Owner Review by John Jones

Owner Review – REI Lexan Cup
Date: September 15th, 2005

Name: John L. Jones
Age: 34
Gender: male
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight: 255 lb (116 kg)
Email address: Acer0001@excite.com
City, State, Country: Georgetown, Texas, USA

Backpacking Background:

On January 1st, 2004, my family and I went hiking on a trail around a local reservoir. I enjoyed this so much that it rekindled the passion for hiking and backpacking I had felt as a Boy Scout. Now, every other weekend includes a solo hike, overnighter, or occasional multi-day adventure, regardless of the season. My hiking terrain consists of the semi-desert climate of the Texas hill country, where temperatures soar well over 100 F (38 C) in the summer and 40 F (4 C) in winter. I usually heft a 30-45 lb. (14 kg – 20 kg) pack, but I am taking steps to lighten my load.

Product Information:

Product: REI Lexan Cup
Manufacturer: manufactured for REI
Web site: www.rei.com
MSRP: $3.75 USD
Year of manufacture: 2005
Dimensions: 3.75 x 2.75 in (9.5 cm x 7 cm)
Actual weight: 3.0 oz (85 g)
Capacity: 12 oz (355 ml)
Available colors: clear

Field Information:

This cup has been used almost exclusively in the hill country of central Texas on approximately seven trips. The terrain has mostly consisted of rocky ground with cactus and thorny areas, with occasional elevation at 2,000 to 3,000 feet (610 m to 914 m). The weather in this region can vary from a calm desert-like climate with temperatures reaching 100+ F (38+ C) to violent thunderstorms. The majority of the time, camp has been pitched and evening meals have been made in the dark, after sunset.

Product Description:

The REI Lexan Cup is a clear cup with a handle used for measuring liquids when camping and backpacking. The mouth of the cup measures 3 ¾ in (9.5 cm) in diameter and the base measures 3 in (7.6 cm) in diameter. The handle and the cup are from one Lexan plastic mold. The handle protrudes from the top rim at a sharp angle and bends downward to create an area to grip with my hands. The REI logo is embossed on the top of the handle. Measurement markings in ¼ cup increments are marked so they can be read from the inside of the cup. The cup does not have metric markings.

Things I like:

The markings on this cup are very readable from the inside and the outside, even at night when most of my evening meals are made. The ¼ cup markings are easy to read with headlamp LED light and have been accurate for the meals I make. In addition, the cup’s clear color makes it easy to distinguish the liquid level, from both inside and outside of the cup, in daylight or by artificial light.

I use this cup primarily for measuring boiling water for freezer bag cooking, but it also works great for a drinking cup. The clear color is also great for making sure that mixes are well stirred, such as hot chocolate or powdered drink mixes. The handle stays cool and easy to hold due to the space between the cup body and the handle. I have never been burned by boiling water while holding this cup by its handle. I have small hands and have no fear of dropping the cup while using it. The smooth sipping rim makes this cup comfortable to drink from. I have not experienced any taste change in the liquids I drink while using it. The hook-style handle lets me use it as a serving utensil for soups or stews from larger pots when serving larger groups.

Due to the design and Lexan material that this cup is made from, it is almost unbreakable. I have dropped it several times on rocky ground and even down a 10 ft (3 m) rocky cliff and it survived without any cracks or structural damage. I use it to measure boiling water, so I know it can withstand very hot liquid temperatures. Since it doesn’t get below 32 F (0 C) here in Texas very often, I haven’t had the opportunity to use it in sub-zero temperatures.

Another advantage to using this cup is its very light weight, 3 oz (85 g). This weight is about the same or lighter than other titanium cups on the market that are ten or more times the cost. For me, the weight of this cup isn’t noticed in my pack.

The dimensions of this cup allow it to sit stable on the ground or semi-flat surfaces in contrast to Sierra cups with small bases and wide sipping rims. It isn’t any easier to knock this cup over while sitting of a flat surface than any other cup.

Things that can be improved:

When I bought this cup, I didn’t have my MSR Titan Kettle with me to see whether this cup could be nested into it, but I bought it anyway since the price was affordable. Later, I found out that the cup’s handle was about 1/8 in (3 mm) too long horizontally to fit into the kettle. This was a disappointment, but I still included it in my cooking kit, at the expense of more bulk. Due to this, the cup does take up extra space in my pack.

Since the cup is clear Lexan, I have noticed that with aggressive use, it can be scratched, possibly reducing the readability qualities of the liquid level and measuring markings by artificial light. This can be prevented by taking extra special care to avoid rough usage, but due to its inexpensive cost, it might be worth purchasing a replacement every season.

This cup does not protect your hands from heat when grasped by the cup body and is non-insulating, in contrast to double-walled mugs. If the handle is used, there is minimal chance for burning your hands. Hot drinks will cool faster when the cup is used for drinking.

Summary:

I have enjoyed using the REI Lexan Cup on my backpacking trips. It has proven to be durable, withstanding being dropped on rocks and being used with very hot boiling water. I will continue to use it as a measuring and drinking cup due to its comfortable handle and lip. A slightly shorter handle, making this cup narrower, will help its storability in the MSR Titan Kettle, making it more appealing to these users. The stability, light weight and low purchase price of this cup will keep me using it for a long time.

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