Why I love my travel mug

Do you have a travel mug that you love? One that you will gladly drag with you everywhere because it perfectly meets your needs? I wasn’t convinced that anything like this existed, until I found the right mug for me. Now I’m never without it! Obviously there are other Canadians out there that need to find their match. We collectively throw out millions of disposable cups every day. I’m willing to bet that if we all had mugs we loved, the number might be a lot less.October is home to Waste Reduction Week in Canada, so there is no better time to talk about making sure we use reusable options to reduce waste.

So what makes my travel mug so great, anyway? I love a hot drink in cool weather, but if I want to actually get to drink it, it better be in something spill-proof. Between all four of us, someone will knock it over at some point. About a year ago I bought a couple of Contigo Autoseal mugs and they have changed my hot-beverage life! They have a silicone seal that stays in place unless you’re drinking – which means if you knock over the cup, nothing leaks out.

The seal does something else too – it keeps the heat in. Since steam can’t escape out the lid, and the body is vacuum insulated stainless steel, stuff stays nice and hot. I can make a mug of tea at seven in the morning and it's still warm at noon. Drinks stay so warm that if you’re not careful you can burn your tongue. My solution is to add a bit of cool water, which brings it down to a drinkable temperature, before I put on the lid.

Another great feature is that the seal can be locked closed. This allows me to make a drink, then pack it in a diaper bag or purse with no risk of it spilling or leaking. It’s been a game changer for me, honestly.

I use my mug equally for hot drinks or as a water bottle. Refilling it is pretty easy when I’m out and about. I often bring tea bags with me and just have to source hot water. If I feel like something more exotic, Tim Horton’s and Starbucks offer a small discount if you bring in your travel mug to refill.

Contigo certainly does have great features but there are many other brands with similar models you can choose from. Look for Bubba, Kleen Kanteen, or Thermos. Several drink retailers, such as Steeped Tea, Starbucks and David’s Tea, also sell great spill-proof travel mugs. I belong to a mom’s group online, and when one member asked about what kind to get to replace her lost travel mug, the answers and testimonials of varying brands were incredible. It’s a big thing when you find a mug you love.

So, as we all head out into the colder weather, what mug are you taking with you? What do you love about it? What do you wish they would design into a mug? Join in the conversation below.