3 Insulated Beverage Containers We Use Day In and Day Out
An insulated water bottle is kind of the best thing since sliced bread. Wow, that made us sound old. We’re not, yet.
Basically, stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation keeps liquids hot or cold for hours on end. That means iced drinks stay ice cold and hot drinks stay piping hot from start to finish.
The best part? There’s a container for every occasion!
Here are our 3 favorite insulated containers that we constantly use and highly recommend for any outdoor traveler.
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This one’s first, because water is absolutely essential. Having a reusable bottle is basically mandatory for staying hydrated when hiking and traveling in places where water is not readily accessible.
Avoid buying water, drinking unfamiliar or suspect water, and being plain out thirsty by carrying your own insulated water bottle.
Lucky enough we live in an age where insulated water bottles can be found everywhere (at least here in the states). Not only can we enjoy water on the go, anywhere we go, but we can now enjoy ice cold water for up to 24 hours and have it still cool after that.
Oh yeah, insulated bottles don’t sweat, keeping you and your belongings dry. And they reduce plastic/paper waste immensely!
When I picked up my first insulated water bottle I jumped right in with a Hydro Flask 40oz wide mouth.
I wanted a canteen that could hold enough water for the entire day. This size is also very shareable if you’re doing a half day.
Common Sizes from Hydro Flask and the General Insulated Water Bottle Market:
- 18oz Standard or Wide Mouth, Narrow Body
- 24oz Standard Mouth, Narrow Body
- 32oz Wide Mouth, Wide Body
- 40oz Wide Mouth, Wide Body
- 64oz Wide Mouth, Very Wide Body – Honorable Mention
(Too big to carry casually, but perfect to keep in the car for road trips)
If you have smaller hands and don’t want a heavier insulated water bottle (when full) then you’ll want a bottle with a narrow body, which generally comes with a narrower or “standard” mouth.
Think about where you’ll be taking this bottle and how much water you think you may need. We use our canteens daily while we’re at work, on the trail, in the car, and traveling.
It’s also one of many ways to save money. By taking it into food establishments we save money skipping on drinks and water while refraining from wasting plastic and paper. It’s a win-win!
We’re never without water and dare we say, never thirsty.
But What Size Should I Choose?
There are a lot of options in sizing for insulated canteens so how do you best choose which one is right for you? Here are some pros and cons to the generally available sizes in the market.
Wide Mouth
Pros – Very easy to dump ice in and fill with water. They’re also a lot easier to clean.
Cons – Taking a swig out of a wide mouth may result with water all over your face and chest. Wide mouth means a wide body and those with smaller hands may find it uncomfortable to hold.
Standard Mouth
Pros – They’re more comfortable to drink from. Take hearty swigs without spilling all over yourself. Narrow mouth means narrow body. Small hands can get a comfortable grip on these.
Cons – A narrow mouth makes cleaning a little bit more challenging. Most standard mouths come with a more slender body and this means less water carried versus wide mouth/bodied canteens.
For Shelby and I the 40oz is our most preferred insulated water bottle size. It holds a ton of water and carries surprisingly easy.
2. Insulated Travel Mug
Next on our list is an insulated travel mug. We use these for coffee, tea, and occasionally wine or spirits. There’s something comforting about the shape of a mug and how it holds in the hands while you enjoy your fresh coffee, tea, or whiskey neat.
I own a 10oz Yeti Lowball in Seafoam. The color seafoam is what sold me on this insulated travel mug among fitting the criteria of keeping beverages hot or cold until I’m done with my drink.
If you prefer a handle on your insulated travel mug you’re in luck. Both Yeti and Hydro Flask offer this variety.
3. Insulated Travel Cup
Last on the list is a must have for casual lounging and the enthusiastic beer drinker. When I say insulated travel cup, I really mean a stainless steel insulated pint.
We’ve all been there. You’re enjoying a nice cold beer and before you know it it’s become too warm to fully enjoy. While certain craft varieties lend to the flavor palette as they warm, many beers are far more excellent cold.
Enter an insulated travel cup that holds crisp temperatures till the last sip.
Wait? You mentioned casual lounging before beer. If you’re drinking a beer you’re probably already lounging, but a stainless steel insulated cup is just comfy to drink from when you’re hanging out around camp, at home, or even at work.
You don’t have to hold the weight of a whole water bottle or fiddle with any kind of lid or straws. Simply lift and sip.
Just like the rest, they hold temperatures for a long time and don’t sweat. And 16 ounces is a generous amount if you’re just casually relaxing. We use one everyday for iced water or tea in arms reach.
The Hyrdo Flask True 16oz Pint Glass comes in several colors.
If you want to save a bit you can always go REI Co-op Pint Cup
Hydro Flask is popular on our list for a few reasons. They’ve resurfaced an older technology and gave it a huge make over. They offer color, color, and more colors. And they advocate outdoor adventure (very much the same values of We Who Roam).
3 Insulated Travel Containers to Rule Them All
For hiking and travel, we always have at least two 40oz insulated water bottles on hand or in a backpack. When around the camp fire, frequenting Airbnb’s, or at the office, I have my insulated travel mug topped off with coffee or tea. To complete the trio, we enjoy the comfort and size of a pint when drinking iced water or tea, and of course, beer!
Own these 3 stainless steel insulated containers and you’ll realistically never need to buy drink ware again. Well, for yourself anyway.
Do you own any insulated containers? What are you drinking out of? Tell us in a comment below!
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