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Travel Mugs: Ratings of Sources

Total of 22 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Nov. 28, 2006
Commuter Coffee Mugs
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentCook's Illustrated editors test 11 travel mugs, evaluating them for heat retention, spill resistance, handles and "sippability." While the testing methodology is solid, each mug only receives a one-sentence overview. The article is a few years old, but the recommended mugs are still available.
2. Good Housekeeping
Not Dated
Best Travel Coffee (and Tea) Mugs
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe editors of Good Housekeeping test 28 different travel mugs, evaluating each one on temperature retention, stability, comfort, leak resistance and durability. Good Housekeeping doesn't typically rate the products it reviews, but rather lists them in order from best to worst. The top five mugs are from Thermos, Oxo, Contigo, Starbucks and Zojirushi.
3. Men's Journal
April 21, 2009
Tested: Travel Mugs
by Stan Horaczek
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentStan Horaczek writes a nicely balanced review of travel mugs, and he is quick to point out when a thermal mug does not meet his expectations. Six mugs are tested, and each one is rated on a 10-point scale. Mugs from Brugo, Contigo and Thermos earn the highest ratings.
4. Amazon.com
As of Jan. 2010
Travel Mug
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAmazon.com has a very good selection of travel mugs, with some individual mugs receiving hundreds of reviews. There is a surprising amount of variation in reviews -- several thermal mugs receive ratings of 4.5 stars or above, but even more mugs receive below-average marks of just 2 or 3 stars. Thermos Nissan travel mugs are the most popular here.
5. Automobile Magazine
Sept. 2009
Coffee Mug Comparo
by Editors of Automobile magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAutomobile magazine tests an unspecified number of leak- and spill-proof travel mugs, discussing various pros and cons for each one. This timely review includes a good amount of balanced details on each of the travel mugs. The Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug is declared the winner, while the Oxo Good Grips LiquiSeal Travel Mug is named a runner-up.
6. Wired
Oct. 23, 2007
Test: Freeway-Legal Scooters, Top HD Tuners, Tricked-Out Travel Mugs
by Melissa Wagenberg Lasher
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWired tests four "tricked-out" travel mugs, rating each one on a 10-point scale. Travel mugs from Oxo, Thermos and Contigo earn high scores, but the Bodum Travel Mug fails to impress here. Analysis is relatively detailed and very balanced.
7. Los Angeles Times
Nov. 6, 2007
Putting Travel Coffee Mugs to the Test
by Susan Spano
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentSusan Spano tests five mugs, and although they aren't rated, she clearly lists her likes and dislikes for each travel mug. Thermal mugs from Aladdin and Bodum receive more positive reviews than mugs from CoffeeCakes and Starbucks, which both have a number of shortcomings. This article is a little dated, and one of the recommended mugs has been discontinued.
8. Greenzer.com
Sept. 25, 2009
Top 5 Green Travel Mugs
by "Chloe"
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentGreenzer.com, a shopping blog about eco-friendly products, recommends five travel mugs, although its testing process is not detailed. Each mug receives a one-paragraph analysis, but the discussion is largely superficial and based on features.
9. CoffeeGeek.com
June 1, 2004
Thermos Nissan Review -- A Sampling of Thermos Nissan Mugs
by Mark Prince
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThough it is now several years old, this review at CoffeeGeek.com has lots of helpful details on the popular Thermos Nissan travel mugs. Mark Prince evaluates mugs, tumblers and bottles from the Thermos Nissan brand on a variety of criteria, including heat retention and drinkability. Some mugs receive a letter grade and some don't, but it's clear to see in his balanced reviews which travel mugs are the best. However, many of the mugs he reviews have since been discontinued.
10. University of Southern California
2008
California State Science Fair
by Claire M. Clifford
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentClaire Clifford, a student at the University of Southern California, tests five travel mugs for the California State Science Fair to determine which materials insulate best. Although the mugs she tests are not identified, she concludes that double-walled, stainless-steel mugs insulate best, while single-walled, plastic mugs do the worst at keeping drinks hot.
11. About.com
As of Jan. 2010
Articles about Travel Mugs
by Lindsey Goodwin, et al
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe coffee and tea guide at About.com reviews a handful of travel mugs, but only two receive in-depth, testing-based reviews. There's also an article on the top five thermal mugs, but the mugs recommended here only receive a brief overview. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
12. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
May 1, 2009
Testing 1, 2, 3: Contigo AutoSeal Travel Mug
by Jackie Loohauis-Bennett
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAlthough reporter Jackie Loohauis-Bennett doesn't evaluate many travel mugs, this review is based on testing and includes helpful details on usability. "It may well be the most leak-proof cup ever," Loohauis-Bennett says of the Contigo AutoSeal Stainless Steel Travel Mug.
13. GreenThinkers.com
As of Jan. 2010
BPA-Free Thermal Mugs
by Editors of GreenThinkers.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentGreenThinkers.com reviews three BPA-free thermal mugs, including mugs from Contigo and Aladdin. The analysis is based on testing, and while the mugs don't receive a rating, their pros and cons are detailed in each single-product review. However, the website is very difficult to navigate and lacks a search function to find reviews easily.
14. TeaFinelyBrewed.com
Sept. 16, 2009
Tea Travel Mugs: A Buyer's Overview of the Options
by Editors of TeaFinelyBrewed.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentTeaFinelyBrewed.com recommends two travel mugs as the best for tea drinkers: the Teas Etc. Tea Travel Mug and the Thermos Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler JML350. The reviews lack balance, and it's not clear if the author actually tested these mugs.
15. Real Simple
Not Dated
10 Spill-Proof Travel Mugs
by Kelley Carter and Mieke ten Have
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentKelley Carter and Mieke ten Have recommend 10 spill-proof travel mugs, but it doesn't appear that any of the mugs have been personally tested. Reviews of each mug are brief and focus largely on features, not usability.
16. NileGuide.com
Sept. 10, 2009
Coffee on the Go: The Best Travel Mugs
by Alexi Ueltzen
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentNileGuide.com, a travel website, recommends four travel mugs. Each mug gets a lengthy overview, but the analysis focuses mainly on features and there are no drawbacks noted. Mugs from DCI, Oxo and Thermos are recommended, while another featured product has since been discontinued.
17. Shape magazine
May 2009
Shape Tested: Go-Anywhere Travel Mugs
by Editors of Shape magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentShape magazine recommends three travel mugs, although there is little analysis to accompany editor's picks. It appears that the mugs have been tested, but the review focuses mainly on the mugs' features.
18. Stuff.tv
As of Jan. 2010
Camping
by Editors of Stuff.tv
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentStuff.tv doesn't review many travel mugs, but the site does host a reasonably detailed review of DCI's I Am Not a Paper Cup. It receives a Stuff.tv Hot Buy designation, along with a 5-star rating. The review is nicely balanced, complete with a listing of pros and cons.
19. Toronto Star
March 1, 2008
Test Drive: Travel Mugs
by Peggy MacKenzie
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentPeggy MacKenzie tests four travel mugs in this detailed and balanced report for the Toronto Star. Each mug is rated on a four-point scale, and pros and cons are clearly noted. The Second Cup Open Tumbler is her top pick, earning 3.5 out of 4, but it's only available in Canada. The other three mugs, including the Starbucks Tumbler, get lower ratings.
20. Budget Travel
Sept. 2009
Indestructible, Eh? We'll See About That
by Sean O'Neill
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentSean O'Neill tests the Contigo AutoSeal travel mug in this single-product review for Budget Travel magazine. He puts the mug upside down in his backpack, drops it down a flight of stairs and while riding his bike. Although the lid came off during one of his bicycle tests, O'Neill says the mug "doesn't lose a drop."
21. BlissTree.com
Oct. 10, 2005
Travel Mug -- The Best Out There!
by "Arieanna"
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentA blogger at BlissTree.com recommends the Nissan Leak-Proof Travel Mug, saying it's the best travel mug she's tried. She says it keeps drinks warm for around three to four hours, and the leak-proof design gets high marks.
22. Fresh Cup magazine
Aug. 2008
Drinking In Style
by Kennedy Smith
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentFresh Cup, a magazine for industry professionals in the coffee and tea industry, has an interesting article on travel mugs from an industry insider's perspective. While no mugs are reviewed, Kennedy Smith details what kind of travel mugs are selling best and what consumers are looking for in a thermal mug. There are also some interesting details on what some experts consider the best-tasting mugs for tea; that is, the mugs that don't impart any taste or flavor into the tea.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
 
 
 
  
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