The 10 Best Flasks for Drinking on the Go

A flask is an exercise in control – its owner must know when it is and isn’t appropriate to uncover and how often. Because it may be carried every day does not necessitate its everyday use, and knowing that is the first lesson one should learn in picking one.

After the self-control is in check, then it comes down to where exactly you’re taking your flask. If you’re trying to bring one to a wedding, you’re not going to want a flask that leans on the more rugged side. And the inverse is just as true. You probably don’t want to bring a delicate, dainty flask with you on an outdoor adventure.

Regardless of the use case, a flask is a must-have. It’s a great companion to your favorite travel mug (you probably don’t want to drink coffee from the same vessel you keep tequila in) and also an excellent gift. So whether you plan to carry rare Japanese whiskies, Kirkland Vodka (believe the hype) or Pepto-Bismol, these 10 options run the gamut of price, personality and prestige.

What to Look for in a Flask

Hip Flask vs. Pocket Flask

Don’t worry, they’re pretty much different versions of the same thing. The term pocket flask may have originated when it was common to keep a pocket watch, so it was natural that a flask had to be compact enough to fit in the tighter clothes of the day. Near the time of Prohibition, the shape evolved a bit to match the laws of the day — a flask had to be easy to conceal. This is where we began to see the curved shape many flasks are crafted with today.

Cleaning a Flask

The biggest thing is this: Don’t leave liquids in your flask for a long time. Either drink it all or pour it out, don’t let it sit. Otherwise, over time, it will get skunky and become much harder to clean. When you do need to clean it(which you should do from time to time anyway), fill it 2/3 with soap and water, swish it around with the cap on and rinse. Get all the soap out or your booze will undoubtedly taste funny. Use a bottle brush if necessary.

Flasks with Cups

Some of our favorite flasks come with their own cups or shot glasses. Usually, these are more geared towards camping and, of course, sharing, so be sure to pick one of these if you’re looking to celebratewith friends.

How We Tested

Stanley

Best Overall Flask

Stanley Classic Flask with Never-Lose Cap

• $50.00 at Amazon

• Size: 8-ounce
• Material: Steel

There’s a reason this flask is roundly suggested in all corners of the internet. Stanley’s affordable rugged steel flask lacks accouterments, pretty websites and melodramatic descriptions. One could say a certain cool factor is absent, but, weirdly enough, that’s exactly what makes it cool. A Stanley flask (especially in hammertone green) says you couldn’t give a damn about what you tote your liquor to-go in.

Amazon

Best Splurge Flask

Snow Peak Titanium Flask M

• $170.00 at Amazon

• Size: 7-ounce
• Material: Titanium

What’s a collection of best flasks without Snow Peak’s completely titanium (and questionably necessary) flask? Not this collection. Thanks to the titanium, the almost seven fluid ounce-carrying flask only weighs two ounces empty and is virtually unbreakable. Japan’s coolest outdoor brand doesn’t do anything by the book, and this flask is no exception.

Amazon

Best Value Flask

GSI Outdoors Boulder Flask

• $35.00 at Amazon

• Size: 10-ounce
• Material: Copolyester

It’s affordable. It’s lightweight. It’s tougher than tough. It carries 10 whopping ounces of booze. The GSI Boulder Flask’s body is a unique copolyester that’s wrapped in a shock-absorbing silicone bumper – both lighter in weight than a typical steel or hard plastic flask. Also, it’s clear, so gauging how much your buddy takes when he takes a “sip” is that much easier.

Jacob Bromwell

Best Heirloom-Quality Flask

Jacob Bromwell The Vermonter

• $100.00 at jacobbromwell.com
  $300.00 (67% off)

• Size: 9-ounce
• Material: Copper

The crown jewel of the Jacob Bromwell flask range, the Vermonter is a thing of both beauty and quality. This nine-ounce round-edged copper flask is not cheap, but it is hand-soldered, 100 percent copper, will earn a unique patina and comes with a lifetime guarantee. It’s a little heavy at one pound, but the heft adds to its mystique. Just, for the love of all things good in the world, do not wash it in the dishwasher (hot water, soap, shake to clean).

VSSL

Best Flask for Sharing

VSSL Insulated Flask + Speaker

• $150.00 at vsslgear.com

• Size: 9-ounce
• Material: Aluminum

VSSL’s flask doesn’t l0ok much like a flask, and that’s in part because it’s so much more. Hidden inside the lightweight aluminum flask is an integrated weatherproof Speaqua Bluetooth speaker. It provides up to five hours of tunes, and the double-walled construction keeps spirits exactly the temp you want them — making for a very merry time indeed.

Rag Proper

Best Gift Set

Rag Proper Black Leather Glass Flask Gift Set

• $120.00 at ragproper.com

• Size: 100ml and 240ml
• Material: Glass and leather

If you’re looking for the gift that keeps on giving, consider this set from Rag Proper. Crafted from break-resistant glass, the 100ml single shot and 240ml double shot flasks are wrapped in black full-grain leather, adding an air of sophistication and style to your sipping. A gun metal lid, a plastic cork-lined cap and silicone liners help maintain flavor.

Amazon

Best Hip Flask

Savage Stainless Steel Flask

• $16.00 at Amazon

• Size: 6-ounce
• Material: Stainless steel

Flasks come in all shapes, sizes, materials and looks, but few approach the simplicity of this one. Savage’s glossy mirror-finished stainless steel flask does its job and emits serious Gatsby vibes in doing so. Yet, in a world too full of monograms, needle stitching and weird colors, it isn’t at all outrageous. Also, Jay Gatsby wouldn’t buy a $16 flask, but that’s his problem.

Viski

Best-Looking Flask

Viski Metal Flask

• $53.00 at

• Size: 6-ounce
• Material: Stainless steel

Viski finishes its flask in an ultra-shiny coating that basically makes it a mirror. It’s made of durable 304 stainless steel that won’t impart any unwanted flavors into your liquor. While it is on the smaller side with its six-ounce capacity, the Viski flask is the perfect size to slip away discreetly.

Courtesy

Best Oversized Flask

Misc. Goods Co. Black Ceramic Flask

• $125.00 at

• Size: 11-ounce
• Material: Ceramic

Miscellaneous Goods started with a very pretty pack of Kickstarter-backed cards and has since broadened its offerings to leather goods, prints and, yes, flasks. The brand’s 11-ounce ceramic flasks are slipcast and made in America, and each sports a handsome brass and leather cap clasp.

High Camp Flasks

Best Camping Flask

High Camp Flasks Firelight 750 Onyx Edition

• $129.00 at highcampflasks.com

• Size: 750ml
• Material: Stainless steel

At 750ml (just over 25 ounces), this stainless steel flask is the ideal flask for camping. It can hold a fifth of liquor or a whole bottle of wine and has double-wall vacuum insulation to ensure your drink stays cold while you’re on the trail. While it is definitely too big for your pocket, it’s not intended for discreet sipping anyway — it comes with two tumblers for sharing drinks around the campfire, in the backyard or at the top of the mountain. And just in time for the holidays, High Camp has released this sleek Onyx version — featuring a limited-edition jet-black powder coat that takes it to the next level.

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