11 Best Travel Mugs to Take on The Road

Best value

The Owala SmoothSip Slider has stellar insulation for a cup of its weight and is crafted from stainless steel to ensure your drink isn’t contaminated and the mug lasts longer. Not sold yet? What if you discovered it is under $30 (at the time of writing) and comes in various colorways, whether your vibe is pastel or vivid? If that doesn’t sell you, nothing will! Well, maybe if we add in that the cap doesn’t leak.

While the slider isn’t effortless to open, you get used to it over time. That said, it isn’t ideal for use on the go when you can’t use two hands. You can take the cap apart to wash it fairly easily, but it has a bit of a learning curve, and there are small pieces to keep track of. For most trips, you can get by without washing it thoroughly until you get home, but a longer trip will require more thought!

• No leaks in testing, even after weeks of use and multiple cleaning cycles
• It’s small enough to be comfortable and large enough to handle your morning coffee

• The slider isn’t the easiest to open
• Disassembly isn’t the easiest thing in the world.

Best splurge

If you like to drink different things in different ways from your travel mug, the Snow Peak Kanpai Bottle is the right option for you. There are three lids, so you can choose the one that best matches the drink you’re sipping or meets the vibe of the day you’re having.

Plus, this bottle utilizes double-wall technology to keep your drink hot or cold and isn’t heavy to weigh you down. The three lids can be a lot to keep track of, and the insulation works so well that your coffee might be hotter than expected. However, when used properly, those aren’t necessarily cons.

Whether you’re crossing the city of the globe, the Snow Peak Kanpai Bottle is an excellent shout for the best travel mug out there.

• Comes with three caps for different use cases
• The price is fair for all that comes in the package

• The insulation works so well that it can keep your coffee at a dangerous temperature for a long time
• The exterior gets fingerprints easily

Best budget

Our favorite thing about the YETI Rambler 10 oz Tumbler is how easily it fits into your hand. The size of your hand will significantly influence how it feels when placed into it, but we dig the size of this thing. Plus, you’ll never find a cupholder that the cup won’t fit into, though it might rattle around in larger ones. Despite fitting into your hand comfortably, 10 ounces might not be enough coffee in the morning for some travelers. Still, this size is much easier to pack into your bag than your usual 24-ounce model, and it does a great job at keeping your hot drinks hot for extended periods.

The MagSlider Lid from YETI is smooth and easy to use, gliding open and closed easily. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup easier. If you want a different lid, YETI makes loads of them, so you can switch it out for something else or get different lids for various jobs. Plus, this mini mug has a mini price tag compared to other, larger cups, so you can save some cash and spend more on your trip or your morning coffee!

• It fits into the palm of your hand, and every cupholder we’ve tried
• The lid is easy to maneuver

• It rattles around in some cupholders because it’s so small
• You can’t fit much coffee inside because of the capacity

Best leak-proof travel mug

If you are looking for a travel mug that can do it all and then some, look no further than the 12 oz Coffee Mug from Hydro Flask with the Flex Sip Lid. The insulation is stellar, so your drink will stay hot (or cold) all day long. Due to the size of the mug, it isn’t heavy either, so it won’t weigh you down. Plus, the Flex Sip Lid creates a complete seal, so you don’t have to worry about it leaking if your journey takes a walk down the wild side.

We dig the handle on this thing—you can carry the mug with it, attach it to a carabiner, or stow it on a hook in a public bathroom, so you don’t have to set it on the grimy floor.

If you like a giant coffee in the morning, the downfall of this model is that it only holds 12 ounces of liquid. However, if you’re a one-cup kind of person, this might be the best travel

• The handle makes it easy to take just about anywhere
• It keeps drinks warm or cold for a long time, even in extreme temperatures

• The lid doesn’t vent very well
• It’s large for the capacity

Best lightweight travel mug

Our favorite feature of the Stanley AeroLight Transit Bottle is its weight. At just 9.6 ounces, or 272.2 grams, the insulation performs incredibly well for such a light model. In addition to slimming down the mass of your everyday carry or travel pack, the AeroLight Transit Bottle is leakproof, fits into most cupholders that we’ve tested, and comes in a variety of colorways, though we’d describe most of them as colorful, not sleek. The black option is nice, but even that one is a bit shiny for our liking!

The lid performs well in most scenarios, but if you tip it back too far, your drink may slightly spill out of the side. The capacity isn’t massive for how much space it takes up, but we appreciate how lightweight it is, either way. With a price under $40 at the time of writing, we can’t complain much, especially considering how well it insulates and how little mass it adds to your pack out!

• It’s well insulated, keeping drinks warm for hours
• Despite its insulation, it’s pretty lightweight

• Drinks can spill when drinking at a harsh angle
• The capacity feels low for how large the bottle is

Best ceramic travel mug

The biggest selling point of W&P's drinking mugs is that they’re crafted from ceramic materials. Ceramics are a solid insulator, keeping your drink cold or warm. They won’t leech flavors into your beverages and are much less likely to transmit harmful substances into your drink than plastic. When properly manufactured, ceramics are a safe and effective choice, and the options presented by W&P make it easy to find the best ceramic mug for your next trip (they have tons of styles to choose from if you don’t love this one).

The biggest drawback to ceramics is that they aren’t very durable, so the Mug from W&P has a silicone wrap to add extra protection. This isn’t as durable as stainless steel, but we prefer the taste and vibes of the ceramic material, so if you aren’t clumsy, this is a solid choice. At the time of writing, one mug is just $25, so you aren’t getting a luxury tax for these luxury-feeling goods, either. Plenty of colorway options and 12- and 16-ounce versions are available, so you can find the perfect match for your needs. Plus, you can engrave the mug for $10, which is a great way to personalize your cup or a gift for a friend or family member.

• The vibes are unparalleled—ceramic looks and feels fantastic
• The materials are non-toxic and won’t transfer tastes

• The material isn’t the most durable, even with the silicone wrap
• The silicone wrap on our model isn’t a clean cut, which looks a bit odd compared to what we saw online

Best travel mug with a handle

The BruMate Toddy 22 oz is one of the more interesting travel mug designs because of its lid design. You can screw it in two ways, which is helpfully indicated on the mug itself, so you can orient the spout in either direction relative to the handle. That may not sound super exciting for a lot of people, but we can almost guarantee that left-handed peeps just collectively sat up with their eyes widened with interest.

Other handy features include a magnetic closure that sticks to the lid when you flip it over so it doesn’t smack your lips while you’re drinking. Plus, the bottom has a rubber lining that prevents it from slipping on moist surfaces. We’re also pleased to see that the handle is big despite the body’s tapered design, so our testers with large and small hands alike find it comfortable to carry.

• Ambidextrous design; southpaws rejoice!
• The handle is large enough for those with large hands to use

• Takes some time to get used to the ambidextrous design, even if you are a lefty
• It’s quite large for the capacity

Best travel tea mug

Many popular mugs are hard to hold if you have smaller hands—especially once you reach the 16-ounce threshold. Folks with small manus might have to choose between the best travel mug and one that fits in their hand, which is a bummer.

Enter the Zojirushi Stainless Mug. This offering is taller than you might expect a 16-ounce mug to be, but it’s thinner around the base, so those with small hands can grab it quickly. That isn’t the only reason we like it, however.

The Zojirushi looks sleek and has a locking lid and gasket to prevent leaks. A plastic mouthpiece helps with pouring, too, although it does tend to dribble a little.

Whether you’re looking for something that fits in your hand or a travel mug with a locking lid, the Zojirushi is an excellent shout.

• Slim profile works for those with smaller hands
• It keeps beverages cold or warm for extremely long periods

• Not dishwasher safe
• The lid takes some getting used to

Best travel coffee mug

The Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press 16 oz isn’t for those who simply want to pour instant coffee into a travel mug and be on their merry way. No, this is for those who are already into brewing but would like to bottle that experience to get that fix while they’re, say, on a camping trip. Like most Stanley products, this has that heritage built-to-last vibe, which we can attest to. We’ve been using one for a few years now, and it still brews just as well as we first got it. We’re particularly fond of the screw cap that’s satisfying to unscrew and is also tethered to the bottle so you don’t lose track of it.

The only catch is, while this is still technically a travel mug you can drink from, the whole French press design makes the process feel cumbersome. It’s very weighty for a bottle that only holds 16 ounces of fluid, plus you’ll need to prep coffee grounds for it—convenient for coffee brewers, not so much for casual drinkers.

• It’s lasted us years, making it a tough and reliable choice for those who want to brew coffee away from home
• It has heritage styling that we expect from Stanley and enjoy

• Still a hassle to clean up coffee grounds after you’re done brewing (not necessarily the mug’s fault, though)
• It’s not a great standalone coffee mug if you aren’t using the French press feature

If you want your travel mug to look as fancy as the espresso you drink every morning, the Purist Maker Mug might be just what you’re looking for. The exterior is sleek, fits into the palm of your hand, and won’t call extra attention to your caffeine addiction.

However, the most unique design choice is on the interior. This travel mug is crafted from stainless steel, but there’s a thin layer of glass on the interior to ensure the metal doesn’t taint the taste. After all, your coffee should taste just as you want, whether commuting to work or exploring an early morning meat market.

The Scope Top makes sipping easy—unscrew it slightly, take a drink, and tighten it up again. It’s just 10 ounces, which might not work for heavy coffee drinkers.

• Is lined with glass on the interior to ensure no metallic taste
• There’s no taste transfer from one drink to another, so you can drink water, coffee, and tea

• At just 10 ounces, it’s smaller than a regular cup of coffee
• The thin layer of glass isn’t as durable as regular stainless steel

For those who want to take the taste of their favorite coffee with them everywhere—but not the smell or leaks—the Chilly's Series 2 Coffee Cup is a worthy option. It keeps both at bay with a unique locking design.

While ordering, you can pay a little extra to have something engraved into the bottle, so you know which travel mug belongs to you or to give it as a gift to a friend or family member. Or, show off your personality with one of the infinite color or design combinations.

The mug isn’t dishwasher safe, so you must hand wash it. It’s a small price to pay for a travel mug as unique as this one; odds are, your hotel in Paris won’t have a dishwasher anyway!

• An extraordinarily leak and odor proof design
• The design is unique and sleek, looking like no other option on this list

• Not dishwasher safe
• The cap isn’t standard, so it’s harder to get used to than others on this list