Coffee Gator Thermal Camping Mug - Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel - 13.5 ounce

I use coffee gator equipment so I had high hopes for this product however, this is disappointing.Pros:1. Keeps coffee hotter longer than a regular ceramic mug, mainly due to the lid.2. The lid, though majorly flawed, is still a lid, which was the selling point for me buying it in the first place.3. The Look and feel is nice. It looks modern and the paint that is on it feels soft.4. It is, at least for me, a standard size cup for my coffee.5. It is the same size at the top as it is at the bottom meaning that there is less chance for tipping over.All these are great things, but the few flaws really bring down the mug quite a bit.Cons:1. Does not fit into any cup holder. It is advertised as a travel mug, but doesn't fit into any cup holder. 1b. If it is meant for travel then the hole in the cup should be able to be plugged. The open hole would allow a full cup of coffee to splash out.2. The lid, the main reason I wanted this cup has a major design flaw. I like how the lid slopes down to the hole so if there is a little left on the lid, it will run back into the cup. So what is the flaw? The thickest part of the lid on the rim is where the hole is. The problem with this is that I have to open my mouth so far it feels uncomfortable and because it is open so much I have had coffee run off the outside of the rim becuase the rim has no curve to "funnel" the coffee to your lips. I posted two pictures to explain what I mean. The clear lid is the gator and the blue-green is from a Bubba brand. The first is a side by side comparison and the other is on top of each so you can see the depth difference.3. The coffee handle is a little too narrow. This might seem like a small thing, but to some it might be important. I am a 200 pound man so I don't have fat fingers, but putting my fingers through the handle is at times difficult and get hung up on the cup. For me, a quarter of an inch extra would be minimum, but a half inch would be appriciated and if you have big finger then you better avoid this cup altogether.So though this cup keeps your coffee warmer than a mug, I think it's use is relegated to home use only and really if it takes you longer to drink a cup than what it takes for it to cool. Not really worth the price even though I got it as a gold box deal.

Found 3 cracks in the rim on my second time using the mug (hand washing only). The mug seemed well insulated and the lid is a perfect fit, but sadly this is a health hazard because of fluids getting inside the walls of the cup. This will also negate the 'thermal' insulation properties.On the positive side, the company reached out to me and offered a replacement. Sadly it too had cracks, so they offered a full refund at that point.

Update: Coffee Gator owner Phil reached out via email to follow up on my experience and the reason for my return. The rep (the real “Phil”?) freely offered several options to make it right. While this particular item wasn’t for me, their customer service seems to be top notch. More surprisingly, at no time was I asked to change my rating or review. For now, it’s a company that has personal integrity. The takeaway here is that if you are unsatisfied, CG will make it right. I’ll gladly consider Coffee Gator products for my other coffee needs.-Original, unedited review follows.-**RETURNED**The soft touch exterior leaves a weird taste on your lips. Couldn’t wash it off either. The lid rim was so thick, I could barely drink from it. It felt like sucking a “sippy cup”. I’m 40 years old- not into that. Also, didn’t fit in a single cup holder of ours. Not much of a travel cup if I can’t put it in a cup holder. I’m not going to hold it for my entire commute.

Absolutely would buy again! I bought this mug thinking I might use it occasionally~~only if I ventured out onto the front porch to watch our herd of horses frolicking about and racing each other up and down the hill across from our front porch. I not only love using it [the lid provides a nice tight seal which keeps my coffee hot for longer but, obviously, does an admiral job of keeping out the bugs] but I’ve found myself actually getting out of the house more often and, as aforesaid, watching the horses]. The mug has enough heft to stay put when it’s set down~~zero wobbling. Even when it’s full of coffee it’s comfortable to hold without weighing a ton like some travel mugs I’ve used, and the lid is crafted to allow you to sip your coffee without scalding yourself. The edge of the lid where it meets your lips is both rounded and smooth, nice. The outside finish of the mug keeps it from being too hot and/or slippery to hold when either you’re drying from it or washing it [and it cleans up very nicely!] Our cats like to come around when I am sitting on the glider and head bonk me—any cups carelessly left on the table. Travel mugs are too tall, breakable ceramic mugs are a no-no. This camping mug is perfect!

This mug is a fantastic alternative to the traditional ceramic mug. It keeps the coffee hotter for longer, and the lid helps stop splashing when moving the mug. It is stainless steel with a rubberized exterior which is very nice. I have dropped mine and it has not suffered a scratch, whereas many ceramic mugs have suffered shattered fates. It is a very nice worry free travel mug. Definitely not a grab and go travel mug (check out their travel tumbler for that) but it works great for camping or carrying to and from your office.If I were to have one complaint it would be the lid. There is no way to close the lid but that it is totally sealed. But that is often not necessary sitting on my desk. My new favorite mug!!

As a mug it’s good looking and lightweight. As a mug that is supposed to keep your coffee warmer longer it doesn’t work as well as I was hoping. It keeps the contents warmer a little bit longer than a regular mug but not as long as would be useful to a person who can’t drink his/her coffee in 20 minutes. I didn’t buy this to travel as I knew it wouldn’t fit in the car.

I initially like them, then the coating started pealing off. Of course it doesn't happen until the return period is over. I changed my review because of Coffee Gator's gracious response and offer to replace the cups, which I accepted. I'll keep updated on the new ones.