How to choose the best travel mug for you
Here are some factors you should consider when selecting the right travel mug for you:
Material - While plastic and ceramic travel mugs can be lightweight and budget-friendly, stainless steel tends to provide better thermal performance and will therefore keep the contents warmer (or cooler) for longer.
Capacity - Do you want a small and portable cup that can carry one cup of your favourite hot drink, or are you seeking a more substantial-sized cup that can see you through the whole day? Capacity tends to start at around 350ml (large enough for a small drink) or you can opt for larger flasks containing 600ml and above.
Ease of cleaning - Not all travel mugs are dishwasher safe, even the stainless steel ones, as some have delicate locking mechanisms and insulation that can be damaged if substantially soaked. While dishwasher safe is a bonus, you should look for travel mugs that have wide smooth interiors for easy hand washing, or caps that open up for easy cleaning.
How long does it keep drinks hot? - Heat retention can vary from one brand to the next, so consider your needs and what level of heat retention is best for your lifestyle. Some travel mugs will reduce the temperature of the contents over time, keeping your hot drink warm but ensuring it is ready to enjoy by the time you get to work. Others, with more impressive double-walled insulation, can keep your drinks hot for up to 6 hours. While you may pay more for the benefit, some travel mugs offer significant heat retention of up to 24 hours.
Type of lid - Is the lid leakproof? Can it be thrown into a bag or rucksack during your commute? How easy is the lid to drink from on the go? Is there a lockable sipper or can the lid be removed entirely? The latter is less suited to drinking while commuting but makes a great addition for your desk at work.
Overall design - what does the travel mug look like? What colours is it available in and does it have a handle?
What’s the best material for a travel mug?
While plastic travel mugs can be lightweight and practical for occasional use, stainless steel is the most thermally insulated material for you travel mug. Not only will it keep your drinks warmer for longer, but stainless steel is also far more durable, meaning its less likely to get damaged, punctured or leak during transit. The downside? Its a little heavier as a result.
Are travel mugs dishwasher safe?
This will depend on the brand. Some caps are dishwasher safe, while the main flasks are recommended to be washed by hand. Plastic has the potential to warp in high temperatures, so you may prefer to ere on the side of caution in order to prolong its life.
How long do travel mugs keep drinks hot?
Depending on the material and insulation type, you can expect a decent travel mug to keep your drinks hot for a minimum of 3-4 hours. Plastic travel mugs tend to lose heat more quickly, while double walled, insulated and vacuum-sealed stainless steel designs can keep drinks hot for far longer - between 12 and 24 hours.
What’s the best travel mug to buy?
Based on its overall performance and value for money, the leakproof Contigo West Loop Autoseal is the best travel mug you can buy today. With rave recommendations from Mumsnet users and thousands of five star reviews on Amazon, this easy-to-use, leakproof travel mug has a generous capacity and excellent heat retention at a relatively affordable price.
How we chose the best travel mugs
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users to get their feedback on the travel mugs that they rate, recommend and have used themselves during commutes or travel.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsnetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, difficult to clean or failed to keep their drinks hot over longer periods.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the travel mugs we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those endorsed by food experts and consumer champions.
Authentic consumer reviews
After that, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Lakeland, and Argos to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
About the author
A big fan of her own Contigo Air Seal, Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and home product reviews and round-ups.
Having written reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising expert opinions and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.