The 19 Best Leak-Proof Travel Mugs for Taking Hot (and Cold) Drinks on the Go | Condé Nast Traveler

2022-12-14 17:09:57 By : Ms. Cony Wang

By Kristi Kellogg and Meaghan Kenny

Whether you're embarking on your morning commute or headed on an east coast road trip, you should have one of the best travel mugs in hand. Finding one you like means you can skip the routine stop at the coffee shop (or at least say no to the disposable cup), cut back on single-use plastics, and keep your drinks at an ideal temperature (with some, for hours and hours at a time). Ahead, we've rounded up the very best travel mugs—including Condé Nast Traveler editors' personal favorites—from brands like Hydro Flask, Yeti, Corksicle, W&P, and more. With insulated, leak-proof, and easy-to-carry options in the mix, there's a mug in here ready for a spot in your cup holder or tote bag. Paper Lid For Salad Bowl

The 19 Best Leak-Proof Travel Mugs for Taking Hot (and Cold) Drinks on the Go | Condé Nast Traveler

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“If you’re a tea drinker like me or like your travel mugs to keep your hot drinks piping hot, be warned: this insulated mug gets me every time, keeping my teas at steaming, roof-of-mouth-burning temperatures for what feels like an impossibly long time. (And that’s a good thing in my book.) I prefer the matte exterior over the stainless steel for its added grip. I use it to commute with my tea (it doesn’t leak!) and on extra-long winter walks because I know it’ll stay warm the entire time.” —Meredith Carey, former travel bookings editor

This Target find is a bestseller, and with good reason. It's got vacuum insulation to keep hot drinks hot up to five hours and cold drinks cold for up to 12 hours. The auto-seal button lock ensures the drink won't spill or leak on bumpy car rides.  It's also a bargain at $16, and comes in an array of colors, including silver, black, teal, and purple.

“Technically this is a wine tumbler, but more often, I use it for iced coffee. It keeps my caffeine cold, fits the extra-large ice cube I put into the bottom, and doesn’t leave rings on tables when I set it down. Plus, like all things OtterBox, it’s sturdy—I don’t have to worry about dinging or denting it when I inevitably drop or knock it over. Its smaller size means it’s also carry-on and backpack friendly.” —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

This Hydro Flask mug checks all the boxes: It's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, has a leak-proof lid, carrying handle, and no-sweat matte finish, and comes with a lifetime warranty. You can use it as a thermos, a water bottle, or a coffee cup. Hydro Flask also has matching slings that let you carry your travel tumbler hands-free, helpful when biking, hiking, or just dashing through the airport.

This handled, speckled affair is an elevated campfire mug you can take on the go. It's not just the pretty design that makes it one of our top picks—it's also an all-star at temperature retention, has a lifetime warranty, and has its own patented leak-proof design. It fits 16 ounces of liquid, and as an added bonus, is dishwasher-safe.

“When I'm traveling, the most essential ritual I preserve is my morning coffee. While I love nearly all of the Yeti drinkware options, this mug is perfect for coffee—both for its manageable 10-ounce size, as well as the side handle, which makes this especially easy when I'm on a road trip or a train. (This mug has come with me on camping trips in the Shenandoah Valley and Delaware Water Gap, on a road trip through the Appalachian Highlands, and a long drive between D.C. and New York City.) A fair word of warning though: The airtight lid and insulation work almost too well—coffee stays hot a long time, so I recommend you get it close to your ideal temperature before pouring it in.”  —Corina Quinn, former city guides director

“This mug is a thing in my house. My partner received one as a Christmas gift, only to find it missing every morning—truth be told, after I stole it once to use for hot coffee on my morning subway commute, I couldn’t go back to any other thermos. I personally love that this mug doesn’t have a handle, because it’s so insulated it never burns my hands, yet the coffee inside stays piping hot, and its shape is nice and easy to hold. When I’m done enjoying my hot drink on the go, it takes the least space possible in my bag, where it usually clangs around for the rest of the day until I make my way home (or back to wherever I’m staying).” —Megan Spurrell, senior editor

“This mug is my favorite one ever because the lid has a lock feature that makes it completely leak-free. I can throw this in a travel tote and not worry about coffee dribbling all over. Plus the stainless steel interior keeps coffee piping hot for hours, but it doesn't burn your hands. In addition to my commute on the subway, I've taken this little wonder on train rides to upstate New York, and I've never spilled a drop.” —Jessica Puckett, senior editor, transportation and travel news

Stanley has been making travel food gear (including to-go cups, coolers, camp cookware, and coffee makers) since 1913. The Stanley Classic Trigger Action travel mug offers heat retention for an impressive seven hours. It also keeps cold beverages chilled for 10 hours, and iced beverages icy for a whopping 30 hours. The tumbler is available in more than a dozen shades, including green, black, navy, silver, and maroon.

“It’s not hyperbole to state that I’ve tried the lion’s share of travel mugs on the market. I drink a ton of coffee and I travel and drive a lot. I hate the way metal mugs make coffee taste—it’s so much better out of a ceramic mug. The Okay Cup from Portland, Oregon–based ceramicist Marina Thornhill is gorgeous, doesn’t leak, and doesn’t make your coffee taste like mud. It’s pricey, but a better long-term deal than always dumping the coffee you put in another mug and don’t actually drink. It’s constantly selling out, so put your name on the pre-order list—it’s worth the wait.” —Rebecca Misner, senior features editor

“This Corkcicle tumbler keeps my coffee hot on my subway commute, and is secure enough to sneak a couple of sips while standing on a crowded, moving train. There’s also something joyful about pouring my freshly brewed coffee into a pink vessel—how could I not be cheerful toting this cute mug around the office? Most often this mug has been my subway companion, though I have used it for road trips and early morning flights that require a caffeine boost before boarding.” —Katie Henwood, former senior SEO manager

“I don’t think there’s a chicer travel mug than this colorful one from Hay, which comes in pink, green, or gray, all with contrasting, two-toned lids. It puts all other thermoses to shame when it comes to design—but it’s also totally functional, with an insulated stainless steel exterior that keeps drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for an impressive 24 hours.” —M.C.

“This mug hits all the right marks: The silicone sleeve makes it easy to grip and quiet when placed down on a surface; the mouthpiece on the lid is easy to slide open and close; and it’s safe to put in the dishwasher and microwave. Plus, it just looks nicer than the rest of my logo-clad travel mugs. Most often I use it to sip coffee on my morning commute, but I have also brought it on longer train rides to D.C. and on flights as a vessel for oatmeal.” —M.F.

Adjust hot beverages to your exact temperature specifications with this tech-savvy travel mug. You control the temperature of the drink from an app on your phone. Set a temperature up to 145°F and it will stay at that temperature for up to three hours, allowing you to sip leisurely without losing any heat. If you're at home, you can keep the temperature steady all day—just place the mug on its included charging coaster.

This design-forward tumbler features stainless steel and a double-walled vacuum, and fits easily into most any car's cup holder. It's available in 12- and 16-ounce sizes, and in several colors including red, black, white, blush, grey, and yellow. It'll last you for the long haul, too: all Miir mugs come with a lifetime warranty.

One of my favorite reusable water bottles is from Simple Modern, so I had high hopes for their travel mug and it certainly did not disappoint. This stainless steel mug keeps my hot beverages hot for four hours and my iced coffee cold for up to 16 hours, so it's great for day trips and using at the office. The clear flip lid is leak-proof, so I don't worry about keeping it in my bag. It's dishwasher safe and the handle makes sipping on the go easy. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor

The main reason I adore my collapsible Stojo cup is its clever design that makes it incredibly easy to carry around. I’m not kidding when I say that when folded down, my 16-ounce cup turns into a disc that fits into my jacket pocket. It’s also light enough to drop into a travel backpack or a sling bag when you go hiking. I use mine for everything from coffees and smoothies, and when dry, for snacks and berries. Don’t expect an insulated mug with this one: It keeps a beverage warm (or cool) for long enough for you to drink it, but isn’t a double-walled metal cup. However, it has helped me cut down on a ton of waste when traveling, and might I add is cute-looking, too. —Arati Menon, global digital director 

Read a full review of the Stojo cup.

This large travel mug keeps my hot coffee warm for hours, making it the ideal cup for my morning commute to work during the colder months. It's dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean and reuse throughout the week, and comes in three different sizes and colors. Plus, it makes a great holiday gift for your coffee-obsessed friend who loves their Nespresso machine. —M.K. 

Rounding out our list of the best travel coffee mugs is this handled vessel from S'well. S'well's mugs and tumblers feature double-walled insulation, produce zero condensation, and are made with durability in mind. Shop the mug in a handful of solids, including pink, black, white, and blue sky. 

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The 19 Best Leak-Proof Travel Mugs for Taking Hot (and Cold) Drinks on the Go | Condé Nast Traveler

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