A travel mug is the object that sits between an event cup and a serious vacuum bottle. It is small enough to hold in one hand and drink from while walking, insulated enough that a coffee is still warm at the end of a commute, and cheap enough that a company can hand out a few hundred without a board discussion.
The range splits into three shapes that behave very differently, and choosing the wrong one is the most common mistake in this category.
| Shape | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tumbler with sip lid | Tapered body, sliding or rotating drinking opening, 300-500 ml | Commuting, offices, conferences. The default corporate gift. |
| Camping mug with handle | Straight-sided double-wall mug, open top, often with a carabiner handle, 145-300 ml | Outdoor brands, festivals, team gifts. It is a keepsake more than a commuter object. |
| Straw tumbler | Larger body with a straw lid, 350-500 ml | Cold drinks, gyms and sports clubs. Not intended for hot coffee. |
Stainless steel is the standard body. Recycled stainless steel, typically around 90% recycled content, is available across most of the range at a small premium and is worth specifying when sustainability is part of the message. Copper-plated steel gives a distinctive warm finish for hospitality and gift use. Some models combine a steel inner wall with a PP or recycled PP outer wall, which cuts weight and cost while keeping the drink-facing surface metal.
The lid decides whether the mug gets used. A press-on lid is cheap and seals reasonably well but has to be taken off to drink. A sliding sip lid lets you drink one-handed, which is the entire point of a travel mug. A leak-free screw lid is the only kind that can go in a bag. A carabiner handle sounds like a gimmick and is not: it means the mug clips to a rucksack instead of taking up a pocket, which is why outdoor brands specify it.
Laser engraving is permanent and immune to washing, and on a coloured mug it produces a clean silver mark. Pad print carries brand colours and is the cheaper option for large runs. Sublimation gives full-colour wraparound artwork but only works on mugs supplied with a sublimation coating, so it has to be decided before the model is chosen rather than after.
Scale and sealing. A travel mug is smaller, usually opens with a sip lid rather than a screw cap, and is designed to be drunk from directly while moving. A bottle holds more and seals completely, so it can go in a bag on its side. If the drink is coffee on a commute, choose a mug; if it is water for the whole day, choose a bottle.
Sip-lid mugs are splash-resistant rather than leak-proof: they will survive being carried upright but not being tipped over in a rucksack. Models described as leak-free have a sealing lid and are the ones to specify if the mug will travel inside a bag.
300 to 350 ml. That is one large coffee, it fits under most office machines and in most car cup holders, and it stays light enough to hold in one hand. 450-500 ml suits commuters and site teams; 145-220 ml camping mugs are more of a keepsake than a daily object.
Yes, on models with a powder-coated or sublimation-coated body. On bare or brushed steel the practical options are laser engraving and pad print. Engraving on a coated mug exposes the steel underneath, which reads as silver against the body colour.
Single-wall steel mugs generally are. Double-wall insulated mugs are usually hand wash only, because a dishwasher cycle can work moisture into the wall cavity and destroy the insulation. Lids are normally dishwasher safe.
Usually 50 pieces. These are EU stock items, so the lead time is driven by the print run rather than manufacturing and is normally two to three weeks from approved artwork.
The rest of the range: vacuum insulated bottles, insulated travel mugs and tumblers, reusable double-wall coffee cups, sports and water bottles and ceramic mugs. For events rather than desks: reusable event cups and IML printed cups. Carrying and accessories: drinkware accessories.
Our EU-based production means we meet even the tightest event deadlines.
Each product is created specifically to meet your unique event needs and brand guidelines.
Sustainable materials are available, incl. recycled and biodegradable wristbands.
Our projects
