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Whether you want to keep your coffee hot or your beer cold, these are our picks for the best thermos you can buy.
WithRachel Rossman
Published on July 11, 2021
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Whether you're planning a picnic on a hot July day or sitting around the fire on a cold fall night, keeping your drinks and food at the right temperature can be difficult. There are many thermoses on the market to keep your coffee hot or your beer cold, but some are better than others. Here's our list of the best thermoses for every occasion.
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What you should pay attention to when buying a thermos
If you're looking for a thermos, you probably need your food or drink to be either cold or hot for a long time. This means that your container must have some kind of temperature retention—usually, if a bottle is designed for either, the product will be marked with hot and cold hourly limits. All of the thermoses we tested come with serious insulation, which helps maintain temperature so you can enjoy the contents of the thermos for hours.
Better thermoses
Here is our list of the best thermoses to make it easier for you to choose one.
- Best overall thermos:Stanley Master Unbreakable
- Best Large Capacity Thermos:Yeti Rambler Half-Gallon Jug
- Best thermos for eating:Stanley Legendary Food Jar with Spork
- Best insulated glasses:CamelBak Horizon Tumblers
Read on for details on what makes these thermoses the best, as well as which thermoses deserve an honorable mention.
Best overall thermos
Stanley Master Unbreakable
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A Stanley thermos is something you've probably seen before—Stanley has been making quality portable bottles for over 100 years. The Master Unbreakable Thermal Bottle is a classic Stanley vacuum bottle and does exactly what it's designed to do: keep your beverage at the same temperature all day long as it was when you poured it, regardless of the weather outside. It has a stainless steel interior and has two lids: the inner lid seals the contents inside, but can be turned into a spout so you can pour a drink without too much liquid leaking out. Beyond the vacuum insulation technology, the other lid adds an extra layer of insulation to keep your drink hot or cold and also doubles as an insulated cup. This bottle is made of durable stainless steel and is designed to take a beating without breaking, making it a great outdoor adventure companion.
Buy it:Amazon, 49 $
You may also consider:
Havana Beckridge
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Whether you use the Avana Beckridge for hot coffee at work or want to fill it with ice water for your yoga class, this stylish bottle keeps hot liquids hot and cold liquids cold for long periods. It comes with a removable straw built into the curved lip of the thermos instead of the lid for easy sipping. The cap is a feature - it has a folding handle for convenient carrying, but also won't get in the way if you need to put it in a bag. The only thing the product description doesn't mention is the silicone ring on the bottom of the bottle that doubles as a coaster—it prevents slipping and reduces the risk of damage to any surfaces you might place your bottle on. (As a bonus, profits from every bottle of Avana sold help support clean water projects in developing countries.)
Buy it:Target, 40 $
Takeya Traveler
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Takeya Traveler is ideal for adults and children. It holds just the right amount of cold or hot liquid and isn't too heavy to carry on a walk or take to school. The lid comes with a pop-out ring for easy portability and this thermos fits nicely in a car cup holder. It also does a great job of keeping a hot drink hot or a cold drink cold — you can even put cold milk in it in the morning and still have cold milk at noon.
Buy it:Takeya, $30
Best large capacity thermos
Yeti Rambler Half-Gallon Jug
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There are too many good things about the Yeti Rambler Half-Gallon Jug to count. First, the cold retention is remarkable: if you fill it with ice water at the beginning of the day and leave it in a warm car, at the end of the day you will still have solid ice cubes, thanks to the double wall vacuum insulation. The lid is key to keeping your drink cold or hot—it has a large insulated screw top with a seal and a vacuum handle, so it turns into a pitcher from which you can pour hot cider or soup. The cap also comes with a smaller screw cap so you can pour smaller amounts of water or other drinks. If you're worried about losing such a small cap, don't be—it's magnetized, so you can pop it over the larger cap while dropping it to avoid misplacing it.
Buy it:Yeti, 100 $
You may also consider:
CamelBak carrying case
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The CamelBak Carry Cap 64oz Insulated Bottle is designed to carry water or other beverages for one person or for shared use. If you need to carry the bottle, the cap is comfortable in the hand. While you can drink directly from this bottle, it is best to pour it into a second container to drink from. It can keep liquids hot for 30 hours and if you pour cold liquid, it will stay frozen for 45 hours.
Buy it:CamelBak, 50 $
Klean Kanteen Insulated TKWide 64-oz. με Loop Cap
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This is a great bottle to toss in the back of the car to take from one destination to another, instead of taking a hike or camping trip. It will keep your beverage the temperature it needs to be, whether you're serving hot cider in the autumn heat or drinking iced water for a hot day at the beach.
Buy it:Klean Kanteen, 60 $
The best thermos for food
Stanley Legendary Food Jar with Spork
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The packaged, airtight food jar is another gem from Stanley. No matter what temperature you want your food to be, its food warmers will keep your hot food hot or your cold food warm for up to seven hours. Whether you're whipping up a hot pot to take skiing with you or grabbing ice cream at a 4th of July picnic, your food will be the same when you unpack it as it was when you packed it. Bonus: If you have trouble keeping track of the utensils, the seeder is conveniently located on the side of the container.
Buy it:Williams Sonoma, 25 $
You may also consider:
Bottle insulated food jars
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Most thermos bottles struggle to keep solid foods at the right temperature, so Hydro Flask designed an insulated food jar that could. If you don't have access to a microwave at work or school, these containers allow you to prepare a hot meal in the morning that will still be hot at noon. Heat doesn't leak out, which means liquid doesn't leak out either, and the wide mouth makes it easy to eat from. (If you're looking for other items, read morebecause we love Hydro Flask insulated bowls.)
Buy it:Carafe, 40 $
Better insulated glasses
CamelBak Horizon Tumbler
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Once you've had a hot cup of coffee in a CamelBak insulated mug, you may find it hard to go back to regular mugs. Even without a lid (although you might need one if you're taking your drink to go), your coffee will stay hot, sip after sip. It also works well for cold drinks - the beer stays cold and you don't have to worry about watered-down soda when you pour it over ice in these glasses. CamelBak cups also have a silicone bottom that doubles as a coaster. Bonus tip: If you serve ice cream in these cups, you can take your time—the glass keeps the ice cream cold enough so it doesn't melt as you eat it.
Buy it:CamelBak, 20 $
You may also consider:
Klean Kanteen Insulated Tumbler
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Klean Kanteen's insulated glasses make it easy to carry your favorite drink anywhere. Homemade frozen drinks can go with you to the pool, in the car and more. Plus, you can take your time drinking it through the silicone straw and leak-proof lid. These glasses will keep hot drinks hot for four hours and cold drinks cold for 20 hours.
Buy it:Klean Kanteen, 25 $
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FAQs
What thermos flask stays hot for 12 hours? ›
Thermos Mondial Flask - 1.8L
Stays hot for 12 hours and cold for 24.
- The Better Home 500 Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle.
- Credex Temperature Smart Vacuum Insulated Thermos Water Bottle.
- Fruitalite Thermos Water Bottle- 1000ml with Straw Lid.
- The Better Home 1000 Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle.
- Boldfit Stainless Steel Water Bottle.
- Cilox Stainless Steel Thermos Flask.
Thermos Stainless King Food Flask
This container from Thermos, probably the most famous flask brand of them all, has a chunky design and grippy casing, designed to use when you're on the move or wearing winter gloves, while the selection of rich colourways like Forest Green and Midnight Blue add to the appeal.
| 1 | Stanley Adventure Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle BPA Thermos-Keeps Cold or Hot for 24 By STANLEY 9.7 View Product |
|---|---|
| 2 | Stanley NeverLeak Travel Mug .47L / 16OZ Hammertone Green – Leakproof - Tumbler By STANLEY 9.5 View Product |
Thermos flasks are food flasks which have been designed to make substances put in them remain very hot or very cold over an extended period of time.
What flask keeps water boiling for 12 hours? ›Hydro Flask Standard Mouth 21oz (621ml): Best sports flask
It does keep hot drinks hot for 12 hours, but it's on summer adventures that this flask really comes into its own, keeping iced drinks cold for more than 24 hours.
| Cold Retention | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zojirushi SJ-TG | 42.2°F | 46.8°F |
| S'well | 42.3°F | 50.2°F |
| Otterbox | 45°F | 55.4°F |
| Hydroflask | 45.4°F | 60.1°F |
Reusable or not, a plastic bottle will take hundreds of years to breakdown. And, when the bottle does start to degrade, it will leak toxic chemicals into the water. Comparatively, stainless steel is 100% recyclable. It's also more durable and won't need to be replaced as often as plastic.
Which thermos flask is best for hot and cold? ›- Milton Duo DLX 500 Thermosteel 24 Hours Hot and Cold Water Bottle. ...
- Amazon Brand- Solimo Stainless Steel Insulated 24 Hours Hot or Cold Bottle Flask. ...
- Milton Thermosteel Flip-Lid Flask. ...
- Milton Elfin 750 Thermosteel 24 Hours Hot and Cold Water Bottle.
- A hinged cap. This makes it substantially harder to lose your cap if you were to, say, have a few too many.
- An included funnel. ...
- A curved shape, otherwise called a hip flask. ...
- A reinforced bottom.
How is Stanley different than Yeti? ›
The Stanley comes in two sizes, 30 and 40 ounces, giving its larger option a leg up in capacity compared to the Yeti, which maxes out at 35 ounces. While the 40-ounce option is particularly large and can get heavy, it still has a cup holder-friendly base for travel convenience.
Is Stanley as good as thermos? ›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.
What is the most expensive thermos bottle? ›And to gain attraction, JuNiki's developed a very special flask: The world's most expensive reusable drinking bottle: A 64OZ flask coming in noble wood or stone optics with $149.95.
How can I keep my flask hot for longer? ›Pour boiling water straight in to your Flask and leave it to stand for 10 minutes, then empty out just before your pour in your hot drink. Adding milk straight from the fridge can reduce the temperature by up to 10 degrees, maybe consider taking milk in another smaller Thermos Flask, or use warm milk for coffee.
Do thermos really keep food hot? ›How long do thermoses keep contents hot or cold? High-quality thermal flasks can keep food and beverages warm for as long as a full 24 hours.
How long can you leave water in a thermos? ›The thermos usually keeps a liquid warm for at least 6 hours. This is its performance period, during which you are sure to find your food still warm. After this time, the mug slowly cools down and is at a lukewarm temperature after 12 hours.
How many years do thermos flasks last? ›Stainless steel water bottles can last an average of 10 to 12 years before they need to be replaced. This is because stainless steel water bottles are generally durable, non-corrosive, and stain-resistant.
How long can a thermos keep water boiling? ›Another option is to put boiled water into a thermos. If you fill a 1 litre vacuum flask the water will keep hot until you are ready to make up the bottle of milk (7 hours). Smaller amounts of water will cool more quickly. Water in a full 500ml flask will stay hot for 2-3 hours.
Which is better Stanley or Hydro Flask? ›Although Stanleys are good for the school because of the handiness of the straw, they are not ideal for sports or outdoor activities. They're not very portable and can spill quite easily. Hydro Flasks are perfect for sports and outdoor activities because of their size and secure lid.
Which stainless steel water bottle keeps water coldest? ›If you prefer your water ice-cold, don't go anywhere without the Takeya Actives Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle. It performed the best out of all of the bottles during the temperature testing: The water was actually 5 degrees colder after six hours in the bottle, thanks to melted ice and vacuum insulation.
Are Yeti bottles worth it? ›
YETI Rambler Bottle is the most heavy-duty bottle money can buy and continues to outlast every water bottle after 3 years of testing. In year 3 of our testing, I switched my favorite water bottle brand from Hydro Flask to YETI due to its unrivaled durability.
What is the safest material for thermos? ›The safest type of reusable water bottle to drink from is a high-quality stainless steel water bottle. In comparison, reusable stainless steel water bottles are better than plastic or aluminium. Stainless steel is a non-toxic material that doesn't need a liner.
What is the difference between thermos and thermos? ›Officially, the word Thermos is spelled with a capital T, since like Band-Aid and Kleenex, it's actually a trademarked brand name. Still, it's common to refer to vacuum flasks (even those not made by the Thermos company) generally as thermoses.
Which bottle would make the best thermos bottle? ›- Best Overall Insulated Water Bottle: Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Bottle.
- Best Budget Insulated Water Bottle: GSI Outdoors MicroLite 500 Insulated Bottle.
- Most Durable Insulated Water Bottle: YETI Rambler Chug Water Bottle.
- Best Insulated Can Cooler: YETI Rambler Colster.
Poor sealing: the water in the stainless vacuum flask is not hot, it may be due to poor sealing. After receiving the water in the stainless vacuum flask, check whether there is a gap at the bottle cap or other places. If the cover is tight, it will also cause the water in the stainless steel thermos to not be hot soon.
How do you keep hot water hot in a thermos? ›Get the hottest water you can, ideally boiling, fill your thermos to the brim, close the lid and leave it for at least 30 seconds. After that, discard that water and immediately fill it with your drinking water of a desired temperature for mate. That's it!
How do you keep food warm until lunch without a thermos? ›Use a Hot Water Bottle
Filling a hot water bottle with boiling water and then putting that into a lunch box will keep food warm for hours.
How long does it take for a thermos to keep warm? The thermos usually keeps a liquid warm for at least 6 hours. This is its performance period, during which you are sure to find your food still warm. After this time, the mug slowly cools down and is at a lukewarm temperature after 12 hours.
Can thermos flask keep hot liquid hot for several hours? ›(a) A Thermos flask that is used to store either cold or hot liquids for several hours minimises heat transfer by conduction and convection only.
How long should a thermos flask stay hot? ›Large Thermos Flasks like the Stainless King 1.2L capacity will keep drinks hot up to 18-24 hours dependent on usage and ambient temperatures. Smaller capacity Thermos flasks like Stainless King 0.47L will be around 12-18 hours.
How long can a thermos retain heat? ›
On average, most of us need to keep food hot anywhere between 6 and 7 hours. Depending on the brand of thermos lunch container you purchase, food will stay hot for between 5 and 12 hours!
How long is water good in a stainless steel thermos? ›You can keep your water in a stainless steel bottle for 1 day if you are using it daily. It is highly suggested that you wash your water bottle every day to prevent the overgrowth of bacteria and molds especially if you are bringing it outdoors.
How long is water good in a stainless steel bottle? ›The insulating properties of stainless steel water bottles mean that you can enjoy cool drinking water up to 24 hours after filling the bottle from your water cooler. Hot water stays warm for nearly six hours in a stainless steel bottle.
How long does a thermos keep water above 70 degrees? ›The boiling water should kill any bacteria present in the flask. If the flask is full and securely sealed, the water will stay above 70 degrees Centigrade for several hours.
Can you put boiling water in a thermos flask? ›Packing hot food in your thermos
Warm your thermos by filling it with boiling water. Put the lid on. Let it sit for a few minutes then pour out the water. Once your thermos is warm, quickly add steaming hot food (at or above 74°C or 165°F) or boiling hot drinks and put the lid on tightly.
Smaller amounts of water will cool more quickly. Water in a full 500ml flask will stay hot for 2-3 hours.
How do I know if my hot water flask is good? ›For home use, the bottle should have larger volume, ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 liters. For special uses such as storing tea or coffee, a smaller capacity of less than 500 ml should be sufficient. A water bottle with a sturdy screw cap design should be chosen to ensure no leakage.
Can you put chicken in a thermos? ›Yes, the thermos keeps the chicken nuggets warm so your child gets to eat warm chicken nuggets at lunch time. I love this idea to pack hot foods in my kids' lunches.
Can you put rice in a thermos? ›TIP: Food will only stay hot or cold in a thermos if it has some liquid. ✔ Do not use a thermos for dry food like fried rice or scrambled eggs. The food will not stay hot.
Why is my stainless steel thermos not keeping hot? ›Poor sealing: the water in the stainless vacuum flask is not hot, it may be due to poor sealing. After receiving the water in the stainless vacuum flask, check whether there is a gap at the bottle cap or other places. If the cover is tight, it will also cause the water in the stainless steel thermos to not be hot soon.
What causes thermos to lose heat? ›
Design. The vacuum flask consists of two vessels, one placed within the other and joined at the neck. The gap between the two vessels is partially evacuated of air, creating a partial-vacuum which reduces heat conduction or convection.
Why wont my thermos stay hot? ›For most of stainless steel insulated water bottles that stop working, you can find there's a big dent on the metal bottle base or bottle body, which caused the two walls of stainless steel contact together and vacuum insulation layer not existing, so it won't keep your water hot or cold for a long time anymore.