Travel Mugs: Reviews

Updated January 2010

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Best travel mug overall

Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug

Professional and user reviewers alike praise the Contigo AutoSeal Travel Stainless Steel Mug for its excellent insulation and leak-proof design. The double-walled steel body is vacuum-insulated, so it keeps drinks hot for… expandover four hours or chilled up to 12 hours. The lid, which is made from BPA-free plastic, has an auto-sealing mechanism. Press the button to take a sip, and when you release the button, the lid automatically reseals. Reviewers do everything from carrying the mug upside down in a bag to dropping it down a flight of stairs, and the Contigo AutoSeal Travel Stainless Steel Mug just does not leak in most scenarios. Unfortunately, this leak-proof lid is very hard to clean; users say liquid can get trapped within the lid. The Contigo mug holds 16 ounces and is sized to fit in most car cup holders. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Men's Journal: Among six travel mugs tested by Men's Journal, the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug receives the highest rating of 9 out of 10.

Good Housekeeping: The Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug is one of the top-rated travel mugs among 28 mugs tested by Good Housekeeping.

Amazon.com: In over 100 reviews at Amazon.com, the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug gets above-average ratings of 4.5 stars out of 5.

Automobile Magazine: The editors of Automobile magazine pick the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug as the best travel mug in this comparison test.

Budget Travel: Sean O'Neill carries the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug upside down in his backpack for a week, throws it down a flight of stairs and drops it off his bicycle multiple times.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Jackie Loohauis-Bennett tests the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug, saying it resists leaks and meets the manufacturer's claims for keeping drinks hot or cold.

GreenThinkers.com: GreenThinkers.org, a blog about eco-friendly products, recommends the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug.

Shape magazine: Shape magazine recommends the Contigo AutoSeal mug for those "crazy, on-the-go days." Editors like that the travel mug can be throw in a bag or backpack without risk of leaks or spills.

GoGreenTravelGreen.com: The GoGreenTravelGreen blog highly recommends the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug, saying it is leak-proof.

Consumerist.com: Contigo and the AutoSeal mug are featured in Consumerist.com's Above and Beyond section, which highlights excellent customer service.

Business Week: Business Week names the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug one of the coolest products of the 21st century, saying its award-winning design is great for commuters on the go.

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Budget plastic travel mug

Aladdin Recycled and Recyclable Travel Mug

*Est. $9 Compare Prices

Reviewers love that the 16-ounce Aladdin Recycled and Recyclable Travel Mug is dishwasher- and microwave-safe (unlike stainless-steel mugs), and it earns accolades for its eco-friendly credentials. This travel mug is made… expandfrom recycled water bottles, and the entire thing can be recycled at any center that accepts No. 5 plastics. The interior of the Aladdin travel mug is made from BPA-free recycled polypropylene, and it comes with or without a handle, so it accommodates car commuters and those who take public transportation. However, like most plastic mugs, the Aladdin travel mug won't keep your coffee or tea hot for more than an hour. The lid has a sliding cover, but the mug is not completely spill- or leak-proof, so you can't toss it in a bag. Even so, reviewers say it's comfortable to drink from and fits in car cup holders. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: Editors at Good Housekeeping like that the Aladdin travel mug is recycled and dishwasher- and microwave-safe, but the mug falls behind many others because it doesn't keep drinks hot for very long.

GreenThinkers.org: "Nathan" of GreenThinkers.org acknowledges that the Aladdin Travel Mug is not totally spill-proof, but he loves that it's BPA-free and fits easily in a car cup holder.

Amazon.com: The green version of the Aladdin Recycled and Recyclable Travel Mug earns an average of 4.5 stars in over 20 reviews.

Amazon.com: The blue version of this mug gets 4 stars out of 5 in just approximately 20 reviews.

Real Simple: The Aladdin Recycled and Recyclable Mug is chosen as one of Real Simple's 10 favorite travel mugs.

Shape magazine: Shape magazine recommends the Aladdin Recycled and Recyclable Travel Mug for environmentalists, saying, "you won't find a more eco-friendly choice."

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Travel mug for tea drinkers

Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350

*Est. $25 Compare Prices

Tea drinkers love the Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350 because it keeps drinks hot for up to six hours and includes an internal infuser for brewing loose-leaf tea. The stainless-steel travel mug holds 12… expandounces, but does not come with a handle. In addition to the excellent insulation, users are impressed with the spill-proof design, which includes a screw-on top that completely covers the main drinking lid. The Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350 can be stored in a briefcase or bag, and even coffee drinkers are impressed with its convenience. However, some complain that you need two hands to unscrew the main lid, although you can leave that lid off for commutes in the car. A few users also note that the mesh on the infuser is a bit too wide, which allows leaves to escape into their tea. Overall, reviewers say the Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350 is a great choice for tea drinkers or others who want a highly portable travel mug with excellent insulation. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: The Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350 is the top pick in a test of 28 travel mugs conducted by Good Housekeeping, keeping drinks hot or cold for hours.

Amazon.com: The Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350 gets very high ratings in over 130 individual reviews at Amazon.com.

TeaViews.com: This anonymous reviewer gives the Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350 an overall rating of 9 out of 10.

Teavana.com: The Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350 earns a perfect score of 5 out of 5 in approximately 20 reviews at Teavana.com, an online tea retailer.

TeaFinelyBrewed.com: The editors of the Tea Finely Brewed blog chose the Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350 as one of their top picks for tea drinkers.

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