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These 7 best thermoses will keep your coffee, soup, and even burritos warm on the coldest days Cylinder Glass Candle Cup
An iconic, simple design that’ll keep a drink warm all day.
A simple, useful, and affordable thermos.
Multi functional with a wide range of sizes and colors.
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The best thermoses are durable, easy to clean and, of course, keeps your drink warm (when you want it warm) and cold (when you want it cold) for hours on end. The thermos market has gotten trendy these days (thanks, YETI), and there’s a whole field of new products out there that all seem very similar. That’s mainly because the concept of a thermos is pretty damn simple: It’s a container with a vacuum between an inner and outer wall. The vacuum insulates the contents of the thermos and prevents heat from escaping.
There’s not much for thermos makers to add from this basic concept, right? Not so fast. The cap’s design plays a role in how effective the thermos is. Some thermoses come with screw-on cups, handles, and others are compatible with aftermarket features. The best thermoses hit that sweet spot between intriguing features and simple functionality.
To make my picks for the best thermoses I tested them for heat retention and durability. You’ll find the details of testing procedures at the end of this article. I also evaluated them on value, features, ease of cleaning, and testimonials from long-time users.
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The first thing I did with this field of thermoses was a hot water test. I heated a vat of water to 150 degrees (think super-hot coffee), filled each thermos, and screwed down the caps as tightly as I could. After three hours, I poured a cup of water from each thermos and took the water’s temperature with a digital thermometer. I repeated this after 12 hours. With the two biggest thermoses, I repeated once more after 24 hours. It’s important to note that the larger the thermos is, the longer it will retain heat. So, this isn’t a perfect apples-to-apples comparison. That said, you can compare the sizes and heat scores and make your own decisions. From there, I used the thermoses just as you would: I filled them up with coffee and brought them with me on hunts and daily outings. Lastly, I dropped each thermos from shoulder height over a concrete slab and then evaluated the damage.
Overall, I evaluated each thermos on the following characteristics:
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The Stanley Legendary Classic is the best thermos overall because it has a simple, timeless design that will keep your drink warm for a whole day. It took second in the hot water test behind the Thermos Stainless King (after 12 hours the Stanley poured water that was 121 degrees, and after 24 hours it was still hitting 104 degrees). Even better, this thermos will last you for years.
One of the best features about this thermos is the screw-in nozzle, which seals tight and doesn’t leak. Plus, the classic cap doubles as a cup that many modern thermoses don’t provide. Both features are better designed than the similar Thermos Stainless King. The only downside of the Stanley Thermos is the green plastic handle, which will break if you smash it on a hard surface. But, you can easily buy replacement handles and cups. Sure, there are trendier thermos brands out there, but none make a better product than Stanley.
This basic thermos is about $10 cheaper than the others in the test and it performed the best in the hot water test. After 24 hours, water poured from the Thermos Stainless King was still a warm 106 degrees. The only thing that kept this thermos from winning Editor’s Choice was its plastic handle and plastic screw-in cap, neither of which were as nice as the Stanley model. If you’re looking for an affordable, everyday thermos that will keep your coffee warm for a full day, you won’t find a better buy than the Thermos Stainless King.
The YETI Rambler is part thermos, part water bottle, and the smaller versions even serve as an oversized coffee mug. A buddy of mine, Mike Hunsucker from Heartland Bowhunter, uses a YETI rambler to keep burritos warm during long sits in the deer stand. He simply wraps them in tinfoil and then stuffs them in the rambler until it’s lunchtime. I tested the 26 ounce version, which is the size that I think has the most utility because it’s easier to throw in a pack—but if you really wanted to maximize heat retaining ability, go with a larger model.
This is a stout thermos with a simple, durable design. Unlike many other thermoses in this test it has a metal handle (instead of plastic) which I very much appreciate. The Klean Kanteen TKWide has a matte finish that looks sleek and is plenty grippy. It’s my pick as the best thermos for the environment because it’s made from recycled steel, and because overall, the company is climate neutral, which means it measures all of its greenhouse gas emissions and offsets those emissions by investing in carbon reduction and removal projects. Klean Kanteen also donates 1 percent of its sales to global conservation efforts.
This Hydro Flask fancy water bottle uses the same basic design concept as a thermos: an inner wall, vacuum, and outer wall. The outside of the bottle is finished with Hydro Flask’s powder coat, which gives the bottle a nice, grippy feel and makes it dishwasher safe. The version I tested comes with a straw lid (which is great for sipping cold water) but there’s also a Wide Mouth Flex Sip Lid available for anti-straw folks. Hydro Flask also makes a boot that stretches around the bottom of the water bottle. Overall, this is the best thermos for cold drinks. Cram this baby with ice and you’re good to go. One other cool thing about Hydro Flask is that it’s a non-profit organization focused on building, maintaining, and providing better access to parks. Since 2017, the organization has donated $1.9 million.
This handy food jar is the best lunch thermos because it will keep your soup, chili, spaghetti, or any other lunch item warm for at least 12 hours. The lid has a hefty, removable seal that prevents the jar from leaking. Since it’s removable, it’s also really easy to clean. The 20 ounce version I tested is an ideal size for stowing in a backpack for day-to-day use or trips into the woods. I’ll be using mine for days spent in the duck blind. But if you’re especially hungry around lunchtime, go for the 24 ounce version of the Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar.
This is a solid thermos with some creative lid options. But first, the bad news: the standard screw-in lid has a plastic handle that could crack if you drop it on a hard surface during a cold winter day. The pour lid is cool, but it costs a cool 36 bucks. On the upside, the OtterBox Elevation Growler has an aesthetically pleasing design and a shape that makes it easy to hold on to. If you’re looking for a product that’s a little more unique than what the standard thermos companies are offering, well, look no further.
There are several factors to consider when deciding on the best thermos for your needs.
Think about how you’re going to use it and how you’ll carry it. If you want a thermos to ride in the cup holder of your truck or in the side pouch of a backpack, go with a smaller size. But if you measure your coffee intake by quarts, not cups, then go for one of the big boys.
If you know how long you’ll need an insulated thermos to keep your coffee warm for, then you can use our testing measurements (above) to figure out which thermos has the right capabilities to meet your needs.
Look at the quality and design of the cap. This is where most heat is lost.
All of the best thermoses are made from stainless steel.
We’ve got answers to your burning hot thermos questions.
There are a couple great brands to choose from. YETI has the overall strongest brand, and makes great products to back it up. If you’re looking for a classic, go with Stanley. If you want to save some cash, go with the Thermos brand. If you want to help save the planet, go with Klean Kanteen. One fact worth noting: all the thermoses in this test, and many (or maybe even all) of the thermoses not included in this test, are made in China.
Based on my hot water test, Stanley and Thermos keep water hot for the longest. But as I mentioned in the intro, the size of the thermos has a lot to do with that: the larger the thermos and the more liquid it holds, the longer that liquid will stay warm (it’s physics). That said, the YETI rambler also performed well, and the larger models will keep your drink and food warm for at least a day.
If you are twisting down the cap and finding that your thermos still leaks, it’s time to upgrade.
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There are plenty of great brands making high-quality thermoses. Don’t go with a cheap knock-off model. Any of the thermoses come in a variety of sizes and colors. Pick the best thermos that fits your style best, and never drink lukewarm coffee again.
Alex Robinson is Outdoor Life’s editor-in-chief. He oversees an ace team of writers, photographers, and editors who are scattered across the continent and cover everything from backcountry sheep hunting to trail running.
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