Keeping Warm on the School Run (Thermos Everyday 450 Travel Mug)

Member Name: wendybull

Product:	Thermos Everyday 450 Travel Mug
Date:	07/03/08 (302 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Keeps me warm

Disadvantages: Can spill if you're not careful

Oh how my lovely travel mug has come in useful over the last few months. Picture this.....it is a freezing cold morning. You didn't want to get out of bed because it was so warm and comfy in there so subsequently you are rushing out of the house having only had one cup of tea or coffee inside you. Standing on the school playground the wind is whipping round your face and you are slowly turning into a snowman waiting for the bell to ring.

Sound familiar? Well I was so fed up with freezing my butt off every morning that I decided I would take my cup of tea with me to school and drink it in the playground. I must admit I felt slightly silly standing there with a Thermos mug in my hand, surreptitiously sipping at my boiling hot drink in front of everyone but that didn't last long when I realised the benefits! Following on from this I have also taken it to the park and sat on the bench sipping my tea while the kids play! - Heaven!

The Thermos mug is quite large when you hold it in your hand, but it actually fits only one normal mug of tea inside due to its funnel shape. This is perfectly adequate though and to be honest I wouldn't want to have too much more in it as it would be too much to drink. The measurements are 420ml, which is about a third more than a can of coke. The shape means it can however fit into a cup holder in the car - very useful!

The lid simply presses on top of the mug and it has a small rubber rim that creates a kind of suction action round the edges, which helps the lid to keep a snug fit but it is not a screw type or particularly secure if it was held upside down for any insane reason - why waste good tea?? However I have taken soup to work in it before to have as a snack at break time and it fell over in my car on the way and my whole bag then smelt like Broccoli Soup for weeks. The lid came off very easily and smothered it. My fault as it was not designed to carry liquid securely like a flask, just simply to keep it warm while you drink it.

Speaking of which it should keep drinks hot for up to 2 hours and cold for up to 4 hours. I would take a guess at maybe 3 hours for cold drinks to maintain their sharp coldness, although they would not suddenly go warm after this; just simply lose that initial brain freeze.

Hot drinks however it depends entirely on the circumstances in which you are drinking it. In my situation, where I take it to school with me - then I am outside in the very cold and it tends to be drinkable without burning my lips about 45 minutes after making it. This is still good in my opinion and more than adequate for what I needed but if you were hoping for a steaming cuppa 2 hours after making you would be disappointed. However if you fill the mug with boiling water and then empty it before adding your drink it will stay warmer for longer as it will have absorbed the heat from the boiling water into the vacuum sides and therefore retains the heat in your drink that much longer.

The lid has about 20 small perforations round the inside rim which is where the liquid comes out from for you to drink. You simply put your lips to the rim and tip up and the tea or whatever comes out like a normal drink. This is quite clever I think, as it maintains the temperature without allowing the drink access to the elements. It works well anyway and is a lot easier than the little pop holes you use on a take away cup of tea or coffee from a cafe.

The outside of the mug never gets hot or cold, much like a flask wouldn't, even though I would be very happy for it to warm my hands as I held it as well as my insides when I drink it.

I always wash mine up in the sink as they are not dishwasher safe, however it also says not to fully immerse them in water. I do put them under to wash though and it has had no adverse effect.

Overall I love my Thermos mug, keeping me warm and feeling more awake as I drop my children at school. For a relatively cheap price I am extremely satisfied.

Summary: RECOMMENDED xx