I’m prone to spills. The Owala SmoothSip Slider is the only travel coffee mug I trust

I refuse to drink mediocre coffee. After about two months at my internship office, drinking the cheap, bitter, and acidic blends that were available to me, I now prefer the soy latte I make at home and would like (with my trusty Moka Pot) to bring it with me wherever I go.

Yet carrying a thermos full of coffee came with a risk: would my MacBook, notebooks and lunch emerge dripping with coffee, forcing me to fork over $1,000 and spend $20 on an overpriced salad? Or, would my belongings emerge miraculously unscathed and dry?

I had been burned in the past, putting a thermos full of coffee into my backpack’s drink holder, only to discover that half of its contents spilled while running to catch the bus or rushing to work. This was not a sustainable situation, so a few years ago, I replaced my old hand-me-down Contigo thermos with the SmoothSip from Owala, a brand we’ve recommended, known for its leakproof, colorful water bottles. The promise was that its SmoothSip coffee tumbler was leakproof – and what a relief to learn that their claim turned out to be true.

Since 2024, my reliable Owala has never let me down. Finally, I don’t have to choose between spending $10 on takeaway coffee and a drenched laptop or ruined pair of pants.

How I use it

The SmoothSip comes in three sizes. I own the 20oz size, which comes in handy for transporting all of my to-go beverage needs, from copious amounts of iced coffee to an Olipop soda over ice to the movie theater (sorry, AMC). If you’re someone who prefers straight shots of espresso, the smaller 12oz or 10 oz size (only available on Amazon), options are right for you.

My mug and I are currently enjoying a blend from my favorite coffee company, Counter Culture, which I favor over our office’s weak brew (although I’m happy to report that we’ve recently switched machines and the quality has improved tremendously). I have the stainless steel version, but Owala recently launched a ceramic version, which may allow for a cleaner, less metallic taste.

Is it easy to lock?

Yes, but you have to use a bit of force. Move the slider towards the spout until it snaps into place. Once it’s locked and loaded, toss it in your backpack, throw it on your pristine white rug or maybe channel a Dairy Queen employee performing their infamous Blizzard flip test.

After nearly two years of using my SmoothSip, nary a drop of liquid has ever escaped once the slider is properly in place. Admittedly, there have been a few instances where I’ve forgotten to lock the slider, which resulted in spilled coffee and a bad start to my morning.

Is it easy to clean?

It takes me about five minutes to clean my Owala SmoothSip by hand. The trickiest part is removing the slider and rubber seal. (If this part also confounds you, Owala also has a helpful step-by-step video on its website.)

Once you’ve disassembled the lid, you can put it in the dishwasher with no issue. However, Owala recommends hand-washing the body of the mug with dish soap and hot water. I also use a straw brush to clean the inside of the spout, which can accumulate mold if not washed regularly.

Will it keep my beverage hot or cold?

While Owala’s FreeSip water bottle claims to keep your water chilled for up to 24 hours, its coffee mug merely promises to keep your beverage “hotter and colder for longer”.

I wanted to know how long “longer” meant, so I conducted two at-home amateur science experiments.

First, I put ice into my Owala to see how fast it would melt. After six hours, only a small puddle of water had accumulated at the bottom of the mug.

I also tested its ability to keep a beverage hot. I poured hot water at 140F into my mug, Six hours later, it was about 111F, which is hot enough for me.

Owala’s SmoothSip has given me the peace of mind that my precious coffee will be there when I arrive at the office. Thankfully, I can spend my walk to work pondering more important matters, such as mentally unpacking the ending of Sterling Point and what I should make for dinner.