The Best Thermoses of 2020

If you want your favorite liquids to stay hot all day, check out our roundup of the best thermoses of 2020. Get ready to warm up with a hot drink.

Whether you’re heading out for a day of hunting, ice fishing, or enjoying the solitude of a winter trail, a warm cup of coffee or a hot lunch can make any weather a bit warmer. The perfect thermos will vary from person to person, but they all have overlapping qualities that make them the ideal piece of outdoor gear.

We narrowed down the best thermoses according to durability, leakproof-ness, heat retention, and overall capacity. If you’re looking for a water bottle, check out our lineup of the best insulated water bottles of 2020.

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The Best Thermoses of 2020

Best Overall: Stanley Classic

You can’t quite beat a classic when it comes to a good thermos. The Stanley Classic ($40) has it in the name, and it has been a top contender for thermoses since its release in 1913. There have been updates to the design since then, but one thing holds true: The vacuum insulation can keep liquids hot or cold for up to 32 hours and keep ice for 160 hours.

It will be a tad heavier than some of the counterparts on the market, but there are numerous reasons that Stanley has been used for generations.

The handle on the thermos’ side makes it easy to carry and to pour, even while wearing gloves. The lid doubles as a cup, so if the contents are too hot to drink directly from the thermos, pour the contents into the lid to cool faster.

This classic Hammertone green thermos holds about 2 L of liquid. The good news is that no matter the size of the Stanley Classic you choose, it will be durable, won’t rust, and is BPA-free. Not only that, but if you close the lid correctly you can guarantee that this thermos will be leakproof. That means no worries about tossing this bad boy into a pack on a hike.

• Capacity: 1.9 L (64 oz.)
• Weight: 2.2 lbs.
• Pros: Leakproof, durable, well-insulated
• Cons: Somewhat heavy

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Runner-Up: Thermos Stainless King 40 oz

Another widely known and trusted brand in the thermos world is Thermos. With a name like that, it would be hard to imagine anything but quality. The Thermos Stainless King ($30) is designed to function as a hot or cold liquid holder. The brand has food-specific thermoses as well, but this 40-ounce thermos is the best coffee thermos in its line.

Thermos’ patented vacuum insulation keeps liquids hot or cold for 24 hours, and bottles are designed to keep the exterior temperature lower, making it easy to hold. This also prevents the bottle from sweating when holding cold liquids in the summer months.

As with other brands of thermoses, the Thermos King’s lid doubles as a cup. To make pouring easier and to contain liquid temperature longer, Thermos integrated a clever twist and pour spout that lets you pour out the liquid without removing the stopper.

This stainless steel thermos is easy to use, BPA-free, and easy to keep clean by being dishwasher safe. All-in-all, it may not have the highest heat retention, but it is a top-quality pick, especially because of the additional functionality.

• Capacity: 1.2 L (40 oz.)
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Pros: Dishwasher-safe, easy-pour function, good heat retention
• Cons: Lid cup/seal may need to be replaced after a few years

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Most Versatile: CamelBak MultiBev

CamelBak upped the ante with its MultiBev ($48) thermos design. This 2-in-1 thermos is both a thermos style water bottle and an insulated travel cup. Unlike many other thermos cups that double as the lid, this thermos’ travel cup portion is the base, and it comes with a roll-up silicone lid.

The bottle lid of the CamelBack MultiBev does have a small compartment underneath the handle to hold the travel cup’s foldable silicone lid. If you don’t intend on using the travel cup’s lid, that compartment is big enough to hold a tea bag or a handful of nuts. This unique design seems to be most applicable for working people looking for travel mugs to use for coffee, that can function as a water bottle as well.

The thermos’ overall capacity isn’t that large, and it is heavy for holding just over 20 ounces, making it hard to justify bringing with when snowshoeing or hiking. Still, it is a durable design that keeps liquids hot or cold for extended periods and is perfect for sharing.

• Capacity: 0.65 L (22 oz.)
• Weight: 1 lb. 4.8 oz.
• Pros: Well-insulated, versatile design, easy for sharing
• Cons: Small liquid capacity, heavy for size

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Best Coffee Thermos: Contigo Travel Mug

The best coffee thermos on our list is a low-profile mug that can do just as well on a hiking trail as it can day to day during your commute. Unlike the standard travel coffee mug, the Contigo Travel Mug ($13) is designed with a Snapseal lid to make the seal leakproof and keep coffee hot longer.

The most popular size for the Contigo Travel Mug may seem small, but Contigo makes 16-, 20-, and 24-ounce size options. To further add to consumer design choices, Contigo gives you the option to have a handle, grip, or neither.

The high-quality stainless steel body is BPA-free and insulated well enough to keep liquids warm for up to 7 hours and cold for 18 hours. The lid is plastic, so be aware that sometimes the flavors may overlap if you drink tea and coffee in the same mug.

• Capacity: 0.5-0.7 L (16-20 oz.)
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Pros: Fits in most cup holders, multiple design options, decent heat retention
• Cons: Should not put in a bag to avoid the lid from opening

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Best Thermos Mug: YETI Rambler Mug

The YETI Rambler Mug ($25) took all the benefits of a classic thermos and put them into a trusty coffee mug. This Rambler Mug gives cabin retreats and backcountry camping ventures the perfect start to any morning by ensuring your coffee stays hot, and that your tea is a continuously warm treat each night.

The 14-ounce mug is made from stainless steel with a DuraCoat finish adding to the durability and preventing sweating when holding cold beverages. Since YETI designed this as a mug, the lid does not provide a complete leakproof seal. However, the lid is perfect for fireside sipping and has a tight enough seal to help liquids maintain temperature for 6-7 hours.

• Capacity: 0.41 L (14 oz.)
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Pros: sweat-free, easy to use/clean, durable camp mug
• Cons: not leakproof, heat retention

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Best Food Thermos: Hydro Flask Food Jar ($26) 25% Off

Nothing beats a hot lunch on a cold day out in the backcountry. But if you’re not lugging in a huge thermos, how will you get your soup out there? The Hyrdo Flask Food Jar ($35) solved that problem by being a functional, compact container made specifically for food, not just liquid.

The TempShield double insulation keeps your hot soups or stews hot for hours. It isn’t just ideal for cold weather, though. The container is a perfect size for a fresh fruit salad in the summer. It is fully leakproof when closed correctly, making it a packable container for any trek.

Unlike bringing soup in a standard thermos, the Hyrdo Flask Food Jar is designed more like a bowl to provide a wide-mouth opening for ease while eating. With the stainless steel materials, you don’t have to worry about flavor transfer into the container either.

• Capacity: 0.35 L (12 oz.)
• Weight: 0.7 lbs.
• Pros: Lifetime warranty, compact/lightweight, durable, heat retention
• Cons: Small food capacity

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Best Thermos for Soup: Maxso 2-Pack

Maxso insulated thermoses ($37) are the perfect lunch companion for soups on and off the trail. The size and functionality of each of the thermoses can give you the confidence to store these anywhere in your pack or lunch box.

They’re both vacuum-insulated to keep food hot for up to 12 hours and cold for 24 hours. The top lid doubles as a bowl for eating, and the air pressure sealing lid secures the food within the thermos. With an updated design, a foldable spoon fits into the sealing lid.

There is one larger and one smaller thermos in the 2 pack, and it comes with one foldable spoon. The containers are designed with a nonslip bottom and an easy-open air-pressure system that even your kids could get used to using correctly. For the price, these are an excellent thermos for soups and drinks alike.

• Capacity: 17 oz. & 24 oz.
• Weight: 2.1 lbs.
• Pros: Integrated spoon, no-slip/spill design, heat retention
• Cons: Only one spoon included, difficult to clean

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Best Thermos for Kids: Simple Modern Insulated Bottle

If you bring your kids along for outdoor adventures or they need a new thermos for school, the Simple Modern Insulated Bottle ($15-40) is an extremely functional design. The 14-ounce bottle is small enough for them to carry themselves and for most kids to easily handle.

It is useful for holding cold liquids for hours, and your kids won’t have to worry about opening and closing the top because it has a straw. The straw makes it easy for kids to drink, with no tilting necessary. When the straw nozzle is in the closed position, it is leakproof, so be sure that it is closed all the way before putting it in a pack.

The only downside to these insulated bottles is that it is meant for drinking cold beverages; it isn’t designed for hot liquids. Because of the design, the heat causes pressure that could make the bottle leak or spill.

• Capacity: 14-84 oz.
• Weight: Varies
• Pros: Straw nozzle, handle on lid, multiple size options
• Cons: Not intended for hot liquids

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Best Food Thermos for Kids: Thermos Funtainer

Utilizing the classic Thermos design, just in a smaller package, the Funtainer is perfect for kids. The Funtainer ($15) is a 10-ounce food jar for kids to pack in a lunch and is available in multiple designs and patterns. It will keep food cold for up to 7 hours and food hot for 5 hours while keeping the container’s exterior cool enough for your kids to handle.

The Funtainer has an extra-wide opening for food to make it easy for kids to eat directly from the food container. They’re still vacuum-insulated and use BPA-free materials, making them leakproof and easy to clean.

If you pack a school lunch for your kids every day, this thermos’ size is perfect for a lunch box. There’s no need to pack a thermos outside from the rest of the food since it fits inside most lunch boxes, but it won’t regulate hot food temperature well if put in a lunch container with an ice pack.

• Capacity: 10 oz.
• Weight: 0.5 lbs.
• Pros: Wide mouth opening, lightweight, leakproof
• Cons: Heat retention, seal may need replacing

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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Thermos

Capacity

Determining your thermos’ capacity will come down to two factors: the intended activity and if you are sharing.

If you are heading out for a day of ice fishing, lugging out a Stanley classic will be no issue, but if you are embarking on an ultralight backpacking trek, a thermos may not even make the cut.

Consider how much you usually drink or eat and if it will fit inside of the thermos container. Jumping off from there, decide if it is just for you or if you are packing lunch or coffee for you and your partner. If you have multiple people sharing a thermos, then a larger capacity is ideal. However, if one cup of coffee is all that is needed, something closer to the CamelBak MultiBev will suffice.

Insulation

The insulating capabilities of a thermos are what makes them so useful. Most thermoses on the market today will utilize vacuum insulation, but some may also use foam insulation. Vacuum insulation tends to work better than foam, making it the standard for quality thermos brands.

Vacuum insulation essentially uses a double layer of material to create a space between the walls. This gap of air (the vacuum) is what is preventing heat or cold from escaping or entering.

Durability

Most of us will be bringing our thermos outside for some reason or another, so it needs to be able to take a beating. Top-quality thermoses will be constructed using stainless steel of some kind, at least for the thermos’ body. A stainless steel body is harder to break, especially in cold conditions.

Many thermoses will also have an additional coating to ensure that the thermos is well protected. Be mindful of the handle and the lid when considering durability as well. Many thermos lids will have the exterior lid be stainless steel, and the air pressure lid is plastic because it isn’t directly exposed unless opened.

Some other thermos designs will have an all-plastic lid, and this is usually the first part of the thermos to fail. If it does come with a plastic lid, double-check the warranty or if replacement parts are available if something breaks.

Lid Construction: Leakproof & Drinking-Friendly

Another aspect of the lid to consider is the seal and how you drink out of the thermos. If you have a food-specific thermos, then look at how easy it is to pour from the opening as well.

Traditional thermos designs will have two lids: one air locking lid and an exterior lid that doubles as a cup. These dual lid designs are almost always leakproof, especially since both lids will have a rubber seal of some kind. Having a secure lid design is necessary when carrying around a thermos of hot water or coffee, not only to prevent spilling in a bag but for your safety as well.

Other thermos lids, like that of the Contigo Travel Mug, will be more like a travel coffee container lid. So they should have a rubber seal and a Snapseal to cover the drinking spout. These lids will vary from company to company, but be sure to pay special attention to how well the lid seals, especially if intending to use backpacking.

If you are only using the thermos as a food container, then look at the opening of the lid or top of the thermos to see how easy it will be to pour. The wider the mouth, the harder it will be to be precise when pouring. However, a wide mouth can be easier to eat directly from the thermos.

When a thermos is meant for drinking, then the lid construction determines how easy it is not to spill on yourself with every sip. Silicone lids will usually create a decent seal but can be challenging to drink from. Plastic lids with a sipping hole or straw are usually the go-to for most non-traditional thermos lids.

Extra Features & Accessories

Extra features like a lid that doubles as a cup, the handle design, grip, or a built-in spoon add a bit of versatility to a thermos. These are not necessary aspects of the thermos that make or break the functionality, but they can add that little extra piece that makes your life easier or a little more comfortable when enjoying coffee or tea on a cold winter morning.

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Have a favorite thermos we missed? Let us know in the comments below for future updates to this article.

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