Backpacking Mug Pro Tips, Criteria, and Buyer Considerations
Backpacking Cup Materials: Titanium vs Aluminum vs Plastic
Compared to aluminum, the most common backcountry metal, titanium is both harder and lighter weight. But most importantly for mug design, it is less heat conductive. Aluminum mugs are more prone to burning fingers or bending while titanium mugs hold heat better and are less prone to damage. Plastic is another tempting alternative because it is more economical, pliable, and even lighter than titanium. However, every year more studies are released highlight new ways in which plastic harms our bodies. So you may wish to avoid it entirely.
Do not confuse a camping mug with a backpacking mug
A backpacking mug needn’t weigh more than five ounces, and it shouldn’t burden you down on the trail. Fancy, hyper insulated car camping mugs are nice to use, but might weight 2-3x as much. The juice is definitely not worth the squeeze. Avoid models from that brands that don’t specifically design their mugs for backpackers.
What size backpacking cup is best?
We recommend choosing mid-size models with a 450ml designation, which equates to 15 oz. This is the most universal size, and it’s okay to deviate by plus or minus a few ounces. The twelve ounce drink is a perfect size, and 15 oz mugs hold that with a bit of room to spare to prevent overflow spillage. We recommend avoiding much small sizes, such as those twelve ounces or under, because you are statistically more likely to overfill and spill. Large mugs, in the 750ml size range, are also not worth carrying because they take up so much room and weigh more, unless they are also your cooking pot (in which case it cannot be double walled).
Where and how to store your backpacking mug?
Consider as to whether you are prone to using your mug during the hiking portion of the day, or only while at camp. Personally, I use mine during the day! I like to have a cup of cold brew (unheated instant coffee) around midday, or I may also use it as a vessel for electrolyte powders (so as not to taint my water bottles).
If you use your mug during the day, you should try to store it either on the top inside of your pack for easy access, or directly on the outside. When storing your backpacking mug on the inside of your pack, attempt to nest another scented item in it, so as not to waste the volume. I’ve had some success nesting the bottom of a Smartwater 1L bottle into my mug which sits at the bottom of a side pocket.
Does a double wall titanium backpacking mug require handles?
A double wall titanium backpacking mug does not require handles. The vacuum seal is insulative enough to allow use of the mug by holding the side walls. However, when your beverage is at its very hottest shortly after pouring the boiling water, it may still be too hot to hold, but in that scenario, it’s also too hot to drink; so no big deal. But that is one reason to choose and use a handled model. Holding the side walls but running your hand through the handles also increases security of grip and a redundant mechanism to prevent drops.
Backpacking mug handles, especially the fold out kind are rather flimsy, and do not offer exceptional grip. One reason to avoid fold out handles, aside from adding a fraction of an ounce of weight, is that they create protrusion off the side of mug which can snag on your pack or other items inside it as you pack or unpack. It also creates another potential failure point to break off. Of course, handles are strictly necessary for single wall mugs. But we leave it up to you to decide if it’s worth while for a double wall titanium cup.
Avoid any backpacking mug with static protruding handles
Any backpacking cup with a static, structured style (not flip out) protruding handle will be awkward to pack, waste volume, and be far more likely to pack. Handles create empty space, rather than filling it, which is the opposite of what you want. Avoid static mug handles!
