Reviews > Cook Gear > Cooking Accessories > Big Sky Products Cup 2 Go > Clifford R. Haynes > Field Report

Big Sky Products
Cup 2 go
Field Report
7/26/2004

Personal Stats:

Backpacking Background:
I am from and live in Maine. I have been hiking, backpacking, and canoe camping for over 45 years. I average 2 to 3 days a week in the woods year round.
Over the years I've used or tried a variety of different gear. When I joined Scouts as a boy, most of the boys my age didn't have backpacking gear, and their families didn't have money enough to buy it. So we had great fun making our own gear.
I can't really say that I have a backpacking style. I take what I need or want, depending upon what I plan to do on the outing. Even before my knees became a problem, I could never see being in a big rush. It is my opinion that camping is part of backpacking, and should be enjoyed at least as much as the hiking.

Product Description:
The Big Sky Products Cup 2 go is a Polycup (plastic cup) with a slip on neoprene cozy. 

The cup is very similar to (looks like and feels like) the cups that are included with most mess kits that I have seen. The Cup 2 go can be used as a measuring cup in the field and is marked at 1/4 cup (2 oz or 59 ml), 1/2 cup (4 oz or 118 ml), 3/4 cup (6 oz or 177 ml) and 1 cup (8 oz or 236 ml) which is the maximum volume of the cup. The volume marks are molded (raised) into the cup and are easy to read. The cup's handle is a hook that is flat on top, providing a place for the thumb and aiding in control of the cup.

The cup's insulating cozy is 5/32 in (3.96 mm) thick neoprene. The seams are glued and not sewn. There is a hole in the center of the cozy's bottom that vents air from the bottom when putting the cozy on and prevents a vacuum when removing the cozy. The cozy fits snugly but not tight, the cozy stays on the cup when I lift it.

Since receiving the Big Sky Products Cup 2 go cups, I have used one or both on all of my backpacking and camping outings. I have also carried one of them in my day pack that I use as a daily tote. In camp, I have used the cups for tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soup, and for instant cereal. The cups are, in my opinion, stable when sitting. I have had no spilling problems when pouring liquid into them.

Personally I would rather that these cups were a bit larger. Since they only hold 1 cup (8 oz or 236 ml) I have to have several refills of coffee or tea before I have had the amount I want. If I'm making a packet of hot chocolate or Cup of Soup, I have to make it a bit strong because there isn't enough room in the cup for the required amount of hot water. The small size of the Big Sky Products Cup 2 go cups, was especially annoying when I hiked with a group of young scouts recently. Since the boys tend to goof off in the morning, I like to get up early, enjoy a quiet cup of coffee, pack my gear, have two packets of instant cereal in my coffee mug for breakfast, and wash it down with another mug of coffee while I get the boys going. Due to the limited volume of the Big Sky Products Cup 2 go, I needed 3 trips to the pot for my quiet cup of coffee, I could only prepare and eat one packet of cereal at a time, and my after breakfast coffee was gone before the boys were out of bed.

The Big Sky Products Cup 2 go cups have worked reasonably well as measuring cups when adding liquids. But the volume marking rings and lettering catch and hold dry ingredients (like biscuit and pancake mix), and they can be difficult to clean. I now only use the cups to measure water.

When I first received the cup, the neoprene cozy stayed on reasonably well. Unfortunately the cozies no longer stay on the cups. I have spent hours, since the beginning of this test, searching for lost cozies. Frankly on more than one occasion I have been tempted to let them stay lost. The cozies on my cups have this annoying habit of staying on just long enough for me to blink, then "Poof" they are gone. I seriously wonder if they are worth the hassle. When the cup is filled with hot water, the outside surface of the cozy is cooler to the touch than the surface of the plastic cup, so obviously they conserving some heat. I decided to try a little non-scientific experiment. I removed the cozy from one cup, filled both cups with 3/4 cup (6 oz or 177 ml) of boiling water and placed them both in the refrigerator freezer. After 20 minutes, I removed the cups and measured the temperature. The temperature of the water in the cup with the cozy was 92 F (33 C). The temperature of the water in the cup without the cozy was 85 F (29 C).

The plastic cups and neoprene cozies have stood up well and I can find no damage. The cozies have been washed numerous times and the seams are still secure and show no sign of separation. 

Field Information:

Testing has been conducted in western and northern Maine, at elevations between sea level and 4000 ft (1200 m). The temperature during field testing was between 40 F (4 C) and 90 F (32 C). Precipitation experienced during testing consisted of light to moderate rain.

Test Plan:

I will continue to use the Big Sky Products Cup 2 go cups in my outdoor activities. I'll continue to observe durability of the cups and cozies.

Final Thoughts:

The Cup 2 go cups are smaller than I normally prefer to use when camping, and I have not yet gotten used to their smaller size. I'm becoming increasingly frustrated with the cozies. They do not stay on the cup well.

I would like to thank Big Sky Products and BGT for the opportunity to participate in this test.

Reviews > Cook Gear > Cooking Accessories > Big Sky Products Cup 2 Go > Clifford R. Haynes > Field Report