Hooked on a liquid

December 9, 2018 2:08 PM

I need a bomb proof travel mug with minimal plastic and a robust way to use a carbiner for attachment to backpack/bags.

Previous askmefi questions on travel mugs have convinced me that I desperately need the Zojirushi travel mug but I cannot attach the near Platonic ideal to a bag. I walk a lot and need something that is really robust and can be attached to the bag when empty. I would like the following:

* insulated for both hot and cold
* easy to clean lid and mechanism
* minimal plastics
* no ceramic because I am rough on my stuff
* secure way to attach it to a loop or bag strap
* no funk nor extra flavor
* leakproof

I have both Australian and American shopping options available. Coffee, tea, cocoa and water junkies of Metafilter, halp me with my drinking infrastructure.

posted by jadepearl to Shopping (8 answers total)

Would one of the Klean Kanteen insulated bottles with a loop cap work? I carry one of those everyday, although in a pocket in my laptop bag, not using a carabiner, and have had no issues.
posted by ralan at 2:15 PM on December 9, 2018 [3 favorites]

Seconding Kleen Kanteens. I love mine and it’s been through a lot of rough and tumble, including multiple camping trips along with daily use. The insulated ones are heavier, so if weight is an issue the uninsulated might be a better choice.
posted by ananci at 2:17 PM on December 9, 2018

Thirding. Kleen Kanteen is your answer here. :)
posted by joycehealy at 2:22 PM on December 9, 2018

I adore my Zojirushi so much that I'd advocate getting one of those plus a neoprene bottle sleeve or similar -- they're sold all over the place at varying price points, as fancy or plain as you like.

Possibly not workable for your situation, but my Zojirushi is so reliable I've carried it inside my bag, empty or full, for years now. Never a drip or a leak, and having it in the bag means it gets banged up a bit less -- though the darn thing is so resilient that despite my rough treatment it has barely a scratch! I've dented two Kleen Kanteens, one insulated and one regular, but not the Zojirushi. It's also easier to, um, kleen -- the insulated Kanteen developed an off taste, and I found the O-ring really irksome.
posted by halation at 2:39 PM on December 9, 2018 [6 favorites]

You can make an eyelet to accept a carabiner on literally any nice travel mug or bottle. I prefer using hemp twine and a keychain ring, but other materials also can work, and you can attach your biner directly too.

At the simplest you use a few clove hitches and call it done with a minute’s work, but you can also do fancy versions for a dollar in materials and a bit more time.

So one option is to get your dream cup without an attachment point and make one for it, if you need more info I’m happy to help.
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:50 PM on December 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

I have a Contigo travel mug that I got at a thrift shop. It is very good at insulating and not leaking. I am not terribly concerned with how certain things look, so if I wanted to add a carabiner, I would get 2 metal hose clamps and attach a carabiner.
posted by theora55 at 8:54 PM on December 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

If you're not sold on the hose clamp idea, and have access to a 3D printer, here's a pattern for a Zojirushi carabiner mount.
posted by zamboni at 7:07 AM on December 10, 2018 [2 favorites]

I have both Klean Kanteens and this Camelbak thermos, and prefer the Camelbak for hot beverages because it keeps things warmer longer and I don't have to remove the whole lid to drink from it.
posted by ekf at 3:13 PM on December 11, 2018