Kinto Travel Tumbler Review (Plus 6 Kinto Tumblers Compared)

Most travel mugs feel like drinking from a lid. The Kinto Travel Tumbler feels like drinking from a cup, and that one detail is why so many people keep buying it.

It is a slim, double-walled steel tumbler from Kinto, a Japanese homeware maker. It screws shut, fits in a car cup holder and keeps coffee warm well past lunch. It is not perfect, and it is not the only Kinto worth a look.

The short version: For most people, the Kinto Travel Tumbler 500ml is the one to get. It holds a large coffee, keeps it hot for about six hours and drinks like a real cup. Just know it is hand wash only. If you need a cup that goes in the dishwasher, get the Kinto To Go Tumbler instead.

Our Picks at a Glance

• Best overall: Kinto Travel Tumbler 500mlJump to review ↓
• Best for one coffee: Kinto Travel Tumbler 350mlJump to review ↓
• Best with a handle: Kinto Day Off Tumbler 500mlJump to review ↓
• Best for hikes and sparkling drinks: Kinto Trail Tumbler 580mlJump to review ↓
• Best dishwasher-safe cup: Kinto To Go Tumbler 360ml with PlugJump to review ↓
• Best for iced coffee at a desk: Kinto To Go Tumbler 480ml with StrawJump to review ↓
• Best for cold water and the gym: Kinto Active Tumbler 600mlJump to review ↓

All seven are double-walled, vacuum-insulated 18-8 stainless steel. The differences are in the lid, the size and how you wash them.

Tumbler	Capacity	Heat Retention	Lid Style	Dishwasher Safe
Travel Tumbler 500ml	17 oz	About 149°F after 6 hours	Screw-on lid and cap	No
Travel Tumbler 350ml	12 oz	About 149°F after 6 hours	Screw-on lid and cap	No
Day Off Tumbler 500ml	17 oz	About 156°F after 6 hours	Screw-on lid and cap, handle	No
Trail Tumbler 580ml	20 oz	About 176°F after 6 hours	Flip lid with carry handle	No
To Go Tumbler 360ml	12 oz	Above 167°F after 1 hour	Press-on lid, rotating plug	Yes
To Go Tumbler 480ml	16 oz	Above 172°F after 1 hour	Lid with straw	Yes (top rack)
Active Tumbler 600ml	20 oz	Cold drinks only, 43°F after 6 hours	Straw-type spout	No

1. Kinto Travel Tumbler 500ml: Best Overall

The thing that sets the Travel Tumbler apart is the cap. It unscrews completely, and what is left is a thin, smooth steel rim with no threads touching your lips. You drink from it like a glass, from any side. Most insulated mugs make you sip through a slot in a plastic lid.

Under the cap there is a small inner structure that slows the flow. It catches ice cubes and stops hot coffee from rushing out when you tip it.

Insulation comes from two steel walls with a vacuum between them. Heat needs something to travel through, and a vacuum gives it almost nothing. That is why the outside stays cool while your coffee stays hot. Preheat it with hot water from your electric kettle for a minute or two, and it holds heat even longer.

The inside is electro-polished, which means the steel is smoothed until it is close to mirror-like. A smoother surface holds on to fewer coffee oils, so it is less likely to keep yesterday’s smell. The colored versions have a powder-coated outside that resists scratches.

How leak proof is it? With the lid and cap screwed down, it holds well upright in a cup holder or a tote. It is not designed to roll around sideways in a laptop bag, and It is made to ride upright. Do not fill it to the brim either, since it can spill as you close it. Kinto also sells a replacement 500ml lid and the silicone rings, so a worn seal is a cheap fix, not a new tumbler.

Who should buy it: Anyone who drinks a big coffee or tea away from home and hates sipping through a plastic slot. It suits commuters, students and anyone who carries one drink for most of the morning.

2. Kinto Travel Tumbler 350ml: Best for One Coffee

This is the same design as the 500ml, just shorter and lighter. It holds about one regular mug of coffee, which is what most people actually drink in one sitting.

The smaller size has a real benefit for hot drinks. A half-empty tumbler cools faster than a full one, because there is more air inside. If you only drink 12 ounces, a 12-ounce tumbler keeps that coffee hotter than a 17-ounce one that is only two-thirds full.

It also fits places the 500ml does not. Think small crossbody bags, stroller cup holders and the door pocket of a compact car.

Who should buy it: People who drink one regular cup at a time and want the lightest Kinto that still screws shut.

3. Kinto Day Off Tumbler 500ml: Best With a Handle

The Day Off is the Travel Tumbler’s relaxed cousin. It has the same smooth cap, the same 500ml body and the same slow-flow structure under the cap. The difference is a rounded handle built into the lid.

That handle changes how you use it. You can hook it on a finger while carrying a laptop, or grab it off the desk without looking.

The handle also makes it taller, at about 9 inches with the lid on. That is fine on a desk but can be tight under some cabinets or coffee machine spouts. It may also stop it from sitting low in a narrow cup holder.

If one 500ml fill is not enough, the Day Off Tumbler 900ml holds almost a full quart. It is a good size for iced tea or water on a long workday. For more on how those sizes compare, see how many ounces are in a quart.

Who should buy it: People who work from home, or anyone who carries a drink around the house more than to the car.

4. Kinto Trail Tumbler 580ml: Best for Hikes and Sparkling Drinks

The Trail Tumbler has the best numbers in the Kinto line. Coffee stays around 176°F after six hours.

It is also the only tumbler here that is fine with fizzy drinks. Most insulated tumblers warn against carbonation, because the gas builds pressure in a sealed space. The Trail’s lid is made to handle it. Hold the lid and open it slowly, and keep it away from your phone the first time.

The lid flips open smoothly and has a carry handle. It covers the mouth fully, so dust and bugs stay out on a picnic or a trail. If you make your own bubbles with a sparkling water maker, this is the Kinto that keeps it cold and fizzy.

Who should buy it: Hikers, campers and anyone who wants coffee still properly hot in the afternoon, or sparkling water still cold.

5. Kinto To Go Tumbler 360ml with Plug: Best Dishwasher-Safe Cup

The To Go Tumbler is a different idea. It is short and wide, shaped like a paper café cup, and meant for the drive or the walk to work, not a full day.

The lid presses on and has a rotating plug. Turn the plug to open the sip hole, turn it back to cover it. That stops sloshing on the go, but this is not a sealed lid. Keep it upright.

Its short height is the big win. It fits under espresso machines and drip coffee makers, so you can brew straight into it. If you pull shots at home on one of the espresso machines we like, this is the tumbler for your morning latte. It also fits car drink holders.

And it goes in the dishwasher. If 12 ounces is more than you drink, the To Go Tumbler 240ml holds a small flat white.

Who should buy it: People who drink their coffee within an hour and want a cup they can run through the dishwasher every night.

6. Kinto To Go Tumbler 480ml with Straw: Best for Iced Coffee at a Desk

This is the To Go Tumbler with a taller body and a straw lid. It is built for iced drinks that you sip slowly while you work.

The steel walls stop the outside from sweating, so there is no ring of water on your desk or papers. Ice melts more slowly too, which keeps cold brew from turning weak and watery. Pair it with a batch from one of the cold brew coffee makers we recommend and you have iced coffee for the week.

A few rules come with the straw lid. The tumbler is not sealed, so carry it upright and never in a bag. Do not carry it by the lid. Skip drinks with citrus peel, since oils from the peel can wear down the lid and straw over time.

Who should buy it: Iced coffee and iced tea drinkers who sit at a desk and want a cup that washes in the dishwasher.

7. Kinto Active Tumbler 600ml: Best for Cold Water and the Gym

The Active Tumbler is for cold drinks only. Do not put hot drinks in it, because the straw-type spout could spray a hot drink.

The spout flips open with one hand and drinks like a straw. The opening under the lid is wide, so ice cubes go in easily. A rubber base softens the knock when you set it on a gym floor or a hard counter.

It keeps water cold for about six hours. For a protein shake, mix it in a blender made for protein shakes first, then pour it in. Kinto also sells an 800ml size for long days.

Who should buy it: Anyone who wants a cold water tumbler that feels nicer than a plastic gym bottle.

Kinto Travel Tumbler 350ml vs 500ml: Which Size?

This is the most common question about the Travel Tumbler, so here is a plain rule. Buy the size that matches the drink you actually make, not the biggest one.

	350ml (12 oz)	500ml (17 oz)
Holds	One regular coffee	A large coffee or iced drink with ice
Height with lid	About 6.8 in	About 7.9 in
Width	About 2.8 in	About 3.0 in
Weight	About 245 g	About 310 g
Best for	Small bags, single cups	Long mornings, tea refills, iced coffee

A tumbler stays hottest when it is full. If you brew 12 ounces, the 350ml is the better tumbler for you. If you drink iced coffee, go 500ml, because ice takes up a third of the space.

How Does the Kinto Tumbler Compare to Yeti, Stanley and Fellow?

Kinto tumblers are lighter and slimmer than most big-name tumblers. The Travel Tumbler 500ml weighs about 310 g, a little under 11 ounces. Many 20 to 40-ounce tumblers with handles weigh a lot more, which you notice in a bag.

The lids differ more than the steel does. Most Yeti and Stanley tumblers use a slide lid or a straw lid that is not sealed. They work on a desk, but they spill if they tip over. The Kinto Travel Tumbler screws shut, so it handles a tote bag much better.

Fellow’s Carter mugs are the closest rival. They also aim for a wide, cup-like sip. Fellow coats the inside with ceramic, which some people prefer for taste. Kinto uses plain polished steel, which is lighter and very durable.

The one place Kinto falls behind is washing. Many Yeti and Stanley tumblers can go in the dishwasher. Of the Kinto tumblers here, only the To Go models can.

Is the Kinto Tumbler Dishwasher Safe?

Only the To Go Tumbler is. The Travel, Day Off, Trail and Active tumblers are hand wash only.

The reason is the vacuum seal and the finish. High heat and strong detergent can weaken the seal over time and dull the powder coating.

Hand washing takes about a minute:

1. Rinse it soon after you finish, before coffee oils dry.
2. Wash with warm water, mild soap and a soft sponge or a long OXO bottle brush.
3. Pull out the silicone rings now and then and wash them separately.
4. Dry it right away and leave it open to air out.

Avoid steel wool, abrasive cleansers and chlorine bleach, and do not leave it soaking. If small rust-colored spots ever appear inside, use a 10 to 1 mix of warm water and citric acid, left for two to three hours, then rinsed. This is the same mild acid trick used for descaling an electric kettle.

Will It Fit My Car Cup Holder?

Most likely, yes, for the slim models. The Travel Tumbler 350ml is about 2.8 inches across and the 500ml is about 3 inches. Those widths drop into most car and stroller cup holders.

The To Go Tumbler is wider at 3.4 inches, but it tapers toward the base, and it is shaped to fit car drink holders. The Day Off is the one to check first, because its handle can catch on the edge of a tight holder.

What Makes Coffee Taste Better in a Tumbler?

A tumbler can only keep what you put in it. Stale beans taste flat no matter how good the steel is. Fresh coffee, ground just before brewing, matters more than any lid.

This is where Equator Coffees fits in. They are a San Francisco Bay Area roaster that ships fresh beans, whole or ground for your brew method. The Equator Blend is a mellow medium-dark roast with notes of cedar, apricot and nutmeg. It holds its flavor well as it cools, which matters for coffee that sits in a tumbler for a few hours.

If you drink a second or third cup, the 50/50 Blend is half regular and half decaf. You get the same ritual with about half the caffeine. Both come as whole bean or pre-ground for drip and pour-over.

To get the most from whole beans, grind them right before brewing. A burr grinder like the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder gives an even grind, which brews more evenly. If you would rather skip the grinder, a coffee maker with a built-in grinder does both jobs on one small footprint.

A Simple Pour-Over for a Travel Tumbler

Pour-over is the easiest way to brew one tumbler of good coffee. Here is a ratio that fills the 350ml Travel Tumbler:

Tumbler Size	Coffee	Water	Grind
350ml (12 oz)	About 22 g	About 350 g	Medium, like table salt
500ml (17 oz)	About 31 g	About 500 g	Medium, like table salt

That is roughly 1 part coffee to 16 parts water. Heat the water to about 200°F. A gooseneck kettle with a temperature setting, like the COSORI Electric Gooseneck Kettle, makes the slow, steady pour easy. Our guide on how electric kettles work explains why the gooseneck spout helps.

Kinto makes its own brewing gear too. The SCS coffee carafe set pairs a glass carafe with a stainless steel filter, so you brew with no paper filters at all. A steel filter lets more coffee oils through, so the cup tastes fuller and a little heavier than paper-filtered coffee. Brew into the carafe, then pour into your tumbler.

For iced coffee, the Kinto Capsule cold brew carafe makes a liter at a time in the fridge. Its lid opens on its own as you tip it and closes when you set it down.

How to Choose a Kinto Tumbler

Start with where the drink goes. That one question narrows the list fast.

Your Day	Pick	Why
Commute with a bag	Travel Tumbler 350ml or 500ml	Screws shut, slim, six-hour heat
Work from home	Day Off Tumbler	Handle, sits on a desk all day
Hikes, beach, fizzy drinks	Trail Tumbler	Best heat retention, carbonation OK
Coffee within an hour	To Go Tumbler 360ml	Dishwasher safe, fits under a machine
Iced coffee at a desk	To Go Tumbler 480ml with Straw	No sweating, dishwasher safe
Gym and cold water	Active Tumbler	One-hand spout, cold only

Storing Tumblers in a Small Kitchen

Store them with the lids off so they dry fully and never trap a smell. A narrow shelf riser or a door rack works well, and our vertical storage ideas for small kitchens show a few ways to do it. Lids can live in a small bin next to the dish drying rack so the rings never go missing.

If your cupboards are already full, it may be time to let go of a few freebie mugs. Our guide to decluttering a small kitchen has a simple keep-or-donate rule. For more ideas, see these small kitchen storage ideas.

A good tumbler also cuts down on paper cups. That fits well with the other swaps in our eco-friendly alternatives to common kitchen appliances. It is also one of the small gadgets worth buying when you cook for one.

What Can You Put in a Kinto Tumbler?

Milky drinks are fine for a few hours, but wash the tumbler soon after. Do not store drinks in it for days or leave it in a hot car. If you froth milk for lattes with a milk frother, rinse the tumbler as soon as you finish.

For a richer drink, bulletproof coffee travels well in a sealed Travel Tumbler. Shake it gently with the lid on to keep the butter mixed in.

Skip carbonated drinks in everything except the Trail Tumbler. If you want cold water ready all day, an ice maker for home use keeps small cubes on hand that fit through the narrower mouths.

Which Kinto Tumbler Should You Buy?

If you only buy one, buy the Kinto Travel Tumbler 500ml. It covers the most ground: hot coffee in the morning, iced drinks in summer, and a lid you can trust in a tote.

Choose the 350ml if you drink one regular cup. Choose the Day Off if your coffee rarely leaves the house. Choose the To Go if the dishwasher matters more than six-hour heat.

Then fill it with good coffee. A bag of Equator Blend and a simple pour-over will do more for your morning than any lid design. If tea is more your thing, our guide to the best tea kettle for a gas stove is a good next read.

Related Guides

• Best Electric Kettle
• Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker
• Best Coffee Maker With a Grinder
• How to Use a Keurig Coffee Maker
• Best Nespresso Pod Flavors
• How to Stock a Small Kitchen for Solo Cooking
• Studio Apartment Kitchen Ideas
• Best Airtight Food Storage Containers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kinto Travel Tumbler leak proof?

It is spill resistant, not a bag-proof bottle. With the lid and cap screwed down tight, it holds coffee well when it sits upright in a cup holder or a tote. Carry it upright and do not overfill it, since a full tumbler can spill as you close it. Check that the silicone rings sit flat after washing, because a twisted ring is the usual cause of drips.

Is the Kinto Travel Tumbler dishwasher safe?

No. The Travel Tumbler, Day Off, Trail and Active tumblers are all hand wash only. Dishwasher heat and harsh detergent can damage the vacuum seal and the powder-coated finish. Rinse it soon after use, wash with a soft sponge and mild soap, and dry it right away. If you want a Kinto cup that goes in the dishwasher, the To Go Tumbler is the one to buy.

Should I get the Kinto Travel Tumbler in 350ml or 500ml?

Pick the 350ml (12 oz) if you drink one regular coffee at a time or want something that slips into a small bag. Pick the 500ml (17 oz) if you drink a large coffee, carry tea for the afternoon, or fill it with iced drinks. The 500ml is about an inch taller and slightly heavier, but both keep drinks hot for about six hours.

How long does a Kinto tumbler keep coffee hot?

The Travel Tumbler keeps hot drinks at about 149°F (65°C) or warmer after six hours, and cold drinks at about 46°F (8°C). The Trail Tumbler holds heat best, at about 176°F (80°C) after six hours. The open-style To Go Tumbler is built for shorter trips and keeps coffee hot for about an hour. Preheating any tumbler with hot water for a minute or two helps.

Is the Kinto tumbler better than a Yeti or Stanley?

It depends on how you carry it. Kinto tumblers are slimmer and lighter, with a smooth rim that feels like a cup instead of a lid. Most Yeti and Stanley tumblers use slide or straw lids that are not sealed, while the Kinto Travel Tumbler screws closed. The trade-off is that most Kinto tumblers are hand wash only, and many Yeti and Stanley models can go in the dishwasher.