By Lisa Dawson
I gave up drinking coffee this winter but after three weeks of visiting cafes in Europe, I’m off the wagon. Returning home I jumped into a demanding job and needed to overcome jet lag quickly so out came the espresso maker. And you know, those early morning lattes sure taste good, so it looks like I’m hooked again.
Another factor feeding the habit is my Stanley stainless steel Drink Bottle. It’s a bottle mug thermos hybrid which I got at the OR show, put on the swag review back burner, and finally started testing this week.
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After a few days of use, it’s no overstatement to say this thing is the the ultimate in drink containers. It’s not one of those weirdly shaped travel mugs that tip over and don’t even hold enough. This is stout, solid, and it holds .47 liter (16 ounces) of freshly brewed gold and keeps it hot for my 45 minute commute. Stanley claims it “closes like a bottle, drinks like a mug,” and that’s no lie.
The Drink Bottle fits in most auto cup holders, like those in the 2008 Nissan Versa we replaced our totaled Tacoma with. Lou groans and says the Versa is “almost a mini van.” But at least 30 mpg for my commute convinced him to go for it. That’s proof that money talks. I tried to get a photo of Lou driving the fem mobile but I’ll save that blackmail shot for when I need it (like when I lobby for the pug). Seriously, we’ll see how this thing fits the mountain lifestyle. It’s front wheel drive, roomy enough for skis and back home the boys still have enough off- road vehicle power to invade a small country — so they shouldn’t whine.
WildSnow Girl, Lisa Dawson, is the luckiest girl in the world. Also known as Mrs. WildSnow.com, she tests whatever gear she wants. She gives the WildSnow family of websites the feminine voice.
