REI Miir 360 Traveler

A leakproof, sip-top, insulated stainless steel thermos that will keep drinks hot until lunchtime and beyond. Lid does not fully disassemble for washing, and you need to double check that it’s closed before going into pack.

On day trips in chilly-to-cold weather, I like to have a thermos of tea or coffee along, for both warmth and caffeine titration. A full liter is often too much, and besides my liter thermos has a traditional separate cup on top, so that I have to pour a cup and then find a place to put it and/or the thermos down to free up my hands for lunch or a snack, and an open cup also cools off to quickly.  So I’ve always preferred a thermos with some kind of a sip-top, preferably with a trustworthy seal so that it doesn’t leak in my pack.

Early on I went through a couple different flip-top models, but after some years the molded plastic hinges and/or latches on those broke. The Kleen Kanteen version has a twist top that seals well and can be taken apart for cleaning, but I left my 16 oz one at a hut, and the smaller one that I have isn’t big enough to satisfy. So when I spotted this REI/Miir version near the front of the store on a recent trip stateside, I gave into the impulse and added it to my already burgeoning cart.

The slim, cylindrical form is great, slides easily in and out of a pack side pocket and can be tucked away safely to the side in a pack main compartment. I really like the 20 oz. / 600 ml size, enough for a mid-morning break with some left over to wash down lunch.

The 360 in the name presumably refers to the circular sip-top closure that allows for sipping from any side—no searching for the exit hole or getting drips down your frontside if you miss it. The spring-loaded sip-top lid opens with a one-handed and one-finger push and closes and makes a satisfying click-pop, with a slightly different pop on the up- vs. the downstroke.

But the slight height difference of that central disk when open vs. closed is not obvious—REI’s product description says there is a “subtle mark” to help with that, but I don’t see it.

I have managed to both tip it over and put it in a pack unsealed, with the predictable result. So absent-minded users like myself need to learn to double-check before tipping or stashing. I have also accidentally pushed down on the lid when cramming the thermos in my pack, and it might be vulnerable to accidental opening as stuff shifts around, so maybe best placed in a side pocket. Some sort of safety lock would be a much welcome addition.

The silicone rubber seal comes off easily for cleaning, but I haven’t found a way to take the mechanism apart for a more thorough wash. I take milk in my tea and may have an occasional café au lait, so the lid can get smelly with only a casual rinse. I sometimes give my thermoses a diluted bleach treatment to deal with this and any film that builds up on the inside.

This thermos keeps my beverage of choice satisfyingly hot in the 4-5 hours between breakfast and lunch, in temperatures around freezing. Any leftover sips are still warm on arriving at the car or hut at the end of the day.

Although weight isn’t a big issue for me on day trips, the Miir Traveler weighs in at a modest 342 g / 12 oz, much less than my 1 liter thermoses at 517 g / 18 oz and 710 g / 25 oz. It measures about 24 cm/9.5" height x 6.9 cm/2.5" diameter.

Background

Thermoses are a way of life in Norway. I have used the Miir Traveler frequently on day trips and in the car over the last three months.