Some beverages have very flavorful taste whether they are hot or cold.
For example some people will only consume their coffees hot, while other prefer them cold.
But some drinks can be so different in taste at hot, cold or room temperature, that people just cannot imagine sipping them other than according to their preferences.
However, the thing about taste is subjective.
I know of patrons who prefer tea lukewarm instead of hot. While others demand their teas infused with boiling hot water.
If you have a particular beverage you love served cold, then bring it along with you while you go out could sound ideal to you.
Especially with camping and hiking trips. Who wouldn’t want an ice cold cola under the hot sun?
Or surely you’d like that fruit punch cold while chilling out on a beach chair?
The issue is that this is not a problem that solutions has never been attempted.
Many products claim to keep a beverage cold for a long time but don’t deliver on their promises.
But here are some cups that keep drinks cold for hours that you should take a look at… if that’s what you are after.
We put through the following vacuum mugs through a simple test.
We took every one of them at a 20oz capacity, filled them with approximately 10oz of cold cola (measured with a beaker) fresh from the refrigerator, and filled it to the brim with ice cubes fresh from the ice maker. Then we open them one a 3-hourly duration to observe the status.
The cafe operates for 12 hours on a normal. 13 hours if we add the additional 1 hour for closing.
What did we find out at the end of the day? Read on to see the results.
1) Yeti Rambler
Yeti is a brand name associated with outdoor products. So it’s not really a surprise to hear about Yeti when we talk about that topic.
However, popularity of their stainless steel vacuum insulated tumblers has generated so many fans that it is known as the Yeti Rambler mug.
To get a brand recognized is one thing, to get a product name recognized is an even bigger feat.
The Yeti Rambler is actually a tumbler that comes in 15 colors and designs.
It uses a BPA-free DuraCoat for color that is supposedly peel-proof, fade-proof, and crack-proof. This coat also enables a firmer grip to avoid spilling.
To take it up a notch, the product incorporates a No Sweat Design to ensure your hands don’t get wet from condensation on the surface.
- Size available in 14oz, 20oz and 30oz.
The 14oz variant that is shaped more like a typical coffee cup with handle.
The double-wall insulation is made with 18/8 stainless steel, rounding up a design that is dishwasher safe and sized to fit standard sized cup holders.
Finally, don’t forget the trademark Magslider lid that comes with all Ramblers that followers seem to love.
This is a sliding mechanism that opens and closes secured by a magnet so that you can stick your straw in.
If you are willing to spend money to enjoy the pleasure of having cold drinks in the outdoors, YETI will not let you down.
2) RTIC
I have to admit that I have never heard of the brand RTIC.
It was from talking to patrons at the cafe when asking about the best performing thermal insulated mugs in their opinion, that I first learnt about RTIC.
Little did I know that there has been an ongoing comparison war going on for ages between users of YETI and RTIC regarding which one is better at keeping drinks hot or cold.
Being the curious cat I am, I just had to get my hands on one of them.
It was by sheer chance that I found out the part-time barista is an owner of one. Making it possible to put it to the test too.
This product from RTIC is a double wall insulated tumbler with 17 color options.
- Size available in 20oz, 30oz and 40oz.
The ability for it to maximize temperature retention is so touted that RTIC claim that it can hold ice for up to 24 freaking hours!
Even some cooler boxes will not be able to do that!
The body construction is made of 18/8 stainless steel as well, with a tall and narrow shape designed for ergonomics.
Instead of the magnetic feature on the Rambler tumbler for opening and closing, this product used a Flip-Top closure for straws that also resists spills.
On top of that, the lid has a tinted splash proof lid that enables users to see how much beverage there is left in the cup.
At about half the price of the Rambler, this tumbler shouldn’t be considered cheap but as one that offers the best value for money.
There’s also a 12oz variant that is a regular coffee cup.
3) Green Steel Beast
How can you not give attention to a product that markets itself as a beast?!
Also model that was recommended by customers, this is a thermal cup that looks like a spare part that came off a rocket during launch into space.
Maybe that’s because the one we got is the variant with the stainless steel finish.
The build quality feels premium as it is made from high quality 304 10/8 food grade stainless steel.
In fact, if you told me that Thor crafted this at Nidavellir from a couple of spare minutes after yielding Stormbreaker, I would probably believe you.
Here’s what people who bought it had to say
The surface is smooth to the touch fused with a sweat-free design so that you don’t get that wet sticky feeling on your hands.
While the interior surface is electro-polished to ensure hygiene and minimize the possibility of bacteria making a home there. This also helps prevent rust.
- Size available in 20oz and 30oz.
It comes with 10 color options with some pretty funky designs.
The whole packages comes with a splash proof air-tight lid, a pipe brush, 2 reusable straws made of steel, nicely packed in a box. Making it a nice gift for a loved one.
4) Contigo Autoseal West Loop Travel Mug
Over-engineered is a term that sellers like to use with the design of their thermos vacuum insulated mug.
However in the case of this product, if anything, it’s over-named.
There might be a meaning behind that name, but I’m not able to grasp it.
Anyway the shorthand-challenged name of this item should not distract us from the magic in this bottle.
I call it a bottle because the appearance does not resemble a cup or mug. With a tall slender body, it’s more like a flask or water bottle.
With 16 design variations, it comes with a lid with Autoseal Technology that prevents leaks and spills.
Hot drinks presumably stay hot for up to 7 hours, while cold drinks stay cold for up to 18 hours made possible courtesy of their Thermalock vacuum insulation breakthrough.
- Size available in 16oz, 20oz and 24oz
What makes this really unique compared to others on this list is that the meticulously designed “mug” makes it possible for a user to use it with one hand.
See what users are saying about this product
Unlike other tumbler cups that require one hand to hold it and another to open it to consume the goodness contained inside, the Contigo Autoseal west loop travel mug has a button situated at the side so that users can press it while holding onto the mug to access the beverage from the top.
The lid is totally detachable. And the whole item is dishwasher safe.
5) Simple Modern Slim Cruiser
I hesitated to put this item on the list because I initially found that there was nothing unique about this product line.
But with a little more research, I found that it has a whopping 35 design options in 4 sizes. Making it simply the model with the most options for consumers.
You are surely going to find a design that compliments your personality if that’s a decision criteria.
- Size available in 20oz, 22oz. 30oz and 32oz.
Other than that it features the regular characteristics you would expect of any modern steel tumblers like double-wall vacuum insulation, premium grade stainless steel, 2 custom made straws, a flip lid, etc.
But the part that blasted away any reservations I might have on Simple Modern is that they donate 10% of their profits to charitable causes.
Now I don’t know if they are a profitable company. But making such a commitment should be applauded.
Test results
I guess some people might be reading this comparison review up to this point to know the results of the test we conducted as mentioned earlier.
As this is a simple test, for simplicity sake we will rate them with 1, 2, 3 and 4.
With 1 being the beverage and ice still cold and minimal melting, while 4 being close to total melted ice and not so cold anymore.
| YETI | RTIC | Beast | Contigo | S/M | |
| 3 hours | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 hours | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 hours | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 hours | 2-3 | 3 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 3 |
While I’m not totally happy with some of the claims some manufacturers are making with their product’s capabilities, I’m also realistic with fair expectation.
I’m still impressed that none of the above insulated cups reached level 4 after 12 hours and they are all proven to be cups that keep drinks cold for hours.
However, I regret not taking the temperature with a frothing thermometer at the end of the test. That was one mistake I should have avoided.
I also wanted to try the one from HydroFlask but found that it don’t come with a lid which needs to be purchased separately. So it was skipped.
The Ozark Trail was also considered but I was unable to get one. So was a 10oz cup by Zero Degree.
Too bad.
Which vacuum insulated cup to buy?
To tell you the truth these things are inexpensive.
And when you consider that having an ice cold beverage outdoors in the blazing sun when the nearest sign of civilization might be miles away is priceless, it is totally worth the money to buy a premium insulated tumbler.
But that’s just my opinion.
The best high-end thermos mug is YETI, the best budget and best value is RTIC, the best gift would be Beast, Contigo is the only one capable of single-hand operating, and Simple Modern rounds up the list with the most design options.
Finally, to avoid having your spouse of children stealing your drink, you might want to get one for them as well.