Caffeine keeps us alert, awake, and energized. The Contigo – Transit ensures that it will also go into your mouth, not onto your lap or computer. The easy-to-sip-from self-sealing design makes it a clear winner for most uses, though it doesn’t have the best heat retention. The best and worst performance in this test still correspond roughly to what we saw the first test we ran, but it does show that even in this less-generous scenario the Forge can keep coffee in the “comfortably hot” zone all the way up to two hours, though it’s 15°F cooler than the Thermos. That’s longer than any of us likes to keep the same mug of coffee around, so we’re more than satisfied. (Any insulated mug is also far, far better than a ceramic open-top mug, which lost the same amount of heat in less than 20 minutes.) Drop test

Bloomberg found this OXO mug quite difficult to destroy. Dropping it three times from ceiling height before giving up. We like its durability, but the push-button lid is the only one we tested that isn’t dishwasher safe, and it traps a good quantity of fluid in the spout even after it’s closed, which makes it messy to drink from. The discontinued champion: CamelBak – ForgeThe Contigo – Auto-Seal Transit is easy to use for one-hand-sipping without leaving you vulnerable to spills. Worse still, even when the stopper is in the closed position, it leaks. It’ll keep dribbles from coming out if you turn it upside down, but as soon as you drop it on the floor or shake it around it’ll let drips out. The slider switch is fairly easy to use, but it’s also vulnerable to getting bumped open inside a bag; this mug did poorly in our tumble test. Contigo is now one of the most prolific brands in the travel mug market, and the Auto-Seal Transit is the best model in their line. The Redditors were absolutely right: when we made tea with freshly boiled water in either of the top two insulation performers (the Zojirushi – SM-SA48 or the Thermos Direct Drink Insulated Bottle) we found that it won’t be cool enough for most people to drink (below 155°F) until an hour later, even if you leave the lid off completely. Auto-sealing mugs like the transit are perfect for use at your desk, around fussy librarians or while driving. It’s basically impossible to spill anything from this mug while you’re drinking from it, and the spout prevents drips from gathering the way they will in flip-top designs.

Additionally, this mug prioritises safety and ease of use. It is BPA-free, ensuring that no harmful chemicals leach into your drinks. And when it's time to clean up, there's no fuss – it's fully dishwasher safe, saving you time and effort. Whether you are new to supplying artwork for branded products or experienced don’t worry, we are here to help. The Zojirushi – SM-SA48 has received so many accolades from reviewers, it’s hard to imagine a review that excludes it. This mug is the state of the art in vacuum insulation performance from a company with a long history of designing great food and drink containers. That said, the diminutive SA48 was so narrow and tall that it rattled around in our cupholders (and was hardest to clean inside, even with a bottle brush). There are a handful of usability factors that make the difference between your go-to travel mug companion and a dud you’d rather just leave at home. We’ve found the most important factors to be the following:

The CamelBak – Forge is as smart as it is tough. The mechanism for opening and sealing the spout whenever you pull the “trigger” is simple and effective, and the Forge practically turns itself inside out for you when you need to clean it. (Even replacing the o-ring for the seal would be trivial.) Another important duty of a travel mug is stopping spills. Some of our testers have worked in locations where only spill-proof mugs are allowed, and far too many of us have experienced the tragic consequences of using unworthy mugs in moving vehicles or at desks covered with important documents. If you need your drink to stay hot for an entire day and you don’t want to fill a giant thermos, the Thermos – Sipp is a fantastic mini-thermos you can drink from with one hand.