What is the Best Travel Mug? (Our Biggest Comparison Yet!)

What is the Best Travel Mug?

What is the Best Travel Mug for Coffee and Tea?

If you're wondering what is the best travel mug, you're not alone.  There are thousands of travel mugs, tumblers, and coffee bottles on the market today, so it can be a big overwhelming.  The good news is that I've collected, tested, and overanalyzed many of the most of the popular brands over the years for this business, and today I'll show you my full collection to help you find the best travel mug for your preferences and lifestyle.

Depending on where you look, this type of bottle may also be called "travel tumblers," "travel bottles," or "coffee bottles."  Because this post focuses on mugs and tumblers that are easier for traveling, ones with side-mounted handles are not included because they are not as compatible with many cupholders.  But we'll have a separate post focusing on those soon!

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What's Next?

• ​Video review
• Good accessories to have regardless of which bottle you go with
• Part One: Giving my recommendations for the best (and worst) bottles travel mugs for different uses, like driving, value, and overall.
• Part Two: Deeper review of each travel mug, including the main pros and cons.

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Video Review: What is the Best Travel Mug?

This video goes into even more detail and analysis about each bottle by ranking them all according to 12 different criteria, so check this out for an even deeper dive!

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Good Accessories for Most Travel Mugs

Whether you go with Fellow, Stanley, YETI, or Zojirushi, these are two fo our most popular recommended accessories that help make cleaning any big reusable bottle much easier.

Brush Kit

Bottle Brush Kit

​There are a lot of brush kits on Amazon at this point, so feel free to shop around.  This is the one I have, and it has a range of brush sizes that work with any bottle.

It's worth noting that some bottles with wider openings like YETI's Rambler tumblers may be wide enough for your hand to fit, so you may not actually need a brush kit like this (see the cleaning section below for more details).

See Brush Kit

Cleaning Tablets

Cleaning Tablets

I've tested these, and they work really well when cleaning out coffee and tea stains.  I also recommend using them roughly once per week during your deep cleaning routine.

Bottle Bright tablets are the big name, and it's hard to go wrong with them.  Alternatively, you could choose denture or retainer tablets to save some money.  They all work pretty similarly.

See Cleaning Tablets

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Part One: Recommended by Use

Different travel mugs are better for different situations, so here let's take a look at various uses to see which bottle is the best option.

Scroll down to Part Two to read more about any particular brand or bottle.

Best Travel Mug for Everyday, All-Around Use

These are the two travel mugs I've recently found myself going back to most regularly when I'm not deliberately testing a new one.  They each have a great combination of features that make them outstanding options for everyday use.

Owala SmoothSip's Slider Lid

Owala SmoothSip

• Ergonomic sip opening (feels weirdly better)
• Tapered for cupholders
• Easy to clean all surfaces​

See Owala

Zojirushi's Spring-Loaded Lid

Zojirushi

• Ridiculously good insulation
• Cover keeps the drinking surface clean
• Easy to clean all surfaces

See Zojirushi

YETI Magslider's Slider

YETI Magslider

• Easiest travel mug to clean
• Very durable
• Popular gift, particularly for men

See YETI

Fellow Carter Move's Traditional Lid

Fellow Carter Move

• Comfy curved rim design
• Avoids plastic contact with your mouth and drink
• Great insulation

See Fellow

Worst Travel Mug for Everyday Use: Frank Green (more on this further down)

Best Travel Mug for Value

Weto Weto Tumbler

Weto Weto

• Capable alternative to more expensive tumblers like YETI's Magslider
• Tapered for cupholders
• Harder to clean around the slider​

See Weto Weto

Contigo Byron

Contigo Byron

• Inexpensive and from a well-known brand
• Steel base to prevent scratches, and silicone grip around the middle.
• Unable to fully disassemble the lid for cleaning

See Contigo

Best Travel Mug for Driving, Commutes, and Road Trips

Simple Modern Voyager's Push Button

Simple Modern Voyager

• One big button that's easy to push to open and close
• Sip from any side
• Tapered for cupholders

See Simple Modern

YETI Magslider

YETI Magslider

• Easiest slider-style lid to open/close
• Tapered for cupholders
• Notably, it's leak-resistant but not fully leak-free

See Contigo

Honorable Mention: Stanley Aerolight Transit (narrow design, lid cover pushes all the way back to stay out of your view), Owala SmoothSip (tapered for cupholders, one-handed open/close)

Worst Travel Mugs for Driving: Fellow Carter Move (2-handed open/close, wider base than most, lid isn't tethered, wide mouth with the fastest flow even with the splash guard inserted), YETI Hotshot (very bulky, 2-handed open/close)

Best Travel Mugs with Ceramic Lined Interiors

Fellow's Ceramic Coating

Fellow Carter Move

• Has an off-white colored ceramic coating, which makes it easy to see your drink level​

See Fellow

Simple Modern's Ceramic Coating

Simple Modern Voyager

• ​Has a clear ceramic coating, so it looks like the same color as the mug​

See Simple modern

Best Travel Mug for Insulation

Zojirushi has the Best Insulation

Zojirushi

• Top-ranked insulation for both hot and cold tests​
• Insulation is helped by the narrower mouth opening and seal design
• Narrower neck makes it harder to clean or add ice

See Zojirushi

Fellow has Great Insulation

Fellow Carter Move

• 2nd-ranked insulation
• The insulated standard lid (screw on and off to sip) and seal design are great for insulation​

See Fellow

Honorable Mentions: Stanley Aerolight Transit and YETI Hotshot

Worst Travel Mugs for Insulation: With vacuum insulated bottles, most heat transfers through the lid.  That's why a general rule-of-thumb is that bottles with wider rims have worse insulation.  This includes traditional tumblers like YETI's Magslider, Healthy Human's Cruiser, Owala's SmoothSip, Simple Modern's Voyager, and Weto Weto's tumbler.

Best Travel Mug for Home or Office

Zojirushi's Narrow Design

Zojirushi

• Narrow design takes up less space on a desk
• Great insulation
• Easy to clean

See Zojirushi

YETI Magslider's Durable Base

YETI Magslider

• Very durable
• Easiest travel mug to clean
• Great slider (but notably not 100% leakproof)​

See YETI

Honorable Mention: Hydro Flask Flex Sip (has a handle that you can grab with one finger when holding other things, like if you're carrying several things and your bottle to a meeting), Stanley Aerolight Transit (good combination of small diameter to take up less space, lightweight, and good insulation)

Worst Travel Mugs for Home or Office: YETI Hotshot (very large and bulky with no handle)

Best Travel Mug for Easy Cleaning

YETI Magslider's Removable Slider

YETI Magslider

• Magnetic slider easily pops off for cleaning
• Wide rim means you likely don't need a bottle brush
• No hidden or hard-to-reach seals or areas

See YETI

Owala SmoothSip's Removable Slider

Owala SmoothSip

• No hard-to-reach or hidden spots, other than needing a straw cleaner for the spout opening
• Wide rim, so no big brush needed
• External threads makes the rim seal easy to clean
• Handwash recommended, but technically dishwasher safe

See Owala

YETI Hotshot / Commuter's 2-Piece Lid

YETI Hotshot / Commuter

• Simple 2-piece lid is easy to clean
• You'll likely just need one brush (a big one for the bottle)
• If you get the newer Commuter, you may not need a bottle brush because the bottle has a wider opening
  

See YETI

Healthy Human's Simple Lid

Healthy Human Cruiser

• About as simple as you can get with no moving parts, so it's easy to clean
• No hard-to-reach or hidden spots, other than needing a straw cleaner for the stainless steel straw
• Wide rim, so no big brush needed

See Healthy Human

Honorable Mention: Zojirushi (for a complex lid it's well-designed and surprisingly easy to clean, but you'll want several brush sizes from a kit like this one)

Worst Travel Mugs for Easy Cleaning: Frank Green (ridiculously complex to disassemble the lid) and Simple Modern Voyager (unable to disassemble the lid)

Best Travel Mug for Clumsy People (Most Durable)

Magnetic Slider Avoids Plastic Connections that can Break

YETI Magslider

• YETIs are known for being overbuilt and durable
• Stainless steel bottom prevents scratches
• Magnetic slider avoids plastic connections that can break

See YETI

Fellow's Rounded Edges Help Prevent Dents

Fellow Carter Move

• Simple design avoids small plastic parts, springs, and connections
• Rounded edges can scratch, but they avoided dents better compared to other options

See Fellow

Least Durable Travel Mugs: Frank Green (many small plastic parts), Zojirushi (scratches easily), Weto Weto (slider is hard to clean around without damaging the plastic connection)

The Most Popular Travel Mugs and Best to Give as a Gift

Owala...So Hot Right Now

Owala SmoothSip

• Trendy, particularly with younger consumers
• Fun color options are appealing to many

See Owala

YETI's Magslider is Very Popular

YETI Magslider

• Popular gift, particularly for men
• Classic, simple design that's easy for most people to get used to quickly

See YETI

Fellow's Sleek Minimalist Design

Fellow Carter Move

• Sleek design and solid construction make it a great gift for both men and women

See Fellow

Zojirushi's Well-Designed Lid

Zojirushi

• The well-designed lid and ridiculously good insulation has earned a devoted following

See Zojirushi

Best Travel Mug for Safety and Limiting Plastic Contact

Fellow's Stainless Steel under the Lid

Fellow Carter Move

• Avoids plastic contact with your mouth or drink
• Stainless steel drinking surface
• Stainless steel under the lid
• Note: There is a small bit of plastic on the handle for the splash guard, so remove that to completely avoid plastic contact

See Fellow

Healty Human's Stainless Steel Straw

Healthy Human

• Stainless steel drinking surface
• Stainless steel straw included
• Note the lid is plastic, so it can come into contact with your drink and mouth if you don't use the straw

See Healthy Human

Best Travel Mug for Cold Brew

Healthy Human's Straw for Iced Drinks

Healthy Human

• The only option I have that comes with a straw, which many people prefer using with cold brew

See Healthy Human

Zojirushi's Insulation for Keeping Ice

Zojirushi

• Top-ranked insulation if you want to keep your cold brew ice-cold for as long as possible

See Zojirushi

Best Travel Mug with a Handle

Hydro Flask's Comfortable Handle

Hydro Flask

• The only option reviewed for this list that includes a handle, but it's a good one
• Comfy, flexible 3-finger design that rotates out of the way so it's not cumbersome

​As mentioned before, this list did not include many popular mugs with side-mounted handles because those are more difficult to travel with (not cupholder friendly)

See Hydro Flask

Best Travel Mug for Arthritis

YETI Magslider's Easy-to-Open Slider Lid

YETI Magslider

• Easiest slider-style lid to open/close
• Easiest to clean because the slider is magnetc and comes off
• Durable to prevent major damage if dropped
• Tapered, so it's easier to hold on the outside

See YETI

Worst Travel Mugs for Arthritis: YETI Hotshot or Commuter (have to twist hard to disassemble the lid for cleaning), Frank Green (complex lid design with many small parts), Hydro Flask Flex Sip (complex lid for cleaning, but better than the prior two), Owala SmoothSip (slider is tricky to use and disassemble if your hands have limited mobility or strength).

And Now...What is the Worst Overall Travel Mug?

Frank Green's Complex Lid (7 Parts, Many are Small)

Frank Green

• The lid is incredibly complex and difficult to disassemble and put back together compared to the other options.  I cannot stress this enough.
• The button does not work reliably, or at least it did not for me after extensive testing
• Most expensive option tested​

See Frank Green

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Part Two: Rapid-Fire Review of All 12 Travel Mugs Tested

All are vacuum insulated stainless steel between 16 and 20 ounces in size.

Top-Tier Options

These travel mugs have the best combination of a range of criteria and test results, making them a great fit for the widest range of people and uses.

YETI Magslider

YETI Magslider

Magnetic slider comes off easily

YETI's Magslider is a relatively simple design that does a lot of things very well.

​It's a slider-style lid, and you simply push the slider back and forth to close the sip opening.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe.

​Of all the travel mugs I tested, this one is the easiest to clean because the slider is magnetic, the rim seal is easy to remove and put back on, and there are no hidden or hard-to-reach spots.  Most people won't even need a brush and can handwash it for deep cleaning with just a sponge (it's also dishwasher safe).

It's also very durable, partially because YETIs seem to be more dent-resistant than many competitors, but also because the slider is magnetic.  This means it avoids problems like with Weto Weto or Owala's SmoothSip where the plastic connections with the slider might chip or break over time.

Couple these benefits with YETI's popularity as a brand (particularly for men), and there's a reason why YETI's Magslider is one of the most popular gift options.

YETI Magslider's only real downsides are the high cost and that they're leak-resistant, not fully leak-proof.

See YETI Magslider

Owala SmoothSip

Owala SmoothSip Slider

Trickier than YETI's Magslider, but the Slider Comes Out

Owala is the trendiest bottle brand on the market today.

​It's a slider-style lid, and you press down on the back side of the slider then push it backwards to open it.  The lid is explicitly dishwasher safe, but the bottle is handwash recommended to preserve the finish (though technically it's dishwasher safe too).

Like their FreeSip lid on their popular bottles, the drinking spout is ergonomic so it feels strangly good to sip from.  It's also raised, to the middle of the lid is less likely to bump against your nose when taking a sip.

Disassembling the lid for cleaning is pretty simple, but it can take some getting used to.  Just open the slider completely, pull up on the slider to pop it off, then you can twist the seal to remove it.  If you're having issue twisting the seal, give it a nudge to move it completely to the "open" position and you should be good.

The external lid threads also make cleaning the rim seal much easier compared to recessed seals that are harder to remove or put back into place.

Owala SmoothSip's main downside is that the slider is more difficult to open and close than other options like YETI's Magslider and you may find your finger slipping off the slider, especially if you just washed your hands.  Though in my experience, you get used to it and opening and closing this tumbler gets easier over time.

See Owala SmoothSip

Zojirushi

Zojirushi's Spring-Loaded Lid

Zojirushi's Removable Spout

Zojirushi's travel mug has the best insulation by a significant margin, so if keeping your drink hot or cold is a priority, this is your best choice.

​It has a spring-loaded lid cover that opens by pressing a button on front.  The bottle and lid are not dishwasher safe.

Zojirushi has a lot of other great things going for it.  For a complex lid, it's incredibly well-designed for thorough cleaning and ease-of-use.  The lid cover goes over the spout to keep it cleaner throughout the day.  Also, the spout pops out so you can clean around it more easily, and the spout seal is also easily removable.

The lid cover includes a lock, and it's all very easy to use with one hand.  That along with the lightweight and narrow body makes this one of the easiest bottles to use for many people.

Zojirushi's main downsides are that the finish scratches easily and the bottom is more prone to denting if dropped compared to more durable options like YETI's Magslider.  The lid cover is also quite bulky, which can block your view more when driving, and while it's well-designed and easy to take apart, the lid still consists of many parts and surfaces that make cleaning more of a chore.

See Zojirushi

Fellow Carter Move

Fellow's Sleek Minimalist Design

Stainless Steel under the Lid

Fellow's Carter Move travel mug is one of the more attractive options on the market because of the aesthetic, minimalist design.  But besides the sleek look, it also has a range of other features that make it stand out.

It's a standard lid that you screw on-and-off to use, and it also comes with a splash guard that snaps into the rim and helps prevent spills.  The bottle and lid are not dishwasher safe.

This is one of the best travel mugs I've seen if you're goal is to avoid plastic contact with your mouth or drink because the rim is stainless steel as well as the bottom of the lid.  The splash guard handle has a bit of plastic, but you can use the bottle without the splash guard if you'd prefer.

Fellow Carter Move's main downside is that it's not a great travel mug for driving and commutes.  The standard lid is one more thing to juggle and potentially drop, leading to a dirty lid or worst-case causing a distraction.  And while the splash guard helps, this bottle still has the fastest flow and is most likely to accidentally splash in your face.  It's also not tapered and is one of the wider options I tested.

See Fellow

Mid-Tier Options

These are all solid options that many people use and they can excel at certain criteria, but in most cases there's at least one major drawback or they're not particularly exceptional overall.

Hydro Flask Flex Sip

Hydro Flask's Flex Sip

Flex Sip's Lid's Interior Seal

Hydro Flask's Flex Sip is the only option from this list that includes a handle, but it's a really good one because it's Hydro Flask's classic, comfortable 3-finger design.

It has a twist-style lid where you turn the top to open and close the sip opening.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe.

Hydro Flask designed this lid so it's relatively easy to disassemble for cleaning.  It involves a few parts and requires decent hand strength, but at least the parts are all a good size and durable (MUCH better than Frank Green).  Here's our Youtube Short that shows how it works.

Hydro Flask Flex Sip's main downside is that it has internal threads and the rim seal is recessed and difficult to remove and put back on for deep cleaning.

See Hydro Flask

Stanley Aerolight Transit

Stanley Aerolight Transit

Transit's Plunger-Style Lid

Stanley's Aerolight Transit is a jack-of-all trades travel mug that does a lot of things well without any major benefits or drawbacks.

It has a plunger-style (or lever-action) lid, and you pull up on the lid cover to drop down the seal.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe.

Transit has good insulation, only trailing Zojirushi and Fellow and ranking similarly to YETI's Hotshot.  It also has a lightweight construction and narrow design that makes it easy to hold.  The lid doesn't take up much space or block your eyesight, just make sure to push the lid cover/lever all the way until it snaps back into the lid so it doesn't bump up against your nose when taking a sip.

Stanley Aerolight Transit's main downside is that the lid can be tricky to deep clean if you prefer to remove all of the seals.  The lid cover/lever is removable and that helps drop down the plunger seal more so the silicone seal is easy to remove, but it's a tight fit and tricky to put back on.

See Stanley

Simple Modern Voyager

Simple Modern Voyager's Push Button

You Can't Disassemble the Bulky Lid

Simple Modern's Voyager is one of the best options for driving and would be a top-tier bottle if not for one glaring issue, but first we'll look at the positives.

It has large button that you push to open and close the seal, and it worked reliably with a lot of testing.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe.

You can also sip from any side, so you don't have to worry about lining up your mouth with a spout.  This along with the narrower design compared to other tumblers makes this a great option for when you're driving.

It also comes with a grip-pad ring on the bottom to prevent scratches.

Simple Modern Voyager's only real downside is a big one.  The lid is very bulky and not meant to be disassembled, making it nearly impossible to manually deep clean with brushes.  You'll rely on the dishwasher or soaking it with soap or Bottle Bright tablets, and then make sure it has time to properly air-dry.  But the fact that you can't disassemble it to check everywhere for mold or other buildup is a major drawback.

See Simple Modern

YETI Hotshot (soon-to-be Commuter)

YETI Hotshot

Hotshot/Commuter's Two-Piece Lid

YETI's Hotshot is essentially their standard Rambler bottles but with their Hotshot lid.

It's a twist-to-open lid, and you're able to sip from any side.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe.

The lid is fairly easy to deep clean because you just twist the middle part until it pops out, and there are just two durable pieces involved.

YETI Hotshot has two main downsides. First is the overall weight and bulkiness compared to many other travel mugs without a handle to compensate, which makes it not a great option for driving or making it easy to bring with you.

Second is how you have to cram your fingers into a tight space to twist the lid opened and closed.  It's a pretty snug fit that requires some decent finger strength, and popping out the middle piece for deep cleaning takes even more effort.  This makes it a poor choice for most people with limited finger strength due to conditions like arthritis.

See YETI Hotshot

Worth noting is that YETI seems to be moving away from their "Hotshot" lid by taking the same design, rebranding it as the "Commuter" lid, and pairing it with a tumbler-style bottle similar to YETI's Magslider.  That last change makes it a better overall product, particularly for driving.

See YETI Commuter

Healthy Human Cruiser

Healthy Human Cruiser

Cruiser's Stainless Steel Straw with Silicone Tip

Healthy Human's Cruiser is one of those travel mugs that doesn't try to do too much, and that makes it a decent option primarily for at-home use.

It has a press-fit lid with a permanent opening, so the lid is not intended to be leak-resistant or proof.  The bottle and lid are not dishwasher safe.

The main draw is that each Cruiser comes with a stainless steel straw, making it a great option for avoiding plastic contact with your drink, particularly for iced coffee.  The straw also comes with a silicone end to avoid that stainless steel taste some people experience.

Besides that, the rim is also stainless steel so you can sip there and avoid plastic contact, though that assumes you aren't using the plastic lid.

Healthy Human Cruiser's main drawback as mentioned is how you can't close it, so you're one accidental bump away from the tumbler tumbling off a desk and spilling your drink.

See Healthy Human

Bottom-Tier Options

These can serviceable, particularly for budget-friendly options.  But at some point you may want to upgrade.

Contigo Byron

Contigo Byron

The Plunger/Lever Style Lid

Contigo's Byron is a budget-friendly option from a big-name, classic brand that can be serviceable for a daily-use travel mug.

It has a plunger-style (or lever-action) lid, and you pull up on the lever on top of the lid to drop down the seal.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe.

The bottle includes a stainless steel bottom to prevent scratches, which is a good thing because the black finish scratches off very easily.  There's also a silicone grip around the middle of the bottle to keep your grip from slipping.

Contigo Byron's main downsides are that it has unremarkable insulation, the paint scratches easily, the lever action lid is not able to be fully disassembled for deep cleaning, and the interior lid threads make the rim seal more difficult to remove and replace for deep cleaning.

The lever-action lid also has a tight fit.  While good to prevent accidental opening, this can make it more difficult to open one-handed and you may need to turn the bottle first to line it up a certain way, particularly if you're driving.  And when you do that, you'll also likely find yourself pressing the palm of your hand against the sip opening and making that part more dirty.

See Contigo

Weto Weto

Visible Moisture Under the Slider

Chipped Plastic from the Slider when Removed for Cleaning

Weto Weto is the least-expensive option reviewed and is a capable travel mug.  It maintains a high ranking on Amazon because it's a budget-friendly alternative to YETI's Magslider in particular.

It's a slider-style lid, and you simply move the slider back and forth to open it.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe.

Overall the design is quite simple and this travel mug is decent at most things, so it can be a good option as an every day mug.

Weto Weto's travel mug does come with a few significant drawbacks though.  I noticed visible moisture building up under the slider during regular use and cleaning.  However, the slider is not meant to be removed, and the small plastic connections can chip if you force the slider out of the lid.

​Also, the lid did not leak during my intial testing, but it started leaking after the drop test.  Not much, but it was dripping consistently possibly because the bottle or lid warped slightly.

See Weto Weto

Basement-Tier Option (Recommend Avoiding)

Very rarely do I straight-up recommend avoiding a particular bottle, but in this case I believe it's warranted.

Frank Green

Frank Green's Push Button Lid

Very Complex Lid Disassembly (7 Total Pieces)

Frank Green's travel mug was easily my least favorite option tested.

A few positives are that the push-button lid is a good concept when it works, and the bottle itself has a nice sleek, minimalist design.  The lid is dishwasher safe, though the bottle is handwash recommended (likely to preserve the finish).

However (deep breath)....

• The button did not work consistently, often getting stuck and seeming to depend on how I pressed the button, like how many fingers I used and where exactly I pressed it.
• The lid is ridiculously complex to disassemble and reassemble, involving 7 different parts (many of which are very small plastic parts that could easily be broken or lost).
• The very thin metal rim may dent or warp more easily if dropped.
• It's the most expensive option, at least in the US.

See Frank Green

Big thanks if you use a link to buy!  Those impartial referrals are what help me purchase every product tested and avoid direct sponsorships, all to help reviews like this continue to be completely unbiased.

Thanks again, and happy hydrating (and caffeine-ating).