Stanley is a great example of a brand that has a long, old heritage but has managed to keep innovating and reinventing. Sure, your first thought is probably a Stanley Thermos pulled out of a lunchbox by an oil pipeline worker or a lumberjack, but for the years I’ve been going to the Outdoor Retailer Show to see what’s new, Stanley always surprises me with something cool. (They were even showing off growler containers for beer last time.)
These two new bottles—one for hot, one for cold—aren’t so radical that you can’t figure them out in a few seconds. They just work better than what you’ve probably got now.
“I cringe when I hear that sound of someone sucking on a water bottle, like a little baby.” That’s what a relative of mine said once as someone nearby used her typical one with a nipple on it. The ones you have to unscrew each time are a pain though, so most of us make due with the sucking or put up with another type that’s prone to leaks. This one has a thumb-activated push button spout so you just press and drink. You wouldn’t even disturb anyone in a movie theater or lecture. This is made possible by a little mechanical lever inside that connects to the spout. So if you turn the bottle upside down without pressing the button, nothing comes out. It fits in a bike bottle holder or a car cup holder and only requires one hand.
This product comes with a rather long name though: Evolution ECycle H2O Bottle. After you spit all that out you need to pick the color Bonsai (pictured here) or Cobalt. The eCycle part of that name refers to the recycled plastic used in the making of this: 25% post consumer recycled, 100% total. So if you use this you’re keeping single-use plastic out of the ground and waterways, plus you’re actually getting rid of some of that plastic. Add a swivel carrying hook on the top and the ability to toss this into the dishwasher and you’ve got a near-perfect 16-ounce water bottle. Well, if you don’t mind spending $22 that is.
Get more details at the Stanley site and order it there or from Paragon Sports.
Next up is a bottle that makes a tiny change and achieves great results. This 16-ounce One Hand Vacuum Mug keeps your coffee or tea hot for hours but won’t spill if you’re hiking, skiing, or riding a Jeep through the backcountry. When it’s time to drink, you press a button and coffee comes out of a small hole at the top. What’s different is, the button is in the back—where your fingers are—not in the front where your thumb is. This makes the One Hand Vacuum Mug a true one-hander that won’t get dropped off the ski lift.
As with the first one, it fits in a bike cage or a car cup holder. It’ll keep hot drinks hot for six hours, cold ones cold even longer than that. It comes with a removable “grit guard” on top, which sounds like a great idea, but I lost mine in week one. This hot beverage bottle is made of stainless steel, but it’s double-walled so it stays cool to the touch.
This vacuum bottle is part of the Nineteen13 line from Stanley. What’s that mean? The year they were founded. Yes, they’ll turn 100 next year. They’ve figured out how to make tough drinking containers by now. Both these bottles come with a lifetime warranty.
Get it direct from Stanley or check prices at Amazon.
