On guard of warmth and coolness: TOP-5 thermal mugs

A cup with double walls from the Tramp trademark is positioned as an indispensable hiking accessory. But using the model at home or at work is no less comfortable than in a tourist outing.

The "chip" of the Tramp TRC-045 thermocup is folding handles. When unfolded, they allow you to conveniently grasp the cup with one hand, and when folded, they fit snugly against the walls of the stainless steel case. The handles are welded to the "body" by means of spot welding, which does not look quite aesthetically pleasing, but in fact it turns out to be a very reliable method of fastening. Sometimes there are burrs on the handles of some copies of the mug.

A large portion of coffee or other beverage with a volume of up to 320 mL will fit inside the cup. To keep the liquid hot for a long time, the walls of the stainless steel flask and the lid made of heat-resistant plastic will help, on the surface of which the drinker is located and a hole is made for the steam outlet. The lid does not allow the drink to cool down and simultaneously prevents it from spilling.

The bottom of the model is wider than the dimensions of most cup holders. Therefore, there is simply nowhere to put it in the car. But on the desktop or bedside table, a thermocup will take its rightful place. The investment in its rather profitable acquisition will more than pay off with the opportunity to enjoy hot drinks half an hour or an hour after their preparation.

A roomy mug made of durable food-grade plastic from the renowned Stanley company has an American pedigree, and is produced at production facilities in China.

First of all, the model is aimed at travelers and avid tourists, for whom every extra gram of weight in equipment is extremely important. It weighs only 210 g. This indicator was achieved thanks to the use of exclusively plastic in the design. Therefore, it is not worth counting on the long—term preservation of the heat of drinks inside the flask — plastic is simply unable to do this. Tea, coffee or soft drinks are able to keep hot or cold temperature, respectively, only for up to half an hour.

The thermocup rests on a wide stable bottom, and a convenient carrying handle is built into one of its sides. From above, the model is covered with a plastic lid with a slot-drinking bowl. Along the perimeter, the lid is sealed with a silicone ring in order to prevent possible splashing and leakage of liquid.

The cup is part of the eCycle series, which is the manufacturer's response to global environmental problems. At the end of its service life, it is subject to disposal. So in addition to adherents of outdoor activities, Stanley Adventure eCycle Camp Mug will also appeal to conservationists. And where to use the mug — on a hike or in front of a computer monitor — let everyone decide for himself.

The American brand Contigo specializes exclusively in the production of non-spillable dishes: thermoses, flasks and baby bottles. Therefore, it is not necessary to worry about the possible depressurization of the popular Contigo West Loop thermal cup.

The inner and outer walls of the cup are made of stainless steel, and a vacuum is created between them, so that drinks remain hot for about 4 hours or cold for more than 12 hours. The outer side of the case is covered with a bright matte paint, which should be handled carefully, since it tends to collect small scratches. Among the many colours, everyone will be able to choose an option to their liking.

Drinks from the thermocup are not spilled under any pretext. In order to drink water, you need to press the large Autoseal button located on the opposite side of the neck. The liquid will flow out only as long as the button remains pressed, and automatic sealing is provided in the intervals between sips. In order to avoid arbitrary opening of the valve, you can use a special locking latch.

The mug fits into a standard cup holder for a baby stroller or car. Accordingly, parents will be able to fully experience all the charms of the model on a walk with young children and drivers. And, of course, the thermocup will definitely appeal to fans of drinking tea or coffee in front of the monitor — in case of accidental tipping over, the keyboard will not suffer from spilled liquid, which becomes especially relevant for laptops.

Useful advice. Before filling the thermocup with hot tea or coffee, rinse the flask with boiling water. So its inner walls will adapt to the high temperature and will be able to keep the heat better.

The thermocup from the company EMSA is delivered to the shelves directly from the factory from Germany. And the Germans, as you know, always vouch for the quality of their products.

A comfortable grip of the cup in the hand is provided thanks to the rubberized coating on top of the stainless steel case. Relief inscriptions on tea and coffee themes are applied to the coating, which looks very attractive. The upper part of the case is occupied by a screw-in lid, which helps to create a complete tightness of the structure.

The key advantage of the lid is a comprehensive drinking cup — you can drink from a thermocup from any side, by analogy with a regular cup. Before that, it is enough just to open the shut-off valve by pressing the key in the very centre of the lid. By the way, the upper part of the model is collapsible for the convenience of washing, which can be done both manually and in the dishwasher.

The thermocup keeps the temperature of hot drinks for 4 hours, and soft drinks for about 8 hours. That is, it will serve its owner at any time of the year: in winter, you can pour tea or coffee into the cup, and in summer use it as a miniature refrigerator with supplies of refreshing drinking water.

The dimensions of the thermocup do not quite correspond to its volume (360 mL), but rather are comparable to more capacious models. Apparently, this was done in order to match the size of the cup holders. In the car interior or on a folding table on the train, the EMSA Travel Mug clearly fits into the corresponding hole for mugs. It's not for nothing that the prefix Travel appears in the name of the model — when traveling and traveling, the use of a thermal cup brings great pleasure.

The name of the American company Thermos has become a household name for all types of food containers, which for a long time are able to keep the drinks placed in them warm or cold.

Against the background of competitors in the class, a thermocup with the index of the SK1005 model stands out because it can hold liquid in a hot state for more than 5 hours, and in a cold state for about 10 hours. In fact, the tea brewed in the morning will remain warm even closer to the end of the working day lasting 8 hours.

Regarding tea brewing, it is worth mentioning the presence of one important detail in the arsenal of the model — a special hook for fixing tea bags is installed on the inside of its lid. The top cover is equipped with a shut-off valve mechanism in the form of a rotary ring. The positions "Open" and "Closed" are indicated in small indicator windows in the centre. The lid, among other things, is collapsible, which greatly simplifies its washing.

One of the controversial solutions in the design of the mug is the metal bottom, which can slide over some types of surfaces or scratch them. But directly to the body of the thermal cup, damage is not particularly terrible, since a special protective coating is applied to it. The manufacturer is so confident in the quality of its product that it provides a 5-year warranty for the preservation of the claimed temperature regime by the product. Based on a number of positive qualities, Thermos SK1005 will serve as an excellent purchase for those who are eager to get a practical solution with a stylish design and complete tightness of the case.