Most have a capacity of around 350ml, enough for a regular-sized coffee. They typically aren't advertised as fully spill-proof, and are intended for transporting coffee short distances. Travel mugs This piece was written by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. He has owned or tested a number of the items on this list, including the Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug, the Copco Insulated Travel Mug, the S'Well Traveler Mug, and the Bubba 52-Ounce Insulated Desk Mug.

Dry with the lid off As most travel mugs are leakproof, leaving them to dry with the lid on will likely trap humidity and odours inside. Temperature Control: The travel mug’s ability to keep drinks hot or cold in transit is one of the most important factors. We chose options that can maintain one temperature for multiple hours, so your drink always tastes fresh.We run through so many travel mugs, and not all of them are winners. These are a few we like, just not as much as the ones above. If it isn't whiskey, you shouldn't be drinking it at room temperature. Even river water on a warm day of hiking is refreshingly cooler than the ambient air temperature. Lukewarm coffee is a great way to get your whole day off to rough start, and nobody daydreams about relaxing by the pool with a tepid glass of 70-degree water by their side. We all want the most out of our products, and this one small tip goes a long way: preheat or pre-cool your travel mug before use. Taking a few extra minutes to let hot or cold water sit in your mug will prime the material for better temperature retention. You can pour hot water from the tap or even boil it for an added boost of heat, all while your coffee is brewing. While most of the mugs on our list work well for hot or cold beverages, they are generally better at one or the other—but that’s not the case with this mug from Zojirushi. It retains drink temperature for at least six hours, no matter if you take your coffee hot or iced. Our experience with the mug was even better than the company advertises: Coffee was warm enough to drink nearly 12 hours after brewing. For those who intend to drink hot beverages out of this mug, it doesn't quite have the heat retention that the brand claims. When filled more than halfway full with hot coffee, it was lukewarm less than three hours later. The mug did perform better when tested with cold drinks, however. With refrigerated coffee poured into the mug without ice (as the amount of ice may vary for customers), the coffee was still cold 12 hours later. Another testing observation to note is that the lid opening seemed a little wide, and it was easy to spill when drinking.

Stanley Adventure Vacuum Quencher: It's not that it's a bad tumbler, but rather that I don't see the point. Yes, it has the typical Stanley bombproof powder coating and build, and it does a fine job of keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, but the chief feature is just … a straw. It pokes out of a hole in the lid without sealing to the opening's sides, so it's not spill-proof if you're using the straw, even though there's a lid on it. You can close the lid, but you have to remove the straw and put it somewhere. It doesn't flip down conveniently or anything. “Insulated tumbler with a reusable straw thrown in” seems like an afterthought of a product.Like most Yeti products, the Rambler effectively keeps drinks hot for around 10 hours or cold for close to 20. It's also sold in more than 10 colors from neutrals to vibrant hues, so you can find one that suits your style. The Yeti Rambler comes in three sizes—10, 20, and 30 ounces—and each option is stylish, durable, and easy to clean. I own the 20-ounce model and appreciate that I can nearly get my hand to the bottom of the tumbler thanks to its wide rim. With a sponge or bottle brush in hand, I'm able to clean every nook and cranny. The Rambler is also dishwasher safe if you're not in the mood to wash it by hand.

At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Want tough, leak-free mugs that keep coffee hot for hours? We're here to help with our best travel mug roundup

Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed a travel expert for guidance on what to look for when shopping for travel mugs and cups. She also consulted Select staffers for shopping recommendations. The S’well Stainless Steel Traveler Mug is inarguably one of the best-designed travel mugs on the market today. Thanks to S’well’s high-end, triple-wall technology, you can rest assured that your drinks will maintain their ideal temperature for hours on end. I found that it performed exceedingly well. Coffee stayed hot for 12 hours and, after adding refrigerated coffee without ice, it was still cold 30 hours later.