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Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Cooking Accessories > Sea to Summit Delta Mug > Owner Review by Bob Dorenfeld



Sea To Summit Delta Mug
Owner Review By Bob Dorenfeld
July 24, 2014

Tester Bio
Name: Bob Dorenfeld

 

I'm an active hiker, snowshoer, skier, and backpacker.  Home base is the Southern Colorado Rockies, where I'll hike from 7000 ft (2100 m) to above treeline, with desert trips to lower altitudes.  Six to 12 miles (10 to 20 km) daily is my norm, with elevation gains up to 4000 ft (1200 m).  Many of my backpack trips are two or three nights, other trips are longer, and I usually carry about 30 lbs (14 kg).  My style is lightweight but not obsessively so - extras like binoculars, camera, and notebook make my trips more enjoyable.

Email: geartest(at)sageandspruce(dot)net
Age: 56
Location: Salida, Colorado, USA
Gender: M
Height: 5' 6" (1.68 m)
Weight: 140 lb (64 kg)


Product Overview

Manufacturer:  Sea To Summit 
Website:  www.seatosummit.com
MSRP:    N/A
Stated Weight: 
2.2 oz (62 g)
Measured Weight: 
4 oz (113 g)
Material:
 food grade Nylon 66
Measured Size: 
3.5 in dia x 4.25 in tall (8.9 cm dia x 10.8 cm tall)
Capacity: 
16 fl oz (473 ml)
Color: 
Green

 Item

The Delta mug is a lightweight drinking cup designed for either hot or cold liquids.  Holding up to two cups (473 ml) of food or beverage, the lid has a sipping opening at one end of the lid, and a tiny vent at the other.  The vent end of the lid also has a small hole for a lanyard to keep the lid nearby if desired.  The entire cup is made of Nylon 66, a BPA-free food grade plastic that withstands heat and cold, but is not microwave-safe.  The lid is slightly depressed to help keep liquids from spilling over.  A thin neoprene cozy wraps the mug, but it does not appear to be removable without risk of tearing it.  The mug is available in blue, orange, gray, and green (for this test I have the green model).  The Delta mug (with lid) weighed in on my scale at 1.8 oz (51 g) more than Sea To Summit's stated weight, a difference larger than my scale's error margin.

Field Performance    

I purchased the Delta Mug to replace an older plastic one that was a bit too large and heavy for my backpack.  It's been on approximately 30 backpack trips since 2013 in spring, summer, and fall.  I like the way this one fits in my pack, and I can stuff extra snacks into to it take up the empty space.  Its diameter is just a tad larger than I like in a cup, but the outside has a nice resistance to it that keeps it from slipping out of my hand, even when full.  I find the lid easy to lift out and replace, thanks to the tab at one side (where the hole is for an optional lanyard).  The wide cup is easy to clean since I can get my whole hand in there for wiping out with a small spruce cone.  Unfortunately the bottom rim is hard smooth plastic and thus slides rather easily on a table or rock, so I'm careful about where I set the mug.

As far as keeping food and drinks hot, no complaints there.  I make coffee and oatmeal in the mornings, and both stay warm long enough for me to enjoy (even with the lid off while eating).  The cup is easy to sip out of, and I appreciate the concave lid to keep that first hot coffee off my fingers while I trip over the rocks for the view from the campsite!

insideThe photo at left shows the faint measuring markings (in both oz and ml) along the inside of the mug - useful to have when lighting conditions are good for seeing them.  Because they're often hard to read I added a couple of strips of black tape along the outside of the mug to indicate half and three-quarters capacity (photo at right, below). 

sideI've found the Delta mug to be very durable - it's been dropped and stepped on numerous times, with no ill effects beyond some minor scuffing of the outside.  Near-boiling water does not appreciably warm the outside surface, so my fingers don't get hot.



Concluding Thoughts    

All in all, a nice mug to have along camping, whether by the car or backpacking.  I can find only two faults to speak of:  the lid openings are not closeable, so liquids will spill if the mug is tipped, and the bottom rim is too hard and smooth to resist slipping off of slightly tilted surfaces.  However, it insulates well, is easy to clean out, resists food staining, is comfortable to hold, and is lightweight enough for me to take backpacking (even at 4 oz (113 g), if my scale is correct).

Pros
  - cleans well
  - keeps food and drinks hot
  - lightweight

Cons
  - bottom slips easily on hard surfaces
  - lid opening not sealable


 Reviewed By
Bob Dorenfeld
Southern Colorado Mountains





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Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Cooking Accessories > Sea to Summit Delta Mug > Owner Review by Bob Dorenfeld



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