The best cups to drink from are those that can keep your drinks hot and cold. 

Why, may you ask?

The answer is simple! Because they will make your camping more memorable. That is why this guide’s major aim is to help you identify the best camping cups of 2023, which can help add spice to your camping and hiking experience. So, let’s begin!

Top 10 Best Camping Cups of 2023

Hydro Flask Tumbler Cup

This particular camping cup features a double wall vacuum insulation specially designed by TempShield to maintain the temperature of any drink inside it. Whether it’s cold soda or a warm beverage, the temperature will remain the same for hours.

When it comes to capacity, the camping mug has enough room to carry about 30 to 32 ounces of beverage. This is one of the highest volumes a camping mug can carry at once. With it, you don’t have to worry about missing your morning coffee or tea because you’re far from home.

But that’s not all!

The insulation period of the drinks you put inside the mug can vary depending on whether the drink is hot or cold. If the drink is hot, the temperature will last for 6 hours before the temperature slowly drops. If it’s a cold drink, the temperature will last for 24 hours.

Let’s not forget about design! The mug excels at this too. It has a grip powder coat which prevents it from slipping. The aggregate of these factors is what makes the Hydro Flask Insulated Steel Camping Mug one of the best camping cups of 2023.

Pros

  • The insulation technology of the mug can keep cold drinks icy for 24 hours
  • It has a solid slip free grip
  • The mug is made from non-toxic materials

Cons

  • The mug may be a little heavy because of the size of water it contains
  • It is easy to tip over because of the height

Takeaway

Even though the camping mug is great, buying a smaller size may be better for camping, especially if you want to carry it around

YETI Rambler Stainless Steel Cup

If you’re looking for another great insulated cup for your camping or hiking trip, this tumbler is the one. The main feature of this cup is that it uses a magnetic lid to secure your drink instead of a regular lid.

When it comes to insulation, the tumbler is specifically designed with a heavy duty stainless steel body capable of preventing it from looking banged up no matter what happens to it. The material of this stainless steel is also food grade, BPA-free and non-toxic. When it is dirty, you can place it in the dishwasher to be cleaned.

Best of all, the tumbler has a duracoat painting on the outside. This coating guarantees that the color will never change or peel off, no matter how bad the tumbler is used. In addition, it also provides a solid grip.

Pros

  • Has a great grip
  • It is portable and durable
  • It can be easily washed

Cons

  • The tumbler is not leak-proof
  • With the lid on, it actually takes around 18oz of liquid

Takeaway

Even though it cannot take as much liquid as the Hydro Flask Insulated Steel Camping Mug, it is much more durable.

Contigo Stainless Steel Travel Mug

What you need on those cold mornings or evenings in camp is a cup that can keep your drink hot for many hours. The Contigo Autoseal West Loop Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug fits this description. It is a great camping coffee mug that is capable of keeping your drink piping hot for 7 hours. 

The mug’s best feature is that it uses an ‘Autoseal’ lid instead of a sliding one. This lid uses a mechanism that allows you to push when you want to drink from the cup and release it when you want to close it. 

In case you’re asking yourself what this does for the mug, it means nothing leaks. You don’t have to worry about carrying it in a particular way, so it doesn’t leak all over your stuff. As if this feature is not great enough, this mug can keep icy water or drinks in perfect condition for up to 18 hours. 

Pros

  • It can keep drinks hot for up to 7 hours
  • It can be used for keeping frozen water in the same condition
  • The mug comes in different sizes

Cons

  • The mug can only be washed by hand
  • It cannot be fully disassembled for cleaning

Takeaway

The Contigo Autoseal West Loop Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug is great if you don’t mind the stress associated with washing it. 

Stanley Classic Travel Mug

This camping mug is from a company that has been in the business for a long time. Everything about it is classic and high quality. The design is sleek, simple, and easy to carry around.

But that’s not all the mug has to offer.

This particular metal camping mug is designed to keep hot water piping hot for nine hours. This is one of the longest any camping cup on this list can keep hot water for. As for ice cold water, the average duration is 40 hours. This duration is high, but this is a Stanley product I’m talking about.

As if that’s not enough, this mug is backed up by a lifetime guarantee known with most Stanley products, and the mug comes in three distinct sizes. 

What’s more? This particular mug is very affordable for the quality it provides.

Pros

  • The mug is highly durable
  • There are no leaks
  • It comes in different sizes

Cons

  • Only the lid is dishwasher safe
  • Depending on the size, temperature retention may vary

Takeaway

Even though the Stanley Classic Trigger Action Travel Mug has a great quality, it may still prove undesirable for people who don’t like handwashing.

GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker Mug

If you’re looking for a budget high quality camping mug, this GSI cup is the right choice. It comes with a non-slip footing, neoprene sleeve, and a lid for sipping the cup’s content. The insulation is pretty standard, and it can keep hot and cold things in their original condition.

But wait! That’s not all!

The cup is one of the best outdoor coffee mugs on this list. As for design, the material is completely BPA and toxic free. There are no side effects from using it, not even the odor that’s common to many camping mugs after they’ve been used for a while.

The mug’s capacity is around 17.5oz, and it is easy to carry around in your backpack.

Pros

  • The mug is very compact and easy to carry around
  • It is made of materials that can be completely recycled
  • Lid is designed to keep out dust and insects

Cons

  • It doesn’t take that much fluid
  • The measuring mark on the cup can wash off

Takeaway

The mug is a great product all around, but it may be a little too small for things that are not completely liquid, like coffee or tea. In all, it can be used as a measuring cup in camps when those are not available.

Coleman Enamelware Coffee Mug

This camping cup is different from all the other cups I’ve mentioned before. Instead of stainless steel or metal, the mug is made of enamel with a classic and beautiful blue speckled finish. As for insulation, the technology used is peculiar to many Coleman products. 

If you don’t know, that means it is capable of keeping your coffee hot and soda cold. At 14oz, the mug’s capacity is not that great, but it is enough to ensure that you drink enough coffee in the morning. 

When it comes to design, the most outstanding part is the rolled rim. Why? That is because it makes sipping anything from the cup easier. The design of the cup also makes it easy to clean and pop in the dishwasher. In all, it is a great camping coffee mug for campers.

Pros

  • Can be used for more than coffee and tea
  • Has a rolled rim to promote comfort
  • Has a beautiful enamel finish

Cons

  • Chips easily
  • Cannot be used in a microwave

Takeaway

Even though the mug is great, the temperature level does not remain the same for long.

TOAKS Titanium Cup

Let me begin with the main highlight of this mug. It won’t leave a bad taste in your mouth no matter how long you use it for.  This is because there is no coating on the titanium where your drink can acquire a foul taste.

But that’s not all! When it comes to insulation, the grade 1 and 2 titanium, as well as the no-lid design, ensures that your drink stays hot or cold for a while. This design can stand a very high temperature, and it works perfectly well with other products from this manufacturer.

Another great thing about this cup is that the design gives a lot of room for portability. In the first place, there is a bag that can be used to carry the cup around, and the collapsible handles do wonder when you’re packing for camp.

Pros

  • The cup is made with titanium
  • It can withstand high temperature
  • Can withstand being banged up

Cons

  • It’s prone to spillage
  • It is a small mug

Takeaway

The TOAKS Titanium Camping Mug is very easy to carry around because of its design. However, the hot temperature may not last for a long period because it has no lid.

Olicamp Space Saver Mug

With a simple design that makes storing in a backpack easy, this camping cup is definitely one of the best, and that’s why it’s on this list. The design is simple– a 4 by 4.25 inch design that takes little to no space at all. With a little bit of creative arrangement, you can put little things in it to save space.

Since the body is hard-anodized, it can take a little beating, and the lightweight nature means it’s not adding any weight to your luggage at all. You also won’t feel the weight when you’re holding it. The no-lid design means campers love it. It can also be paired with a bottle.

Pros

  • It can take a lot of water or soup
  • The hard-anodized surface is durable
  • Markings on the side to help with measurements

Cons

  • It does not have a lid
  • Can be subjected to spillage

Takeaway

The mug is durable and fashionable. That’s what makes it a popular choice among campers and hikers.

CamelBak Horizon Camp Mug

What I love the most about this mug is its ability to keep the liquid inside it piping hot for a period of four hours.

But that’s not all this mug has to give!

Constructed with stainless steel and given a double-wall vacuum finish, this camping coffee cup has an insulation technology that’s pretty solid for its size. For cold drinks, the mug is effective for 6 hours, and the non-slip silicone base prevents the content from spilling. 

Additionally, the mug is dishwasher safe and non-toxic. So, you don’t have to worry about your health while you’re using it.

Pros

  • Has a tri-mode lid that controls the flow of liquid and prevents spillage
  • Can keep drinks hot for 4 hours
  • Can keep drinks cold for 6 hours

Cons

  • The anti-slip base is a little smaller than the original base
  • It is not leak-proof

Takeaway

The Horizon Camp Mug is good for keeping beverages and soup hot at camp. It also has a lid that can prevent dust and insects from settling into drinks.

YETI Rambler Mug

This particular mug is the last on our list. It is made with very thick stainless steel, which is capable of withstanding accidents or mishandling without dents and dings. 

When it comes to insulation, the mug uses a double-wall vacuum insulation method capable of keeping both hot and cold drinks in their original condition for hours. The mug body is coated with a durable coat that serves both practical and aesthetic functions. What this means is that the coat will neither crack nor peel while it is being used.

While all of these features are great, the best feature is that it is dishwasher safe.

Pros

  • It uses a double wall vacuum insulation
  • The handle is wide enough for gloved hands
  • Very durable and resistant to dents

Cons

  • It has a small capacity

Takeaway

The beautiful and practical design of this mug makes it perfect for both outdoor and indoor.

Buying Guide: Factors to Consider When Buying a Camping Cup

As much as I would love to say this guide has every great camping cup, you’ll ever need, that’ll be a lie. There are still numerous cups out there I haven’t come across. That is why I’ll be sharing with you the features I used to pick the mugs on this list. Who knows? They may help you pick one great cup or the other that’s not on this list.

Durability

This spans across all types of mugs, regardless of whether they are made of ceramic, plastic, or stainless steel. The simple fact is that they have to be durable. You certainly don’t want to run to the store or make an unplanned purchase every time because you keep buying low quality products.

What does this really mean?

If you’re buying ceramic camping cups, they must not be prone to breakage. If they are made of stainless, they must not chip, dent, crack or degrade easily. Only mugs that can withstand constant use outdoors are what you’re looking for.

Heat Retention

You probably don’t want to miss your daily coffee or tea simply because you’re camping. That is why you need cups that can retain temperature. Out of the types of camping cups we have, stainless steel mugs have the highest temperature sealing capacity. It is even better in cups with vacuum insulation,

The temperature retention level is lower in ceramic mugs, but it is still there. The lowest heat retention level is in plastic cups, but they excel in another aspect. That’s what I’m about to discuss below.

Portability

Going camping means you have a lot of things to pack. So, you don’t want to waste the space you don’t have or something unnecessarily big. That’s why portability is a really important feature when it comes to camping mugs.

Keep in mind that you’ll also have to carry the cup around in camp, and carrying around a heavy or very big cup can be tasking.

FAQs

What type of camping cup is the most durable?

Although it depends on the manufacturers and how much quality materials are used in making the cup, the most durable are stainless steel cups. The materials are usually picked for their durability, and every design is meant to boost long-time use.

Can you cook with a camping cup?

Yes, there are some camping cups you can cook with. Enamel cups, for example, can withstand heat. Stainless steel cups are also within this category, but plastic cups should never be taken anywhere near the fire. They melt instantly when exposed to that kind of heat.

What is an enamel cup made of?

An enamel cup is made from an ancient technique from Western Asia. It uses both powdered glass and steel in its construction. The first material in the cup is steel, the second is powdered glass, and both are fused together in the kiln.

Conclusion

Finally, I have come to the end of this guide, and what a great journey that was!

So far, I have been able to walk you through the ten best camping cups of 2023. I mentioned cheap ones, multipurpose ones, and those that cost more than others with even better quality in this guide. Everything was specially picked to ensure a quality camping experience for you. I hope you find this knowledge as interesting and useful as I have.