A tumbler is a good sidekick for anyone trying to drink more water throughout the day.

Tumblers, insulated water bottles, and travel mugs are, of course, very similar—they all keep drinks cold or hot for long periods of time. Yet there are key differences. Most insulated water bottles are leakproof (thanks to their screw-top lids, which require two hands to open), and they don’t have sipping ports. Travel mugs, typically intended for warm drinks, have sipping ports that seal securely to prevent leaks. Tumblers, geared more toward cold drinks, may also have lids with built-in ports, but they don’t seal as securely as the ones on travel mugs. Tumblers often have a wider mouth, to accommodate ice cubes, and they may include a straw for sipping.

For example, unlike water bottles, which need to be uncapped, tumblers give you immediate access to your beverage. Eliminating the step of unscrewing a cap may seem like a small change, but it makes a drinking vessel far more convenient to use.

Tumblers made with double-wall insulation can keep beverages cold (or hot) for long periods of time—which is handy whether you’re sipping from it on a sunny beach or leaving it on your bedside table overnight. A tumbler can also replace disposable cups at fast-food restaurants or gas stations.

When dropped, stainless steel tumblers won’t shatter (like glass) or crack (like plastic), so they’re good for a variety of places where glassware isn’t appropriate (such as poolside or bedside). They’re also more kid-friendly than standard glass cups or flimsy plastic bottles.

We considered nearly 30 tumblers, from popular as well as lesser-known brands. And we narrowed our list to 12 to test, based on the criteria below:

• Temperature retention: Double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumblers offer the best temperature retention, so we tested only those.
• Lid design: Most tumblers include either a standard lid with a mouthpiece to cover the sipping port or a lid that has a straw. We preferred standard lids with secure sealing mechanisms and rubber gaskets (to keep the lid in place) and straw lids with a gasket at the straw’s entry point (to prevent leaking). We also tested tumblers with flip-straw lids, in which the straw mouthpiece can be pushed down to create a seal (when it’s not in use).
• Ease of cleaning: We preferred tumblers that are dishwasher-safe. We also favored lids with removable sliders and gaskets, which allow for deep cleaning in the crevices, where gunk can accumulate.
• Anti-slip measures: Most tumblers aren’t completely leakproof. The best way to keep all of the liquid inside your tumbler is to prevent it from tipping over. So we looked for tumblers with grippy rubber bottoms, to prevent sliding, but we didn’t disqualify any contenders lacking this feature.
• Cupholder compatibility: There is no standard cupholder size among automobiles, but we looked for tumblers with slim or tapered bottoms that could fit in most cupholders, including those on gym equipment and strollers.
• Multiple capacities: We tested tumblers that hold 20 to 24 ounces. Still, some people might want a tumbler that holds more (or less) liquid, so we took into account the variety of sizes each company offers.
• Handles: Most tumblers with handles are larger-capacity drinking vessels, typically able to hold 30 to 40 ounces of liquid. Because we focused on smaller tumblers, we decided to exclude handled options from our testing.
• Aesthetics: Tumblers have become an aesthetic statement (thank you, social media!). Because of this, we looked for options that come in a variety of colors and patterns, so they’d have a greater chance of appealing to a wider range of people.

We measured how well the insulated tumblers actually insulated. Photo: Elissa Sanci

To test the tumblers’ ability to keep beverages cold over time, we filled each one with ice water; then we measured the temperature with a smart-sensor thermometer over the span of 10 hours. We did the same test using boiling water, measuring the temperature at hour intervals over five hours.

To assess lid quality, we filled each tumbler with water and affixed its lid in place, sealing the sipping port with the lid’s mouthpiece, where applicable. Then we knocked each one over to see how much, if any, liquid seeped out.

We also took the lids apart, to see how easy it was to clean them; then we ran the tumblers, their lids, and any included straws through several dishwashing cycles, to assess how heat, water, and detergent would affect the separate pieces.

We used the finalists as our everyday tumblers, taking them along with us on errands, on walks, and to the gym to see how they fared out in the world.

Top pick

Simple Modern Classic Tumbler (24 ounces)

The best tumbler

This affordable, leak-resistant tumbler keeps hot and cold drinks at an ideal temperature for hours. And it’s the only one we tested that comes with both a straw lid and a flip-top lid.

$22 from Amazon

Of all the tumblers we tested, the 24-ounce Simple Modern Classic Tumbler offers the best combination of performance and value.

It’s the cheapest of our picks, and it comes with two lids. This tumbler is among the more affordable options we tested. And it’s our only pick to come with two lids: a flip-top lid with a small sipping port and a straw-only lid.

It does a good job of retaining temperature. This double-walled stainless steel tumbler kept beverages just as cold as two of our other picks, the Yeti Rambler and Stanley’s The IceFlow (but not as cold as the RTIC Everyday Tumbler). The Simple Modern vessel also kept hot drinks warmer for longer than our other picks.

It doesn’t leak, even when it’s knocked over. Both lids screw into the mouth of the tumbler, creating an airtight seal that keeps liquid from seeping out—even when we knocked the cup on its side. On the flip-top lid, you can press the mouthpiece cover securely into the sipping port to create a leakproof seal. And though the straw lid is only leak-resistant (given the very nature of straws), it has a rubber gasket that seals snugly around the straw.

It’s easy to sip from, regardless of which lid you’re using. The flip-top lid has a sloped mouthpiece, which eliminates splashing and makes drinking from the cup pleasant. The latch creates a strong seal when you press it into place, but you can still pop it open one-handed when you’re on the go. And the straw on the other lid is made of a flexible, soft plastic, so it’s nicer to sip from than harder plastic or metal straws.

It’s compatible with most cupholders. Cupholder sizes vary depending on an automobile’s make and model, so it may not fit in every car’s cupholder. But with its tapered, 2.8-inch base, the Simple Modern tumbler fits into my Subaru’s cupholders, and it also fits into the treadmill cupholders at my gym.

It feels (and looks) nice. This sleek, slim tumbler has a smooth powder coating that’s easy to grip, even with wet hands. And though all of our picks have logos printed or embossed on the cups, the small “S|M” located toward the bottom of this tumbler is the most understated, which some folks may find appealing.

It’s easy to clean. The Simple Modern tumbler, the lids, and the plastic straw are all dishwasher-safe. And the flip-top and straw lids both have removable rubber gaskets, which you can pop out to do a deeper cleaning.

Simple Modern offers a robust selection of colors, patterns, and capacity options. The Classic vessel comes in four sizes (16, 20, 24, and 28 ounces) and in dozens of colors and patterns, so you’re bound to find something that matches your style.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Compared with our other picks, the Simple Modern Classic Tumbler is harder to find in brick-and-mortar stores. If you want this vessel in your hands immediately, there are limited options. Simple Modern vessels are stocked only on shelves in Walmart and Target, and if those stores near you are out of stock, you’ll have wait. Our other picks can be found at a wider range of stores—including REI, Bass Pro Shops, and Ace Hardware, in addition to Walmart and Target. So if one retailer doesn’t have the tumbler in stock, you have other options.

Runner-up

RTIC Everyday Tumbler (20 ounces)

For straw-lid users

This tumbler kept beverages cold for nine hours (longer than any other vessel we tested). And its straw lid creates a tight seal that prevents most leaks. But it comes in a limited number of colors and sizes, and it has a straw lid only.

$27 from Amazon

$27 from Walmart

$20 from RTIC

If the Simple Modern Classic Tumbler is unavailable, and you know you’d prefer a tumbler with a straw over one with a sipping port, the 20-ounce RTIC Everyday Tumbler might be your best option.

It excels at temperature retention. In our cold-temperature-retention tests, this double-walled, ceramic-lined tumbler outperformed the competition, keeping drinks colder for longer than our other picks.

It has a leak-resistant lid. No straw lid can be completely leakproof, but this quarter-turn lid comes close. Like our top pick’s lid, the Everyday Tumbler’s lid screws into the mouth of the cup, creating a watertight seal that doesn’t leak when you knock the tumbler over. And a rubber gasket holds the plastic straw in place, reducing any splashing.

It’s easy to clean. Both the tumbler and the lid are dishwasher-safe. And the rubber gaskets, which make the lid leak-resistant, come out for a deeper clean.

It fits in most cupholders. The slim Everyday Tumbler tapers toward the bottom (its base measures 2.5 inches), so it’s compatible with most cupholders we encountered.

It feels nice in the hand. The tumbler’s color coating is smooth and doesn’t feel too cold (or hot) to the touch, despite the temperature of the liquid inside. It’s also easy to grip with wet hands, so it’s a trusty poolside companion.

The RTIC Everyday Tumbler’s lid has a gasket surrounding the hole for the straw, to prevent leaking. Photo: Connie Park

But it comes with only a straw lid. That’s fine for people who plan to use their tumblers just for cold drinks. In our testing, this model was the best at retaining heat, but if you’d like to enjoy the occasional cup of coffee or hot cocoa, you’ll have to buy a separate slider lid.

The pricing can be confusing. RTIC currently offers the Everyday Tumbler on its website for about $9 cheaper than the price on Amazon—but Amazon’s pricing includes shipping, whereas RTIC’s does not. (RTIC charges around $9 for shipping, unless you meet the $35 free-shipping threshold.) Ultimately, the street price of the tumbler is currently around $29 no matter where you buy it, yet we wish the pricing were more straightforward.

This tumbler comes in fewer colors and capacities than our other picks. The Everyday Tumbler comes in five colors—far fewer than our other picks come in. It’s available in just two sizes—20 ounces and 28 ounces—and RTIC doesn’t sell a separate flip-top lid for the 28-ounce size.

Runner-up

Yeti Rambler Tumbler with MagSlider Lid (20 ounces)

For sipping-port users

This tumbler has a sloped lip, which makes sipping easy, and the smooth, lid-locking mechanism is easy to operate while you’re driving. However, this vessel leaks more when it’s knocked over, and it doesn’t keep drinks as cold as our other picks. Also, it doesn’t come with a straw lid.

$35 from Amazon

$35 from REI

$35 from Yeti

If our top pick is unavailable, and you prefer drinking from the rim of a tumbler over using straw, we recommend the 20-ounce Yeti Rambler Tumbler with MagSlider Lid.

Its lid is a joy to use. The lip of the mouthpiece gently slopes, to eliminate any splashing, and the MagSlider port cover smoothly glides open and closed. So it’s easy to use one-handed, while you’re driving or on the treadmill. The press-in lid creates a seal around the mouth of the tumbler, and that cut some of the leakage when we knocked over the cup, but of all our picks, it did leak the most when this happened.

It’s the most expensive tumbler we recommend. The Rambler currently costs more per ounce of capacity than our other picks, and it includes just one type of lid. If you also would like a straw lid, you’ll have to pay another $10—and that lid doesn’t have a rubber gasket around the straw opening, to keep the straw from sliding around.

The Yeti Rambler has a rugged look, which may appeal to some people. This tumbler has a wider, squatter profile than our other picks.

It insulates well enough. This double-walled stainless steel tumbler didn’t keep beverages cold for as long as the RTIC Everyday Tumbler, but the difference wasn’t huge. Over nine hours, the Everyday Tumbler kept water 2 degrees colder than the Yeti Rambler.

Video: Connie Park

It’s easy to keep clean. Both the tumbler and the lid are dishwasher-safe, and the MagSlider pops off, which makes cleaning out accumulated gunk extremely easy. The lid also has a rubber gasket, which you can pull off for deep cleaning.

It’s available in about a dozen colors and three sizes. Yeti offers seven regular colors, including navy, black, and white, plus a handful of rotating seasonal colors. The Rambler is available in 10-ounce, 20-ounce, and 30-ounce capacities.

Also great

Stanley The IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler (20 ounces)

For travelers

This tumbler has a leakproof lid with a built-in flip straw (which can be tucked away when you’re not using it). It has a contoured body, so it’s simple to hold, and the handle makes it easy to carry around.

$30 from Amazon

$26 from REI

$30 from Stanley

Stanley’s The IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler combines the leakproof qualities of a water bottle, the easy-access straw of a tumbler, and the insulating power of a travel mug.

It’s the only tumbler we recommend that’s truly leakproof. The lid screws into the mouth of the tumbler, and the flip straw folds closed, to create an airtight seal that keeps liquid from seeping out. We tossed this tumbler in a gym tote and purse, and it never leaked and soaked our things.

Its lid has a built-in flip straw. Airplanes, trains, and other modes of public transportation are not known for cleanliness, and you may prefer not to have your tumbler’s straw exposed at all times. The IceFlow tumbler’s straw folds out of sight—and away from germs and dirt—when you’re not using it.

It also has a built-in carrying handle. The lid’s hinged handle makes the Stanley IceFlow tumbler easier to tote around. And, unlike the handle on the other (more famous) Stanley tumbler, this tumbler’s handle is on top (rather than on the body), so it’s more likely to fit into a backpack’s water-bottle pocket.

Here’s the underside of the Stanley IceFlow’s lid, with its gasket in place. Photo: Connie Park

But the lid doesn’t come apart for cleaning. Though the tumbler and lid are both dishwasher-safe, the one-piece lid has crannies where grime and gunk can build up. Deep cleaning this lid is not impossible, but it takes effort, attention to detail, and a straw-cleaning brush (to scrub the interior of the straw).

This tumbler is easier to grip than our other picks, due to its contoured body and smooth-finish powder coating. And its tapered bottom (measuring 2.5 inches) is compatible with most cupholders.

This tumbler matched the cold retention of our other picks—but not of the RTIC. In our testing, the double-walled, stainless steel Stanley vessel kept iced beverages cold for nine hours—the same as the Simple Modern Classic and the Yeti Rambler. It also excels at heat retention, but its built-in straw isn’t suited for warm beverages.

It comes in over 20 colors and five sizes. The colors are all bright and eye-catching; it comes in 20, 30, 40, and 64 ounces, as well as a whopping 96-ounce version.

The 24-ounce Corkcicle Cold Cup has flat, easy-to-grip panels along its sides. But the press-in lid doesn’t create a tight enough seal to prevent leakage when the cup is knocked over. It comes with a hard metal straw, which hurt the palate of my mouth.

The 20-ounce Wetoweto Tumbler, the cheapest of all the tumblers we tested, includes two lids and two straws. However, it was the worst at keeping cold liquids cold.

We thought the 16-ounce Pirani Insulated Stackable Tumbler’s cheeky, Solo Cup–like design might make it a good choice for folks with limited cabinet space, since these cups stack for storage. But the lid created a weak seal, and it leaked a substantial amount when we knocked the tumbler over.

The 24-ounce Takeya Insulated Straw Tumbler has a flip straw that’s similar in style to the Stanley IceFlow’s. But the Takeya tumbler isn’t dishwasher-safe, and the one-piece lid has too many crevices where dirt and other grime can accumulate. Also, stock is currently very limited, so we’ve reached out to Takeya to confirm whether this model is being updated.

The 20-ounce CamelBak Horizon tumbler excels at keeping contents cold. But when this vessel is knocked on its side, it leaks considerably—the press-in lid doesn’t create a secure seal at the mouth of the tumbler.

Likewise, the 20-ounce Hydro Flask All Around Tumbler did a great job of keeping cold beverages cold, but the mouthpiece allowed too much liquid through in a rush. And though the press-in lid creates a tight seal around the mouth of the tumbler, when the vessel is on its side, liquid seeps out from both ends of the sliding mouthpiece.

The 20-ounce Tervis Traveler also excelled at maintaining beverage temperature. Yet the sliding mouthpiece felt loose and flimsy, and the outer plastic coating was hard to grip, especially with wet hands.

This article was edited by Christine Ryan.