Thermoses of 2025
Top pick
All of the thermoses we tested kept drinks hot over over a long day, but the Stanley Classic Legendary Bottle 2.5 QT stood out in almost every way. (It comes in three colors: green, silver, and black.)
It’s the most comfortable to hold and pour from. We liked the Classic Legendary Bottle’s handle the best, compared with the handles on all the thermoses we tested. It’s wide and sturdy enough to grab without the bottle wobbling. Unlike the body of the Zojirushi thermos we tested, this bottle’s body isn’t totally smooth: The bumpy texture provides some grip, so you can hold the thermos more firmly, even if you aren’t gripping the handle.
It’s big yet still packable enough. The Classic Legendary Bottle is large—just over 15 inches tall and 5 inches wide. But because its handle swivels to the side, the thermos easily fits in an average-size commuter backpack (though you might not have a lot of space for your lunch or a coat). When this bottle was full, it weighed 8 pounds—but we don’t think it would be too heavy for most people to lug around. If you want something smaller, though, this bottle comes in a 2-quart (64-ounce) version and a 1½-quart (48-ounce) version (which has a less comfortable, harder-to-grip handle).
It has a simple, large cup and a secure stopper. The Classic Legendary Bottle has an outer cap that doubles as a cup, and it has a screw-top stopper that seals the thermos shut. In our leak tests, the two parts stayed securely closed, but they easily twisted off when it was time to pour ourselves a drink. The cap holds nearly one cup (about 8 ounces) when filled to the brim, so you don’t have to refill too frequently.
The Classic Legendary Bottle has a removable cap that holds about a cup of coffee—more than the Zojirushi’s cup holds. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
It’s great at insulating. In our heat tests, the Classic Legendary Bottle kept hot water hotter for longer than any other thermos we tested. When the bottle was placed in a 72-degree Fahrenheit room, out of direct sunlight, the hot water it contained dropped from 202 degrees to 180 degrees Fahrenheit over eight hours. That’s still sufficiently hot for coffee, tea, or any other warm beverage, whether you’re spending the day tucked in an office cubicle or out on a construction site.
It’s tough and leakproof. In our drop tests, the Classic Legendary Bottle barely dented, suffering no punctures, chips, or other serious damage to the body or cap. Most of the thermoses we tested held up similarly well, but this bottle’s rugged aesthetic still looked good with minor denting. And even after being dropped, this thermos didn’t leak any water.
It’s easy to clean. Unlike our other picks, the Classic Legendary Bottle is dishwasher-safe, though it may be tough to fit in smaller units. Because the bottle is tall, it can be hard to reach the bottom to scrub it, so we recommend using a bottle brush.
Its warranty is more generous than most. The Classic Legendary Bottle has a lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects; this warranty goes far beyond the five-year warranty on our pick for commuters.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- The metal drinking cup can get cold. Because the Classic Legendary Bottle’s drinking cup is made of metal, it may be cold to the touch in chilly environments. But the cup has a plastic rim, so your mouth won’t come in a lot of contact with the cold metal. And the body of the cup is insulated, so the contents stay warm yet won’t scorch your hands.
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Top pick
All of the thermoses we tested kept drinks hot over over a long day, but the Stanley Classic Legendary Bottle 2.5 QT stood out in almost every way. (It comes in three colors: green, silver, and black.)
It’s the most comfortable to hold and pour from. We liked the Classic Legendary Bottle’s handle the best, compared with the handles on all the thermoses we tested. It’s wide and sturdy enough to grab without the bottle wobbling. Unlike the body of the Zojirushi thermos we tested, this bottle’s body isn’t totally smooth: The bumpy texture provides some grip, so you can hold the thermos more firmly, even if you aren’t gripping the handle.
It’s big yet still packable enough. The Classic Legendary Bottle is large—just over 15 inches tall and 5 inches wide. But because its handle swivels to the side, the thermos easily fits in an average-size commuter backpack (though you might not have a lot of space for your lunch or a coat). When this bottle was full, it weighed 8 pounds—but we don’t think it would be too heavy for most people to lug around. If you want something smaller, though, this bottle comes in a 2-quart (64-ounce) version and a 1½-quart (48-ounce) version (which has a less comfortable, harder-to-grip handle).
It has a simple, large cup and a secure stopper. The Classic Legendary Bottle has an outer cap that doubles as a cup, and it has a screw-top stopper that seals the thermos shut. In our leak tests, the two parts stayed securely closed, but they easily twisted off when it was time to pour ourselves a drink. The cap holds nearly one cup (about 8 ounces) when filled to the brim, so you don’t have to refill too frequently.
The Classic Legendary Bottle has a removable cap that holds about a cup of coffee—more than the Zojirushi’s cup holds. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
It’s great at insulating. In our heat tests, the Classic Legendary Bottle kept hot water hotter for longer than any other thermos we tested. When the bottle was placed in a 72-degree Fahrenheit room, out of direct sunlight, the hot water it contained dropped from 202 degrees to 180 degrees Fahrenheit over eight hours. That’s still sufficiently hot for coffee, tea, or any other warm beverage, whether you’re spending the day tucked in an office cubicle or out on a construction site.
It’s tough and leakproof. In our drop tests, the Classic Legendary Bottle barely dented, suffering no punctures, chips, or other serious damage to the body or cap. Most of the thermoses we tested held up similarly well, but this bottle’s rugged aesthetic still looked good with minor denting. And even after being dropped, this thermos didn’t leak any water.
It’s easy to clean. Unlike our other picks, the Classic Legendary Bottle is dishwasher-safe, though it may be tough to fit in smaller units. Because the bottle is tall, it can be hard to reach the bottom to scrub it, so we recommend using a bottle brush.
Its warranty is more generous than most. The Classic Legendary Bottle has a lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects; this warranty goes far beyond the five-year warranty on our pick for commuters.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- The metal drinking cup can get cold. Because the Classic Legendary Bottle’s drinking cup is made of metal, it may be cold to the touch in chilly environments. But the cup has a plastic rim, so your mouth won’t come in a lot of contact with the cold metal. And the body of the cup is insulated, so the contents stay warm yet won’t scorch your hands.
The 3 Best Thermoses of 2025
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