We dropped each flask five times from 90cm to mimic a dropped flask. Those with large dents that inhibited function or ability were rated low.

That being said, we found that performance was not quite as good as a dedicated drinks flask – the Milu will keep your hot drinks hot for six hours and the cold ones for 10 hours. Capacity: 600ml (20.3oz) / Temperature test: 0 hrs 90°c, 90 mins 79.6°c, 4 hrs 66.5°c, 6 hrs 58.3°c, 8 hrs 51.6°c, 24 hrs 22.2°c / Stainless steel construction / Wide mouth opening /Since the American manufacturer, Thermos, came to fame, the term has become slang for vacuum-insulated flasks. Although the terms are largely interchangeable, the original scientific phrasing is 'vacuum flask'. The downside of this approach is that a high capacity flask will be big and bulky. There’s no getting away from it. However, if you’re able to split your gear equally between all members of the team (e.g. one walker carries lunch, another carries the picnic blanket etc) then overall you will use less space than if you each carried smaller flasks.

Using a flask is actually also a very responsible thing to do in terms of recycling – apparently 99.75% of disposable coffee cups are not recycled! The Okadi is a 2.5L flask which offers extremely good capacity for both family and group adventures. It is fabricated from stainless steel which gives excellent core strength and durability. This thermos will last for a long period of time indeed. Hydro Flask are a fashionable US company who have made reusable flasks and water bottles immensely cool over on the West Coast of America. The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth is a quality vacuum flask employing some great tech, a lovely powder-coated exterior surface for great grip as well as excellent heat retention properties. The downside is that they are a touch on the expensive side – you don’t get this sort of style for free girl!When single-use plastics started getting a bad rap, S’well became the drinks bottle of choice for a host of celebrities and ‘influencers’. But they’re not all style over substance – the design consists of a triple-walled construction incorporating a copper layer for improved insulation. This flask is lightweight and practical – the ergonomic shape makes it easy to hold, the really wide mouth makes for easy drinking, filling and cleaning, and the grooved lid makes it easy to open, even if screwed on tightly. It’s sure to draw admiring glances if you leave it on your desk at the office. It’s just a shame that the capacity is a bit small, and it’s relatively expensive for a little flask. Full Specifications You may think choosing a vacuum flask is a simple matter of grabbing the shiniest example in the camping shop (if it’s open!) and hoping for the best. Well, unfortunately we’ve tried that approach several times and have frequently been disappointed. Need to know: Not dishwasher safe, button-operated lid, comes with one cup, also available in 350ml and 500ml sizes Thermos should just rename their 1 litre ‘Light and Compact’ vacuum flask as “The Daddy” because it effortlessly delivers everything you would expect from the company who developed the vacuum flask as we know it today from Sir James Dewar’s original prototype in 1904.