Here’s my review of the 16oz (473ml) Coffee Flask with Flex Sip Lid in the colour Reef.
Hydro Flask Coffee Flask Specs
- Available in a few sizes (most commonly 12oz, 16oz and 20oz)
- Keeps drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold up to 24 hours
- Fully leakproof Flex Sip lid
- Stainless steel
- Powder-coated finish
First impressions
I’ve been using this for a while now, and it’s one of those flasks that seems straightforward at first, but a few things become more noticeable the more you use it.
The size I have is 16oz (473ml), which feels about right for a morning coffee without being too bulky in a bag.
It does the basics well. It keeps coffee hot for a long time, and once it’s properly closed, it doesn’t leak. You can throw it into a bag and not really think about it, which is what most people want from a travel mug.
But there are a few details that stand out more over time, and that’s why I’m writing this review.
What it’s like to use
One of the better things about it is how secure it feels. Once the lid is twisted closed, it’s properly sealed. There’s a small red marker to show when it’s fully locked. This makes it easier to trust that it’s closed before putting it in your bag.
The handle is also useful. It’s flexible, so you can carry it easily or clip it onto a bag if you want to. It’s a small detail, but it does make it feel more practical.
The lid (and where it becomes a bit less simple)
The main thing I’ve noticed over time is the lid.
It’s designed to be completely leakproof, which means there’s quite a lot going on inside it. It’s not something you can just rinse quickly and feel like it’s properly clean. The lid comprises a few small parts and it takes a while to get the hang of disassembling it and reassembling it.
After a while, the silicone gasket can start to hold onto the smell of coffee. It’s not immediate, but once you notice it, it’s quite hard to ignore. Even after soaking it, the smell can still linger slightly.
It’s not unusual for travel mugs to do this, but it does feel more noticeable here because of how the lid is constructed.
Mouthpiece design
The mouthpiece itself is slightly recessed rather than covered.
That’s fairly standard for travel mugs, but it’s worth mentioning if you’re looking for something that feels a bit more protected.
If you prefer something more hygienic in that sense, it’s probably better to go for a design with a covered mouthpiece instead.
If you prefer something more sealed, I’ve written about a few options with covered mouthpieces here.
Final thoughts
This is a good flask in a lot of ways. It’s reliable, it keeps coffee hot, and you don’t have to worry about it leaking in your bag.
But it’s not the simplest to maintain. The lid requires a bit more attention than you might expect, and over time that does affect how it feels to use.
If you don’t mind that, it works well. If you prefer something lower maintenance that you can rinse and reuse without thinking too much about it, it might not be the best fit.
You can pick up a Hydro Flask Coffee Flask from Amazon here.
