We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
We bought 12 promising tumbers to test side-by-side, and thoroughly assess. Our review team spent months drinking hot and cold beverages from each insulating cup while evaluating performance in real-world and controlled tests. We measured temperature change over time to check insulation capabilities, brought them in cars and on the go to test cupholder compatibility, and heated them up to test how much they “sweat.” With an overwhelming number of options, finding the right product to fit your specific needs is challenging. Through our rigorous testing and analysis, we hope to help you find what's right for you.
If you're just wanting the perfect glass to enjoy a brew, take a look at our review of the best beer glasses. Or perhaps you want to whip up some quality coffee to go in your tumbler, in which case, we've tested the top French presses and espresso machines on the market, as well as electric kettles. For taking other refreshments on the go, see our lunch box review.
Editor's Note: Our tumbler review was updated on August 2, 2024, to include specs charts for our award winners and additional information on our testing process.
Magnetic slider lid is convenient and easy to clean
Dishwasher-safe
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Too wide for some camp chair cupholders
SPECIFICATIONS
Available Sizes (ounces)
10, 20, 30 oz
Size Tested
20oz
Interior Material
Stainless Steel
Lid Disassembles For Cleaning
Partially; magnetic slider, non-removable sealing ring
Dishwasher Safe
Yes
The YETI Rambler lives up to its reputation as one of the best tumblers on the market. Its double-walled insulation kept ice in our cup all day in the sun without causing condensation or cold hands. The Rambler is also so insulative for hot beverages that sometimes it was even too hot to drink for the entire duration of our morning commute. This is a fantastic choice if you like your hot drinks to stay hot through the last sip and your cold drinks icy. An especially unique feature of the Rambler is its MagSlider technology, which scored major points with ease of cleaning. While most tumblers are dishwasher safe these days, getting coffee grounds and stains from the cap was annoying on some models. The slider on the Rambler is connected via a magnet, and you can quickly remove it for cleaning. This is a sleek tumbler that feels comfortable and secure in the hand.
On the downside, all of these coveted attributes come with tradeoffs. Most notably, the Rambler is heavy and expensive. It fit well in the cupholders of multiple vehicles, but our lead tester couldn't get it all the way into the cupholder on her camp chair. It is also important to note that camp chairs have a wide variance in cupholder sizes, meaning this tumbler might fit just fine in others. With its top-notch insulation and nifty lid technology, this vessel tops our list. If you're searching for an inexpensive way to keep your beverages cold or hot, the RTIC Tumbler will get the job done while saving you some bucks.
For morning commutes and post-work beach hangs, the Rambler is tough to beat. It combines performance, an innovative lid design, and aesthetics into a sleek package.
The RTIC Tumbler won us over with its impressive insulating capacity, thriving at keeping beverages hot and cold for longer. It's the perfect option for getting out the door quickly and taking a steaming coffee along for the ride. The tapered, ergonomic design feels secure in hand, and the bottom is small enough to fit into many cupholders, from cars to your favorite lawn chair. The RTIC came out on top in our spill test, too — while the cap was completely closed and the cup was inverted, only a couple of drops slowly squeezed out. The cap is also easily opened for drinking with just one hand.
Due to its narrow base and overly wide top half, the RTIC felt a bit unstable sitting on a table or desk. We trust its spill-proof abilities, but the plastic lid is unlikely to withstand many drops onto a hard floor. Cleaning the nooks and crannies of the lid is also tricky, and when the flip-top is sealed, attaching the lid completely to the tumbler can be difficult. The RTIC is best for those who want a great insulative mug that fits easily in any cupholder at a great price. Accident-prone individuals should consider one of the more durable models like the Hydro Flask All Around. It performed well in our durability testing and features a classic tumbler shape.
The RTIC tumbler keeps your rocket fuel hot so you can study or work for hours, and its lid offers your notes and computer some protection from spills.
The MiiR Flip Traveler is a convenient, easy-to-use tumbler that you can feel safe tossing into your bag when on the go. The flip-top lid seals completely, ensuring that not a drop gets out even when upside down in your bag the whole way to the office. Opening this tumbler one-handed while you drive is easy, thanks to a protruding lip on the flip top. The Flip is a perfect cylinder that fit in every cupholder we tried and looks great to boot.
The flip seal on the MiiR juts upward awkwardly when flipped open. As a result, not hitting our noses on it with every sip required some practice. And without any way to remove the hinged seal, whatever you're drinking can get lodged in the hinge without an easy way to clean it out. But with a bit of practice, we found ourselves loving the Miir Flip for its security when traveling and overall ease of drinking. However, some might prefer a sliding lid like that of the YETI Rambler, which we found convenient and easy to clean.
The MiiR Flip is a great tumbler that's easy to toss in your bag and take to the office without worrying it will spill.
Mouth designed with pour-over coffee brewing in mind
Ceramic interior for clean taste
Excellent insulator
REASONS TO AVOID
Screw-on lid
Doesn't fit all cupholders
SPECIFICATIONS
Available Sizes (ounces)
12, 16 oz
Size Tested
16oz
Interior Material
Ceramic
Lid Disassembles For Cleaning
Yes; removable sealing ring
Dishwasher Safe
No; also no abrasive cleaners (ceramic interior)
If secure transport of the purest, tastiest hot coffee is your top priority, the Fellow Carter Everywhere Mug is a must. This on-the-go model is aimed right at the coffee connoisseur, with a tapered lip for sipping that's wide enough to accommodate your favorite pour over coffee maker, an Aeropress, and other implements for coffee brewing. This mug kept liquids hotter for longer than any other product in our tests. Screw the insulated lid on tight, and this mug can roll around in your backpack all day, full of hot coffee, without creating a mess. It also has a rubber gasket seal that comes off with little effort for easy cleaning. Most importantly, the interior is entirely ceramic to ensure your coffee is delicious and free of any metallic taste that many stainless steel tumblers may impart.
The screw lid is a double-edged sword, as it keeps hot liquids super secure but makes one-handed access while driving very difficult. The bottom of the Carter Everywhere Mug also isn't tapered, and the whole thing is a bit wider than average, so it doesn't fit in every car cup holder (though Fellow now makes a taller and slimmer mug for just this reason). Overall, this tumbler isn't designed for slurping while driving, but if having a piping hot caffeinated sip from an on-the-go ceramic mug is necessary for you to get the synapses firing, the Fellow Carter is a must and a perfect gift for the coffee fanatic in your life.
There's nothing like a secure screw-on lid to protect your bedspread from coffee stains.
Autolock function can be annoying when not on the move
SPECIFICATIONS
Available Sizes (ounces)
16, 20, 24 oz
Size Tested
20oz
Interior Material
Stainless Steel
Lid Disassembles For Cleaning
No; complicated with many moving parts that do not disassemble
Dishwasher Safe
Lid yes; body hand wash only
The Contigo Autoseal West Loop is a unique model that might not be for everyone — but for some, it's a dream come true. If you're the type of person with a long bumpy commute — perhaps riding your bicycle through the city or taking the subway for long periods — the security and utility of the West Loop are fantastic. It features a unique autolocking feature that keeps your beverage from splashing whenever you're not pressing the drink button — from there, all it takes is the push of a button to give you a sip. This vessel can also be truly locked to toss into a backpack or tote bag and has excellent insulation.
The insulation of the West Loop is so good that when we put near-boiling tea inside, we couldn't drink it for hours, so getting the temperature right to enjoy your beverage during your commute is key. It also has a very small opening, which is great for sipping super hot drinks but a hindrance when trying to hydrate with cool water in the afternoon. And there's no way to “lock” it open, so you have to press the button for every single sip — great for security on the go, but perhaps a little irritating once you're stationary. Still, this unique feature handily makes this our go-to choice for drinking hot beverages on the go. If you want the security of a locking lid but prefer the option of keeping it open, a flip lid model like the MiiR Flip Traveler might suit you better.
The Contigo Autoseal only releases liquid while you press the drinking button and has a backup lock for easy transport.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Compare Products
We downed plenty of ice-cold beverages and steaming hot tea as we evaluated each model's insulative efficacy.
Credit: Matt Bento
How We Test Tumblers
We've spent the past three years analyzing and testing the best tumblers on the market. We used these models for months, testing them with hot coffee, tea, carbonated beverages, boozy concoctions, and just plain water. We performed intensive all-day insulation testing with both hot and cold liquids, tipping them over and knocking them down to see which ones leaked. We put these travel vessels in cupholders in our cars and camping chairs and washed them over and over (and over!) again to learn which ones are the easiest to clean and the most convenient for certain types of uses. We also carefully examined their construction and put them through some serious abuse to determine their longevity.
Our intensive testing spans five mutually exclusive metrics to give a comprehensive overall picture of how each tumbler performs:
Insulation (30% of overall score weighting)
Spill Prevention (20% weighting)
Durability (20% weighting)
Ease of Cleaning (15% weighting)
Convenience (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
This review is headed by Senior Review Editors, Maggie Nichols and Monica Nigon. Both these ladies are well-known for always having a beverage in their hands. They both count themselves as avid coffee drinkers, serious hydration fanatics, tea lovers, and enjoyers of fine cocktails. From a cup of water waiting at the bedside in the morning, through workday coffee, and into evening brews and mixed drinks, Maggie and Monica are always drinking something. They have collectively gone through dozens of their own personal tumblers over the course of their lives and know what it takes to make a great drinking vessel.
The Tronco has a surprisingly effective silicone ring around the straw hole to help slow down a spilling beverage, but it's not spillproof.
Testing the Rambler's ability to keep slushie beverages icy on a hot summer day.
The HITSLAM wine tumbler scores some points for the included straw cleaner.
We put these tumblers to the test in all kinds of situations with all manner of beverages.
Analysis and Test Results
We strive to create test methods that remove bias from the assessment equation. We broke our testing into five different metrics that encompass everything that makes a tumbler great. Read on to dive into each metric and see which tumblers excel in certain areas.
What's the Best Value?
While none of the tumblers we tested are that expensive in the grand scheme of things, there's still a wide range of possible prices. The RTIC Tumbler offers the highest value of any model we tested, performing near the top of the pack in every one of our metrics for a steal of a price. The Bubba Brands Envy is another high-value model if you like straw tumblers with large volumes. The Yeti Rambler is the best all-around tumbler we tested, and if you're after a versatile, durable, easy-to-clean option that works just as well for hot drinks as it does for cold, we think this one is worth the investment.
Simple, innocuous, and very effective, the RTIC tumbler will keep hot drinks hot, cold drinks cold, and spills to a minimum - all for a very affordable price.
Credit: Matt Bento
Insulation
The most important metric for a worthwhile tumbler is insulation for both hot and cold beverages. We considered the construction materials and whether each vessel is vacuum-insulated, double-walled, sleeved in silicone, or otherwise. We tested insulation abilities in the lab with both hot and cold beverage tests, measuring them throughout many hours to see which ones held their temperatures best. We also put all our tumblers to the test in the real world, commuting with hot coffee, relaxing with cold beer, hydrating during and after exercise, and meandering around the house with calming tea.
As expected, most of the top performers in this metric are the models that seal completely and have double-walled insulation. The Fellow Carter Everywhere Mug is the standout — even the lid is double-wall insulated to round out its completely leakproof construction. The Carter maintained temperature better than any other model we tested. The Miir Flip Traveler and Contigo Autoseal West Loop aren't far behind — both seal completely, better insulating against allowing your bevvy to get to room temperature.
A comparison of the heat retention of all the tumblers we tested.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Bubba Brands Envy also distinguished itself from the pack with excellent insulating abilities. Though its strawed lid is open on the top rather than sealed, the tall and narrow shape of this tumbler means less surface area is exposed to the surrounding air. The Camelbak Horizon employs a similar strategy to provide better insulation with its tall and narrow shape. The RTIC Tumbler and Yeti Rambler also do fantastic jobs insulating. The RTIC features a flip top that sets it ahead of many other models, though its plastic lid isn't quite as insulating as that of the Miir Flip. The Yeti Rambler stands out with its magnetic slide that, while not a completely solid seal, still proves itself well-equipped to insulate beverages.
A side-by-side analysis of the ability of these tumblers to resist letting cold beverages warm up.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The other double-walled stainless steel models do a decent job insulating, with the exception of the Hitslam Wine Tumbler. With its very low, wide shape, thin plastic lid, and non-closing straw opening, it has poor insulation compared to other stainless steel products. But if you're using it for something like red wine, this may not matter — or even be preferred. It's also important to call attention to the glass tumblers, which not only provide exceptionally poor insulation for keeping beverages cold but their glass bodies also aren't rated to hold hot drinks. We still enjoy using them when the temperature doesn't matter as much, particularly the Tronco Glass tumbler, which feels great in hand.
The Bubba Brands Envy is an excellent insulator, even with its open top and straw.
Credit: Matt Bento
Spill Prevention
No one likes starting their day by spilling scalding coffee all over their outfit on the way to work. We tested the ability of each model to resist spilling in many ways. Most obviously, we filled them all with liquid and then tipped them on their sides — and some even upside down — to see which leaked and how much. We held them in hand and sloshed them violently to see which would slop around their seal or through their lid's opening. And we set them on counters and pushed on them to see how wobbly or sturdy they were and how easily they could be tipped over.
We tested a myriad of possible lid configurations, from those that seal fully to those that accommodate a straw. Very few surprised us with their spill-proofness, but a few stand out. All three of the fully sealed models did an excellent job: the MiiR Flip, the Fellow Carter, and the Contigo Autoseal. The RTIC Tumbler is nearly on par with the MiiR Flip. Its flip-top lid does a great job sealing it against knocking and spilling, but its press-on lid doesn't offer quite the same level of protection as the screw-top of the MiiR. We found that after long amounts of time spent on its side, the RTIC would eventually allow small drops to squeeze their way through the lid seal. The RTIC also has a smaller bottom with a wider top, making it more top-heavy and more prone to being knocked over.
Comparing the leakage from the Yeti Rambler (far left), the Tronco Glass (center), and the RTIC Tumbler (far right).
Credit: Matt Bento
As for strawed models, both the glass options — the Tronco Glass and the Ello Devon Glass — have silicone seals around the bases of their straws. This helps stop slopping during transit but doesn't stop liquid from leaking out when tipped fully on their sides. The Bubba Brands Envy has no seal around its straw, instead relying on its tall, thin, and slanted design to help resist splashing.
The Tronco is one of several models with silicone around the straw to help prevent leaks.
Credit: Matt Bento
One feature we found on many models we tested is a rubber or silicone bottom to discourage sliding. While the principle of this concept makes sense, not every model nailed the execution of it. The rubberized matte finish of the Bubba Brands Envy works very well, striking a middle ground of stability without being so sticky it hinders you from moving it freely. On the other hand, the Camelbak Horizon combines a sticky rubber bottom with a tall narrow build and sloped bottom corners to reduce the amount of surface area hitting the table. This model was particularly easy to know over, with a high center of gravity and poor spill resistance.
The Camelbak Horizon is one of several models with a rubber bottom. Unfortunately, its extra “sticky” bottom and narrow shape make it more prone to being accidentally knocked over.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Durability
You want your cup of choice to be able to survive your daily activities. We assessed differences in materials and design and how they contribute to longevity. While we haven't yet been able to test all of these products for years to see how they stand up to the continued abuse you'll put them through, we did our best to put them through the wringer during our months of testing. We considered construction, materials, and joining points, scrutinizing lids and any moving parts. We also combed through other user testimonies online to see if any recurring issues stood out, and we tested those too.
Many of the models we tested feature sturdy and durable stainless steel designs made to withstand quite a bit of abuse. A big aspect of how we scored for this metric is based on lids, which vary more widely. The Yeti Rambler has a unique slider lid attached only via magnet — it is nearly impossible to break, as it contains no true moving parts and no thin plastic bits prone to losing their integrity over time. During testing, one of our testers accidentally dropped their Rambler from about five feet onto a hard surface. While the lid popped off, no damage was sustained. The Hydro Flask All Around has a plastic lid with smoother joints and a slider indented into the top to help prevent breakage during use or when dropped. The RTIC lid is made of sturdy plastic, though its flip top is hinged, creating a weak point, especially if dropped. It is slightly more secure than the flip top of the MiiR, though, as the RTIC flip portion can be wedged into the open position, which offers slightly more security if the whole thing is dropped.
The Rambler's lid has a moving part, but by incorporating magnets instead of pins and hinges, we feel that it employs a more sturdy design innovation than some of the other lids we tested.
Credit: Laura Casner
The Fellow Carter has no moving parts at all and a solid stainless steel exterior that stands up well to everyday use. One of our testers has owned this mug for years and swears it's as good today as the day she first bought it. However, we did read numerous online complaints from other users about the ceramic interior chipping over time, which is a concern that no other model has. We also hold concerns about the glass constructions of the Tronco and the Ello Devon. While their silicone sleeves increase shatter-prevention over plain glass, you don't have to worry about a stainless steel model shattering.
The smooth construction of the Hydro Flask All Around lid and its cleverly integrated slider make it harder than most to break.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Ease of Cleaning
Though it's tempting to think you can stick just about anything on the top rack of the dishwasher these days, a surprising number of the tumblers we tested still recommend not using the dishwasher and washing them all by hand. We considered manufacturer recommendations with regard to cleaning, as well as our actual experiences doing so. We cleaned them all by hand, with a brush and a sponge, noting their shapes and ease of removing the flavor of previous beverages. We particularly noted how easy it is to clean the lids and straws, as this is a space where coffee and other tastes can build up over time.
The Miir Flip and Fellow Carter are the only models we tested with removable gasket seals for more thorough cleaning. All the rest have their sealing rings permanently attached to their lids. The Tronco and Hitslam Wine both come with a brush for cleaning their straws if you don't already own one. The Bubba Brands Envy's straw is exceptionally long, which may be harder to clean with a standard straw brush.
The Yeti Rambler, Camelbak Horizon, Bubba Brands Envy, Hitslam Wine, and Tronco Glass are all rated fully dishwasher safe by their respective manufacturers. The MiiR Flip lid and Contigo Autoseal lid are both claimed to be dishwasher safe, though not their bodies. The opposite is true for the Ello Devon Glass, which can have its glass body and straw run through the dishwasher but the lid should be hand washed. Both the Fellow Carter and the Coleman Brew carry a “not dishwasher safe” rating from their manufacturers, while the RTIC has no recommendation as to how best to clean it.
The Camelbak Horizon has one of very few lids we tested in which the slider can be removed for easier and more thorough cleaning.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
When it comes to taking apart the lid, the Yeti Rambler takes the cake. Its magnetic slider simply pops off in your hands for exceptionally easy scrubbing and cleaning. The sliders of the Camelbak Horizon and Coleman Brew have thin plastic arms on the bottoms of their lids that can be squeezed to release them from the main body to clean underneath.
The lid on the Rambler is easy to clean, largely because the magnetic slider disconnects from the lid to allow easy access to all surfaces.
Credit: Matt Bento
Convenience
In this metric, we pooled all the rest of the small details that can make or break your tumbler-using experience. We tested condensation build-up on a hot day with iced contents. We filled each vessel with boiling liquid to see how much heat transferred to our hands. We fit the tumblers into cupholders in our cars and camping chairs. And we noted other features that stand out, like their shape and texture in hand, the size of their drinking openings, and the overall use experience.
The Yeti Rambler is one of our favorites to use. It feels great in hand — though a bit heavier than some others — and has a conveniently sized opening that's large enough to take big gulps without sloshing. It fits in most cupholders — we only ran into an issue with one camping chair with a narrower-than-average cupholder meant for 12-ounce aluminum cans. The RTIC has a narrower base that makes it easier to fit into cupholders and provides a stable grip for all hand sizes. The Hydro Flask All Around is a great size and shape for easy use, as are the Bubba Brands Envy and Coleman Brew. The Bubba Envy has a wide straw that facilitates larger gulps than most strawed models, and the opening of the Coleman Brew is much larger than most for easy quick draining of a full tumbler of refreshing water.
The Coleman Brew has a multi-way bottle opener built into the bottom and a very large opening to facilitate faster drinking of those once-bottled beverages.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Not a single one of the vacuum-insulated models we tested allowed any condensation or any significant transfer of heat to our hands. Only the glass models (the Tronco and Ello Devon) allowed condensation to build up on their exteriors. They each come fitted with a silicone sleeve to keep them from sliding out of your grasp, which keeps condensation under control in all but the most trying environments.
Whether you're heading to the office or the library, there's a tumbler that's right for you.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Conclusion
There's a shockingly large number of tumblers out there to choose from. While many people base their choice on the volume and overall shape of a vessel, you're clearly here looking for what's “under the hood” (or under the lid?) when it comes to insulation, spillproofness, and overall convenience. We hope that our intensive testing, usage, and side-by-side comparisons have helped you to figure out which model is the perfect one for your next hot or cold beverage.
