Super Mom Hacks

From Leakproof Sippy Cup to Top Travel Mug: My Fave Beverage Containers

Ever since becoming a parent, I’ve been on a quest for beverage containers that won’t leak. First it was a leakproof sippy cup. Then it was leakproof not-quite-sippy cups for the preschool set. Next it was leakproof water bottles for school, hikes, and family outings.

Why is the quest for a leakproof sippy cup or water bottle so important? Ask anyone who’s ever found mold in the backseat of their car, thanks to a beverage container tossed carelessly by a child the week before.

Along the way, Mama had a few too many road trips and plane flights with half-spilled, lukewarm beverages. Hence I added grownup hot/cold beverage containers to my wish list.

Looking for leakproof beverage containers for your summer travels? From leakproof sippy cup to adult travel mug, here are my top picks for the whole family.

Below you’ll find my four picks for favorite leakproof beverage container, covering all ages from toddler to adult. They’re the best I’ve found in each age category; do let us know in the comments if you’ve come across something you like even better.

Why These Containers Make the Grade

It’s worth noting that except for the grownup category, I have only used water in these containers, so use for other purposes (milk, juice, etc.) might reveal problems we haven’t encountered. However, unless otherwise noted, all of my top picks are entirely dishwasher-safe (as well as BPA-free, of course).

The reason each of these makes the list is because they’ve all passed every test of leakproof-ness I could imagine, with flying colors. Among other trials, my top picks have survived

So, without further ado, here are my picks:

Best Leakproof Sippy Cup for Toddlers: Gerber Graduates Fun Grips Hard Spout Sippy Cup, 10 oz.

This generously-sized leakproof sippy cup will keep your toddler from begging you for refills every two seconds. Its leakproof nature comes from a special easy-to-remove valve that installs inside the lid. While temporarily removing this valve makes it easier for older kids to drink from the cup, it also renders the cup no longer leakproof.

Pros:

Cons:

Price:

$5-$10 per 2-pack.

Best Leakproof Straw Cup for Preschoolers: Playtex Straw Sippy Cups, 9 oz.

Depending on where you get these, they go by a variety of names: Sipster Stage 2 Sippy Cups, Anytime Spill Proof Straw Cups, Playtex Baby Lil’ Gripper Twist n’ Click Straw Cup, etc. Far as I can tell, though, they’re all basically versions of the same cup.

Each cup has four parts: an hourglass-shaped bottom, a top that clicks shut when it’s fully screwed on, and a two-part straw. The rigid straw pops into a flexible upper portion, which threads through a hole in the lid; an attached cover slides firmly shut over the straw. I prefer this version to Playtex’s insulated straw cups because of the hourglass shape, but older kids might prefer the insulated version.

Pros:

Cons:

Price:

$8-$12 per 2-pack.

Best Leakproof Water Bottle for School-Aged Children and Adults: Camelbak Eddy Bottles

These bottles come in several sizes ranging from 0.4 liters (about 13.5 fluid ounces) to 1 liter (not quite a quart). The 0.4-L size is recommended for kids ages 3-8. Like the Playtex cup, each Camelbak Eddy bottle has four parts: the bottle itself, a screw-on lid, a removable straw, and a removable flexible “bite valve” (that’s the part you actually drink out of, if you’re not familliar with Camelbak products). The kid-sized version comes in a ton of cool designs; recently-discontinued patterns sell for slightly under the price point I’ve listed, and you can sometimes find older discontinued prints online for much higher.

Pros:

If that green part isn’t properly inserted into the lid, your Camelbak water bottle will leak all over.

Cons:

Price:

$13-$15 (anywhere from $9-$13 for the Nalgene bottle)

Best Hot/Cold Beverage Container for Adults and Older Kids: Contigo Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mugs

Of all the travel mugs I’ve tried over the years, Contigo mugs are hands-down the best – so much so that I now own several versions of the Autoseal 16-ounce mugs. (The newer Snapseal technology is also available in 20- and 24-ounce mugs.) Contigo mugs are the most durable brand I’ve ever owned; the seal between lid and cup has never failed, nor has the seal between inner and outer chamber.

Contigo’s lock buttons seal beverages inside your mug, guaranteeing a leakproof ride.

Moreover, I’ve never known another mug that I can fill, close, and toss in a purse or coat pocket with no fears of leakage. Their insulation is also the best I’ve found. I have poured coffee from an airport boutique into my Contigo mug, locked it shut, and stuffed it into my backpack. An hour-plus later when we’re settled into our plane seats, the coffee is still almost-too-hot-to-drink. I’ve also filled Contigo mugs with ice at the start of the 350-mile trek to my mom’s house in the summer, knowing I’ll still have ice in the mug when we get there.

Pros:

Cons:

Price:

You can find these mugs for as little as $13-$15 each, but most often they retail for $20-$25 apiece; some versions sell for even more.

BONUS:

Contigo also makes my favorite grown-up leakproof water bottles ever. Their 24-oz, Cortland Autoseal water bottle has a built-in clip for attaching to bags, and locks shut when not in use for complete prevention of leaks. I got a 3-pack of them for the girls and me to use in my car, because they are totally leak-proof. And they come with a lifetime warranty!

UPDATE SUMMER 2017: Contigo now makes kid-sized water bottles and insulated beverage containersWhile we haven’t tried them personally, they are bound to be superb on leak-proofness if they’re anything like the adult versions.

Have you found a different leakproof sippy cup or other beverage container that you like better than these? Let us know in the comments!


NOTE: This site contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission from any purchases made through affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. For more information, please read the full disclosure/privacy policy.

 

Exit mobile version