How to choose a thermal mug for home, work or travel

What to choose: thermal mug or thermos

Some people confuse a thermal mug with a small thermos. But it's not the same thing. The thermos is aimed at long-term preservation of the temperature of the contents. And for a thermal mug, not only this parameter is important, but also ease of drinking.

To drink tea from a thermos, you will have to remove the stopper and pour the liquid into the mug. Agree, it is impossible to do this in a car or on the run.

Thermo mugs are designed for comfortable use of the product. There is no need to remove the lid, just open the liquid supply system and you can drink directly from the container. They are ergonomically shaped to make them easy to hold with one hand.

With the same capacity, thermoses are larger and heavier.

If you are wondering: a thermal mug or a thermos - which is better to buy, then it all depends on the intended operating conditions.

For hiking and long trips, the second option is better. It retains the temperature longer and probably won’t leak. There is also enough volume for several people.
If you need a device for coffee on the way to work or for a snack while studying, then the glass wins. It is lighter, more compact and more convenient.

By the way, a good thermal mug will be an excellent gift for a traveler.

HOW MUCH DOES IT KEEP?

Very often when they see my thermal mug

, then they turn to me with the same question - “
How long does it hold
?” It's like she doesn't have any other characteristics anymore. Unfortunately, when people are going to buy a thermal mug, they don’t bother to ask other than “how long does the thermal mug keep warm?” However, this is far from the most important characteristic. And now I will tell you why.

First, let's return to the main purpose of the mug, and therefore the thermal mug. The main thing it should have is convenience! It should be comfortable for you to hold it in your hand and comfortable to drink from it. Do not confuse a thermal mug with a thermos, the main purpose of which is to keep warm. The thermal mug should keep the temperature exactly as long as you drink from it. In this regard, if the thermal mug lasts for a couple of hours, then this is quite enough. I can't imagine drinking a drink for more than 2 hours. For example, you poured coffee and got into the Car and drove from one end of Moscow to the other, or came to the institute, poured a drink and sat in the classroom, or came to the lake, poured a drink and walked with it around the lake, 2 hours should be more , which is enough to drink 300-500 grams of the drink.

If you want to travel from Moscow to St. Petersburg and at the same time drink a hot drink along the way, then in this case, you do not need a thermal mug that holds for 12 hours, but a thermos that holds for 12 hours and can hold several volumes of the thermal mug. You feel tired, slow down, pour coffee into a thermal mug and eat calmly, comfortably drinking coffee. After some time, you feel like you are falling asleep again, you slow down again, and so on. The main mistake is that they usually look for a thermal mug that lasts for 12 hours, and do not think about what to drink during these 12 hours. After all, a volume of 300-500 grams is drunk in 10-30 minutes.

Secondly, in addition to convenience, a modern thermal mug should be a high-quality accessory that emphasizes the taste of its owner. Bright or rich languid tones - this is your individuality, your choice.

Thirdly, the thermal mug must be suitable for the environment where it will be used. If this is a car, then it should have a shape that fits into most car cup holders and have a splash-proof design; if you plan to use the thermal mug at the institute, at lectures, then it should have a rubberized bottom so that you can silently place it on the table and not distract everyone group, and also so that it stands tightly and does not fall at the first opportunity.

As you can see, the question is “ How long does a thermal mug last ?” not the most important and, perhaps, not even the most relevant. It has a right to exist, but pay your attention to a lot of other points, the importance of which is by no means less!

You can read about the most profitable place to buy a thermal mug in the article Where to buy a thermal mug?

Thank you for your attention! I hope that this review will help you make the right choice!

Design

The thermal mug itself is made in such a way that the liquid cools down little by little and can be drunk without getting burned. There are accessories that can maintain temperature for no more than half an hour. Others are designed for 5-6 hours. How much heat it retains depends on the design and materials.

The main heat loss occurs through the neck and lid. The lid is specially made hollow to make the container lighter. But the flatter it is and the wider the neck, the worse the insulating ability.

The best insulation is demonstrated by models with double walls. They have an outer shell and an inner bulb. The outer surface does not heat up, so you won’t get burned.

If there is no air between the walls, then the thermal insulation properties of the products are the highest. For objects without a vacuum, heat is transferred from the inner wall to the outer wall and cooling takes about 2 hours.

Outwardly, they are no different from each other, so carefully study the characteristics.

Some copies have handles. They can be made of plastic or in the form of a regular fabric or silicone strap.

The first ones are convenient for stationary objects. But you shouldn’t buy them for walking, as they are heavier and take up more space. Options with a strap are suitable for these purposes. They can be clipped to a backpack or carried in your hand, worn on your wrist.

The principle of operation of a thermal mug

The principle of heat/cold preservation directly depends on the body - models with double walls and an air cavity do this best. In some options, the space is filled with a vacuum - such models will cost a little more, but they are also more effective.

Any thermal mug consists of two containers:

the first is a beautiful outer casing;
inner glass.

It is the layer between these layers that prevents the liquid from cooling. But it also helps to avoid burning your hands. By the way, it is precisely because of the last point that the thermal mug does not need a handle, but you can find models with one.

@Kotelook.ru

Varieties

There are many types of devices that perform similar functions, but still differ from each other. Let's look at the most popular device categories.

Heating vessels are bought for cars, because they work from the cigarette lighter. With their help, you can heat a drink to 70 degrees, and some can even boil water.

Don't forget to measure the diameter of the cup holder in your car before purchasing.

Another separate group is children's samples. They are distinguished not only by their cheerful design, but also by their small format, rubberized bottom and the presence of a non-spill sippy cup.

There are special facilities for tea. In their design, they provide a special mesh into which the tea leaves are poured.

You may have heard of a mug called Tumblr. In essence, this is a “lightweight” version of a thermal mug. It has a smaller volume and, as a result, weight. But the heat in the tumblers lasts no more than 3 hours.

A pleasant bonus is the original design of such devices: they are often complemented with an unusual print. And some even provide the opportunity to insert your own picture or photograph and get a truly unique accessory.

Thermal mugs for the car - another variety

We should also talk about thermal mugs intended for car owners. Most cars have cup holders next to the gearshift lever, where you can put a thermal glass or a regular thermal mug during a long trip, but you can also get a special model for your car.

This thermal mug operates from a cigarette lighter, that is, in addition to standard design parts, it also contains a full-fledged heating element. In just 10-15 minutes, it is able to heat the contents to approximately 70 degrees, that is, to a temperature where coffee or tea is hot, but not scalding. At the same time, as long as the thermal mug is connected to the power supply, the temperature will be maintained at the same level, which will allow you to enjoy drinking a hot drink throughout the trip.

The main materials of the mug are, again, metal and plastic. Metal models are more reliable and wear-resistant, but relatively expensive. Plastic ones are available, but with constant use they quickly become scratched.

Materials

The body and flask are made of the following materials.

Ceramics are usually single-layer samples. They cannot hold liquid cold or hot for a long time, they are quite heavy and break. But I would like to note their beautiful appearance. Therefore, they can be recommended for use at home or in the office, i.e. where constant transportation is not required.
Plastic is a budget option with a huge range of colors. Plus it's lightweight. But it is also quite fragile, scratches and absorbs odors. This means that if you pour tea inside after coffee, you will probably detect a coffee aroma.
Glass - just like ceramics, these are often single-layer products. The inner flask is also made from glass. It holds the temperature the longest, but breaks if accidentally hit.
Stainless steel is the right choice. It is not afraid of mechanical damage and does not absorb odors. But the price for such copies is higher. They also cannot be used to place acidic products: compote, juice, etc. The metal oxidizes and the taste of the drink changes.

How it works

There are several main differences between thermal mugs for coffee and tea and regular mugs. From them you can understand the principle of operation.

Thermal mug always has a lid. They come in different types:

solid to prevent the drink from leaking,
with a hole through which you can drink without fear of spilling the drink on the go or in the car (they are also called thermal sippy cups),
rotary, when you can lock and open the hole manually,
with snap valve.

Having a lid is not the only way to keep your tea or coffee warm. The “layered” design helps to cope with this task. Any thermal mug consists of two containers - a beautiful outer body and an inner glass. There is an air gap between them. It does not transmit heat well, which, firstly, does not allow the drink in the inner vessel to cool quickly, and, secondly, does not allow you to burn your hands. By the way, it is precisely because of the last point that the thermal mug does not need a handle, but you can find models with one.

Lid

In reviews of thermal mugs you can often read that they leak. And this happens most often through the lid, in the area of the hole from which you are supposed to drink.

It is also important to consider the ease of opening and closing such a device. There are three mechanisms.

Screw - a regular twisting element. It closes the neck and prevents even a drop from leaking out. But such a system cannot be called comfortable to use. You won’t be able to open the device with one hand, and you won’t be able to do it with lightning speed either. There is a risk of getting burned by the hot steam that will come out of the container.
Latch - a latch that opens with a quick movement. It is not able to provide complete isolation. A situation is likely when it accidentally opens while moving, getting caught on some object.
The button is the most reliable option. To drink from such a container, you need to press a special button that opens the valve. Similar models are more expensive. Another drawback: it is quite difficult to thoroughly rinse such a part.

There are products that do not need to be sealed at all. These are specimens with soft silicone and plastic caps with a non-closing drinking hole. They are intended strictly for vertical use and cannot be carried in a bag.

What is a thermal mug?

Essentially, a lightweight, compact travel/car/business travel variation on the theme of a traditional thermos with an emphasis on personalization. Of course, you can allow some trusted person to take a sip from your dishes, but this is rather an exception to individual hygiene rules. Moreover, as life shows, viruses and bacteria do not sleep, especially preferring to attack tourists and travelers.

Structurally, thermal mugs use the classic design of a vessel with double walls. However, they have their own distinctive feature - sealed, but maximally optimized for convenient drinking, non-spill lids with an easy-to-open/close valve. True, for such convenience you have to pay for a somewhat limited, in comparison with classic thermoses, time for maintaining the temperature of drinks.

Volume

When choosing a thermal mug, focus on how you plan to use it:

200-300 ml – enough for one-time use, or to pour tea in the office or at home;
300-500 ml - you can treat your friends or have a couple of snacks on your own.

The larger the thermal glass, the longer the temperature of the contents remains. However, keep in mind that the larger the capacity, the larger and heavier the vessel will be. Think about whether it will always be convenient for you to take such a load with you.

Thermal mug or thermos, what's the difference?

We all know why a thermos or a thermal mug is needed - obviously, they maintain the temperature of the drink. But, firstly, not everyone thinks that thermal mugs and thermoses can retain not only heat, but also cold. And, secondly, not everyone understands what is the difference between a thermos and a thermal mug and what thermos-mugs are.

Let's figure it out.

Thermal mug

Thermal circle, unlike a thermos, is an individual item. As a rule, one person drinks from it. The volume of the thermal mug is small (usually no more than 0.5 liters). She does not have a glass or bowl to pour the drink. She herself is the very vessel from which they drink. They drink through a special hole, which is closed with a convenient latch or valve. Thanks to this, the mug is easy to use with one hand, which is especially convenient in the car, while walking, in the office, etc.

Most often, thermal mugs use a steel or plastic flask with double walls. This allows the thermal mug to maintain the temperature of the drink, usually up to 6 hours. However, in this parameter, any mug is still inferior to a thermos. And this is not bad, because a thermal mug has its own purpose and its own advantage - the ability to quickly and easily (literally on the go) open/close the drinking hole and drink without the risk of spilling, spilling the contents or getting burned. Faster cooling of the drink is a “payback” for convenience.

Another feature of thermal mugs is their tightness. Unlike a thermos, where the closing mechanism is simple, understandable and very reliable, thermal mugs use mechanisms designed for using the mug with one hand, for example, latches or latches. Such thermal mugs cannot always boast that they will not spill a drop if you throw them into a backpack or bag; there are still small risks that the latch will get caught on something and the contents will spill. But there are models that, like a thermos, won’t spill a drop.

Choose a thermal mug just for yourself. Depending on where it will be used most often, what style its owner likes, etc. After all, a thermal mug is not only a convenient, practical thing, but also a fashionable accessory that reflects the character of its owner. Therefore, among thermal mugs there is a very large selection in shape, color, style and valve opening/closing technology. Those for whom it is important to open/close a mug without looking will choose a valve that is less reliable in terms of tightness, but more convenient. Those who are used to carrying a mug in a bag or backpack are willing to spend a little more time opening the mug, because... complete tightness and safety of things is more important for them.

Thermos

If we talk about thermoses, everything here is pretty obvious. We are all familiar with what a thermos is since childhood.

Thermoses are less convenient for individual use. You need to open the lid and pour the drink. To put it mildly, doing this on the go is not very convenient. In the car too: the risk of spilling the poured drink and getting burned is quite high, especially considering the quality of the road surface. Well, it is generally dangerous for a driver to be distracted by a thermos while driving without outside help.

However, thermoses have many other advantages that are important in many situations: during hikes, long trips with family or a group of friends.

Thermoses retain temperature longer (up to 24 hours).
The volume of thermoses is usually larger than that of thermal mugs (the drink will be enough for more people or for a longer period).
The thermos lid, as a rule, eliminates the possibility of even minor leaks.
Thermos often have several cups, so you can pour a drink for everyone at once and enjoy hot tea or coffee together.

Thermos mug

This is, in fact, a kind of hybrid of a thermos and a thermal mug. This type of thermal product is suitable for those who want the basic benefits of both. Thermos mugs keep warm almost as long as thermoses. At the same time, they can be used with one hand and drunk without pouring into a separate container (however, opening them is still more difficult than a classic thermal mug, since you first need to remove the lid and then open the valve). This is a good option for those:

who needs a small volume of drink that maintains temperature for a long time;
who cares about the ability to use a thermos mug with one hand;
who plans to use the Temros mug mainly individually.

Brands

The safety of the accessory and guaranteed service life can only be ensured by well-known companies that value their reputation. Among them there are both foreign and domestic. I will name the TOP 10 most popular manufacturers.

Thermos is a brand that first introduced containers with isothermal properties in 1904.
Zojirushi is a Japanese company with good quality products.
TIGER is another company from Japan that produces the best products for active travel.
Arktika is a leading domestic manufacturer.
Stanley is an American brand that offers a 100-year warranty.
Emsa is a German manufacturer with global reach.
STARBUCKS – tumblers of various configurations.
Tefal - inexpensive and reliable vessels from the French brand.
LaPlaya - compact and stylish devices from Germany.
Bergner is an Austrian company that produces practical and attractive containers.

Online stores for purchasing

There are usually no problems with buying the product you like: the devices are sold in many stores. Some of the online platforms include:

MirCli – you will surely find a suitable copy among 260 options;
Aliexpress – a search for the query produces more than 215,000 results;
Best Kitchen - about 300 models in stock;
Eldorado – 71 products for different purposes;
Citylink – 27 offers of various devices;
Holodilnik – 34 products from well-known manufacturers;
All Tools - a huge selection of 328 offers.

Choosing the best thermal mug in other online stores

The best thermal mug can be purchased in other popular online stores. Among the online platforms we can recommend:

Aliexpress - over 146,983 results;
Citylink – 62 offers of different thermal mugs;
MirCli – 232 mug options;
All Tools – a huge selection of thermal mugs from 328 offers;
Eldorado – 88 products for your purposes;
Holodilnik – 26 options from famous brands;
Player.ru - many offers;
Mvideo - 113 products for you;