Mugs & Cups

A generic styrofoam cup seems really light and has good insulating properties. The problems are just durability, lack of handle and perhaps the somewhat small size. I can get past the last two 'problems', but the durability seems like a deal killer. I don't want my mug to split open half way through a trip. Perhaps I could keep it inside my pot to protect it. I don't have one on hand, but it would guess they weigh 0.2 – 0.4 oz.

A McDonald's cup would be somewhat more durable and it has a lid, but it also seems less insulating and heavier. In general, I don't really like disposable gear though. I'd rather have something a bit more durable that I won't have to replace every trip.

The wheels are turning now….I wonder if I could make a double wall, insulated Mug using 2 McDonald's cups that is more durable and better insulating that just one. I could use some aerosol can insulating foam (that you see construction workers use to seal around windows etc) to seal the two cups together. I could grab 2 McDonald's cups in 2 sizes (probably medium & small) and then spray some foam into the larger cup, insert the smaller cup inside and then let the foam harden.

I guess after some usage the coffee would eventually creep through the paper cups wax coating and start soaking into the paper. Some plastic cups might be better for this purpose. 2 disposable plastic cups that are sealed together with this hardening foam might prove to be quite durable. The downsides would just be the small size….I'm not too concerned about a handle.

Ideally, you'd want to find a larger one (ie. beer size) and then a smaller one to go inside that. Actually, maybe using two the same size would be good because the inner one would have to stick out above the outer one (so that a gap exists between the walls) and this would make it easier to drink. I might see what I can come up with tomorrow.

EDIT: Hmm….what about BPA? I bet cheapo plastic cups are loaded with BPA.

Kath and I use the kenco ribbed plastic cups which come free with coffee on airline flights. They are light, semi insulated by the ribbing and durable enough for half a season, longer with care. Just strip off the card around the ribbing. Weight is around 15g. They hold around 12oz. Nicer than sharing out of the ti pot for sure.

McD cups are pretty sturdy. I reuse a cup for several trips, no problem. YMMV. I feel like I am recycling this by using it to its maximum life. It keeps my drinks very hot. The weight is next to nothing. It isn't perfect. But it works for me.

Dan, most cheap cups/mugs don't and never did have BPA – as they were not made of Lexan or similar. If you can flex the plastic, it doesn't have hardeners added. All BPA is, it is a hardener. That is why those bottles were so resistant to impact and could be just wanged on without breaking. Back a few years ago you could get Lexan single wall mugs for example, they were clear, just like the bottles were.

But the mugs you see nowdays and cups that are either jewel like (almost clear but not) and the colored ones are made of normally of polypropylene – a food grade plastic that is recyclable. They are sturdy but you can flex them a bit, depending on how thick the walls are.

Example of a heavy duty one:
http://www.gsioutdoors.com/detail.aspx?a=9&c2=6&p=77223&lu=%2flist.aspx%3fa%3d9%26c2%3d6&
That replaced the Lexan based ones.

I saw a youtube video, I think it might have been Jason Klass, recommending using a dunkin donuts coffee cup as a lightweight mug. I tried it, only to discover when I got to the trail that I had a “finger” hole in the side. I was so careful putting it in my Jam. It must have happened on the plane when I put my pack in the overhead locker. I sometimes think mass transit is far more dangerous to your gear than the trail… anyway, I’m happy now that I have my polypro IKEA Cup.

>The wheels are turning now….I wonder if I could make a double wall, insulated Mug using 2 McDonald's cups that is more durable and better insulating that just one. I could use some aerosol can insulating foam (that you see construction workers use to seal around windows etc) to seal the two cups together. I could grab 2 McDonald's cups in 2 sizes (probably medium & small) and then spray some foam into the larger cup, insert the smaller cup inside and then let the foam harden.<

Dan, you would have to be one of the best in the business to do the foam between the 2 cups thing. The foam expands and would crunch the inner cup and split out the outer cup. The foam can bend window frames if the applicater puts just a little too much on. I wouldn't want to to have that stuff anywhere near my mouth without having a complete industrial seal(that stuff is nasty).
Nice idea, but even McDonald's thick plastic cups would be deformed and with the 2 plastic cups and foam you might as well go to REI and get one of their insulated cups.

I found a foldable neoprene cozy in my junk drawer and fished a Polypropylene Nabisco Go-Pak (they sell lil' snack sizes of mini cookies in them) cup from the cabinet. The Cozy and cup together are 22g (~26g with the cup's lid). The perfect cup size, insulates well and somewhat durable.

I used an Easy Mac container last time I went backpacking. Get the ones where you simply add water and cook. Remove the paper off of the bowl. It weighs about 0.5 oz and holds about 12 oz.