Make your beverage habit more eco-friendly with these reusable tumblers
Overview
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The environmental impact of buying iced teas, coffees, and the like in plastic cups cannot be overstated. Over 4 billion are used per year, and less than 25% of the plastic cups from places like Starbucks are even recycled. This is cause for concern.
If you drink a caffeinated beverage, it’s probably a daily habit, and that plastic use really adds up. So there has been an increase in interest in the reusable tumbler market. They’re especially enticing when coffeeshops offer a small discount for bringing your own reusables. And there are so many on the market at varying price points that it’s easy for environmental enthusiasts to get excited about all the choices that are available.
What are the drawbacks to reusable tumblers?
Having a reusable tumbler is a relatively easy way to be more environmentally conscious, but you can run into problems.
Like switching to any reusables, whether it’s a straw or a fork, it doesn’t matter if you own these things if you’re not going to use them. If a tumbler isn’t dishwasher safe, for example, it may sit dirty next to your sink because you don’t feel like washing it. When you roll up to Starbucks the next day, it’s like you don’t even have a tumbler at home. And so many companies are interested in appearing eco-friendly that they make tons of tumblers. Who among us hasn’t gone to a conference, meeting, or office party and received one of these free cups, which you probably won’t use because the branding is unattractive? Or worse, it’s cheaply made, and then falls apart and you can’t even recycle it? This becomes especially gross if you are bringing your own latte and then the lid malfunctions, spilling it everywhere.
What are the best reusable tumblers?
If you just search “tumbler” on a shopping site, you can be hit with hundreds of thousands of results. We chose tumblers that removed all the barriers to entry. They won’t break down after only a few uses. And they’ll have holes wide enough for you to pop in a straw, if you choose.
We scoured the internet for your old faves and classics, like the ubiquitous Yeti and strawless Hydroflasks, plus some new ones that are perhaps not yet on your radar. We made sure that there have been solid customer reviews to put your mind at ease with an eye on leak-proof options. We also picked similar sizes for each of the items so you can see how the pricing stacks up.
YETI Rambler
Best Overall
The Good & The Bad
- Shatterproof and durable
- Dishwasher safe
- Paint chips
- Not leakproof
Why We Like It
Everything about Yeti’s branding screams tough and durable. Which is great if you’re looking for a tumbler to stand the test of time. It’s made of kitchen grade stainless steel with double walled vacuum insulation. It has an insulated magnetic lid that ensures easy opening and closing, but it’s not leakproof, and some reviews have claimed the paint has chipped on theirs. But it is dishwasher safe and cupholder compatible — major wins — and has a shatter-resistant construction. It doesn’t come with any other accessories but the website does have straws and other lids available for purchase.
Details
Hydro Flask Tumbler Cup
Best Insulated Tumbler
The Good & The Bad
- Well-trusted brand
- High quality
- Holds a lot of liquid
- Not dishwasher safe
- More expensive than others
- No accessories
Why We Like It
Everyone from VSCO girls to serious athletes are fans of the HydroFlask. And it’s easy to see why: it’s got features that other tumblers can only dream of.
At 22 ounces — though it also comes in two other sizes — it’s big enough for boosting your water intake but has a narrowed shape to fit in your car cup. It has special insulation called TempShield, which keeps cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks hot for six. Available in seven colors, the press-in lid prevents spills and is also insulated. It’s made of stainless steel, has a lifetime warranty, and is BPA-free.
Details
Ban.do Sip Sip Tumbler With Straw
Best Wallet-friendly Option
The Good & The Bad
- Well-priced
- Double walled and sturdy
- Good size
- Not dishwasher safe
Why We Like It
This tumbler is an easy-to-use and attractive purchase. It holds 20 ounces of your cold liquid of choice, which is the equivalent of a Venti drink at Starbucks.
It comes in nine different colors, from beautiful florals to mottos like “I am very busy.” Because who says being eco-friendly has to be boring? You'll get a silicone straw with the tumbler, and it’s double walled, ensuring that your drink will be protected. It is small enough to fit in your car cup, but large enough to not rattle around. It has an average of a five stars based on 170 reviews, and users claim that the lid screws on tight, making it perfect for travel.
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Corkcicle Origins Tumbler
Most Stylish Tumbler
The Good & The Bad
- Stylish
- Shatter-proof lid
- No-slip bottom
- A few reports of paint chipping
Why We Like It
The Corkcicle tumblers have some serious style. From marbled to wooden designs, the four available colors make it one of the sharpest looking tumblers on the list. It’s triple-insulated so it’ll keep cold beverages cold for over nine hours and hot beverages hot for three. It has a slip-proof silicone bottom so it’ll stay put in car cups and flat, slim slides for comfortable holding. It also has a shatter-proof lid.
Details
Klean Kanteen Insulated Tumbler
Best For Straw Lovers
The Good & The Bad
- Comes with a straw
- Keeps drinks cold for almost a full day
- Not leakproof or dishwasher safe
- Holds less than other tumblers on the list
Why We Like It
You may know Klean Kanteen as the manufacturer of your favorite water bottle but you’ll be happy to know that they make 16 oz stainless steel tumblers that keep hot drinks hot for four hours and cold drinks cold for 20.
It comes in five different colors and unlike the Yeti, these tumblers are brushed with a coating that makes their paint chip-resistant. It’s BPA free, is slim enough to fit in car cupholders, comes with a splash-proof lid, and even has a lifetime guarantee.
A stainless steel straw with a silicone mouthpiece comes with every tumbler. It’s not dishwasher safe, which is obviously a bummer, but the fact that it comes with the straw helps make up for it.
Unfortunately Klean Kanteen does not sell a 20 oz version, so this would probably fit about a Grande at Starbucks instead of a Venti. And it’s not leakproof, so make sure you tighten the lid after pouring in a drink.
Details
S'well Stainless Steel Tumbler
Best Sweatproof Tumbler
The Good & The Bad
- Keeps drinks cool for 24 hours
- Doesn’t come with a lid
It’s tough as nails and the insulation is surprisingly efficient considering how thin the side the wall is. It doesn’t sweat, even on a muggy Texas spring afternoon. It keeps ice all day. It is the only cup I drink out of anymore. I bought the gold one, I got this one for my mom.
Why We Like It
S’well's stainless steel bottles are so ubiquitous that they have inspired many knockoffs. So it would make sense that they enter the tumbler market, with a stainless steel BPA-free one that’s triple-insulated.
The cool thing about this tumbler is that it is sweatproof, meaning you can fill it up with cold water and won't find little beads of water and condensation on the outside, dripping onto and then ruining your wooden surfaces.
The not so cool thing is that the lid to this tumbler is sold separately. If a tumbler doesn’t have a lid, is it just a metal cup? But unlike all the other options, this tumbler keeps drinks cold up to 24 hours and hot drinks up to 12. It’s perfect for a hike or a long day at work.
Kevin G. on Amazon said:
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Swig Life Tumbler
Best For Gifting
The Good & The Bad
- Comes in many styles
- Stays cold for 24 hours
- Some reviewers have reported paint chipping on the tumbler
Why We Like It
The Swiglife tumbler comes in so many different colors, you could literally coordinate your outfit with your reusable cup every day of the week. (It also makes for great gifts.)
Your drink will stay hot for 12 hours and cold for 24. It has vacuum copper-coated insulation and comes with a straw. It fits into your cupholder and won’t sweat onto your table. And reviewers have popped it in the dishwasher and had it survive, so that’s a plus as well.
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Topics Social Good Sustainability
