Comments on: The search for the perfect travel mug http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/ Here's my very witty tagline Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:12:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: JamesD http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/comment-page-1/#comment-2795 JamesD Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:26:12 +0000 http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/#comment-2795 Thanks for the useful info. It's so interesting Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting

]]> By: Christine http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/comment-page-1/#comment-789 Christine Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:29:56 +0000 http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/#comment-789 Excellent idea Jen, I will contact them and let you know asap! Excellent idea Jen, I will contact them and let you know asap!

]]> By: jen http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/comment-page-1/#comment-785 jen Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:06:33 +0000 http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/#comment-785 im thinking about buying the Contigo Extreme (after i read your review :)) .Haven't made up my mind though. I'd really appreciate it if u could test the Thermos Nissan 18-Ounce Stainless-Steel Insulated Travel Tumbler or the 20 oz. Tumbler Mugs from planetarydesign im thinking about buying the Contigo Extreme (after i read your review :) ) .Haven’t made up my mind though. I’d really appreciate it if u could test the Thermos Nissan 18-Ounce Stainless-Steel Insulated Travel Tumbler or the 20 oz. Tumbler Mugs from planetarydesign

]]> By: Administrator http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/comment-page-1/#comment-752 Administrator Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:14:45 +0000 http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/#comment-752 Hi Sandra, You can order replacement lids on eBay. The store is called the "Coffee Mug Outlet." http://stores.ebay.com/Coffee-Mug-Outlet Just look for "Extreme Replacement Lid," its only $5.00, well worth it. Good luck with your mug!! -Christine Hi Sandra,
You can order replacement lids on eBay. The store is called the “Coffee Mug Outlet.”

http://stores.ebay.com/Coffee-Mug-Outlet

Just look for “Extreme Replacement Lid,” its only $5.00, well worth it.

Good luck with your mug!!

-Christine

]]> By: Sandra Friedrickson http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/comment-page-1/#comment-751 Sandra Friedrickson Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:10:20 +0000 http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/#comment-751 Hello. I love my Contigo Extreme mug. It is red and we have both styles. The lid is wonderful and coffee stays hot in either one. Unfortunately, mine fell off a hospital table while visiting a friend and the wonderful sealing lid broke. We tried to glue with quality glue, but to no avail. Could I get a replacement lid? Would you tell me how to order? Many thanks. Sandra Friedrickson Hello.
I love my Contigo Extreme mug. It is red and we have both styles. The lid is wonderful and coffee stays hot in either one. Unfortunately, mine fell off a hospital table while visiting a friend and the wonderful sealing lid broke. We tried to glue with quality glue, but to no avail. Could I get a replacement lid? Would you tell me how to order? Many thanks.

Sandra Friedrickson

]]> By: Debbie Brozio http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/comment-page-1/#comment-750 Debbie Brozio Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:32:43 +0000 http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/#comment-750 I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE CONTIGO EXTREME TRAVEL MUG WITH THE HANDLE THAT CLIPS IS THE PERFECT TRAVEL MUG FOR SPILLAGE. WE HAVE A 1988 CORVETTE THAT HAS SHALLOW CUP HOLDERS AND THIS TRAVEL MUGS PREVENTS ANY LIQUID FROM SPILLING AND GETTING INTO THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE CONTIGO EXTREME TRAVEL MUG WITH THE HANDLE THAT CLIPS IS THE PERFECT TRAVEL MUG FOR SPILLAGE. WE HAVE A 1988 CORVETTE THAT HAS SHALLOW CUP HOLDERS AND THIS TRAVEL MUGS PREVENTS ANY LIQUID FROM SPILLING AND GETTING INTO THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE.

]]> By: Steve Pinelli http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/comment-page-1/#comment-725 Steve Pinelli Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:55:43 +0000 http://christinesalib.com/2008/03/04/the-search-for-the-perfect-travel-mug/#comment-725 Christine, I work as an engineer at the company that makes the Contigo mugs that you reviewed in your search for the perfect travel mug. We are always looking for useful feedback on our products. I'm happy that you enjoy the Extreme Mug. It has been a very popular product for us. For the user that prefers a travel mug with a handle, we believe that it is the best available. Concerning your experience with the Autoseal Mug, I was disappointed to read that you had some leakage near the button. We have not found many instances of this in our product testing and customer feedback and I fear that you may have a defective mug. We would be glad to send a replacement. Concerning your other perceived drawbacks of the Autoseal mug, I would like to explain some of the features and thinking behind this product. Some of the drawbacks are inherent to a travel mug with no handle. In a automobile commuting situation (such as my commute), we have found the non-handled mug to be more convenient but we have also found that mugs with handles can be more convenient for people who walk with their mugs (especially the Extreme Mug which clips to one's bag as you mentioned). The paramount design challenge of a mug that opens at the push of a button is the pressure generated inside a sealed vessel containing hot coffee. This requires that the mechanism is designed such that any built-up pressure is released in a predictable and safe way. The solution in the case of the Autoseal mugs is that any built-up pressure on the inside of the mug is released through the vent holes toward the opposite end of the lid from the drink hole before the drink hole opens. This pressure release can at times eject a small amount of steam or droplets but the lid is designed such that the droplets and steam are directed to the sides and away from the face of the user. Of course, if the user opens the mug upside down or on its side while there is hot coffee inside, more liquid can escape from the vent hole (and drink hole for that matter). As long as the button is pressed while the product is held relatively upright, any liquid or vapor coming out of the vent holes should be minimal. Concerning accidental pushing of the button, the button is actually designed to be flush enough to avoid this in many situations but there is always the possibility of accidentally pushing the button if the mug has random objects contacting it. The Autoseal mugs also differ from most mugs in the interface with the users mouth. We wanted to create the most spill-proof mug for drinking while moving (in a car, bus, walking) so we used the same basic mouth interface that is used in many disposable coffee cups such as are used at Starbucks. This design provides a direct, spill proof, controllable path for the coffee into the user's mouth. The drawback to this design is that the coffee may be too hot for some users to drink this way. (I add a little milk to my coffee which cools it off enough before drinking.) For these users, the Extreme mug (which has a lip in which the coffee can pool) may be the better choice. As you mentioned the vacuum insulation used in the West Loop and Extreme can be a drawback for users who do not prefer their coffee very hot. We offer lower-priced plastic walled mugs and foam insulated mugs which have far less insulating performance but for high-performance insulation, vacuum can't be beat. As for your complaint that the drink hole is hard to find, in my experience, locating the button with the fingers usually provides enough position information to allow me to find the drink hole pretty easily. This may perhaps require a little user experience to get used to without having a handle on the product for reference. Suffice to say that we believe that the Contigo Autoseal and Contigo Extreme mugs are both outstanding products that are at the top of their catagories. If you find better ones in your quest, please let me know. For your leaky Extreme mug lid, we can send a complimentary replacement. Let me know your address and we will send it along with the replacement West Loop. What color do you prefer for the West Loop? (Blue, Black, or Silver) thanks, Steve Pinelli Steve Pinelli Senior Mechanical Engineer Ignite USA Christine,

I work as an engineer at the company that makes the Contigo mugs that you reviewed in your search for the perfect travel mug. We are always looking for useful feedback on our products.
I’m happy that you enjoy the Extreme Mug. It has been a very popular product for us. For the user that prefers a travel mug with a handle, we believe that it is the best available.

Concerning your experience with the Autoseal Mug, I was disappointed to read that you had some leakage near the button. We have not found many instances of this in our product testing and customer feedback and I fear that you may have a defective mug. We would be glad to send a replacement.
Concerning your other perceived drawbacks of the Autoseal mug, I would like to explain some of the features and thinking behind this product.
Some of the drawbacks are inherent to a travel mug with no handle. In a automobile commuting situation (such as my commute), we have found the non-handled mug to be more convenient but we have also found that mugs with handles can be more convenient for people who walk with their mugs (especially the Extreme Mug which clips to one’s bag as you mentioned).

The paramount design challenge of a mug that opens at the push of a button is the pressure generated inside a sealed vessel containing hot coffee. This requires that the mechanism is designed such that any built-up pressure is released in a predictable and safe way. The solution in the case of the Autoseal mugs is that any built-up pressure on the inside of the mug is released through the vent holes toward the opposite end of the lid from the drink hole before the drink hole
opens. This pressure release can at times eject a small amount of steam or droplets but the lid is designed such that the droplets and steam are directed to the sides and away from the face of the user. Of course, if the user opens the mug upside down or on its side while there is hot coffee inside, more liquid can escape from the vent hole (and drink hole for that matter).
As long as the button is pressed while the product is held relatively upright, any liquid or vapor coming out of the vent holes should be minimal.
Concerning accidental pushing of the button, the button is actually designed to be flush enough to avoid this in many situations but there is always the possibility of accidentally pushing the button if the mug has random objects contacting it.

The Autoseal mugs also differ from most mugs in the interface with the users mouth. We wanted to create the most spill-proof mug for drinking while moving (in a car, bus, walking) so we used the same basic mouth interface that is used in many disposable coffee cups such as are used at Starbucks. This design provides a direct, spill proof, controllable path for the coffee into the user’s mouth.
The drawback to this design is that the coffee may be too hot for some users to drink this way. (I add a little milk to my coffee which cools it off enough before drinking.)
For these users, the Extreme mug (which has a lip in which the coffee can pool) may be the better choice.
As you mentioned the vacuum insulation used in the West Loop and Extreme can be a drawback for users who do not prefer their coffee very hot. We offer lower-priced plastic walled mugs and foam insulated mugs which have far less insulating performance but for high-performance insulation, vacuum can’t be beat.

As for your complaint that the drink hole is hard to find, in my experience, locating the button with the fingers usually provides enough position information to allow me to find the drink hole pretty easily. This may perhaps require a little user experience to get used to without having a handle on the product for reference.

Suffice to say that we believe that the Contigo Autoseal and Contigo Extreme mugs are both outstanding products that are at the top of their catagories. If you find better ones in your quest, please let me know.

For your leaky Extreme mug lid, we can send a
complimentary replacement.
Let me know your address and we will send it along with the replacement West Loop. What color do you prefer for the West Loop? (Blue, Black, or Silver)

thanks,
Steve Pinelli

Steve Pinelli
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Ignite USA

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