If you want the best backpacking mug around, look no further. As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one titanium backpacking mug to rule them all. It’s insulated, ultralight, durable, and guaranteed to keep your coffee hot during a rainstorm.
However, you won’t find it at most REI locations, or outdoor stores. You won’t even find it listed on most blogs with backpacking mug reviews. But trust me… I guarantee this is the best backpacking mug around. It might just be the best mug… period.
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The Snow Peak Titanium Double Walled Stackable Mug(s)
It’s not very often that I feel this passionate about a product, let alone a mug. But, in this case, I do.
In fact, I feel so strongly about this mug, that when I lost my first one, I spiraled into depression, retracing all of my steps. I called all of the places I frequent, and anyone I had interacted with in the past week to locate it. When it didn’t show up, Rachel brought the sunshine back into my life when she surprised me with a replacement.
Rachel and I have used both of these mugs on every trail we’ve ever hiked, including every day on the PCT. We love these snow peak double wall titanium mugs so much that we use them everyday, even when we’re off the trail. My brother loves these mugs so much that he even contemplated replacing all of the cups in his cupboard with these.
Seriously. Don’t rely on only our opinion. This Redditor loves it too.
So, let’s get down to the details, to explain why this mug is just so awesome.
- It’s tough as titanium… because it is titanium
- You can hold it without burning your hand
- You can stack several of them together, thus saving space
- They’re super light weight
- They look cool
A Stackable Titanium Backpacking Mug With Style
Snow Peak’s titanium double-walled mugs come in few different sizes and the best part is that they nest together to take up minimal space in your backpack.
When Rachel and I hike, we actually nest our two mugs together, and then we nest those within our larger Snow Peak cook pot. We also use a very small Snow Peak pocket rocket for our stove, which actually fits into the smallest mug. So, almost all of our cooking supplies easily nest together, saving us a lot of room in our backpacks.
Since all of the gear is lightweight, we also save our backs and legs as well.
The mugs come in several sizes and are all made in japan.
| Product Name | Material | Weight | Volume | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Peak TI-DOUBLE H200 STACKING MUG | Titanium | 2.2 oz (62g) | 6.8 fl. oz. | $44.95 |
| Snow Peak TI-DOUBLE H300 STACKING MUG | Titanium | 2.7 oz (76g) | 10.1 fl. oz. | $49.95 |
| Snow Peak TI-DOUBLE H450 STACKING MUG | Titanium | 3.5 oz (101g) | 15.2 fl. oz. | $59.95 |
I recently noticed that REI now has the H200 and H450 models listed on their website as well, if you want to cost compare with buying directly from Snow Peak.
Why Titanium is the Best Material for Backpacking Mugs
So, why is titanium so great for backpacking? Or, is it that great?
There are a lot of people who are critical of titanium, because it’s pretty damn expensive. It may be super light weight and durable, but it makes up with that with a hefty price tag. In my opinion, these mugs are worth it because they provide me with a little extra joy and comfort when I’m on the trail.
But, let’s just compare a few other common materials for backpacking mugs.
Aluminum Backpacking Mugs
Aluminum is one commonly used material because it’s fairly light weight. Heat transfers very quickly through aluminum, so if you’re heating water in it, it’s not a bad option. But aluminum also doesn’t hold heat that well, so although it will be blistering hot to drink out of at first, it will quickly cool to the outdoor temps quickly. Secondly, aluminum doesn’t hold up too well to getting knocked around and beaten.
Stainless Steel Backpacking Mugs
Stainless steel on the other hand is tough, durable and holds heat, but it’s fairly heavy to go hauling down the trail. And for me personally, I like to carry as little weight as possible. Because that means I can travel longer distances, more comfortably. With that as my goal, stainless steel is not a great option.
Plastic Backpacking Mugs
Then there’s plastic. I’ll just be completely honest. I hate plastic. Some people bring plastic mugs and use that to hold hot water in. It’s light, durable, and cheap. But, personally, I don’t feel comfortable putting hot water in plastic and then drinking that water. There are lots of BPA free options out there now, but I’m not convinced that the materials in today’s plastic are any safer. And for me, I’d rather just spend a little extra cash to get something light, durable, and is not going to leach chemicals into my water when I heat it.
Titanium Mugs (The Best Material)
Yup, that leads me to titanium. Yeah, it’s the most expensive. But, I don’t care. I used to be really cheap with my gear…. then I’d end up with crap that broke, or was just lousy. But now, I don’t like having a lot of gear. I like to just buy one thing I can rely on, and that’s the best for that job. I don’t want to worry about it breaking, or leaching nasty chemicals into my water. So, I’m find with spending the extra cash for titanium.
With titanium, it’s corrosion-resistant and guaranteed to look good even after taking hundreds of miles of beating. It’s lighter than steel, and with the double walled mugs, they’ll keep you coffee warm without burning your hands.
The Snow Peak Titanium Mug Holds in Heat
In my opinion, the best backpacking mug should keep your coffee hot… without burning your digits. The Snowpeak titanium double walled mug is perfect for this.
Rachel and I like to start our morning on the trail with coffee or tea. So, from our tarp tent we’ll roll over and get it started. Then we can sip our coffee as we wake up… the warm liquids coaxing us from our bivies. Then we can quickly tear down our camp, as we sip on warm coffee.
The key to this process is having a backpacking mug that can keep your coffee hot without burning your hands. That’s why these mugs are perfect.
Most single walled mugs are blistering hot to the touch. So, they sometimes have flimsy handles, to help you avoid blistering your palms. But, they never work well and you always end up toasting your digits anyways. And, even if your hands stay safe, you end up blistering your lips.
With the double walled titanium, you don’t even need a mug handle because heat stays in the mug, and it won’t transfer to your lips or hands. It’s a simple and perfect solution.
The strange thing is, you won’t find it at most outdoor stores. I’ve never seen it in REI or anywhere else. And, I’ve never even seen anybody review it. It’s truly strange because my mug regularly gets compliments from strangers, and I nearly cried when I lost it recently.
Criticisms for Snow Peak Double Walled Titanium Mugs
You never have to look far for criticism of any product online. And, the Snow Peak double walled mugs are no exception. Every hiker has their own preferences and is entitled to hike their own hike, in their own way, according to their own standards. So, this mug may not be the right one for everyone… and that’s fine.
Let us never forget that the main point of hiking is to move, and explore nature. It’s not about the gear. Good gear can provide some joy and comfort but it’s not the point. With all that said, here are the main criticisms of the Double Walled Snow Peak mugs.
- They’re expensive
- You can’t cook in them – placing them over an open flame will ruin them
- I’m sure there’s something else… just not sure what
So, if this isn’t the right mug for you… here are a couple other great options… that other hikers often consider to to be the best backpacking mugs.
The Best Backpacking Mugs – Runner Ups
| Product Name | Material | Weight | Volume | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Peak TI-DOUBLE H450 STACKING MUG | Titanium | 3.5 oz | 15.2 fl. oz. (450 ml) | $59.95 |
| GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker Mug | Plastic | 3.5 oz | 17 fl. oz. | $12.95 |
| TOAKS Titanium Camping Mug | Titanium | 2.7 oz | 15.2 fl. oz. (450 ml) | $39.95 |
| YETI Rambler 14 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug | Stainless Steel | 13.6 oz | 14 fl. oz. | $30.00 |
Personally, I have two mugs in my life that bring me joy. But, there’s only one that I recommend for hiking, skiing, travel, and pretty much everything outside the house.
Take a guess which one it is.
Happy hiking!
If you’re looking for the ultimate hiking gift. Check out our ultimate list of gifts for hiking.
Totally agree!
My h450 is part of my daily routine:
2 cups coffee
Ice water throughout the day (4 cups)
On weekends, this routine gets added upon a:
Cocktail or beer depending on the weather and the occasion.
In other words, it ends up being pennies per beverage over the course of a year…and I’ve had mine for 5 years.
A GREAT investment and so beautiful.
So glad you agree. Yeah, after the satisfaction of this mug I couldn’t ever go back to something else. It’s truly the only piece of backpacking gear I use on a daily basis. In fact, it probably gets used more than anything else I own.
Thanks for sharing your sentiment!
Looks awesome, just what I’m looking. Do they have a lid that works with them?
Yeah, they have a plastic lid or a silicone lid that you can buy separately. I have the plastic one, and my wife has the silicone one. Both work fine, although the silicone one is the newer option, and it’s more soft. When I just checked on Amazon, the pricing was oddly high for the 450 ml silicone lid. The 300 ml lid is reasonable though, so not sure what’s going on there.
When you buy the lid, just make sure you get the right size for your mug (450 ml / 300 ml).
The word is that this Klean Kanteen lid fits the 450 ml mug as well.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. 1) larger volume: It’s light so go with larger…sizable mug for hot or cold beverages. 2) handle or place for carabiner. 3) MOST IMPORTANT lid to keep beverages hot/cold and bugs out!!!!
Thanks for the input. Snow peak does sell a larger version with a handle actually. They have a double walled 600 ml mug with a handle.
For me, personally, I’ve found the 450 ml volume mug to be perfect when I’m backpacking. 450 ml works out to about 15 oz, which is about the size of mug I use at home too (or slightly bigger). On the trail, I typically just have coffee or tea in the morning before I start hiking, then I like to pack my mug away for the rest of the day. I also often use it to eat out of as well, and again have found the 450 ml size to be more than adequate.
You can get the handled version in a few different sizes. I haven’t tried that version before because I prefer the more minimal design. The main difference I see is that the handled version of the 450 ml mug is that it’s slightly heavier, by about 2 oz. It’s not a huge difference, but if you’re trying to be super ultralight, those couple ounces might be of consideration.
You can get a lid for this mug. They have plastic version and a silicone version. I use the lid when I’m at home or driving around with the mug. But, I actually don’t take it with me when I’m backpacking, just to save a little weight. But they do sell a lid for it.
Totally agree with you on the Snow Peak double walled stacking series being phenomenal products and your tribute to them are well warranted. There seems to be a cult status among the Snow Peak titanium product line. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t even think one titanium model has even been discontinued since introduced. The titanium product line has slowly and steadily grown over the years. The improvement of the lids was well received but they should go a step further by adding insulation to them like the Hydro Flask lids are that are often used to improve them. All should also petition Snow Peak to make the make the double walled titanium line Vacuum-Insulated as well – just like the improvement made to their stainless steel line. Better designed insulated lids coupled with being Vacuum-Insulated would make them even better. Imagine that! Snow Peak, I hope you are listening…