best in both categories. 

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I digress, here is my review finally!

Best Travel Mugs

720° dgree leakproof travel mug.

Check Price - Amazon

Capacity: 450ml Size: 6.4cm at bottom, 7cm at top, 21cm tall. Weight: 282 g Car cup holder compatible? Fits however may be a bit too small for some of the shallower holders. Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: BPA-free polypropylene and silicone seal Seal: One touch open/close mechanism Leakproof?: Yes Dishwasher Safe?: No Thermal Performance: Brand Claim: 5 hours. 

My Observations:

This is one of the best selling travel mugs at the time of writing, and reading through the massive number of Amazon reviews it has, it's clear to see that this German designed travel mug has a lot more going for it than just good looks.

I have one of these, so these observations can be taken as my 720° Degree travel mug review .

This is a travel mug that looks good, and it feels like a good quality stainless steel travel mug for the cost. I have to question the brand name, though, it has a 360 degree drinking gamut, so where does the 720 degrees come from, and who stole the other e from degree?? Weird.

The 450ml capacity is relatively big given the size, it's quite a slim travel mug, and the design makes the capacity deceivingly big. It's fully leakproof,  and you can drink from 360 degrees, meaning that there isn't a single drinking hole you have to identify before you take a swig.

This might not seem like that much of a big deal, but have you ever experienced what happens when you're drinking from a single hole travel cup and you have it the wrong way around? You end up wearing your coffee, not great if you're on the way to a meeting, or are about to film a YouTube video… now you know why I wear the apron! 😉

Re car cup holders, the usual complaint with bigger travel cups is that they're too wide to fit car holders, and the opposite is true with this one, as the base is narrower than the top and is just 6.5 cm in diameter, this will mean that with some of the bigger cup holders such as those in the central position in many cars, it'll rattle around a bit.

So in my car, for example, this is one of the few travel cups that will fit in the smaller secondary cup holder on the right hand side of the steering wheel, but it rattles around a bit in the deeper, wider cup holders between the driver's seat & passenger seat. Not a big deal though as it's leakproof so your brew won't spill while it's rattling around.

Do you know how important it is to weigh your coffee?

I've not timed the heat retention yet, but it definitely does a good job of keeping hot drinks hot. This isn't one to use if you want your brew to cool down a bit within 20-30 mins of making it, it'll be scalding hot still until at least an hour later, I'd say.

The number of reviews this product has is quite staggering, and I didn't have to read all of them (which is good…) before coming to the conclusion that the manufacturer's claim of 5 hours of heat retention is understated. It's also clear from some of the images that this, like most coloured stainless steel travel mugs, won't keep its colour if it's washed in the dishwasher. The brand doesn't appear to state whether it's dishwasher safe or not, but I'd say not if you want the colour to remain.

The seal is nice and easy to use, just press once to open and again to close, and the 360-degree drinking position is great. My only slight criticism of this mug is that it's not the most stable. The Contigo travel mugs, for example, are very stable, you'd have to try quite hard to topple them over, this one does feel like it wouldn't take much effort to topple it, although if it's sealed that shouldn't be a problem. 

Contigo Autoseal West Loop 

Capacity: 470 ml Size:   6.5 cm at bottom,  9 cm at top,  20.5 cm tall. Weight: 340 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most car cup holders. Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: BPA free plastic Seal: Autoseal one touch release Leakproof?: Yes Dishwasher Safe?: Lid yes (top rack of dishwasher), mug no Thermal Performance: Brand Claim: 5 hours

Contigo is one of the biggest brands of travel mugs, now owned by Newell Brands, the firm that owns Dr. Coffee, Yankee Candle, and Breville , not to be confused with Breville worldwide, whose machines are sold in the UK under the Sage Appliances brand.

I have to hand it to Contigo, or more specifically to the design team behind the travel mugs sold under this brand name, as they really do know what they're doing when it comes to travel mugs. It's no wonder they do, to be fair, as they honed their craft by designing and manufacturing the Starbucks travel mugs, before deciding to continue to develop their designs under their own brand instead of continuing to work as a white-label supplier.  

I think it's fair to say that this is Contigo's flagship travel mug, and it's clear to see from the reviews how well they've done with this travel mug. Previously I would have said that this should be the case for the price, as the original version of this mug was about double the price of the Contigo Byron travel mug featured in this post, but this version (the 2019 version) is usually only slightly more expensive than the smaller Byron travel mug, below, so great value for money.

Again, I have this travel mug, so you can take these observations as my Contigo West loop mug review.

The main feature here is the “auto seal” that Contigo has patented. This isn't a standard seal mechanism, it's an automatic sealing lid that you press in order to release the seal to drink from it, and when you remove your finger from the button it automatically seals again.

This makes it perfect for folk who want a leakproof travel mug which they can easily grab from their bag, have a swig without removing the lid, and launch it back in the bag. There's a “lid-lock” to stop the button from accidentally being pressed while in your bag, in case you were wondering.

It's a really well designed and well made travel mug, it feels very sturdy, it's very stable, I wouldn't be concerned about it wobbling over on a train journey, for example, it'll fit in most car cup holders, and it'll keep hot drinks hot (and cold drinks cold) for several hours.

This is definitely one of my favourite travel mugs. I really like the Contigo Byron too, below, but for me, the West Loop just nudges over the finish line because the seal is so easy to operate, while Byron is a bit stiff, there's a bit of a knack required to operate it one-handed.

Best coffee for Americano

Contigo Byron Leakproof Stainless Steel Travel Mug

Capacity: 470ml Size: 8 cm at bottom, 8.3 cm at top, 18.5 cm tall. Weight: 275 g Car cup holder compatible? Bigger cup holders. Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: BPA-free plastic lid Seal: One-handed Snapseal™ Leakproof?: Yes and no (see below) Dishwasher Safe?: Yes and no (see below) Thermal Performance: Brand Claim: 6 hours. 

Another one from Contigo, their Bryon travel mug is among their more popular products and has sold astonishingly well since it was released only a couple of years ago (at the time of writing), as you'll see from the huge number of Amazon reviews. Once again, I have this travel mug, yes, I'm a nerd ;-), and I spend most of my money on coffee stuff, what can I say ;-). So once again, you can take these observations as my Contigo Byron review.

I like the Contigo Byron, it's one of my favourites, it's clear that this has been designed by people who know what they're doing. It keeps hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold (it really does, it's not just a marketing blurb), I've found it to be 100% leakproof and spillproof, it's very stable, not an easy mug to accidentally knock over, although it wouldn't really matter as long as it was sealed.

The biggest difference between this travel mug and the auto seal west loop is the simple one-handed opening snap seal, vs the more innovative auto sealing mechanism. In theory, the snap seal is more simple and less complex so may be less chance of it causing issues. In practice, it's just a little bit faffy to open the Byron with one hand. 

Don't get me wrong, it is doable, but it does require a certain amount of dexterity and hand strength to do it one handed. It's not just pressing a button, it's a really tight catch, so to hold it with one hand and pop open the catch with a finger of the same hand (I tend to use my index finger) does take a bit of effort. It's fine, but if I was choosing between this one and the West Loop, I'd choose that simply because it's less physical effort to open and close.

Contigo claims a fairly huge thermal performance of up to 6 hours for hot drinks and 12 hours for cold drinks, which is even more than they claim for their auto seal, and I'm not 100% sure what is responsible for the one hour improvement. They've recently released a Byron 2.0 , which they state keeps drinks hot for 7 hours! I've not used the Byron 2 as of yet but I'll add it to this post once I have.

Regarding the “Yes and no” answers above, it is dishwasher proof according to the manufacturer, but the outer coloured coating doesn't appear to like the dishwasher all that much. This is something you'll find with quite a lot of coloured stainless steel mugs, if you put them in the dishwasher the paint often starts to come off after a while. My advice is to put it on the top shelf of the dishwasher, or if you're bothered about paint remaining in place just hand wash it.

The leakproof controversy comes from the fact that it's leakproof if the seal is in place, but quite a few users have pointed out that you do need to keep an eye on the rubber seal and make sure that it's stayed put. If the seal has come out partially and you didn't notice, and you shove it in your bag, you could have a disaster. I've not had an issue with this personally, but if I do I'll update this post accordingly.

Have a look at the new Barista Touch Impress, this machine produces amazing coffee quick and simply, and is ready to go in minutes, perfect for your morning walk:

Sage Barista Touch Impresss Review

Opard Leakproof Double-Walled Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug 

Capacity: 350 ml Size: 6.5 cm at bottom, 7.5 cm at top, 17 cm tall. Weight: 390 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most car cup holders. Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: BPA-free plastic lid Seal: Single button seal Leakproof?: Yes Dishwasher Safe?: No Thermal Performance: Brand Claim: 6 hours. 

This is a popular travel mug that has sold incredibly well since it was launched in 2019. It's quite a hefty unit at just under 21cm tall, just under 9cm wide, and 390g, so probably not one for people who want a lighter weight mug for walking, etc., and while it will fit in many car cup holders (the base is smaller than the listed diameter, at approx 6.5cm) it does depend on the depth of your cup holders, as it won't fit in some of the deeper and narrower holders.

It has a nice big silicon grip, a silicon non-slip base, and a one-button plunger to open the seal. This is supposed to be completely leakproof and spill-proof, but a recurring theme with all of these travel mugs that are allegedly 100% leakproof, is a small % of complaints that this isn't the case. 

In my humble opinion, regardless of the design of the travel mug, there is always, always the potential for completely leakproof mugs leaking, simply because it requires the seal to be in place, and they can quite easily be dislodged prior to or while screwing on the lid. So it's worth just double-checking the seal each time you put the lid on after filling any travel cup, to ensure the seal is in place, if it isn't it'll leak.

Also, there is always the potential for the sealing method to fail. With a mug like this where there's a button mechanism, this mechanism can fail. Obviously, they're not supposed to, but it can happen, and this is why with any travel mug like this, you will find some reviews from people saying it leaks. Personally, this is why I prefer the more simple snap seals, although it's also possible for them to fail too of course.

Have you thought about bringing your espresso maker with you for an even fresher cup of coffee on the go?

Lifeventure Leakproof & Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug

Capacity: 300 ml Size: 6.8 cm at bottom, 7 cm at top, 22 cm tall. Weight: 262 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most car cup holders. Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: Stainless steel lid with BPA free plastic pressure release chamber Seal: Screw off Leakproof?: Yes Dishwasher Safe?: No Thermal Performance: Brand Claim: 6 hours. 

This travel mug is quite a bit different from a lot of the other popular mugs in that it's more flask like where the lid is concerned. Instead of a snap seal flap or a one-touch mechanism to open and close, you just screw off the lid as you would with a traditional flask.

This isn't as convenient for taking quick sips on the move, but if you're wanting to bung your coffee in your bag, and open it to drink it when you're ready, then this isn't a bad mug to look at, although I'd also have a look at the Zojirushi, Thermos, and Stanley options below for this style of travel mug. 

There's a lot of love for this mug in the reviews, but the more common gripes are that it requires a bit of wrist strength to open, and a few people note that they find the secondary lid to be a bit of a pain.

Zojirushi SM-TA36BA Stainless Steel Travel Mug

Capacity: 480 ml Size: 7 cm at bottom, 6.5 cm at top, 22.5 cm tall. Weight: 220 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most car cup holders. Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: BPA free plastic Seal: 2 step flip open lid with lock Leakproof?: Yes Dishwasher Safe?: No Thermal Performance: Brand Claim:  6 hrs

This is one of many cool looking non-leak travel mugs available from the global Japanese based brand Zojirushi, a 100+-year-old company that started out manufacturing glass-lined vacuum bottles in the early 1920s.

The Zojirushi travel mugs have a flask look to them, but it's not a simple flask lid design, it's a 2 step flip lid designed to prevent the user from being splashed by condensation when opening.

This is a very stylish looking travel mug, it's available in a range of colours (the black one and the pink one appear to be the best sellers) and it does get a lot of praise from owners, mainly for the great heat retention. 

Stanley Classic Trigger Action Vacuum Mug

Capacity: 470 ml Size: 7.3 cm at bottom, 7 cm at top, 20 cm tall. Weight: 250 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most car cup holders. Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: BPA free plastic Seal: One-handed trigger seal Leakproof?: Yes Dishwasher Safe?: Yes, top rack. Thermal Performance: Brand Claim:  7 hrs

You'll no doubt know Stanley for their tools, they've ventured out into all sorts in recent history, including alarms, but this isn't a new diversification for Stanley, they've actually been making vacuum flasks since the early 1900s.

This is a proper retro-looking travel mug, especially if you go for the hammertone green. It's available in other colours but the hammertone green looks exactly how I'd expect a Stanley travel mug to look. These are nice heavy weight, sturdy travel mugs, popular for outdoor use, hiking, camping, and so on.

This is one of the “one hand” travel mugs that are clearly targeted at active people, who want to be able to grab their travel cup and drink their brew with one hand while doing something else with the other, such as digging ditches, fishing, composing an orchestra, whatever. Not that you need to hold a travel mug with two hands like it's a broadsword or light saber, of course, but because some travel mugs and flasks are a two-handed affair when it comes to getting to the coffee.

It's worth pointing out that Stanley backs their travel mugs with a huge 25-year manufacturer's warranty, which is a very rare thing to see in a travel mug.

How to make coffee taste better in 3 easy ways

Thermos 185198 Direct Drink Flask / Travel Mug

Capacity: 470 ml Size: 7 cm at bottom, 7 cm at top, 23.2 cm tall Weight: ‎290 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, bigger car cup holders. Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: BPA free plastic Seal: Push-button with locking catch Leakproof?: Yes Dishwasher Safe?: No Thermal Performance: Brand Claim: 10 hrs

The Thermos brand needs no introduction in the UK of course, probably the most well-known brand in the UK when it comes to flasks – and the thermos direct is a very popular travel mug/flask, as you'll see if you have a read through the online reviews.

The biggest feature to mention is the crazy 10 hour heat retention claim. This sounds far fetched, but if you have a look through the reviews you'll find plenty of users concurring with this, some of whom even say it's too good and they have to leave the lid off to allow their brew to cool down!

Although it's a Thermos, it doesn't have the standard flask gubbins that you might expect, it has a one-handed push button, to enable busy folk to open their mug and drink their coffee (or tea, but not at the same time) on the go, again so they can do other stuff with their other hand, such as play Concerto No 4 on piano, and if they can do that one-handed I'm impressed.

It's 7cm wide, so it will fit into the larger cup holders which are just over 7cm, but it won't fit in the smaller car holders. Some cars have, for example, larger central cup holders and then smaller secondary ones, it'll fit in the bigger ones. 

Bodum 11068-01 Vacuum Travel Mug

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Capacity: ‎ 350 ml Size: 6.9 cm at bottom, 7 cm at top, 18.5 cm tall Weight: 330g Car cup holder compatible? Most cup holders Mug Material: Stainless steel Lid Material: BPA-free plastic  Seal: Flap with catch Leakproof?: No Dishwasher Safe?: Lid yes, mug no Thermal Performance: N/A

Guess what? Haha, yup, you guessed it, I have this travel mug (a couple of them actually), so you can take this as my Bodum travel mug review.

Bodum is a very well-established brand, founded towards the end of the second world war in Denmark by Peter Bodum, and is still owned by his son and daughter Jørgen & Pia Bodum, and operated by Jørgen who's currently the CEO of Bodum. If you're wondering what the heck this has to do with which is the best travel mugs, well, maybe not much, but I like to give whatever background I can on the products and brands I'm discussing. 

Also, I do think the background of the brand and who operates it makes a difference actually. Usually, the best products come from the most passionate brands, and the most passionate brands tend to be the ones with more history to be passionate about. 

Best coffee machines review Best bean to cup coffee machines review

I really like the Bodum travel mugs, I have to say. The only obvious point to make is that they're not completely leakproof. The catch over the drinking hole, the thread of the lid, and the silicon seal, are almost leakproof (as long as the lid is properly screwed on), but even if you've taken care to put the lid on properly if you chuck this in your bag, it'll leak, so it's not made for this. 

These mugs straddle the two categories, really, between travel mugs and reusable coffee cups. I've put them in the travel cup category though because of their thermal performance I think is too good to put them in the reusable cup category. Although Bodum doesn't make a heat retention claim (which is why I've entered N/A for this in the features), I can tell you that these mugs keep drinks hot for hours. 

I play drums in a band, and I'll usually take a brew with me when I'm rehearsing at night, and a few times I've made a brew in the Bodum travel mug and realized the error of my ways when I try to take a swig and realize it's chuffing boiling. It's about a 20 minute drive, and it's usually far too hot to drink still when I get there, and there have been times when I've left the travel mug in my cup holder, on a cold night, and returned to the car almost three hours later to find it's at a reasonable drinking temperature. 

We've got a red version of this at home as well as the black one, and for me, the black one seems better, where the lid is concerned. I'm not sure why, you'd think it would just be a colour difference, but it doesn't seem to be, the lids feel slightly different, and the thread seems a better fit on the black version.

Goat Story  Travel Mug

Capacity: ‎ 350 ml Size: 26 x 10 x 9 cm Weight: 259g Car cup holder compatible? No, unless you have a horn-shaped cup holder. Fred Flintstone probably had one of these. Mug Material: BPA-free plastic  Lid Material: BPA-free plastic  Seal: Snapseal Leakproof?: Yes  Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Thermal Performance: N/A

Some people will have just spat their coffee all over their keyboard or smartphone from looking at this one, and apologies for that, I realize this design isn't for everyone, but it really is for the people it's for if that makes sense? Also, Goat Story was the first travel mug brand to send me their quirky travel mug to review, so it would be remiss of me to not include it.

I know this will be getting boring now ;-), but yes, I certainly do have one of these, so these observations can be seen as my goat story mug review. As I've said, they sent it to me, I wouldn't have bought one simply because I drive a car, and I don't ride a dragon. I watched Game of Thrones and Vikings, both were great but enjoying these programs wouldn't compel me to walk around with one of these ;-).

Joking apart, I do really like the Goat Story mug, It's very, VERY unique, and it's ridiculously quirky, but it's also a high-quality, well made product, it's leakproof, dishwasher safe, and although it's made of plastic, it's thick BPA free plastic, and it does a relatively good job of keeping coffee hot, although the brand doesn't make any claims in terms of hours of heat retention. 

The goat story travel mugs don't have any kind of innovative sealing technology like some of the leakproof travel mugs have, they have a conventional seal that works very well. You should be able to sling the goat story over your shoulder, throw it around, run with it, ride a dragon with it, etc., without it leaking.

The only thing to add to this is that if you're putting black coffee or tea in your goat story mug, which tends to be a bit hotter than coffee or tea with milk, just give it 30 seconds to a minute until you seal it and go on your way, otherwise the steam might pop the seal.

Let's point out the obvious, though, you'd only really want to use one in public in fairly specific circumstances. Either you're a complete attention seeker and you welcome the looks and questions ;-), or you're using the mug in a particular setting that makes it an appropriate choice. 

A reviewer has mentioned that it was a great talking piece in the shop they worked in, and I think that's a good point, if you want people to engage with you, this is a real talking point, well, it'll either cause people to engage with you, or it'll cause people to back off without losing eye contact, just until they can open the door.

If you're involved in the middle ages with work or play, i.e. if you do reenactment stuff or if you work in a shop that has anything to do with Vikings or Game of Thrones or something, then you'll have a great excuse to buy this travel mug. Needless to say, this isn't for everyone, but who cares? All that matters is whether it's for you or not. 

If your question about the goat story mug is simply “Why?” then, yeah, I understand that question ;-). The why, or the inspiration, is one of the most commonly told coffee origins stories, in which there was a goatherd by the name of Kaldi (In some versions of the story the name is Khalid), who first discovered coffee sometime around 850 AD when he noticed the goats acting more energetic after munching on coffee cherries.

Goats of course have horns, well some don't but let's not be pedantic about it. So that's the link to the story. They're not made from actual goat horns, obviously. The actual travel mug itself is made from a BPA free plastic, and it feels very sturdy. It comes with a sleeve/holder that doubles as a stand, a hand strap, and a shoulder strap. 

Best reusable coffee cups

Keepcup brew cork reusable coffee cup.

Capacity: ‎ 340 ml (This is the medium, available in 3 other sizes) Size: 6.3 cm at bottom, 7.5cm at band, 8.8cm at the top Weight: 272 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most cup holders but see below. Mug Material: Tempered soda lime glass Band Material: Cork Lid Material: BPA And BPS free polypropylene #7 Dishwasher Safe?: Yes, top rack. Microwave Safe?: Yes

Yes, you can take this as my keep cup brew review, as this is a reusable coffee cup that I owned, that is, I did use to have one of these, and I used it for quite a while until, sadly, I smashed it. Obviously, I wouldn't have done that on purpose, these keep cups aren't cheap cups ;-), so I was a bit miffed when this happened, but it was my own daft fault. 

This is a typical example of using the wrong mug for a given circumstance, I should have had a stainless steel travel cup with me on this day, but I didn't, I chose to take the keep cup brew, and I was careless with it. Thanks to Newton's invention of gravity (I think everything floated prior to that?) it hit the floor and turned into a no point in keeping any longer, cup (doesn't have the same ring to it).

It's worth noting that being tempered glass, it broke into lots of little chunks, and not big shards, so it's a fairly safe glass mug to smash – dustpan and brush sorted it.

I'm not putting down the product, it's glass, if you drop it onto a road as I did, it'll probably smash. If you particularly enjoy drinking from glass (I much prefer drinking from glass to drinking from plastic) then I think it's worth the risk as long as you're careful, and don't try to use it in circumstances where you're going to be throwing it around, or putting it in a bag that is going to be getting knocked around.

I've actually been meaning to buy another one of these for ages, as it was my favourite reusable coffee cup before I went & broke it.

I found it really comfortable to hold, with the cork band. The cork is allegedly a waste product of wine cork manufacturing in Portugal, so it's great to know you're using a product that is partially made from a very sustainable product, a waste product. I say “allegedly” though, because I reckon they use an F tonne (approximately double the weight of an S tonne) of Cork for these bands, so the cynic in me would ask the question is it really all waste cork? 

This is a very popular reusable cup, and most people who own them, love them. There are a few common complaints, one is that the cork band could be a bit taller, so you can hold a hot coffee with it with more than just your thumb and forefinger. I can understand that comment, but I'd imagine that having a taller cork would require changing the design of the glass cup to reduce the angle, so it's probably the height it is for good reason. 

Another thing I've seen a few times is complaints about the lid having a terrible smell, and this appears to have been a batch issue as some people have experienced this on the lid that came with it but then ordered a replacement lid from KeepCup and that didn't have the same smell. Mine didn't have an odour to it, although I'd usually take the lid off to drink as I prefer to drink from glass than plastic.

BioGo Reusable Coffee Cup

Capacity: ‎ 450 ml (350 ml also available) Size: 7.1 cm at bottom, 8.4 cm at the top, 18.6 cm tall Weight: 182 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most cup holders  Mug Material: Rice husk fibre  Band Material: No band Lid Material: Rice husk fibre  Dishwasher Safe?: Yes, top rack. Microwave Safe?: Yes

BioGo is a British firm, offering reusable cups made from a material that is made from waste rice husks. Rice husks are a waste byproduct of rice harvesting, masses amount of waste rice husks have been burned or buried over the years, and clever people are finding better ways to deal with them. 

It turns out that rice husks are abundant in natural silica, which is a very strong and versatile material, so converting waste rice husks into reusable coffee cups has an impact on the environment both in the potential reduction of disposable cups used and in being a more environmentally friendly way of dealing with the waste rice husks.

They're one of the best selling reusable cups in the UK at the moment, and there's a lot of praise for these cups online. They have a screw on lid, which is quite rare for reusable cups which can quite often have a push-fit lid similar to disposable cups – and they have a pop open drinking hole which makes them relatively leak resistant for a reusable cup. 

Note I say leak resistant, these aren't sold as leakproof cups, you wouldn't want to chuck one in your bag, but the hole cover (which doubles as a carry handle when empty) and the screw fit lid does mean they're among the most leak proof reusable cups. Just keep in mind that, as with the Goat Story mug above, you need to wait until your drink stops steaming (a minute or two if you've used water just off the boil) before closing the hole, or it might pop open.

Stainless Steel Coffee Cup

Capacity: ‎ 380 ml  Size: 7 cm at bottom, 8.8 cm at the top , 15.3 cm tall Weight: 240 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most cup holders  Mug Material: Stainless steel Band Material: No band Lid Material: BPA free plastic  Dishwasher Safe?: No Microwave Safe?: No, unless you're Casey Ryback, a cook aboard USS Missouri, a former Navy SEAL and a specialist in martial arts, explosives, special-weapons and tactics, and you need to blow up a microwave in order to cause a diversion while attempting to thwart the devious plot of a group of mercenaries under the command of a disillusioned former CIA operative, or something.

Another very popular reusable cup, these are insulated stainless steel cups with a screw on BPA free plastic lid and a relatively standard catch cover on the drinking hole (flip buckle). The insulation means that these are not going to burn your hands, so no need for a band to save your fingers, although it's also worth noting that this will do a fairly good job of keeping your coffee hot, so it may keep your hot drinks a bit too hot if you want to drink your coffee straight away.

It's worth pointing out that if this is the case and you're making your own coffee, you can always make it slightly cooler, and how you'd do that would just depend on the brew method.

For hints and tips on how to improve your coffee taste watch:

If you're using instant (get out… just kidding, instant coffee drinkers are welcome here) just add a bit less hot water and then top up with cold water. If you're making Americano, top up with a bit less hot water than you usually would, and leave some space for cold. If you're making a milky, just steam your milk to a slightly cooler temperature, although if you're steaming your milk to 65C which is the ideal max temperature for moo milk and most milk alternatives, it should be ready to drink almost straight away in any cup.

These are practically leakproof, as they have a threaded screw on lid and a decent catch on the drinking hole cover, but again as with the BioGo cups above, I wouldn't recommend slinging one of these in your bag.

Circular and Co Reusable Coffee Cup Made from Recycled Coffee Cups

Capacity: ‎ 340 ml  Size: 6.2 cm at bottom, 8.5 cm at the top, 17 cm tall Weight: 200 g Car cup holder compatible? Yes, most cup holders  Mug Material: Paper Band Material: No band Lid Material: BPA free plastic  Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Microwave Safe?: No

This is a rare reusable coffee cup in that it's sold as being 100% leakproof, it's also rare in that it's made from disposable cups! Although the material is listed as paper, it's not really paper as such, it's a composite made from shredded recycled paper cups and shredded and recycled polymer, so it would be fairer to say, I think, that this material is made from recycled plastics and recycled paper cups.

The lid is BPA free plastic, and it's a 360 degree drinking lid similar to the 720° Degree travel mug I mentioned earlier, you just press the centre of the lid to open, and then drink from anywhere around the lid, then press again to close. 

This lid design means that it's a leak proof reusable cup, which isn't very common as I've said. It won't keep your coffee hot for anywhere near as long as a stainless steel vacuum travel mug, but if you wanted standard thermal retention paired with the guarantee of no leaking or spilling, this is a good one to have a look at.

It may be surprising to learn that a cup made from paper cups, is dishwasher safe, but again it's not just made from paper cups, it's a material made from recycled shredded paper cups blended with polymer from recycled plastics, made into a sturdy material.

With regard to microwaves, if you microwave it with the lid on, you might have an Under Seige experience as I alluded to with the stainless steel coffee cup above, as there's a metal spring in the seal assembly in the lid. The manufacturer does say it isn't suitable for the microwave, although there are users who've shared in the reviews and answered questions that they've used theirs in the microwave, without the lid, without any problems.

Bodum 11103-01S Reusable Cup

Capacity: ‎ 350 ml  Size: 7 cm at bottom, 8 cm at the top, 178. cm tall Weight: 225 g Car cup holder compatible? Fits in the bigger cup holders Mug Material: BPA free dual wall plastic Band Material: Silicone  Lid Material: BPA free plastic  Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Microwave Safe?: Dunno

Guess what? Yup, I've got one of these, this one is my wife's favourite, particularly for drinking tea, relatively soon after it's been made. Despite the marketing blurb, the plastic ones aren't brilliant for thermal performance, and this is why I've placed this in the reusable cup category and not the travel mug category despite the fact it's labeled by Bodum as a “Travel mug”, and the blurb seems to suggest it'll keep your brew hot for “hours”.

I disagree, but I don't think this is a bad thing. I think these are among the very best reusable coffee cups, I don't think they're great if they're being classed as “travel mugs” because being all plastic, even though they're dual walled plastic, they don't hold the heat nearly as much as their stainless steel counterparts, and they're not leakproof.

If you just want a straightforward reusable cup though, that will keep your brew hot for quite a bit longer than a disposable cup but will be a lot more comfortable to hold due to the dual wall body, then I think these are great.

CS COSDDI Reusable Coffee Cups

Capacity: ‎ 380 ml  Size: 7 cm at bottom, 9 cm at the top, 14 cm tall Weight: 390 g Car cup holder compatible? Fits in most cup holders Mug Material: Stainless steel Band Material: Silicone  Lid Material: BPA free plastic  Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Microwave Safe?: No

OK, this does sound like a drama series about a crime scene investigation team, but no, it's a reusable coffee cup.

This is one of the more “travel mug” worthy reusable coffee cups, given that it's stainless steel, it has very good heat retention for a cup of this kind, and has a screw on lid which is rated as leakproof by the manufacturer. It's not as good where heat retention is concerned as some of the travel mugs above which are known for keeping drinks hot for hours, simply because although the body itself is insulated, the lid isn't, so it'll lose heat there. 

As I've said, though, it'll keep your hot drinks hotter for longer than a lot of the other reusable coffee cups, but that isn't necessarily a good thing, it just depends on whether you want to drink your brew straight away, or not. If you have a 20 minute walk from the coffee shop to the office, for example, and you want to be able to ask the Barista to make your coffee in your reusable cup and have it ready to drink when you reach the office, this might be a good choice.

It'll fit most of the larger cup holders, but again if you have one of the smaller ones it might just be slightly too big. It has a silicone non-slip base, with the aim of ensuring it stays put, which is probably not a bad thing if you regularly take your reusable cup on train journeys.

SUNTQ Reusable Coffee Cups

Capacity: ‎ 380 ml (510ml version also available) Size: 6.8 cm at bottom, 9 cm at the top, 14 cm tall Weight: 290 g Car cup holder compatible? Fits in most cup holders Mug Material: Stainless steel Band Material: No band Lid Material: BPA free plastic  Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Microwave Safe?: No

Who is responsible for naming these cups?? How the chuff am I supposed to pronounce that, and who would put a Q at the end of a word? Anyway, ridiculous name aside, this is very similar to the equally daftly named CSI New York, sorry I mean the CS COSDDI cup above. These cups are almost identical in many ways, they both have a non-slip base, the lids look identical, and they're both available in the same two fairly non-standard sizes of 380ml and 510ml, the only difference I can see is that this one with a Q at the end has no band, and the side of this cup is slightly squared off. 

I'm including both of these so if one of them seems right for you, you have more choice if one is out of stock or if one of them is available at a lower price.

Neon Kactus – Hand-Blown Borosilicate Glass Reusable Coffee Cup

Capacity: ‎ 340 ml (available in 3 other sizes) Size: 6 cm at bottom, 9 cm at the top, 11.5 cm tall Weight: 220 g Car cup holder compatible? Fits in most cup holders Mug Material: Hand blown borosilicate glass Band Material: Food grade silicone Lid Material: Food grade silicone Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Microwave Safe?: Yes

Yay, a brand name I can pronounce, and to thank the guys at Neon Kactus for giving me something I can pronounce, I'm going to return the favour by not being pedantic about the spelling of Kactus, or the fact that apparently, their cups are 107% plastic free… ;-).

I think (hope) that's just a joke, but look, it's a cool looking mug, made from hand blown glass which is quite a cool thing, they're available in a wide range of colours and sizes, and I think if you're looking for a glass reusable coffee cup, this is a decent option for the price.

While they seem similar to the keep cups, they're different in a few ways. The glass type is different, as these are made from borosilicate glass, while glass keepcups are made from tempered soda lime glass.

Also, the “brew” glass keepcups are machine blown, not hand blown, while these are hand blown. In theory, I like the fact that this is a product made by people, hopefully, they've been made by people who're being paid a decent wage and working conditions. 

Iglu Reusable Coffee Cup

Capacity: ‎ 340 ml (available in 2 other sizes) Size: 5.8 cm at bottom, 9 cm at the top, 11.5 cm tall  Weight: 267 g Car cup holder compatible? No Mug Material: Stainless steel Band Material: No band Lid Material: BPA Free plastic Dishwasher Safe?: No Microwave Safe?: No

I've not seen a cup quite like this before, it's an unusual design which I think is quite cool, also it's quirky but not quite to the extreme of the Goat Story mugs above, so I wouldn't feel like I'm going scare a barista by asking them to fill this ;-).

It comes with a clear lid, and while the body of the cup is dual walled stainless steel so it'll do a relatively good job of keeping your coffee not, the single walled plastic lid will be where the heat loss occurs, and as I've said a few times, this isn't a bad thing if you want a reusable coffee cup for drinks that you plan on drinking almost straight away. 

The only slight concern I'd have is the lids, looking at the questions, the biggest question people are asking is how can they buy a replacement lid, which would beg the question why are so many people needing a replacement lid? It seems they're a bit snappy… Other than that though, this looks like a really nice reusable cup, and it's available in a wide range of colours too.

The shape of this cup and the clear plastic lid, and the dual walled stainless steel body would possibly make this a great little cup for using in the summer for your G&T, for keeping out the Wasps & flies. By the way, if you find a “Wappy” in your drink this summer, don't panic – the reason people get stung is they flap around like dingbats.

If I ever find a wasp in a drink, I fish it out with my fingers and let it dry off on my hand until it's ready to fly off. I've done this many times, and (touch wood) I've never once been stung. One even landed on my face for a second at a wedding a few years ago after I rescued it from a pint, I'm not 100% sure but I think it was giving me a kiss.

Nutella Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, 200g

Capacity: ‎ 200 ml (ish) Size: 7.5 x 9 cm Weight: 150g (once you've eaten all the Nutella!) Car cup holder compatible? Most car cup holders Mug Material: glass Band Material: No band Lid Material: Plastic Dishwasher Safe?:  Yes Microwave Safe?: Yes

I thought I'd finish this post off with a bang :-), you may be surprised by this – but in my humble opinion, Nutella jars are the very best reusable coffee cups, specifically for smaller drinks, including flat white, Cortado, espresso & lungo.

See my video on the best reusable coffee cups, Including the delicious jar of Nutella!

They're not sold as reusable coffee cups, obviously, but I've been using them as cups for years, and they're mega. They're among the cheapest, you can get them everywhere including Tesco , they should cost you under two quid which makes them the cheapest reusable coffee cup I've ever seen, and they come with 200g of chocolate spread!

They have a lid, and although there's no drinking hole, it does mean you can prevent sloshing coffee over your hands while you're walking around the home, office, or garden, and although they're not insulated and they don't have a band to protect your hands, they're fine for slightly cooler drinks such as flat white & cortado or small cappuccino, as long as you're not over steaming the milk, and they should be fine for small volume drinks such as espresso and lungo if you hold them closer to the top.

Find out how to steam milk with most espresso machines:

They're also good as glasses for (small) drinks when in the garden, thanks to the lids. Did I mention they come full of chocolate spread?? ;-).

For more info on coffee accessories see:

Looking for a wide range of home barista accessories, including tampers, milk jugs, knock out boxes, manual brewers, manual grinders, brew scales, and loads more?

Checkout my friends at Coffee Hit, one of the UK's most established suppliers of pro and home barista gear.

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Life is like a box of chocolates,  subscribe to my YouTube Channel , try my coffee at The Coffeeworks (use discount code  CWNC25 for 25% off your first order), follow me on  Twitter  &  Instagram , follow the  coffeeblog FaceBook page , and that’s all I have to say about that. 

15 thoughts on “ The Best Travel Mugs & Reusable Coffee Cups ”

What do you think of Huskee cups? I’ve been considering getting one of these. I am very sensitive to how a cup affects the flavour of my coffee, though!

Hi Rachel, I haven’t used the Huskee cups, but I will try and get my hands on some. Ta Kev

I’ve had many, expensive travel cups over the years and this one has been the best. I recently purchased a newer version with the button lock and this removed my only issue – my original cup had no lock, which caused the occasional unintentional release of pressure & heat when moving the cup around.

Great blog and thank you for sharing your reviews! It’s suprisingly challenging finding the right travel mug, but it is defintely worth searching around for. I really can’t do without my morning cup of coffee, and I love being able to take my home-brewed coffee with me on my journey in to work everyday.

Thanks for your comment Isabella 🙂

Good post – I do agree with the recommendation for Contigo West Loop. This mug easily retains good heat for 5 hours with no drips or spills. I’ve had many, expensive travel cups over the years and this one has been the best. I recently purchased a newer version with the button lock and this removed my only issue – my original cup had no lock, which caused the occasional unintentional release of pressure & heat when moving the cup around.

What is your conclusion for the best travel mugs? A run down of top 5 would be great.

One thing I wish you could test with mugs that you actually have your hands on… does an Aeropress fit in them?

I have been amazed at the coffee cups that I have bought over the years that are just (sometimes 2mm) too small to use with an Aeropress.

Hi Mark, That’s a great idea. Thanks for that Cheers Kev

Loved reading your reviews, was finding it hard to get a leak proof cup/flask. Thanks for all the insights, can’t get by without my coffee.

Thanks Veronica 🙂

Great blog and thank you for sharing your reviews! It’s suprisingly challenging finding the right travel mug, but it is defintely worth searching around for. I really can’t do without my morning cup of coffee, and I love being able to take my home-brewed coffee with me on my journey in to work everyday. I recently started using the Frank Green smart cup and love it. Hopefully we’ll be able to use the ‘smart’ chip component of the cup soon too!

Thanks Jane 🙂 I spoke to someone at Frank Green, and they told me they’re “working on global accessibility in the future”. It does look like a very good leak proof travel cup/mug.

Hmmm. Nice post! Right now I have a travel mug that resembles a camera lens but it’s not leak proof and it doesn’t keep coffee hot very long so I was considering getting another and may grab one in this list! Good insight!

– Tyler

Thanks Tyler 🙂 Yeah I’ve seen the camera lens ones, there are some cool looking travel mugs which are fine for at the desk etc., especially if you tend to finish your coffee while it’s still hot, but yes if you want a travel mug for on the go, multi tasking, which won’t leak everywhere and will keep your brew warm until you’ve got round to finishing it, one of these leak proof travel mugs would be a good option. Cheers.

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Best travel mug 2023: Tried and tested travel cups from Thermos, CamelBak and more

• Danielle Amato

Want tough, leak-free mugs that keep coffee hot for hours? We're here to help with our best travel mug roundup

Well designed and well insulated, the best travel mug will keep hot drinks toasty and cool drinks ice-cold, while also staying leak-free. From classic coffee-shop cups to thermos-shaped designs, travel mugs come in all shapes and sizes. At first glance, travel mugs can seem expensive. If you’re thinking about using one on your commute, you might find it hard to justify spending what might be five to ten times as much as an Americano from your local coffee shop. However, walking out of your door already holding a coffee will save you many more pounds in the long run and you’ll avoid those annoying queues.

To help you make an informed decision about which travel mug is right for you, we’ve put together a short buying guide below. Our at-a-glance list will take you directly through to buy some of our favourites or you can scroll further to find mini reviews on a variety of models for every style preference and budget.

Best travel mug: At a glance

• Best for hot drinks: Thermos | From £25
• Best one-handed mug: Stanley Classic | From £30
• Best plastic-free: Dualit Stainless Steel Travel Mug | £30
• Most stylish travel mug: Contigo Autoseal Luxe | £27
• Best all-rounder: Zojirushi SM-SA | £35

How to choose the best travel mug for you

How much do i need to spend.

Travel mugs vary in price, with the most costly coming in at over £30 and generally speaking, you get what you pay for. If you only need a travel mug for occasional use, you can make do with a standard option for under £10. However, if you want to use it every day for outdoor activities or on your commute, you’ll want something that promises to perform in terms of heat retention, spill protection and robustness.

What features should I look out for?

Look out for leak-proof extras such as autoseal and lockable lids, as well as easy-to-clean materials, as these are what set the best travel mugs apart from the cheaper options. If you need a mug that keeps drinks hot (or cold) for longer, you’ll need a double-wall, vacuum-insulated option, preferably constructed in stainless steel.

Again, you will always pay more for stainless steel, but it’s worth it if heat retention is a priority. If you have a tendency to drop things, it’s also wise to choose a mug that’s easy to grip. If you can’t quite allow yourself to part with over £20 for what’s essentially a coffee cup, opt for the next best composition, but ensure that the mug is double-walled.

Does it matter which size of mug I buy?

If you’ll be travelling by car with your mug, ensure you find a travel mug that fits a regular drinks holder and can be picked up with one hand. Travel mugs generally come in two sizes: around 360ml and around 470ml. The large options are perfect for carrying water or soup, but if it’s only ever going to be tea or coffee, you may want to get a smaller size, which fits better in your hand and under single-serve coffee machines.

READ NEXT: The best lunch boxes to buy

The best travel mugs you can buy in 2023

1. thermos: best travel mug for hot drinks.

It also features a slow flow option, which proves pretty handy when your coffee is still steaming hot after a few hours. The lockable seal makes it ideal for long train journeys without any worries about spillages; a nice additional touch is the teabag holder. The only real drawback is that it doesn’t fit into all standard car drinks holders – a considerable compromise given the price.

Key details – Size: 470ml; Materials: Stainless steel

Thermos 101834 Stainless King Travel Mug, Matt Black, 470 ml

2. stanley classic: best one-handed travel mug.

The most outstanding feature on this mug is its one-handed function in the form of a push-button lid, which allows users to drink while using their other hand, whether it’s browsing on your phone or operating a pickaxe. The Stanley Classic One Hand is the best choice for multitaskers.

Key details – Size: 470ml; Materials: Stainless steel, plastic

Stanley Classic Trigger Action Travel Mug 0.47L / 16OZ Nightfall ? Leakproof Cup | Hot & Cold Thermos Bottle | Vacuum Insulated Tumbler for Coffee, Tea & Water | BPA Stainless-Steel Travel Flask

3. dualit stainless steel travel mug: best plastic-free travel mug.

Aside from its eco credentials, this travel mug has plenty of deft design touches which make it a worthwhile buy. Its slim, minimalist design is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to pop into a backpack, tote, or handbag, while still boasting a generous 500ml capacity. Its well-insulated interior meant that, in our tests, it kept drinks hot for up to 7 hrs, or cold for up to 12 hrs, just as advertised. Finally, the removable spill barrier controls the flow of liquid from the mug, making for easy drinking while out and about, and the leak-proof lid proved extremely effective in transit.

Key details – Size: 500ml; Materials: Silicon, stainless steel

Dualit Travel Mug - 500ml Capacity - 5 Layer Insulation - Hot & Cold Beverages on The go - Leakproof Premium Sustainable Stainless Steel Travel Mug with Sip Barrier

4. contigo autoseal luxe: most stylish travel mug.

In testing, the Luxe kept our drinks hotter for longer than three hours in many cases and chilled for up to ten, though the temperature did drop during this time. We think it’s a decent price for a travel mug that will last you for years. Moreover, its slick design and impressive leak-proof features make it well worth the price.

Key details – Size: 360ml; Materials: Stainless steel

Contigo Luxe Autoseal Travel Mug, Stainless Steel Thermal Mug, Vacuum Flask, Leakproof Tumbler, dishwasher safe, Coffee Mug with BPA Free Easy-Clean Lid, Stainless Steel, 360 ml

5. zojirushi sm-sa: best all-round travel mug.

The mug is only leak-free when closed, and due to the difficulty of opening it, many users are likely to keep it open, thus increasing the likelihood of a spill. But once you’ve conquered the lid, this travel mug couldn’t be better for robustness, temperature retention and style. A great choice for those who like a bit of colour.

Key details – Size: 600ml; Materials: Plastic, stainless steel

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Non-Stick Vacuum Travel Mug - 600 ml, Red

6. s’well: best for hot and cool beverages.

Key details – Size: 485ml; Materials: Stainless steel

S'well Stainless Steel Water Bottle - 17 Fl Oz - Onyx - Triple-Layered Vacuum-Insulated Containers Keeps Drinks Cold for 36 Hours and Hot for 18 - BPA-Free - Perfect for The Go

7. camelbak forge: best travel mug for features.

It’s also proved impressively watertight. Slightly frilly features include the strangely dubbed “aroma bowl”, which, according to the manufacturer, allows for a “superior drink interface”. This basically means you can test your drink’s temperature by allowing a small amount to be released.

The easy-clean cap puts function back to the fore, however, as it simply pulls out to be rinsed under the tap. This makes it perfect for non-fussy users happy with a quick rinse. It also features a plastic cap underneath to minimise the ill effects of a breakage to the main body of the mug. The finger loop is surprisingly handy too for when your hands are full.

Key details – Size: 500ml; Materials: Plastic, stainless steel

Check price at Go Outdoors

8. Contigo Autoseal West Loop: Best travel mug for commutes

Its easy-to-clean lid doesn’t have any loose parts and it can keep drinks cool for an impressive 12 hours. It’s also one of the best-looking mugs out there. This is a great choice for those with a bumpy journey to work… or butterfingers.

Key details – Size: 470ml; Materials: Plastic, stainless steel

Contigo West Loop Autoseal Travel Mug, Stainless Steel Thermal Mug, Vacuum Flask, Leakproof, Coffee Mug with BPA Free Easy-Clean Lid, Stainless Steel, 470 ml

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Travel Mugs

From your morning cuppa to your office top-ups to your wildest adventures, choose a travel mug that knows how to get the job done. Designed with total precision and built with the extreme in mind, our thermal travel mugs keep your hot drinks hot while withstanding the toughest conditions, without a leak in sight.

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RAMBLER® STRONGHOLD LID™

Thermal and insulated travel mugs.

Whether you’re looking to ditch the single-use café cups and lids, you need a mug you can rely on when you’re on the go, you’re planning your next adventure and you need something that can brave the wilderness, or maybe all of the above – there’s plenty of reasons why everybody should have a trusty insulated travel mug by their side – and we’ve got the best of the best. Just as welcome sitting on your desk at the office as it is by the campfire, these travel cups for hot drinks are versatile, sturdy and dependable no matter where you next sip may be.

Leakproof Mugs with Handles and Lids 

You’re a thrill seeker, not a spill seeker, so choose a metal travel mug that will keep your hot drinks secure, and keep them hot too. Our Ramber® travel coffee mugs feature our leak-resistant Stronghold™ Lid. This clever twist-on upgrade is backed with dual-slider magnet technology, has four placement options, and plays nice with both righties and lefties. Kitchen-grade stainless steel makes these insulated travel mugs both puncture and rust-resistant, while double-wall vacuum insulation keeps your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold for longer. The shape of our travel mugs along with their elevated handles makes them a cupholder-compatible option too – a vital companion for your next road trip. They’re also dishwasher-safe, because no one needs more work to do.

Metal Travel Mugs in Varying Colours and Sizes  

Find a thermal travel mug to suit your style across our Rambler® range. Whether you’re looking for a more compact option for your everyday coffee needs, or something that’s a little more mighty for your more demanding excursions, we’ve got you covered. Our 20 oz., 591 ML Rambler® travel mug can hold about three standard cups of coffee, while our 30 oz., 887 ML Rambler® travel mug holds almost four and half cups. Once you know the size that fits you best, choose from a range of colours to suit your style. Whether you go for charcoal, black, white, navy, seafoam or one of our limited-edition colourways, our travel mugs sure are a stylish adventure addition.

Free Shipping 

Get on the go quicker with simple, speedy shipping. We’ll dispatch your new travel mug as soon as you place your order, and we’ll give you tracking details so you can keep an eye on it while it’s on its way to your doorstep. Shipping is completely free for all orders above £50, and if you need your thermal travel mug to arrive ASAP, next day delivery is just available for just £5.99 if you place order before 2pm, Monday to Thursday. Everything is shipped from our mainland UK warehouse, so you don’t need to worry about anything getting held up in customs.

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Best Leak Proof Travel Mugs In The UK 2022 (Mega Guide)

Are you looking for the perfect leak free travel mug? Whether you’re looking for a travel mug for your next family trip, or you want to keep your morning coffee safer with little ones around, this guide will take you through the best leak proof travel mugs (UK) to help you make a perfect choice!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.   Please see my  full disclosure  for further information.

Why You Should Buy a Non-Leak Travel Mug

A travel mug is a humble travel accessory that you probably haven’t given much thought to but should because it’s just so helpful when you’re travelling. Here’s why:

• No leaks or spills – Particularly important with kids around.
• Hot Drinks for Longer – Travel mugs with good insulation will keep your hot drinks warm for hours, so you won’t be disappointed with cold coffee!
• Easy to Clean – These coffee travel mugs are designed to be easy to clean and sometimes even dishwasher friendly.
• Reusable and eco-friendly – Having your own travel mug, you can avoid reusable cups when buying from a shop or cafe. You can also use the cup for water, thus avoiding plastic bottled water, saving money and saving the planet. Some shops even offer discounts if you bring your own mug.

Best Travel Mug Comparison

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What’s the Best Travel Mug for Keeping Coffee Hot?

The Contigo Byron Thermal Mug is the best coffee travel mug that can keep your drink warm for up to six hours easily. With its stainless steel surface and vacuum insulation, the contents of the mug stay warm even in cold temperatures. Plus, the lid fits well, preventing any leaks as long as it’s closed. 

There are different size choices, so you can choose one according to your preference. Regular coffee drinkers can go for a bigger size, so you don’t have to buy or make coffee again and again while travelling.  View the Contigo Byron Thermal Mug on Amazon here >>>

10 Best Leak Free Travel Mugs in the UK

Looking for the best spill-proof travel mug UK? Here are my recommendations:

#1 Contigo Byron Thermal Mug – Best Leak Free Travel Mug UK 

The Contigo Byron Thermal Mug is easily the best leak-proof travel mug with its Snap Seal technology. It’s great for both hot and cold drinks, keeping hot drinks warm for up to six hours and cold ones cold for up to 12 hours. It has a stainless steel body paired with a BPA-free plastic lid that fits quite tight. 

The mug also has an anti-slip grip, textured rubber cover. The lift-up seal design makes it easier to use this travel mug with just one hand. There are plenty of colour and size (470, 590, and 720 ml) choices for you. 

• Durable construction
• No condensation on the surface
• Sealproof, dishwasher-safe lid
• Easy to hold
• Cup not dishwasher-safe

#2 GoCup Travel Mug – Best Budget Leak Free Travel Mug

If you’re looking for a no leak coffee mug that’s also affordable, the GoCup Travel Mug has you covered. It’s a relatively cheap, reusable mug from a UK-based company. For the price, it’s a large mug as it can hold 485 ml of your coffee or tea. It’s made from stainless steel. 

Not only is the lid leakproof, but it also sports a rubber base which ensures the mug doesn’t tip over easily. Also, it can fit into any cupholder in cars, buses, and planes. Available in three colours, it’s quite stylish-looking as well with a streamlined ergonomic shape. 

The buckle lid has a convenient sipping hole to drink your drink from.

• Good value for money
• Keeps drink warm for long
• Easy to use lid
• Thick insulated walls
• Not dishwasher safe

#3 Grando Stainless Steel Travel Mug – Best Travel Mug for Cold Drinks

The Grando Stainless Steel Travel Mug is one of the coolest travel mugs, especially great for chilled drinks. It’s not just a mug with a leakproof lid but also includes a reusable straw. It has a beautiful two-colour design with a geometric textured exterior. 

The double insulation keeps the drinks cold for up to six hours. It can hold 500 ml of drink, which is certainly a good capacity.

• Comes with a reusable straw
• Leak proof lid
• Fits in cup holders
• Not ideal for warm drinks

#4 WAKEcup Reusable Bamboo Travel Mug – Best Bamboo Coffee Travel Mug

The WAKEcup Reusable Bamboo Coffee Mug is the best insulated travel cup that’s also super elegant and stylish. With a smooth bamboo exterior, this eco-friendly cup is not only sustainable in use but also in its construction. It’s reinforced with stainless steel edge and base. The lid is made of plastic and features a lift-up cap for the sipping hole. 

The cup keeps your warm drinks piping hot for at least 30 minutes. The capacity is also quite decent at 420ml, which is more than enough for one individual. And with a weight of just 231g, you can pack it in your carry on and use it while travelling. 

• Sustainably-sourced bamboo
• Beautiful look
• Easy to use
• A bit pricey
• Handwash only

#5 720° DGREE Travel Mug – Best Spill Proof Travel Mug UK

The 720 DGREE Travel Mug is the best leak proof travel mug UK, given its size, insulation, and effortlessly minimalistic design.

It’s a modern flask with a high-tech lid that keeps the content inside the mug whatsoever. What’s even better is that the lid offers 360-degree drinking, meaning you can sip from any side of the cup. The lid opens with just a click. 

Unlike other car travel mugs, this one doesn’t have any complicated features. The design is pretty convenient, and it only adds the to look of the cup. You can keep it classy with the black travel mug or go for any of the colour choices. 

• Airtight, leak proof lid
• German brand
• Shockproof and scratch-resistant
• Not very cheap

#6 Wilford & Sons Coffee Travel Mug – Best Dishwasher Safe Leak Free Travel Mug

The Wilford & Sons Travel Mug is the best thermal mug for drinking coffee and tea on the go without worrying about cleaning it. Unlike many other portable mugs, its flask can also be washed in the dishwasher. 

Besides the ease of cleaning, the mug also has solid construction paired with a sophisticated design. This stainless steel mug has a textured silicone grip that makes it easier to hold the mug even in a moving bus or car. The leak proof lid opens with a push-button, which is convenient to operate. 

• Eco-friendly, food-safe brushed steel
• Non-slip grip
• Super easy to wash
• Not so easy to open and close the lid
• A bit heavy

#7 Teabloom Travel Thermos – Best Tea Travel Mug with Infuser

If you’re more of a tea drinker, you’ll appreciate this best leak proof thermos flask that comes with a tea infuser. It’s actually a high-capacity travel flask that can be used for tea, coffee, and even as a water bottle. Its capacity of 480ml is ample for sipping on your tea for a long time. 

The Teabloom Travel Thermos has a BPA and toxin-free stainless steel interior, and a beautiful brushed metal exterior. The tea infuser is also made from food-safe stainless steel with 0.5 mm pores. You can simply put your tea leaves in it and let them sit inside the thermos. However, you’ll need to pour the tea out in another cup or open the lid to sip it. 

• Sturdy stainless steel
• Leakproof lid
• Safe and stable base
• Doubles as a water bottle
• No sip opening in lid

#8 ecoBrew Glass Coffee Cup – Best Leak Proof Glass Travel Mug

The ecoBrew Glass Coffee Cup is a reusable, travel-friendly mug that doesn’t just allow you to enjoy your coffee by taste but also through its look. It’s a vacuum insulated mug made of borosilicate glass and BPA-free silicone. The rubber base provides a stable grip and ensures the mug stays still on surfaces and cup holders. 

The spill proof lid has a simple and convenient design with a lift-up cap. The mug holds 345 ml, which is slightly less than some of the other mugs here but still good enough for one person. But that also means it’s not so big in size and can fit in your luggage or carry-on easily. The highlight, of course, is the all-glass look. 

• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• Non-slip base and grip
• Double glass surface doesn’t get hot
• Not as sturdy as plastic or steel

#9 Contigo Luxe Autoseal Travel Mug – Best 10oz Travel Mug

Here’s another best travel coffee mug from Contigo, the Luxe Autoseal . It’s a leakproof tumbler made entirely of stainless steel, which is safe for drinks. The key feature of this mug is the Autoseal lid, which seals the lid after every sip, so there’s no leak or spill even when you’re drinking coffee. 

It can keep your coffee warm for up to three hours and your chilled drinks cool for up to 10 hours. It’s a one-piece travel mug with a hinged lid. The whole mug can be washed in a dishwasher. 

• Easy to pour in drinks
• Auto sealing while using
• Many colour options
• Durable yet lightweight
• Quite pricey

#10 Circular and Co Reusable Cup – Best Eco Travel Mug

If you really want to go the extra mile with sustainability with your travel mug, the Circular and Co Reusable Cup is certainly the most eco-friendly. Not only is its reusability what makes it sustainable, but it’s very built also. This no leak coffee cup is made from recycled paper coffee cups. 

Another great feature is that it has a 360-degree drinking design, so you can drink from any side. Even though it’s essentially made from paper, it offers enough insulation to keep your drink warm. Also, it doesn’t feel hot to touch, so you can drink comfortably. 

The company claims it’s designed to last for over 10 years, which is great!

• Innovative design
• Eco-friendly construction
• Needs just one hand to open and close
• May not keep the drink hot for very long

Types of Leak Free Travel Mug

If you search for the best leak proof travel mug UK, you’ll come across all different kinds of designs and materials, including non-leak travel mugs that look like thermoses. Here are the main types of travel mugs:

• Plastic Travel Mugs: These are made mostly of plastic, including the insulation layers and the lid or cap. Plastic travel mugs are lightweight and easy to carry, and usually also dishwasher-safe. 
• Metal Travel Mugs: These travel mugs have a metallic, typically stainless steel, surface. These offer even more insulation than plastic mugs, especially those with vacuum seals. However, these are more expensive. 
• Wooden Travel Mugs: Some travel mugs also have a wooden exterior, which is more sustainable than plastic.
• Thermos-Style Travel Mugs: These are handle-less travel mugs that look like a thermos and have a screw-on cap that may be used as a small cup. 

What to Look for in a Leak Free Travel Mug

When looking for the best leak-free travel mug, here’s what you need to keep in mind:

Size and Weight

The very first consideration is the size of the travel mug you would like.

While there isn’t a standard as such, most travel mugs hold around 350-450ml There are larger ones as well, which can hold up to 500ml m or more.

Also, pay attention to the weight of the portable mug itself because you don’t want something too heavy. 

Of course, the whole point of a travel mug is to keep your beverages hot or cold, which is achieved through insulation. There’s usually an air insulation layer between the two surfaces of the mug: the inner surface and the outer surface. 

Handle or No Handle

This is more of a personal preference as some travel mugs feature handles, and some don’t. While it’s definitely easier to sip from a mug with a handle, it’s not a necessity. In any best-insulated travel mug, the outer layer won’t get hot. This means it’s safe to hold the mug even without a handle. 

Whilst a mug handle is convenient, it may make it difficult for you to keep the mug in the side pocket of your backpack. 

Safe Materials

You and your family will be using the travel mug to drink coffee, tea, or any other kind of beverage. It goes without saying that the mug should be made from food-safe materials. The materials, especially the inside surface, shouldn’t leak any chemicals. For instance, quality travel mugs made of plastic are BPA-free.

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"FULL MOON" LIFETIME GUARANTEE ON ALL PRODUCTS

Moon 360° Travel Mug

Insulated travel mug with leak proof 360° lid. Click the top button and drink from any angle. 

Fed up with replacing your underperforming travel mug every few years? Want a zero risk, zero guilt purchase from a small UK company?

Covered by our lifetime guarantee, the  Moon 360° Travel Mug gives you simple access to piping hot coffee/tea, with no chance of leaks ruining your day.

Keeping all drinks hot for 5+ hours and fitting car cup holders, it'll go everywhere with you and become your new best friend (apologies to your current best friend)

We're a boutique UK brand with a passion for reusable products that last forever, so can charge less for insulated mugs made from the highest grade of 18/8 Stainless Steel. We instead focus our efforts on giving back to the environment & treating our customers like family. 

Don't chance it with a cheaper mug or pay more to cover the costs of a big business. Instead, shoot for the Moon.

The Best Travel Coffee Mug for the Best (and Worst) of the UK Weather.

These travel coffee mugs are suitable for all the hot and cold drinks. Large enough to fit your daily tea or coffee fix, but portable enough to transport in your bag or in the cup holders of your car.

The minimalist design and subtle black coating makes them the best insulated coffee mugs for both men or women.

An Insulated Travel Mug Made For the Earth.

Every Moon Insulated Travel mug is 100% BPA Free and a great way to reduce the demand for single use plastics that end up in our oceans or landfills.

To make your purchase totally risk free, we offer a lifetime guarantee on every insulated coffee mug purchased from our UK website. By  drinking out of a Moon Insulated coffee mug, you may never need to buy a single-use mug ever again.   

To make your purchase totally guilt-free, we've teamed up with Climate Partner to reduce our product's environmental impact, with any unavoidable emissions then offset by our support of UN-recognised tree planting projects. 

An Innovative, Leak Proof Lid. 

Our MOONFLO lid offers a 360 degree drinking experience. Simply click the top button to open the seal and sip from any direction. The dome shaped surface  regulates a steady flow of fluid to replicate drinking from your favourite mug at home. 

Best Travel Mug for all Car Cup Holders. 

The tapered bases of our reusable travel mugs have been designed to fit any car cup holder. Perfect for any drink, hot or cold, the simple operation allows for distraction free sipping while driving. Finally, the base is padded to avoid any risks of scratches your interior or surfaces.  

The 360 Travel Mugs come in 2 sizes. The 300ml size is a reusable cup for your daily coffee fix. The 450ml size is a Travel Mug to take your hot drinks with you on the go.

Both sizes fit all standard car cup holders. 

Full dimensions are below:

As a Maths & Science teacher, Lynette heard first-hand the worries our next generation have with climate change.  Moon Bottles  was setup to help spread their message.

Offering high performing reusable products, guaranteed to last forever, seemed to be the perfect solution.

But why.. Moon Bottles? 

Remembering how many bottles she went through during her travels round the world, Lynette set about designing durable products that would function so well, they’d never need to be replaced. "Buy once, buy well" became the moon mantra.

It also became clear we all needed a symbol, one that could bind us all together in this worldwide issue. Something everyone can relate to...something with connotations to high performance, technical innovation. It was so obvious - the perfect combination of maths & science and the subject of her most interesting classroom discussions... space. More specifically, the Moon.   

Five years after the company was founded,  Moon Bottles  are now being sold all over the  globe, with the concerns expressed in that classroom starting to get heard. 

Help us spread their message below:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/moon.reusable/

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/moon.reusable/

Shipping & Delivery Times

We ship out all orders via Royal Mail 48-hour Tracked Delivery.

After placing your order, you will receive an email confirmation of your order.

Once your product has been sent, you will receive another email with a tracking link so you can stay updated. 

NON-PERSONALISED:

All orders containing only non-personalised Moon products placed  before  2.30pm on Mon-Fri will be shipped the same day and usually arrive 1 – 2 working days later.

All orders containing only non-personalised Moon products placed  after  2.30pm on Mon-Fri will be shipped out the next day and will usually arrive 2 – 3 working days later.

Royal Mail delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods.

PERSONALISED:

Estimated delivery times for any orders containing personalised products will be shown on Checkout. 

All personalised orders placed between Monday-Wednesday are processed on Thursdays. 95% of the time will then arrive the following Monday. 

All personalised orders placed between Thursday-Sunday are processed on Mondays. 95% of the time will then arrive on Thursday.

We accept returns for any non-personalised products within 30 days. You must return items in their original packaging and in the same condition as when you received them. Send us an email   here  to arrange your refund. Personalised product are non-refundable. However, if the reason for your return is based on a faulty product, your purchase will be covered under the lifetime guarantee. 

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Best Travel Mugs UK

What do you look for in a travel mug?

It may seem like a silly question – you want something to keep your hot drink hot, right? Well, if you’re on this page, I would imagine that you already realise that there is a bit more to it than that.

As the number of people that have been able to make better coffee at home has grown over the last decade or so, so has the demand for travel mugs. We can make this coffee, and we want to take it with us.

As such, the market is flooded with a huge variety of options – how do you decide which is the best travel mug for you? That’s where we come in. We have searched the market and below we have featured the 8 best travel mugs available in the UK that we have found, all offering something a bit different and at various price points.

Travel Mugs vs Reusable Coffee Cups

Before we get on to our list of the best travel mugs, we thought it would be helpful to clear up an understandable confusion over the difference between travel mugs and reusable coffee cups.

The lines between the two are a little blurred, but basically the main difference is that a reusable coffee cup is a direct replacement for a disposable coffee cup that you might get from a takeaway coffee shop – the paper cup with the plastic lid.

A travel mug, on the other hand, is something that you would take away with you when going away – sort of a cup version of a flask.

As such, a travel mug will tend to keep your drink hotter for longer than a reusable coffee cup, and a reusable coffee cup will look more like a coffee cup. Also, a travel mug is something that you would happily throw into the bottom of a bag, whereas a reusable cup is made for drinking out of as soon as the coffee is made.

So if you are wondering whether you are holding a travel mug or a reusable coffee cup just ask yourself this – would I want to hike up a mountain with this in my bag? If the answer is yes, you’ve got yourself a travel mug!

Maybe this is even simpler – Reusable Coffee Cups are for commuters – Travel Mugs are for adventurers. (It is possible to be both, of course, just remember to take the correct mug!).

They both have their place, of course. Sometimes you want your coffee to cool to a more drinkable temperature – perhaps on your walk into the office when you pick up a coffee en route.

Today, though, we are going to be looking at Travel Mugs. The adventurer’s choice!

What to look for in a travel mug

We come back to the original question – what do you look for in a travel mug? Well, here are some of the key features to consider:

• Aesthetics : You want a mug that looks nice, right? The good news is that there are some really stylish designs available now – it is not like the old days of knock-off army equipment!
• Capacity: This will depend on where you are going and what you are doing, but maybe you’ll want something that you can sip from all day, or just have one drink
• Heat retention: How long do you want your coffee kept warm for? Is it a case of the longer the better?
• Shape: You may have a bag with a cup carrier that you want to use – make sure your new travel mug will fit in it
• Weight: If you are going to be carrying this around with you for a long time, you may want it to be as lightweight as possible

Our 8 Best Travel Mugs

We are a coffee review site, so we are going to use coffee as our reference drink here. It should go without saying, though, that these cups are all appropriate for any hot drinks.

Okay, let’s get into it – the Best UK Travel Mugs:

Contigo West Thermal Mug

Stanley classic, tefal travel mug, 720 dgree – pleasuretogo, bodum vacuum travel mug.

We’ll kick things off with this Thermal Mug from UK-based travel mug specialists – Contigo. They are dedicated to creating the best possible cups and bottles for people to use on the go.

It has a capacity of 0.47 litres, which is pretty standard for a travel mug, but bigger than some. For a rough guide, it would be big enough to fit in the Grande size from Starbucks.

The lid is BPA-plastic free and is fitted with an AutoSeal which automatically seals the cup between sips, and it even has a lid-lock so that the button can’t be pressed accidentally when you are on the move. This is absolutely leak-proof.

The insulation is good – your drink will stay hot for five hours, or stay cold for up to 12 hours. It also has a ‘sweat proof’ design, which prevents condensation on the outside of the mug.

It is dishwasher safe, and measures 8 x 9 x 20.5 cm, so it is a nice little size for travelling, and it is reasonably priced, slightly above the midrange for the mugs on our list – a great place to start your search for your new travel mug.

Check Latest Price Of Contigo Mug

Next up we have a Classic from a classic travel mug producer – Stanley. Founded in 1913 when William Stanley Jr fused vacuum insulation with steel to make a portable drinks bottle – and they have been developing that original design for over a century since.

It is rugged and built to last. They use rust-proof stainless steel to create the double-walls which has a reassuringly solid feel to it.

They make it leak-proof by employing a trigger action lid – not only does this help you control when the liquid is released, but it is so easy to use with one-hand, which really feeds into the idea that this is made for the more active trips that you might go on.

Aesthetically, it comes across as a solid little bottle – it may not look beautiful, but it is not supposed to. This isn’t for walking around town with, this is for adventures.

It is one of the more expensive items on our list today, but there isn’t a lot in it really. It’s a great bottle that is great at doing the job it is designed to do. Perfect for the outdoorsy types.

Check Latest Price Of Stanley Classic

It was only a matter of time before we featured Tefal, wasn’t it? Founded in the 1950s, Tefal quickly established themselves as great innovators – creating non-stick cookware and inventing the first cordless iron. Now they have moved into travel mugs and have continued to build their reputation here too.

The capacity is 0.36 litres, similar to the Stanley above, which is a decent size. It is 100% leak-proof with a press-seal. Whenever you want to open the cup, you need to press the button in the middle of the lid, so it only comes loose when you need it to.

One feature I really like is the 360 degree drinking aperture – basically this means that you can pick it up and drink from any angle, you don’t need to rotate it round to find the hole or spout. This is great if you are doing something else as there is nothing more frustrating than fumbling around looking for where your drink will come out.

This is priced slightly below the average, which is surprising given the strength of the Tefal brand name – that normally adds to the price. It is a great looking cup that will keep your drink warm for around 4 hours. Definitely one to consider.

Check Latest Price Of Tefal Travel Mug

We go from a company that does a bit of everything to a company that does just the one – Mighty Mug. A company devoted to ‘stopping spills before they happen’. A noble cause, I am sure you will agree!

It has a double walled base, and measures ‎8 x 8 x 22 cm, which is pretty compact for a mug with this capacity. The lid is locked with a one-touch button to prevent leaks, and it also has a 360 drinking lid, so you can drink from any angle.

But the USP (unique selling point) of the Mighty Mug is that it cannot be knocked over. Using Smartgrip technology, the mug has a suction-style grip on any flat surface that you put it on. This means that when you knock into it, it may wobble slightly, but it won’t topple over. In order to release it you just need to lift it straight up in the air and it will come loose.

It’s a novel little quirk that we really liked. It makes this mug not just a travel mug, but a great mug to have with you at your desk – perfect for people that travel into their offices, particularly those with longer commutes.

It’s priced towards the higher end of the price range on this list, but it is not far from average. It is a great mug with a really fun feature.

Check Latest Price Of Mighty Mug

Over to Germany now with a look at this stylish travel mug from 720 Dgree – a company founded with the intention of reducing single-use bottles and cups in an effort to promote a more sustainable way of living.

We are greedy consumers though, and we don’t just want to know that the companies we buy from are doing good, we need them to produce quality products. Fortunately, 720 Dgree come good here.

This bottle-slash-mug is completely leak proof thanks to the complex design of the lid, which all comes apart easily so that you can give it a thorough clean. The unique KeepDGREE technology and double-walled design means that your drink will still be warm 5 hours after it is made, which compares pretty favourably to most travel mugs.

This travel mug ticks every box that you could wish for, and it is from a company that goes above and beyond when it comes to the environment, which makes it that little bit more attractive. Definitely one to consider if these issues are close to your heart.

Check Latest Price Of 720 Dgree

Something a little bit different now from UK-based iglu – a family-run business with a passion for reusable coffee cups.

It is made from high-grade materials – stainless steel – and it employs a vacuum, airtight lid which means that your drink will stay warm for 6 hours, or cold for 12 hours. It is a point that they are keen to emphasise – these mugs are not just for your hot drinks. They recommend using it for smoothies, wine or even your morning yoghurt! It’s a very versatile travel mug.

For a product that has such an emphasis on style, it is surprisingly inexpensive – one of the cheapest products on our list today. They are available in a range of sizes, from 12oz (0.34 litres) to 20oz (0.57 litres) – something for everyone there.

They make great gifts, but they are also a nice little travel mug to treat yourself to. I think these are the most unique looking travel mugs on our list, so if you want to stand out, these could be the ones for you.

Check Latest Price Of iglu Coffee Mug

A truly budget option for you now, by the brand synonymous with keeping your drinks warm – Thermos. They’ve been making products in the industry for over 100 years, and they remain one of the biggest names around.

It is the only travel mug on our list that has a handle. Some people will find that this is a key requirement, and not feel comfortable grabbing a cup by its base, so this may be the best pick for them.

It works well enough at keeping your drink warm with the double wall insulation, and the lid has a slide lock on it which is designed to prevent leakage.

One word of warning, though. I wouldn’t use this mug in the ‘throwing in the bottom of the bag’ scenario that we spoke about earlier. The slide lock could come undone with a little pressure, and the lid may come off completely if it gets knocked about. This is designed more for the cupholder of your car than an all-action hike.

If that suits your needs though, this is a great product. It will keep your drink warm and save you a few pennies in the process.

Check Latest Price Of Thermocafe

We complete our list of the best travel mugs with a modern classic from Danish company Bodum. While they have been making household and kitchen appliances since the 1950s, Bodum exploded onto the scene of travel mugs around a decade ago – now they are everywhere!

Available in plenty of different colours, all with a classic stainless steel base, these have become iconic in their own right. You probably know someone with a Bodum mug.

Why are they so popular? Well, the heat retention is impressive with around 4 hours of keeping your drink hot. They use the double-walled design for insulation, with a vacuum seal. The outside will remain cool to the touch while the drink stays hot.

The rubber grip is comfortable to use, and that is what provides the colour. The lid is secure and has a ‘flip’ access for the drink. It is pleasant to drink out of.

Like the Thermocafe item above though, it should be kept upright – it is not completely leak proof if it is tipped up. Again, this may put some people off as it wouldn’t be suitable to be put in a bag and jostled around.

It is priced accordingly, though. It is the second cheapest product on our list – if you just want to use it in the car or on your commute, then this is a perfect travel mug.

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Best travel mugs 2024 – for insulated, leak-proof coffee

These are the best travel mugs on they market. They'll keep your coffee hot, iced lattes cold, and won't spill a drop.

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• Best overall
• Best leakproof
• Best design
• Best luxury
• Best for iced drinks
• Best for eco-credentials
• Best stainless steel
• Best ceramic
• How to choose
• How we researched

Best travel mugs 2024: Jump Menu

1. The list in brief ↴ 2. Best overall: Zojirushi 3. Best leakproof : Contigo Luxe 4. Best design : Chilly's Series 2 5. Best luxury : Fellow Carter 6. Best for cold drinks : Stanley Quencher 7. Best with sustainable credentials : Klean Kanteen 8. Best stainless steel : De'Longhi 9. Best ceramic : Frank Green Ceramic 10. Best glass : KeepCup Glass 11. How to choose 12. How we researched

The best travel mugs, also known as reusable coffee mugs, offer so much more than a simple way to keep your coffee hot (or iced coffee cold). Billions of single-use  travel mugs end up in landfill every year. Travel mugs offer a more sustainable way to consume coffee. Lots of cafes even reward re-usable cups with money off your order, so, as you can see, these simple mugs are worth every cent.

There’s more to it than that though. As a former barista, I’ve made coffee in a huge array of travel mugs. You can tell you a lot about a person from their cup choice. From fashionable Stanleys and colorful Chilly's cups to luxury glass KeepCups and functional Thermoses, your travel mug comes close to a personality trait.

I use my travel mug everyday and I take it everywhere with me. I know how important it is to have an appropriate capacity, leak-proof features, unparalleled insulation, and easy storage options. Plus, it needs to be able to fit under the brew heads of all the best coffee makers on the market . So, after years of observation and hours of research, these are the travel mugs that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

The quick list

The best overall

This tops most buying guides because it has so much to offer: excellent insulation, sleek design, leak-proof features, and a non-stick interior. The only thing it isn't? Cheap.

The best leakproof

The simple button which opens on the side of this cup makes it feel almost automated. It's easy to use with one hand and has never leaked in any expert tests.

The best design

This comes in a range of colors and each one is beautiful. The sleek design is leak-proof and will keep your coffee warm for hours. However, it's not dishwasher safe.

The best luxury

This is the mug loved most by coffee experts. It even comes with a guard to stop ice cubes from falling into your face when drinking, but you'll have to wash it by hand.

The best for cold drinks

Iconic and incredibly popular, this Stanley boasts capacity and color options. It's easy to hold and insulates well, but is probably too big for a flat white.

The best for sustainability

Crafted from 90% recycled stainless steel, this ergonomic mug scores top marks for sustainability and style. However, it only keeps coffee hot for four hours.

The best stainless steel

This is the mug I've been using for nearly a year. Its insulating capability is incredible and the capacity is more than enough for a generous cup full. However, it looks a little utilitarian.

The best ceramic

If you want to swerve more metallic flavors in your coffee, this is a colorful, compact, ceramic-lined option. It's triple-insulated and leak proof.

The best glass

Ergonomically replicating the paper coffee cup experience, this beautiful glass travel mug looks and feels like luxury. It won't keep your coffee warm for hours though.

The best travel mugs on the market 2024

You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The best travel mug overall

1. zojurushi stainless mug.

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

✅ You drink one handed: this is slim and easy to open ✅ You will carry this in a bag: it's leak-proof ✅ You need insulation power: this stays warm for hours

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don't like cleaning: this isn't dishwasher safe ❌ You're on a budget: this is more expensive than other models ❌  You drink espressos: this is too big for smaller drinks

The bottom line

🔎  Zojirushi Stainless Steel: this is the best mug on test. It keeps coffee hot (or cold) for hours, if not days. You can use it one-handed too, so it should be no surprise that this is expensive.

Hard as I tried, I couldn't find a travel mug to knock the Zojirushi off top spot. It ticks all the boxes for a sleek, insulating mug and then some. It keeps your drink at the right temperature for hours on end. It has the best longevity of all experts' tests.

The simple and slick design is available in a range of color options. It's deceptively light, easy to hold, and will sit neatly into car cup holders as well as ones you might pick up from your local café, too. 

Lots of users praised the lid-locking system and the fact that you can use this with one hand. Even though it's easy for you to unlock when you want a sip, it's almost impossible to accidentally open in your bag. Nobody experienced any accidental leaks in their bags, even in more extreme expert tests.

The non-stick inside is easy to use, which is good because this isn't dishwasher safe. It's also expensive in the context of travel mugs, but it comes with a five year warranty, so will be your coffee companion for years.

• Back to the top ⤴

The best leakproof travel mug

2. contigo luxe autoseal travel mug.

✅ You drink on-the-go: this can be used one-handed ✅ You need a fully sealed bottle: it's fool-proof and leak-proof ✅ You're on a budget: this is reasonably priced

❌ You want color options: these cost a little more ❌ You take small sips: there might be some pooling between sips ❌  You drink espressos: this is too big for smaller drinks

🔎  Contigo Luxe Autoseal: this is packed with leak-proof, fool-proof features. It's easy to operate with just one hand, but the coffee can pool a little.

There's no travel mug I'd trust more with hot drinks than the Contigo. The smart, auto-seal function locks at the back of the bottle, keeping it sealed against the range of object it might bump into in a work bag.

It is clearly designed with busy coffee drinkers in mind. The narrow neck is easy to grip in just one hand. When you want to take a sip, you can safely open it, again with one hand. All you have to do is press a button. It's remarkable. The only issue some people had with this ultra-slim design is that it might be too slim for some cup holders.

Most importantly, it will keep your coffee hotter than hot. Reviewers mentioned popular brands such as Yeti and S'Well, saying the Contigo is much better. Even though some customer reviews said that the lid gets hot, I found some experts who had tested and measured this feature using proper equipment. The lid didn't even reach lukewarm and the drink inside stayed piping hot. The evidence speaks for itself.

The Contigo is reasonably priced too, so this scores top marks almost across the board. The only complaints I can find online are that colorful options cost a little more. Plus, when sipping from the lid, this opening is slightly small, so you might end up with the coffee pooling in the lid between sips.

The best travel mug for design

3. chilly's series 2.

✅ You like color options: this is beautiful ✅ You want can-sized coffee: this is compact ✅ Will use this in the car: it fits cup holders perfectly

❌ You like big coffee drinks: this is quite small ❌ You're not a keen cleaner: this isn't dishwasher safe ❌  You need day-long insulation: this will keep drinks warm for up to four hours

🔎  Chilly's Series 2: the curved edges and colorful options offered by Chilly's make these the most beautiful travel mugs on the market. They're can-sized though, so not made for big or frothy coffees.

After great success with their iconic water bottles, Chilly's travel mugs are some of the most coveted on the market. The range of color options and softly curved edges make this comfortable to hold and easy to fit into cup holders. It's a beautiful, petite alternative to paper cups.

In reviews people say that this will keep coffee warm for over four hours. If you've poured boiling water into your cup, you need to keep the drinking hole open until it cools a little, which isn't ideal when you're in a hurry.

Even though this isn't microwave or dishwasher safe, it's easy to wash; the smooth lining is really easy to wipe clean. The outside doesn't scratch easily either, which is unusual for this style of travel mug. The colorful options are normally easy to scuff, but almost no customer reviews commented on any wear-and-tear. If you do damage your mug, these cups come with lifetime warranty anyway. They're made to love and made to last too. 

The best luxury travel mug

4. fellow carter everyhwere.

✅ You like color options: this offers almost every hue ✅ You drink iced coffee: this has a special filter ✅ This is a gift: you can personalize it

❌ You need capacity: this is only 12 oz (there's a 16 oz option though) ❌ You prefer sip options: you have to drink from a wide mouth ❌  You're on a budget: this is relatively expensive

🔎  Fellow Carter Everywhere: this scores full marks for form and function. Available in a range of colors, it's particularly clever with iced coffee.

Available in a range of soft, pastel colors and classic monochromes, the Everywhere mug is a must-have. Aside from the comfortable, curved aesthetics, this is functionally flawless. That's why all the experts love it.

Reviewers confirm that this keeps drinks hot for up to twelve hours and can keep ice rattling around for up to 24 hours, which is incredible. The wide mouth design might put iced coffee drinkers off, but this comes with a neat sieve to stop ice cubes falling onto your face when you're sipping the final drops of your iced lattes. Even better, the thin lip feels delicate to drink from (although not everybody likes this feeling).

You might expect this to be lined with traditional stainless steel, but it's not. Fellow opted for a less absorbent, more neutral ceramic lining. This doesn't leech any metallic notes into your drink, so you can enjoy your coffee flavors at their fullest. 

My only word of warning is that when it comes to the clean-up, be careful. This is hand wash only. You have the potential to ruin one of the best mugs on the market by throwing this in the dishwasher.

The best travel mug for iced drinks

5. stanley quencher.

✅ You want capacity: this is huge ✅ You drink iced coffee: this keeps ice cool and has a useful straw ✅ You want color options: this comes in every shade

❌ You want a leak proof cup: this will spill ❌ You like small drinks: this is too big and clunky for them ❌  You don't use straws: that's the way to drink from these

🔎  Stanley Quencher: possibly the most iconic thermal cup on the market, the Stanley is perfect for keeping iced coffees cool. It's guaranteed for life and has a huge capacity. My only issue is that this isn't leak proof.

Stanley's iconic Quencher is everywhere. Whilst the form is quite functional, social media has imbued it with an reputation for industrial-chic rather than very practical camper for whom it was designed. 

The cups are available in a range of candy-like colors and unique finishes, all with a huge 40 oz capacity. If you'll use your travel mug to hit your hydration targets, this is the surest way to do it.

It's easy to see why people love it. The neat straw is nice to sip from and the cup's body is easy to hold. If you don't drink your iced coffee straight away, ice will rattle around, frozen solid for the whole day. 

My only question is, who wants a hot coffee through a straw? I tried it and it was all a bit strange. Plus, this isn't leak proof, so there's no chance of putting this in your bag with your laptop and phone. 

The best way to transport it is in a cup holder or your hand. It is spill proof and the slim design sits securely in cup holders and consoles.

The best travel mug for eco-credentials

6. klean kanteen rise.

✅ You want a cup shape: this has a lovely handle ✅ You're eco-conscious: this is crafted with recycled materials ✅ You want color options: this comes in a range of hues

❌ You want a leak-proof cup: this will leak over long periods ❌ You need capacity: this is on the small side ❌  You're clumsy: this can scuff

🔎  Klean Kanteen Rise: the eco-credentials on this cup are incredible. They make this cup feel as good as it, well, feels. If you leave it on its side overnight it might leak a little.

Klean Kanteen makes the most environmentally conscious travel mug on the market. Any plastic they use is BPA-free, the insulation is lead-free, and 90% of the steel is post-consumer recycled 18/8 stainless steel. If that's not something to feel good about, I don't know what is.

Klean Kanteen has mimicked the traditional cup shape with an ergonomic, easy to hold handle. It's available in a range of nature-inspired tones, a tribute to the planet, which the company puts at the forefront of its goals.

In expert tests, this kept coffee hot for up to seventeen hours and could keep ice cold for over 58 hours. That's some seriously impressive credentials. When you want to start sipping, the stopper lifts off and out of the way so there's no chance of you bumping your nose with some coffee. The only drawback of this easy stopper is that it's not completely leak proof. Whilst this passed the handbag test carried out by most expert testers, when one person left it on its side overnight, some coffee leaked out. 

This comes with a 'Strong As Steel' lifetime warranty, so you know this is a good investment. Although, watch the powder-coated outside. It is beautiful, it will scuff if you throw it around too much. 

The best stainless steel travel mug

7. de'longhi travel mug.

✅ You like big servings: this has a huge capacity ✅ You'll use this daily: it's really durable ✅ You will drink from this all day: it's a great insulator

❌ You have a lot of sharp objects in your bag: this scratches easily ❌ You like smaller servings: this is big and bulky ❌  You're on a budget: this is quite expensive

🔎  De'Longhi: the perfect balance of style and function, this is an incredible insulator and doesn't leak any metallic taste into your drink. It will scratch over time though.

I use the De’Longhi travel mug and trust it with my life. In the past, I’ve had more soup, coffee, tea, and water spills in my bag than I (and my bank balance) would like to admit to. In nearly a year of using the De’Longhi, I’ve not had one drop leak into bag. 

With an impressive 24 oz capacity, this is perfect for frothy coffees and big servings. If you're more of a flat white or espresso drinker, this will be clunky and oversized. However, if you're like me and you enjoy a bigger cup than average, you'll be grateful for the De'Longhi's capacity.

The insulating power of this is incredible. I've burnt my tongue more times than I care to admit to with this. In fact, just today I made a chai tea, left the lid off, and forty minutes later, still burnt my tongue trying to drink out of this. If it wasn't so impressive, I think I would find this annoying.

The leak-proof seal is easy to open up, although you couldn't do this with one hand. When I'm sipping from the De'Longhi, the seal never falls back onto my face, but if the rubber seal touches my nose, it leaves a coffee mark. Turns out, that's not just me being clumsy. A number of reviewers have found the same, so keep a mirror nearby to make sure you're not walking around with a spot of coffee on your face.

Having used this for a while, I've noticed that the lid warms up when I pour my coffee in. If this wasn't such a ridiculous insulator, I would think it was a fault with the cup. It has also scratched over time: I put keys and plugs in my bag, so it's no surprise, but it has only enhanced the very functional aesthetic of the De'Longhi.

The best ceramic travel mug

8. frank green ceramic.

✅ You want customizable options: this has color, feature, and size options ✅ You want one-hand operation: this is compact and effective ✅ You don't like metallic tastes: this is lined with ceramic

❌ You like big coffee cups: this only goes up to 16 oz ❌ You're clumsy: this can scratch and doesn't have a handle ❌  You're on a budget: there are cheaper options

🔎 Frank Green Ceramic: petite and chic, this neat travel mug is perfect if you're always on the go. It's more fragile and subject to scuffing, but can be used with one hand.

I love these eye-catching travel mugs. They're available in an array of pastel and natural colors as well as a range of sizes (from 8 to 16 ounces) and you can choose between a sip, button opening lid, or a straw lid. If you're looking for a very specific combination of size and style, you'll find it here.

The sleek, can-shaped cup is perfect for everything from handbags to car cup holders. These look delicate and elegant, but they're really durable. The main body is crafted from premium stainless steel and the other features are either BPA-free plastic or stain-free ceramic. A ceramic lining isn't unique to the Frank Green travel mug, but this is the best way I've seen it done. Reviewers all say it's easy to clean and has no trace of any metallic flavors either. 

When the build quality was really put to the test, it more than excelled. Nobody online struggled with any leaking issues. Even the button-opening lid passed the handbag test in expert reviews. Whilst it seals well, you can still unlock and drink from this with one hand, perfect for those who are always on the go.

Customer reviews all praised the triple-walled vacuum, which keeps drinks insulated, hot or cold, all day long. I actually really struggled to find criticisms beyond the fact that this can scratch, but that was in tests when this was quite literally thrown onto the sidewalk. Some reviewers felt limited by capacity (which is easily solved by sizing-up) and price, which is no more than the other models in this guide. 

9. KeepCup Reusable Tempered Glass Mug

✅ You like coffee shop cups: this is like an upgrade on all the features ✅ You want natural aesthetics: this looks organic ✅ You don't like metallic tastes: this is lined with ceramic

❌ You want one-hand operation: this is fiddly ❌ You need good insulation: this won't work for long periods of time ❌  You're clumsy: this could smash (and it's not leak proof)

🔎 KeepCup BrewCork: this is a luxury take on your everyday coffee cup. It's splash-proof, but not leakproof and not the best insulator either.

For a long time, this was my go-to travel mug. It's actually still my partner's favorite. I put it down to the organic materials and natural aesthetic, but he says it's because of the features. Either way, the KeepCup deserves a lot of love.

These tempered glass cups follow the silhoutte of the average, single-serve coffee cup. However, KeepCup has used tempered glass and recovered cork in the place of non-recyclables, leaving you with a beautiful coffee cup aesthetic. Being able to see inside is a blessing if you've made a fun drink, such as matcha, but a curse if you've got sediment at the bottom of your coffee cup.

The cork band is nice to hold, but it sits quite tightly on the cup. If you're clumsy, pulling the sleeve or the splash-proof sipper lid off can feel like playing with fire. I always worry I'm going to drop and smash it. That's why you also shouldn't put this in your bag. Whilst it won't splash coffee out of the lid, it will leak, so you should only sit it in coffee cup holders or your hand. 

If you're looking to keep your coffee hot all day, this won't do the job. The glass will keep it warm for about an hour, but any longer than that and this might need to see the microwave. It's also quite heavy (because it's glass) and even if it's empty in your bag, you still need to be careful not to smash it.

How to choose the best travel mug for you

All of the options in this buying guides make excellent travel mugs. Different ones suit different people and these are the features you need to think about:

Capacity If you like a big cup of coffee, you'll be looking for a cup with a capacity of more than 16 oz. If you prefer a smaller serving, or even espresso, you'll want a cup that's closer to 6 oz. I'd always recommend looking for a little extra room just in case you have some frothy coffee and need extra room for foam.

Material Most of these will be made with stainless steel and plastic, but it's important to look deeper into the credentials. Some plastics are BPA-free, some stainless steels are recycled, and, some are also lead-free. If you don't like a metallic taste in your coffee (not many people do), you might want to look for ceramic, glass or non-stick coatings inside your cup, because these won't absorb flavors as much.

Insulation time Most of these cups will be able to keep your coffee warm all day long. However, some do a better job than others. The KeepCup, for example, only extends the time that your coffee will be warm for to up to an hour, whereas other models could keep ice solid for days.

Leak-free features This is one of the most important features of a travel mug. If you're often in a hurry and want to be able to throw your travel mug into your bag, completely fuss free, you want to be sure that it won't leak or accidentally unlock and empty hot liquid all over your valuables. 

Sip method Some people like to sip from a straw, some like a small sip opening, some like a wider mouth. There's no better option, but there's definitely one for you. I've included at least one of each in this guide so that you can select your favorite.

Price and warranty These cups all sit around a similar price point. I've selected premium models because they come with guarantees, ranging from five years to a lifetime. Whilst the ones with lifetime guarantees are expensive, you're buying one cup, which you can have replaced for the rest of your life. That seems like an unmissable offer to me.

How we researched these travel mugs

Travel mugs have a range of variables, all of which need to be taken into careful consideration. When I was researching the best travel mugs, I already had a good idea of which I would put on this list, but I double and triple checked my data against other experts and customer reviews. 

I’ve read hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces written about these travel mugs, from Amazon to other trusted review sites. I’ve collated them with my experience to give you the comprehensive list you see here. I've researched every feature, from insulation and composition, to thermal times and any leak-proof features. If you need to know anything about these travel mugs, I'll have read about them and relayed them here, to you.

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Laura is our eCommerce editor. As a fully qualified barista, she's our expert in all things coffee and has tested over thirty of the best coffee makers on the market. She has also interviewed Q-Graders and world-leading experts in the coffee industry, so has an intimate knowledge of all things coffee. Before joining Homes & Gardens , she studied English at Oxford University. Whilst studying, she trained as a master perfumer and worked in the luxury fragrance industry for five years. Her collection of home fragrance is extensive and she's met and interviewed five of the world's finest perfumers (also known as 'noses'). As a result of this expansive fragrance knowledge, she always puts quality and style over quantity and fads. Laura looks for products which have been designed simply and with thoughtful finishes.  

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The Best Leak-Proof Travel Mugs for Taking Hot (and Cold) Drinks on the Go

By Kristi Kellogg and Meaghan Kenny

Whether you're embarking on your morning commute or headed on an East Coast road trip , you should have one of the best travel mugs in hand. Finding one you like means you can skip the routine stop at the coffee shop (or at least say no to the disposable cup), cut back on single-use plastics, and keep your drinks at an ideal temperature (with some, for hours and hours at a time). Ahead, we've rounded up Condé Nast Traveler editors' personal favorites—from brands like Hydro Flask, Yeti, Corksicle, Stanley, and more. With insulated, leak-proof, and easy-to-carry options in the mix, there's a mug in here ready for a spot in your cup holder or tote bag .

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Hydro Flask All Around Tumbler

The 20-ounce version of Hydro Flask’s All Around Tumbler has been my go-to lately, both at home and on the commute to work. It keeps coffee warm for a few hours, so if I’m sipping slowly I don’t have to bother with reheating it, and does its job in keeping iced coffee cool, too. It has the type of lid that you can push back and forth to open or close, and the opening is wide enough to easily fit a reusable straw. I don’t drive, but the mug's size seems very cupholder-friendly, too! — Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

Stanley Classic Trigger Action travel mug

Stanley makes the best classic mugs (the company has been around since 1913 after all). The brand is known for its iconic insulated steel thermoses, which promise hours-long insulation for hot drinks and durability for wherever you’re taking your beverage— hiking , camping , thrown in the back of your car on a road trip , you name it. The original green color has a delightfully retro vibe as well. — Megan Spurrell, senior editor

Stojo collapsible travel cup, 16-ounce

The main reason I adore my collapsible Stojo cup is its clever design that makes it incredibly easy to carry around. I’m not kidding when I say that when folded down, my 16-ounce cup turns into a disc that fits into my jacket pocket. It’s also light enough to drop into a travel backpack or a sling bag when you go hiking. I use mine for everything from coffees and smoothies, and when dry, for snacks and berries. Don’t expect an insulated mug with this one: It keeps a beverage warm (or cool) for long enough for you to drink it, but isn’t a double-walled metal cup. However, it has helped me cut down on a ton of waste when traveling, and might I add is cute-looking, too. — Arati Menon, global digital director

Read a full review of the Stojo cup.

Stanley Aerolight Transit bottle

The AeroLight Transit bottle has become my new favorite mug to use on my morning commute to work. My tea is still piping hot even after my hour-long train ride. I keep it in my tote bag—along with my laptop and phone—and it never leaks. I've flipped this one completely upside down and nothing spills out, making it a reliable option to travel with. It's one-third lighter than Stanley's typical stainless steel, so it doesn't feel heavy in my bag either. I also appreciate how slim the bottle is—it's so easy to carry around. — Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor

Shannon McMahon

CNT Editors

Hannah Towey

Yeti Rambler stackable mug

When I'm traveling, the most essential ritual I preserve is my morning coffee. While I love nearly all of the Yeti drinkware options, this mug is perfect for coffee—both for its manageable 10-ounce size, as well as the side handle, which makes this especially easy when I'm on a road trip or a train. (This mug has come with me on camping trips in the Shenandoah Valley and Delaware Water Gap, on a road trip through the Appalachian Highlands, and a long drive between D.C. and New York City .) A fair word of warning though: The airtight lid and insulation work almost too well—coffee stays hot a long time, so I recommend you get it close to your ideal temperature before pouring it in. —Corina Quinn, former city guides director

Snow Peak Milk bottle

This is one of those gifts I have become deeply attached to—it was given to me about a year ago, when I was getting really into camping and the chic outdoor brand Snow Peak, and it’s since become a staple in my house. It has a beautifully minimalist design, is small enough to feel really portable (as in, it’s not a pain to have to tote home once it’s empty), and it never leaks. It’s no bargain, but given how much I use and love it, I think the math sort of works out in the end. — M.S .

Zojirushi stainless steel mug

“This mug is my favorite one ever because the lid has a lock feature that makes it completely leak-free. I can throw this in a travel tote and not worry about coffee dribbling all over. Plus the stainless steel interior keeps coffee extra hot for hours, but it doesn't burn your hands. In addition to my commute on the subway, I've taken this little wonder on train rides to upstate New York , and I've never spilled a drop.” —Jessica Puckett, senior editor, transportation and travel news

Hydro Flask 20 oz Coffee with Flex Sip Lid

Another option from Hydro Flask worth noting is the 20-ounce bottle with a Flex Slip lid. It's large enough that I can bring plenty of iced coffee with me on the go, but it's still cupholder-friendly—very important for road trips. The double-wall vaccum insulation keeps cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot drinks hot for up to 12. The carry-handle makes it easy to hold on long walks and the leak-proof lid is easy to open and close. I love the color options, especially this new purple shade. —M.K.

Martina Thornhill Okay cup

It’s not hyperbole to state that I’ve tried the lion’s share of travel mugs on the market. I drink a ton of coffee and I travel and drive a lot. I hate the way metal mugs make coffee taste—it’s so much better out of a ceramic mug. The Okay Cup from Portland, Oregon –based ceramicist Marina Thornhill is gorgeous, doesn’t leak, and doesn’t make your coffee taste like mud. It’s pricey, but a better long-term deal than always dumping the coffee you put in another mug and don’t actually drink. It’s constantly selling out, so put your name on the pre-order list—it’s worth the wait. —Rebecca Misner, senior features editor

Kinto travel tumbler

If you’re a tea drinker like me or like your travel mugs to keep your hot drinks piping hot, be warned: this insulated mug gets me every time, keeping my teas at steaming, roof-of-mouth-burning temperatures for what feels like an impossibly long time. (And that’s a good thing in my book.) I prefer the matte exterior over the stainless steel for its added grip. I use it to commute with my tea (it doesn’t leak!) and on extra-long winter walks because I know it’ll stay warm the entire time. —Meredith Carey, former travel bookings editor

Yeti Rambler lowball

This mug is a thing in my house. My partner received one as a Christmas gift , only to find it missing every morning—truth be told, after I stole it once to use for hot coffee on my morning subway commute, I couldn’t go back to any other thermos. I personally love that this mug doesn’t have a handle, because it’s so insulated it never burns my hands, yet the coffee inside stays piping hot, and its shape is nice and easy to hold. When I’m done enjoying my hot drink on the go, it takes the least space possible in my bag , where it usually clangs around for the rest of the day until I make my way home (or back to wherever I’m staying). —M.S.

Corkcicle classic tumbler

This Corkcicle tumbler keeps my coffee hot on my subway commute, and is secure enough to sneak a couple of sips while standing on a crowded, moving train. There’s also something joyful about pouring my freshly brewed coffee into a pink vessel—how could I not be cheerful toting this cute mug around the office? Most often this mug has been my subway companion, though I have used it for road trips and early morning flights that require a caffeine boost before boarding. —Katie Henwood, former senior SEO manager

Miir Climate+ Tumbler

Lately when I want a compact option that won't take up much space in my backpack or tote after it's empty, I've been reaching for this sleek stainless steel tumbler from Miir. It's shatter proof, so I don't worry about dropping it or getting any dents. For an extra charge, you can even personalize it, making it a great gift for any traveler in your life. —M.K.

Hydro Flask stainless steel travel mug

This Hydro Flask mug checks all the boxes: It's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, has a leak-proof lid, carrying handle, and no-sweat matte finish, and comes with a lifetime warranty. You can use it as a thermos, a water bottle , or a coffee cup. Hydro Flask also has matching slings that let you carry your travel tumbler hands-free, helpful when biking, hiking, or just dashing through the airport. — Kristi Kellogg, contributor

OtterBox Elevation wine tumbler

Technically this is a wine tumbler, but more often, I use it for iced coffee. It keeps my caffeine cold, fits the extra-large ice cube I put into the bottom, and doesn’t leave rings on tables when I set it down. Plus, like all things OtterBox, it’s sturdy—I don’t have to worry about dinging or denting it when I inevitably drop or knock it over. Its smaller size means it’s also carry-on and backpack friendly. —M.F.

Hay Sowden travel cup

I don’t think there’s a chicer travel mug than this colorful one from Hay, which comes in pink, green, or gray, all with contrasting, two-toned lids. It puts all other thermoses to shame when it comes to design—but it’s also totally functional, with an insulated stainless steel exterior that keeps drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for an impressive 24 hours. —M.C.

W&P Porter mug

This mug hits all the right marks: The silicone sleeve makes it easy to grip and quiet when placed down on a surface; the mouthpiece on the lid is easy to slide open and close; and it’s safe to put in the dishwasher and microwave. Plus, it just looks nicer than the rest of my logo-clad travel mugs. Most often I use it to sip coffee on my morning commute, but I have also brought it on longer train rides to D.C. and on flights as a vessel for oatmeal. —M.F.

Simple Modern travel coffee mug

One of my favorite reusable water bottles is from Simple Modern, so I had high hopes for its travel mug and it certainly did not disappoint. This stainless steel mug keeps my hot beverages hot for four hours and my iced coffee cold for up to 16 hours, so it's great for day trips and using at the office. It's dishwasher safe and the handle makes sipping on the go easy. The under $20 price tag is nice, too. —M.K.

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Best leak-proof travel mugs for hot and cold beverages

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Attempting to sip on a leaky cup of coffee is a humbling experience. Drippage and staining are inevitable - not ideal on the hectic morning commute.

Carrying reusable cups and mugs should be a simple solution, and reduces waste as you enjoy your morning brew. Some coffee shops even offer discounts for doing so. But, let’s face it, many of these vessels simply do not work as well as they should.

We’re not quite sure what the paper-plastic Pret coffee cups have that sustainable travel-friendly options don’t, but the latter are rarely trustworthy, especially when wearing white.  

Thankfully, the new boom of water bottles (credit to Stanley) which has been zealously pioneered by TikTokkers has brought about a renewed interest in portable travel mugs. This means more colours, more designs and crucially, less leakage.

Brands including Nespresso, Chilly’s and Thermos have produced travel mugs for caffeine-fuelled days that don’t run the risk of ruining your outfit. Whether taking one with you on a long car journey or braving the bustling tube, you can rest easy knowing your cuppa isn’t ending up on you or the poor person next to you. 

Given that Brits drink approximately 100 million cups of coffee per day , the potential for spillage is high. Ensure every single drop of Joe stays firmly inside its container by investing in one of the best leak-proof travel mugs below.

Best reusable water bottles that will help reduce your plastic use

Best sports water bottles to keep you hydrated in the gym or on the pitch

Best bean-to-cup coffee machines to kickstart your day in style

Best Nespresso machines: Top models tested so you can make great coffee every time

Stanley AeroLight Transit Leak-Proof Travel Mug, 350ml

From TikTok sensation Stanley, the AeroLight Transit Leak-Proof Travel Mug will ensure no dripping takes place as you serenely sip. The handy item, which comes in a variety of colours, keeps your drinks hot for up to four hours, cold for up to six hours and chilled for up to 20 hours when ice is added. Does it really work? Yes - the seemingly endless rave reviews speak for themselves. 

Joseph Joseph Sipp Coral Travel Mug with Hygienic Lid, 340ml

An affordable pick for coffee and tea lovers, Joseph Joseph’s Sipp travel mug offers a smart, leakproof design that’s set to become your closest companion. A hygienic flip-top cap covers the cup when not in use, while a non-slip grip provides an element of safety. Say goodbye to single-use cups and hello to your new, dry travel mug.

Contigo West Loop Autoseal Travel Mug, 470 ml

Sealed and leakproof, Contigo’s attractive travel mug is a must-have. Available in a slew of tempting tones, the piece comes complete with auto-seal technology which secures between sips to prevent leaks and spillage. What’s more, a lid-lock prevents the auto seal button from accidentally being pushed while on the go - so no more mid-commute leaks. It keeps hot drinks warm for up to five hours and cold drinks cool for twenty. Once you’re done, pop it in the dishwasher ready for the next day.

Chilly’s Original Coffee Cup, 340ml

Pick your favourite colour and let the Chilly’s coffee cup do the rest of the work for you. The piece features double-walled insulation to keep hot drinks piping for hours and is made from durable, high-grade stainless steel that preserves the flavour. Pour your hot or cold thirst quencher inside and head out with ease. Note, the cup is not suitable for the dishwasher.

Royal Doulton Coffee Studio Travel Mug, 350ml

Discover your inner barista with Royal Doulton’s porcelain travel mug. Shaped like a tall glass, it can hold a generous 350ml capacity and comes with a black lid to make it easy to stay hydrated whilst on the go. Safe for dishwasher cleaning and microwave use.

SANTECO Travel Coffee Mug 350ml/500ml

Available in two generous sizes, SANTECO’s mint green travel mug will make a great gift for those with a fast-paced lifestyle. The brand guarantees no sweating, leaking or spilling thanks to the double silicone gaskets that are applied on both the lid side and the flip clip. Made from 100 per cent eco-friendly stainless steel, the attractive sipper will keep hot drinks warm for up to six hours and colder tipples chilled for twelve. Pop in your bag and be on your merry way.

Nespresso TOUCH Travel Mug, 345 ml

If your Nespresso machine is one of your most treasured possessions, you might want to get a snazzy travel mug to match. The sleek urban design will keep your 345ml of coffee warm without transferring heat to your hands. Measures a total of 16cm high and is dishwasher-friendly.

Dycietx Travel Mug, 380ml

Flood your senses with the taste of silky coffee as you wander to work while armed with the Dycietx Travel Mug. The inexpensive mug adopts a double-walled vacuum stainless steel insulation design to keep drinks hot, plus a super safe leak-proof screw lid with a premium silicone sealing ring, which tightly secures your drink. Use it time and time again thanks to the non-slip base which prevents wear and tear. Dycietx is offering 380ml for under £10. Sounds like a bargain to us.

Thermos 101834 Stainless King Travel Mug, 470ml

The Thermos 101834 Stainless King Travel Mug is a bit of a beast. Stay hydrated with a whopping 470ml liquid capacity for hydration wherever you go. The handle provides users with an easy grip, while a durable stainless steel interior and exterior, featuring a Drinklock sealing lid, keeps spillages firmly at bay.

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9 best reusable coffee cups and travel mugs that aren’t adding to the landfill

Billions of single-use cups are chucked every year, so consider swapping to these sustainable alternatives, article bookmarked.

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Britain has a love affair with coffee. As a nation, we drink about 95 million cups a day , with the average fan sipping two cups daily. Some people have their own at-home morning routine, while others frequently visit their favourite cafe or coffee shop for a takeout brew on the way to work.

Britons spend billions of pounds a year at high street coffee chains. It’s a habit that does not come cheap, and it could be costing the earth.

The UK’s fondness for takeaway coffee sees us disposing of 2.5 billion plastic-coated takeaway cups annually, and that number is set to increase by a third by 2030 . Only one in 400 cups is recycled. The rest are sent to landfill, generating 152,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – equivalent to the emissions of 33,300 cars.

In light of this, is now finally the time to start making the shift? A breakup between Britain and coffee shops is unlikely, so we need to limit the environmental impact in other ways, and reusable coffee cups could help.

Baristas will gladly make your regular drink in your own refillable cup, and some retailers even offer discounts or extra loyalty stamps if you have one. When you’ve finished your drink, take it home to wash up for use the next day. Your coffee experience will be all the better for knowing that you’re not contributing to waste and are doing your bit to care for the planet.

Related stories

How we tested.

There are dozens of reusable coffee cups available as brands try to help consumers be more environmentally conscious. To help you find the right one for you, we’ve whittled down the options to the ones we think are best. There are glass, stainless steel and silicone versions, those that look like takeaway coffee cups and others that more closely resemble a bottle.

Each one included in our roundup has been tested with hot drinks and some also with cold. We’ve rated each on drinking experience, functionality, ease of use, leak protection, design and looks. It’s time to quit your takeaway cup habit.

The best reusable coffee cups for 2024 are:

• Best reusable coffee cup overall – Circular&Co reusable coffee cup: £15.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Best collapsible coffee cup – Stojo on the go coffee cup: £14.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Best for iced coffee – S’well traveler: £35.29, Amazon.co.uk
• Best smart coffee mug – Ember travel mug²: £199.95, Ember.com

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Circular&Co reusable coffee cup

• Best : Reusable coffee cup overall
• Available sizes : 236ml and 355ml
• Made with recycled cups
• Designed to be durable
• 360-degree drinking

We named the Circular&Co reusable coffee cup our best buy before, and we’re doing it again. Even after testing many different mugs, it’s still our favourite in all the factors we consider important – not least because the company helps tackle the problem of takeaway cups in more ways than one. The brand collects millions of used coffee cups from around the country, cleans and shreds them and blends the material with a recycled polymer to form the new cups. The result is a robust, high-quality travel cup that is designed to last a decade and is 100 per cent recycled again at the end of its life.

The smooth cup allows for a 360-degree drinking experience, which means it feels no different to drinking from a standard mug or coffee cup, and it kept our drinks hot for longer than an hour. Plus, it is leakproof, thanks to a lid that clicks open and closed when pushed. It’s also dishwasher safe on the top shelf, is excellent value for money, and there are several colour combinations to choose from, so you’ll undoubtedly find a favourite.

Stojo on the go coffee cup

• Best : Collapsible cup
• Available sizes : 355ml
• Collapsible design
• It can leak when squeezed

Having only a dinky bag is no excuse for not carrying a reusable coffee cup because Stojo’s design collapses down to a couple of inches high for easy storage on the go. It’s a clever concept, but you’ll need to be mindful that the cup’s body is made from flexible silicone, because we found that it can leak when it’s full and accidentally squeezed. The insulated heat sleeve can help stop too much pressure from being put on the flexible part, and it keeps your hands safe because the cup can get quite hot.

The cup is pleasant to drink from and features a swivel stopper to close the mouthpiece and prevent leaks, but we wouldn’t risk putting it in our bags if it were full. There are plenty of design options and colours, and we like that there is the option of a straw, which also folds down inside the cup.

Klean Kanteen insulated tkwide with café cap

• Best : For hiking
• Incorporates recycled materials
• Too small for long hikes

No hike is complete without a warming brew for when you’re taking a well-earned breather. You’ll want a lightweight, leakproof, insulating container to carry it in safely, and we think this cup is among the best for the job. It’s compact, features a durable metal loop for attaching to a bag or belt and is made from 90 per cent recycled food-grade stainless steel that can take the bumps of outdoor adventures.

The insulating performance is outstanding, keeping drinks hot for up to 11 hours and cold for 38 hours, perfect for long expeditions (although we’d suggest taking more than one cup because you’ll need more than 355ml to stay hydrated). Instead of a hinged lid, this cup features a twistable cover that reveals a smooth opening for comfortable, dribble-free drinking.

S’well traveler

• Best : For iced coffee
• Available sizes : 355ml, 470ml, 590ml
• Easy to clean
• Wide enough for ice cubes

As the temperature rises, our drinks get cooler, and we need a reusable cup for iced lattes and frappes. Enter S’well’s traveler, which is perfect for both hot and cold drinks. The design is simple, with only the bottle and lid, making it super easy to keep clean and fresh.

We found this to be among the best bottles for mouthfeel because you drink from it like you would a conventional cup or mug, and it’s just as good if used with a straw. The wide opening is also ideal for adding ice cubes, whether crushed or whole, and makes cleaning easy.

We found it kept our cold drinks cool for several hours, up to 24 in fact, not that you’ll be able to resist drinking a delicious frappe for that length of time. But this cup is equally good all year round because it keeps hot drinks warm for up to 12 hours, and the insulation keeps the outer bottle cool enough to handle safely.

KeepCup design your own

• Best : Customisable cup
• Available sizes : 227ml, 340ml, 454ml
• Great for personalisation
• Replacement parts are available
• Not insulated

There are now dozens of options for drinks at coffee shops, so why should the size and design of your reusable cup be limited? KeepCup doesn’t think it should and offers a design-your-own service on its trusty cups. The sizes available are 227ml, 340ml and 454ml, and there are options for the material the cup is made from, including glass, stainless steel and the original plastic. You can choose between a cork or a silicone heat band on the glass versions, and there are so many colour combinations to choose from, allowing you to create something truly personal.

As with all the brand’s cups, the lid pushes on for a secure fit, and there is a smooth opening from which to drink that can be closed with the swivel stopper. We love that KeepCup also sells replacement parts to keep your cup going for many years and out of landfill.

SoleCup travel mug

• Best : For tea drinkers
• Available sizes : 310ml
• Includes a smoothie filter
• Glass doesn’t effect the flavour of the tea
• Not insulalted

Real tea fans will agree that tea bags are equivalent to the coffee world’s instant drink and loose leaves are king for the perfect cuppa. The only thing is that drinking them on the go isn’t always possible because an infuser is essential, and few travel cups feature them. But the SoleCup is here to make your proper tea-drinking dreams a reality. It features a beautifully designed tea diffuser that attaches to the lid and holds plenty of loose leaves for the perfect brew. A detachable plastic smoothie filter is also included in the box.

The cup is a charming, colourful little number too, with plenty of options to choose from, including whether you have a silicone or cork heat band. Best of all, the cup is made from glass, which we find is the best for tea because it doesn’t affect the delicate flavour.

Ember travel mug²

• Best : Smart mug
• Elegant look
• It’s pricey
• Three hour battery life

Smart tech makes almost every area of our lives that little bit easier nowadays, including on-the-go drinking with the Ember mug². It is a marvellous bit of kit, and you’ll never worry about cold tea or coffee again if you choose to invest in one.

Set your perfect drinking temperature – between 50C and 62.5C – and you will get a notification from a phone app to say it has reached that optimum point, plus the mug will keep it there for three hours. A touch-sensitive display on the front of the mug itself can also be used to check and change the temperature, so no worry if your phone is not at hand.

The black matte cup looks elegant, and it is comfortable to hold and use, with 360-degree drinking. Plus, it is 100 per cent leakproof, with a push of the lid to open and close with a tight seal. We tipped it up when it was full several times to test, and not a drop came out.

The mug comes with a matte black charging coaster, which we keep on our desks because the battery life does not last beyond those three hours. And despite the internal electrics, this cup is safe to handwash and submersible up to 1m in water, but do not put anything but the lid in the dishwasher.

BugBear antimicrobial purple corduroy

• Best : For hygiene
• Cool antimicrobial technology
• Only eeps drinks warm for over an hour

Clean freaks will love the idea of this travel cup. The cute design that we tested makes it look like the cup is wearing a knitted cosy, but really it is made from food-grade stainless steel treated with AntiBug technology. While the knit cup is out of stock, you can still shop the corduroy design instead. This antimicrobial silver ion material kills 99.9 per cent of all known bacteria, including MRSA, E. coli and salmonella, and lasts for the lifetime of the cup, which is about five years. This doesn’t mean you can get out of washing it as you would any other cup. It will still need cleaning after use, but it just adds a little extra protection.

Besides its bug-killing powers, the cup is comfortable to drink from and pretty good at keeping the liquid inside warm for over an hour. It’s also leakproof thanks to the hinged stopper that closes the mouthpiece.

Smidge citrus travel cup

• Best : For colour
• Available sizes : 236ml, 355ml, 473ml
• Mouthpiece could be more userfriendly

Do you have one of those bags where you can never find a thing? One item you’re unlikely to lose in there is this orange cup, which is sure to brighten your day. It’s a double-walled, vacuum-insulated cup made from food-grade stainless steel and designed to last a lifetime. The Smidge cup promises to keep drinks hot for six hours or cold for up to 12 – and we found it delivers for perfectly toasty coffee even if you forget about it for a couple of hours.

We also put its leakproof claims to the test, and the contents stayed securely inside, even when we gave it a little shake with the cup turned upside down. So we’d be confident about carrying the cup in our bags even if it were half full. Drinking from this cup is through a small opening, the standard type you find on coffee shop cup lids. We found the hinged mouthpiece cover a little tricky to open when we first started testing, but it became easier with each use.

Things to look for in a reusable coffee cup 

Beyond capacity and looks, consider material. Insulated cups will keep your hot (and cold) drinks, well, hot or cold, for longer. If this isn’t a non-negiotable for you, there are glass cups or flexible designs for when you’re on the move, too. Then, consider whether you’ll need a leak-proof cup. If you want to pop your coffee cup in your bag, this will be a must. Finally, think about the lid. Some cups come with small mouthpieces, while others feature small or wide water bottle-style designs instead. 

How will using a reusable cup benefit the environment?

The idea of a reusable coffee cup is to use it for as long as possible. Take-away coffee cups are typically made of paper but come with a plastic lining to stop drinks from leaking. Trees need to be cut down to make paper, impacting ecosystems and resulting in the loss of trees as carbon sinks. Meanwhile, production also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

The paper and plastic need to be separated which can make it more difficult to recycle the cups in practice. When plastic isn’t recycled it ends up in landfill where it can be left to languish and release microplastics into the environment.

The verdict: Reusable coffee cups

The Circular&Co reusable coffee cup ticks all the boxes in terms of insulation, drinking experience and, importantly, environmental consideration. We love how the UK-made travel cup helps to do away with single-use takeaway coffee cups smartly and creatively with no compromise on functionality and insulation performance.

We also love the freedom of choice you get with the KeepCup design your own and think the S’well traveler is a summer must-have for those iced coffees and picnics in the park.

Elevate your caffeine fix with the best coffee machines, tried and tested

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• International

March 24 Moscow concert hall attack

By Heather Chen , Andrew Raine , Catherine Nicholls, Antoinette Radford, Maureen Chowdhury and Kathleen Magramo , CNN

Our live coverage of the Moscow concert hall attack has moved here.

Suspects in deadly concert hall attack facing life imprisonment. Here's what we know

From CNN staff

All four suspects in the Crocus City concert hall attack case have been remanded into pre-trial detention until May 22.  

They are charged with committing a terrorist act, according to the courts of general jurisdiction of the city of Moscow, which under the Russian Criminal Code is punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Three of the defendants pled guilty to all charges, according to state media news agency TASS.

All four are from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic, and had been in Russia on either temporary or expired visas.

Friday's attack left at least 137 people dead. The attack is Russia's deadliest in two decades .

Catch up on the latest developments:

• Day of mourning: Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Sunday a day of national mourning for the 137 victims in Friday's attack .
• Authorities work to identify victims: Procedures to identify those killed in the attack have begun, the city’s Department of Health said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The Russian Investigative Committee said 62 bodies had been identified so far, adding that "for the remaining victims, genetic examinations are being carried out to establish their identities."
• Fighting terrorism in Syria and Turkey: Putin held separate calls with his Turkish and Syrian counterparts, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bashar al-Assad, on Saturday and promised closer cooperation in fighting terrorism following the attack, according to a Kremlin readout.
• Russian Embassy says no warnings from US: The Russian Embassy in Washington says it did not receive any warnings about a potential attack in Moscow from the US. Last week, Putin dismissed warnings by the US embassy in Russia that there could be attacks on large groups.
• Putin links attack to Ukraine: Putin said the main suspects arrested planned to flee into Ukraine. Ukraine has denied any connection. The UK warned that Russia was creating a "smokescreen of propaganda."
• Terror alert: France has lifted its terror alert to its highest level following the deadly attack in Moscow, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said Sunday.

Here's what we know about the four suspects in the Moscow concert hall attack

From CNN’s Masha Angelova and Josh Pennington

Each of the four defendants charged with committing a terrorist act in the Crocus City concert hall attack was brought to court individually in Moscow on Sunday.

They are accused of committing a crime under part 3, provision “b” of article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code (terrorist act), which the Russian Criminal Code states is punishable with up to life imprisonment.

Three pled guilty to all charges, according to state media news agency TASS .

Here's what we know about the accused:

• Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev: The 32-year-old was the first defendant brought to court. Mirzoyev, from Tajikistan, had a temporary registration for three months in the southern Russian city of Novosibirsk in Siberia, but it expired, according to RIA Novosti.
• Saidakrami Rachabalizoda: He appeared as the second defendant, and told the the court that he had Russian registration documents but couldn't remember where they were. He communicated through an interpreter, according to state media RIA Novosti. Rachabalizoda was reportedly born in 1994.
• Shamsidin Fariduni: He was born in 1998 in Tajikistan and is a citizen of the Central Asian country. Fariduni was officially employed at a factory in the Russian city of Podolsk and was registered in the city of Krasnogorsk, according to state media RIA Novosti.
• Muhammadsober Faizov: The fourth defendant appeared nonresponsive in a wheelchair and was accompanied by a doctor to his court appearance, as seen in Moscow City Court’s video shared on Telegram. Faizov was temporarily unemployed, before which he worked in a barber shop in Ivanovo, a city northeast of Moscow, and is registered in that city, according to state media RIA Novosti. He was reportedly born in 2004.

This post has been updated with more information on the charges against the suspects.

Moscow court orders preventive detention for all four defendants in concert hall attack case

The Basmanny District Court of Moscow on Sunday granted the investigators’ motion for detention, as the chosen preventative measure, for all four defendants in the Crocus City Hall attack case.

All four men have been remanded into pre-trial detention until May 22, stated Moscow City Court via Telegram.  

They are all charged with committing a terrorist act, according to the courts of general jurisdiction of the city of Moscow, which under the Russian Criminal Code is punishable up to life imprisonment.

Each of the four defendants was brought to court individually on Sunday.

Three pled guilty to all charges, according to state media news agency TASS. 

The names of the four accused in the case are Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, Moscow City Courts announced via Telegram.

All four are from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic, and have been in Russia on either temporary or expired visas.  

The court held closed hearings for each of the accused with no members of the public allowed, TASS reported, citing the court’s press service. 

2 defendants identified in Crocus City Hall attack

From CNN’s Masha Angelova, Michael Bodenhorst and Josh Pennington

The first defendant in the Crocus City concert hall attack case, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, has pleaded guilty on all counts, the press service of Moscow City Court told state media RIA Novosti.

He will be held in preventive custody at least through May 22. 

Mirzoyev is one of two defendants implicated in the attack who are facing possible life imprisonment, as reported by state media.

The suspects — Mirzoyev and Saidakrami Rachabalizoda — appeared in a Moscow court on Sunday on charges related to the attack.

Both individuals are accused of committing a terrorist act and could be sentenced to life imprisonment, according to state media outlet RIA Novosti. The prosecution has requested detention as a precautionary measure for both defendants.

Authorities have petitioned the court to conduct Mirzoyev's hearing behind closed doors to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings, state media news agency TASS reported. 

First suspect apprehended in the Crocus City Hall attack arrives in court

From CNN’s Masha Angelova

The first suspect apprehended after the attack on Crocus City Hall that killed at least 137 people has arrived in court at the Basmanny Court of Moscow. 

Crocus City Hall killings are deadliest since Beslan school siege — these are some other recent attacks in Russia

From CNN Staff

The attack on Moscow's popular Crocus City Hall that left at least 133 dead has become the deadliest attack in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.

Some other recent attacks include:

• September 26, 2022 : Eleven children and four adults were killed when a gunman wearing Nazi symbols opened fire at a school in the western Russian city of Izhevsk. The shooter, who was reportedly wearing a black T-shirt with Nazi insignia and a helmet, died by suicide following the attack.
• April 3, 2017 : At least 11 people were killed in a blast on the St. Petersburg metro. The explosion tore through a train as it was traveling between two stations in Russia’s second-largest city.
• October 31, 2015 : A Russian passenger jet, Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed  on October 31 after departing from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh,  killing all 224 people  on board. US intelligence analysis suggested that ISIS or its affiliates  planted a bomb on the plane .
• December 30, 2013 : A massive explosion at a train station in the Russian city of Volgograd killed at least 16 people, including one police officer, the Investigative Committee of Russia said.
• January 25, 2011 : A suicide bomber attacked Domodedovo Airport , Moscow's busiest airport, killing 35 people and wounding about 100, authorities and state television said.
• March 29, 2010 : Two explosions rocked the subway stations in central  Moscow during rush hour, killing at least 38 people and wounding more than 60 others, spawning widespread public outrage. A website associated with Chechen separatists, who have long fought for independence from Russia, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Rescuers, robotic systems and canine teams are currently on site of Crocus City concert hall

From CNN’s Darya Tarasova and Eve Brennan

More than 300 “specialists” and 154 pieces of equipment are currently on site at the Crocus City concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow region, where a deadly attack took place Friday , Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Telegram on Sunday.

The ministry said more than 400 cubic meters of structures had been dismantled by rescuers while specialized robotic systems, canine teams and psychologists from the ministry continue to work.

More than 1,600 calls have already been received on the department’s hotline, the ministry added.

The post was accompanied by a video showing dozens of emergency workers digging through the rubble of the partially burned-down concert hall.

Remember : At least 137 people died on Friday after attackers opened fire on civilians at the Crocus City concert hall, and set the building ablaze. The Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, has claimed the attack and  released graphic footage  purporting to show the incident. 

Putin lit a candle in memory of victims of the concert hall attack

From CNN's Eve Brennan and Anna Chernova

Russian President Vladimir Putin lit a candle Sunday in memory of victims of the deadly attack at the Crocus City concert hall in Moscow region on Friday.

Putin also expressed deep condolences following the Moscow shooting, calling it a "barbaric terrorist act" in a video statement released Saturday.

More background: The deadly attack comes barely a week after Putin secured his fifth presidential term. The large-scale attack is damaging for a leader who portrays himself as someone able to guarantee order.

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