jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Oct 15, 2017 6:58:56 GMT -8
I have a bin in my gear closet just for mugs... I do have a beautiful Snow Peak double-wall titanium one (the 'stacking' ones, no handles, no big logo either.) The double-walls eliminate hot-lips. I have a single-wall one that I think I got as a gift early in the titanium craze and hated the hot lips and instantaneously luke-warm coffee... seemed like the worst of both worlds.
But, more often than not, I take an old GSI one, lexan with a lid and neoprene. Weighs 2.9 oz, which is only 0.2 oz more than the double-wall Ti one without a lid. The powers that be keep "updating" mug designs and adding more features. The current GSI one is up to 3.5 oz. I like the simplicity of the Sea to Summit Denali that Westy mentioned but I think it's even heavier.
On whether Ti is worth it, the whole point of Ti is its superb strength-to-weight ratio. It's probably wasted on a mug unless you're a serious gram-weenie and intend to double it as a pot. As soon as you go double-wall, your weight savings are gone, especially if you want a lid. I like lids, not just to keep things warm longer but also to keep things out. Lids that are sold for Ti mugs seem nutty heavy, for instance the lid they sell for my 2.7 oz Ti mug weighs an ounce on its own.
Also, as much as I respect the Snow Peak line, I think they're pretty over-priced. I'm a fan of the Toaks brand, easy to buy on Amazon. If you want to indulge, might try a more reasonably priced brand.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Oct 15, 2017 7:29:18 GMT -8
The Toaks on Amazon is $41, the Snow Peak is $59.
I only have used insulated mugs on winter trips otherwise a GSI lexan coffee cup. My insulated mugs maybe cost a couple of $$.
I was looking at a blue anodized version of the Snow Peak. I worry about getting a Chinese knock off ordering on Amazon. I looked on Snow Peak's site and they only offer a straight Ti one, no anodized, and they are out of stock currently.
So I am not sure first about anodized, second the authenticity on Amazon.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2017 8:04:12 GMT -8
I just purchased one of these GSI mugs, after ~30 years of using a plastic 8 fl oz Aladdin thermal mug that was a giveaway item at a prior employer. I use these for both food and beverage, and the main reason I ordered the new one was to have something with more capacity than 8oz, and something with a wider orifice, to make eating out of it easier. With the Aladdin, I often ended up eating in two "batches" because it didn't have enough capacity to hold supper in one batch, and the second batch wasn't as hot as desired.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Oct 15, 2017 8:42:38 GMT -8
That's the 'updated' GSI model that I mentioned in my post. The sleeve slips off (at least it does on mine) and I marked measurement levels (e.g. 0.25/0.5/1.0 Cup) on mine with a permanent marker.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2017 10:04:55 GMT -8
The sleeve does slip off on the new one, too, and it has measurement markings on the inside already, which could be handy.
I haven't had a chance to use it yet; I just got it planning ahead for a Colorado Trail through-hike next year.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Oct 15, 2017 12:41:54 GMT -8
My insulated mugs maybe cost a couple of $$. I've gotten most of mine at the thrift store, so definitely no more than a couple of bucks! The current non-insulated plastic cup was free--an old logo item from the PTA at the boys' high school. When we cleaned out the cupboard, I snagged one, figuring it would work for one trip where I wanted to lighten my load. Still working!
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 15, 2017 15:20:26 GMT -8
I have a long TI spoon but prefer a polycarbonate/lexan one; the TI spoon just seems to be "clanky" on my teeth. I finally abandoned my Ti spoon for Lexan. I don't mind the metal, but the Lexan spoon is wider, so it can shovel food into my face much faster. I also went to cooking mainly in quart bags instead of gallon, so the long handle is less important. I have cheap plastic mugs now. That's all I use. I don't mind spending money on gear, it doesn't cost me nearly as much as travel, but a Ti mug just doesn't beat plastic in my book.
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ogg
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Post by ogg on Oct 20, 2017 7:39:20 GMT -8
I've been using a 300 ml Evernew double walled Ti mug for years, bought it primarily for the folding handle design, not so much for the material. A steep discount made it a reasonable purchase. For some reason, mugs with folding handles made of cheaper materials are not widely available. The Evernew mug replaced a poorly made stainless steel cup with folding handles from a Coleman cookset, the only stainless steel option I've ever run across. I'm not a fan of drinking out of plastic or of large mugs, so I have yet to find any good alternatives to what I'm using now.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Oct 23, 2017 10:48:13 GMT -8
which is basically a plastic beer cup of the sort they give away free at ball games or whatever Back a while ago, I accidentally discovered this cup which was then being made by a company called "MicroGreen", called the InCycle cup. It was made from recycled PET bottles using a process which created "micro bubbles" of air in the plastic, effectively insulating the cup for hot or cold liquids. Since airlines were getting rid of the highly flammable styrofoam cups they were using, the company expected to exploit the need for light, disposable cups to replace the unacceptable styrofoam ones, but they went belly up when their financing failed before they could get off the ground. I think it had something to do with initial majority funding by a native Indian cartel, which refused to let the company restructure: "Stillaguamish Tribe and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the largest investor which reportedly pushed MicroGreen into foreclosure after it was unable to repay an $8 million loan." The cups were still being sold at Amazon last year, so I bought a case of them for not a lot. They're only 8 oz cups, but I think I only paid a few cents per cup at the clearance price. Like a lot of my "gear" (:^)), their status is currently "lost in gear room" - and they have yet to be used, so I can't report on the efficacy of the insulation nor consult on what sort (or size) of lid might be used, even if they were still available. (Sort of a "terminal review", I guess.) Sadly, they are no longer available, the vagaries of the American capitalist system being what they are. It would have been nice to have a slightly larger cup. Maybe they'll come back some day in the future. If I can find the case I bought, I might be able to provide samples for "inspection and testing", but that would, of course, not lead anywhere productive if the product never reenters the market.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Oct 30, 2017 19:02:20 GMT -8
My wife gave me the Snow Peak double wall for my birthday. It is light and strong. I have been using it as my day to day home mug. It does a little better than my normal ceramic mug at keeping my coffee warm but nowhere near what my plastic insulated mugs with a top do. But I don't think it is fair to directly compare something with a lid. I am liking the form factor. It is less bulky that the plastic mugs that hold the same amount. Also the wider mouth may make it nicer to eat meals out of and keep them warm if I want to take my time.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Nov 25, 2017 4:50:52 GMT -8
I bought one of those, despite numerous reviews which said it leaked. I hoped for a non-leaker. I was disappointed. So after many cups and mugs of various materials, I eventually bought a double wall metal cup which works well for me. I remember it being quite expensive, so it's probably titanium. It's the best one I've tried, so I'm sticking with it. HYOH.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Nov 26, 2017 16:50:27 GMT -8
despite numerous reviews which said it leaked. Roh! Roh! Our family has four of them.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Nov 26, 2017 16:57:00 GMT -8
Our family has four of them. So it was YOU that took all the good ones!
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Nov 26, 2017 18:43:07 GMT -8
Thanks for making me laugh!
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 5, 2017 7:03:27 GMT -8
I don't like cooking in a mug. Water will head up much faster in a shallow pan. I have small nonstick coated billy bot (with a lid) and a stainless steel mug. If I needed a new one, I would consider titanium if I could find one as a close-out, but I can't really justify the expense if it wasn't on sale.
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