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Owner Review By Bob Dorenfeld
July 24, 2014
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| Tester Bio |
| Name:
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Bob
Dorenfeld
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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.
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| Email: |
geartest(at)sageandspruce(dot)net
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| Age: |
56
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| Location: |
Salida, Colorado, USA
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| Gender: |
M
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| Height: |
5' 6" (1.68 m) |
| Weight: |
140 lb (64 kg) |
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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
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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.
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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!
 The
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).
 I'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.
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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
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lightweight
Cons
- bottom slips easily
on hard surfaces
- lid opening not sealable
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Reviewed By
Bob
Dorenfeld
Southern Colorado Mountains
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