BY RANDY VANCE86 BOATINGMAG.COM APRIL 2016
PHOTOS: BILL DOSTERToby Keith needs to write another song because Yeti and a dozen other thermal-cup
brands have made the red Solo cup do the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” right out the door.
Thermal cups have been around a long time, but Yeti made them popular last fall and,
in a most unexpected miscalculation, ran out of them just before Christmas. That left
room for Engel, Stanley, Thermos and others to snap up some market share. Is there
a difference? Well, yes ... and no, and for two reasons we felt a definitive test of these
re-energized chalices was in order. First, we applaud the reuse of any container that
eliminates the waste of plastic, cans or bottles. Second, we’re down with any old jug
that can keep our refreshments refreshing all day long.The Doom of
Red Solo Cups
Yeti
20-ounce Rambler
$30; MARINEMAXThere are no discounts on a
Yeti, and, in fact, before-
Christmas scalpers listed
some on eBay at a pre-
mium of a hundred clams.
The 800-pound gorilla
of thermal cups is made
from 8/18 kitchen-grade
stainless steel. Double-
walled construction only
works because there is a
complete vacuum between
the layers, inhibiting heat
transfer. Even the clear
plastic lid is BPA-free.
EXTRA POINT: A standardclear-plastic lid with a sili-
cone seal presses tightly
into place with a sipping
slot for knocking back the
contents. At 20 ounces it’s
almost enough to satisfy
my morning-coffee habit.
INITIAL ICE:9.9 oz.
ICE LOST AT 4 HOURS: 7%
ICE LOST AT 8 HOURS: 23%
EXTERIOR TEMP AT
3 HOURS: 73.7°
HOT-LIQUID HEAT RETEN-
TION AT 4 HOURS: 81%Yeti
10-ounce Lowball
$25 ; WESTMARINE.COMIt’s slightly big for a rocks
glass, and if you like your
spirits straight, don’t
expect melting ice to
soften them for you. Add
the amount of water you
want — the drink will hold
that temperature longer
than it would in a lowball
glass. Yeti didn’t make the
Lowball to fit a standard
cup holder for good reason:
This is for dockside refresh-
ment. An optional lid — the
same one that fits the
20-ounce Rambler — is$5.99, and it’s a worth-
while investment.
EXTRA POINT: It’s chunky
dimensions feel good in
the hand, and it won’t
sweat and leave a ring on
that teak cockpit table.
INITIAL ICE:5.6 oz.
ICE LOST AT 4 HOURS: 23%
ICE LOST AT 8 HOURS: 48%
EXTERIOR TEMP AT
3 HOURS: 73.7°
HOT-LIQUID HEAT RETEN-
TION AT 4 HOURS: 76%ICE LOST AT4 HOURS EXTERIOR TEMP AMBIENT AND AT 3 HOURS HOT-LIQUID HEAT RETENTION AT 4 HOURS23ICE LOST AT8 HOURS TOTAL229ICE LOST AT4 HOURS EXTERIOR TEMP AMBIENT AND AT 3 HOURS HOT-LIQUID HEAT RETENTION AT 4 HOURS33ICE LOST AT8 HOURS TOTAL3312