I was talking to a clerk at REI regarding recommendation on a cragging/climbing specific thermos, and he recommened the Zojirushi Tuff Slim Vacuum Bottle, with its low-profile design which stows easily in a bag or a tote. It also features a extra-wide mouth, which allows you to add ice cubes to keep liquids. It also has an automatic push button, pour-through stopper which is really easy to use.
However, at $35 for something that can only carry .5 liter, I argued with the clerk that this was simply not enough volume to meet my requirements, and the price was high.
At this point the clerk switched gears and pressed me with the REI Stainless-Steel Vacuum Bottle, with its impressive 1 liter capacity. Its unbreakable stainless-stell vacuum bottle stands up to daily use. It is just the perfect size for slipping into a briefcase or backpack, and at the low, low price of $27.95 is sure to please the budget of the most demanding consumer.
However, before the clerk could close the deal, I remembered that I had a thermos that I had bought for going fishing. I wondered if perhaps it might be a multi-sport thermos, able to do double duty as a climbing thermos. I asked the clerk, but he didn't couldn't help me out with my question, but urged me to be careful.
At this, I threw caution to the wind and took my fishing thermos climbing. I preheated the thermos, using the well documented technique of filling the thermos with hot water and allowing it to warm the thermos before filling it with hot tea.
In the field, the fishing thermos performed quite well as a climbing thermos. After a long day (starting at 6am) of toiling around with my icetools and crampons on the glacier, I retrieved the thermos from my pack. While the thermos is a little hefty, I was not put off by it, as I was just cragging and did not expect to spend the night or carry over.
The hot tea that poured from my fishing thermos was so hot it scalded my tongue. However, the tea filled me with the necessary vigor, and soon I was back to flailing up the cliffs of ice, satiated with the warmth provided from the belly of my metalic beast.
Normally, I wouldn't take such risk, so I'm not quite sure what got into me...but I was not dissappointed. I plan on adding a LaSportiva sticker to my new dual-sport thermos. You really can't appreciate reward without risk.
Details and specs:
Stanley® Vacuum Bottle.
The Stanley® classic stainless steel vacuum bottle. Double-wall stainless steel cup. 8 oz. capacity. Wider opening. Big enough for ice cubes and easy-to-clean. 100% stainless steel construction. Durable rust-proof finish. Heavy-duty handle folds flat for storage. Exclusive Char-Vac™ technology. The only bottle that combines vacuum insulation and a protective charcoal barrier to provide superior temperature retention and durability.
2 Sizes to choose from:
No. ABT6019-600: 1.1 quart @ 2.9380 lbs
No. ABT6007-600: 2.0 quart
