I love a well-made insulated mug that keeps my coffee hot all day, even on bitter-cold ski days. But I was curious: how would one of the top-end mugs I鈥檝e reviewed in the past stack up against the dozens of others you can find in gas stations and big-box retailers? To find out, I pitted the winner from last year鈥檚 insulated coffee mug throwdown鈥攖he 2-ounce Stanley Classic One-Hand Vacuum Mug鈥攁gainst three insulated mugs I purchased from Walmart for $10 or less. Here鈥檚 how they fared, from worst to best.
The Test
To measure heat retention, I boiled water to 212 degrees Fahrenheit on my stove and filled each mug to the top. I then quickly tightened the tops and let the mugs sit in my 72-degree kitchen for eight hours. When the time was up, I rechecked the water temperatures. Later, I ran the same test, but let the mugs sit for just two hours.
To measure how well they prevented leaks, I closed the lid on each mug and knocked it into my sink five times, watching for spillage. Finally, I drank coffee from each mug and fiddled with them at my desk, taking notes on usability the whole time.
#4. Bubba Classic Insulated Tumbler ($8)
Capacity: 18 ounces
Usability: I liked the handle for everyday use in my office, but the mug won鈥檛 fit in most vehicles鈥 cup holders.
Spillage: Five to ten drops of water leaked out after every fall.
Keeps Liquids Hot for (Claimed): Did not specify.
Temperature Loss After 2 Hours: 77 degrees
Temperature Loss After 8 Hours: 119 degrees
Bottom Line: came in last because it had poor heat retention and leaked quite a bit. The water was a tepid 79 degrees after eight hours, which makes coffee undrinkable, in my humble opinion. It had the second-worst leakage of the mugs I tested, spilling enough water to ruin a phone in your bag.
#3. Dash Thermal Tumbler ($5)
Capacity: 16 ounces
Usability: I liked the hand feel of the soft plastic outer and the ergonomic indented finger grip about two-thirds of the way up. But it also felt cheap, like it would shatter if it fell off the top of my car.
Spillage: Three to five drops came out after each fall into the sink.
Keeps Liquids Hot for (Claimed): Did not specify.
Temperature Loss After 2 Hours: 82 degrees
Temperature Loss After 8 Hours: 122 degrees
Bottom Line: The least expensive mug on this list was, not surprisingly, the worst in terms of heat retention. After eight hours, the water was down to 76 degrees. It was, however, second best in terms of mitigating spillage. My takeaway: buy this mug only if you drink your coffee fast鈥攕ay, in the car on the way to work鈥攁nd are looking for something to replace wasteful single-use cups.
#2. Mossy Oak Double-Wall Stainless-Steel Mug ($10)
Capacity: 20 ounces
Usability: The stainless-steel outer had a nice hand feel and would probably put up with some abuse. The design is svelte enough to fit in most cup holders. The lid, however, was hard to operate with one hand.
Spillage: Approximately an eighth of the water spilled out each time I dropped the mug in the sink.
Keeps Liquids Hot for (Claimed): 4 hours
Temperature Loss After 2 Hours: 32 degrees
Temperature Loss After 8 Hours: 78 degrees
Bottom Line: I was impressed by the heat retention. After two hours, the water was at 166 degrees, which is still acceptable for coffee. However, the lid leaked like a sieve.
#1. Stanley Classic One-Hand Vacuum Mug ($30)
Capacity: 20 ounces
Usability: I鈥檓 still a big fan of the trigger-like lid opening. Instead of having to pop open a tabbed closure, you just press a button, the closure slides back, and coffee flows out.
Spillage: Zero. After dropping it in my sink five times, I shook the mug for 15 seconds while holding it upside down and still couldn鈥檛 get a drop to come out.
Keeps Liquids Hot for (Claimed): 8 hours
Temperature Loss After 2 Hours: 20 degrees
Temperature Loss After 8 Hours: 58 degrees
Bottom Line: costs three times more than the others I tested, but I think it鈥檚 well worth it if you like to sip your coffee over an extended period of time. The heat retention was significantly better than any other mug I tested, and I appreciate the lack of spillage. I鈥檇 gladly stick this mug in my backpack and not worry about it ruining my MacBook Pro. It鈥檚 also durable and should last for several seasons. I didn鈥檛 get that confidence from the other three models I tested.