Long story short: We’re dedicated to testing every major tumbler that comes onto the market. Why? Because they’re not cheap, and we want to give you all the facts before you buy. From the Stanley Quencher Tumbler to the HydroFlask All Around Travel Tumbler to a roundup of all the best tumblers out there, we’ve tried several stainless-steel tumblers. And the one we’re reviewing here launches this month! Say hello to the new BruMate Era, the first leakproof tumbler of its kind.
What is the BruMate Era?
The BruMate Era is the latest name-brand tumbler on the market. But what makes it special? It features a new, innovative locking lid that makes the whole tumbler leakproof (even with a straw). Your cup falls over on the couch? No problem. Your dog’s tail swipes your tumbler off the coffee table? Don’t sweat it.
The unique, turning lid on the BruMate Era locks everything into place, and the metal straw is designed for even colder sips while reducing the amount of plastic sitting in your water. The stainless-steel tumbler keeps ice intact for more than 24 hours, and the base is slim enough to fit into standard cup holders.
The BruMate Era is designed for cold and carbonated drinks, not hot beverages. That’s where the BruMate Toddy XL comes into play if you’re looking for a tumbler for hot drinks with lid-locking technology.
BruMate Era Product Features
In addition to an innovative spill-proof lid system and stainless-steel straw, the Era tumbler has a rubber grip around the edge of the lid that makes it easy to get on and off without touching the straw, a large, durable comfort-grip handle and a rubber base to prevent sliding and scuffing on surfaces.
The BruMate Era comes in two sizes—a 30-ounce and 40-ounce size—with a cup holder-friendly base, so you can take it with you on the go. There are eight color options for the 30-ounce size and 15 for the 40-ounce, including printed, matte, ombre and chrome options.
The straw, lid and cup all come apart for easy cleaning by hand or in the top rack of the dishwasher, too. Keep reading to see how the BruMate Era performs IRL.
How We Tested It
I tested the BruMate Era 40-ounce in the color sage. I used it for cold and hot drinks, disassembled it for cleaning, and took it with me on long car rides. Like most high-quality, stainless-steel tumblers, the Era BruMate kept ice intact for a full day, even in the heat. (Note: With any stainless-steel tumbler, you’ll want to fill the cup at least halfway full of ice for maximum ice retention.) On that front, the Era performs on par with leading competitors when it comes to ice retention.
I tested the Era with hot tea as well, but if I’m drinking hot tea or coffee, I’m going to reach for my Toddy XL because that’s what it’s designed for. That said, the Era did well to keep my tea warm throughout the day. The Era is advertised to keep drinks warm for over 8 hours, and I found that to be true.
I should say that I don’t recommend drinking piping-hot beverages through a straw ever for the risk of scalding, but if you’re in a pinch and need to keep a beverage warm, the Era will do the trick. Just be sure that the drink isn’t too hot to consume through a straw.
Traveling with the Era
In terms of travel capabilities, the BruMate Era is a winner. I have smaller-than-average car cupholders, and the 40-ounce tumbler fits comfortably within all my cupholders. And although I haven’t had a chance to use the tumbler with air travel yet, I would. For me, taking a water bottle instead of a tumbler on flights is a no-brainer because of potential leaking. I don’t want a tumbler getting knocked over and soaking everything in my carry-on. However, I would absolutely travel with this tumbler. The leakproof lid design is genius, and the straw is short enough at the top that it’s not going to snag on other items in your bag.
The Era is also triple insulated to prevent condensation from gathering on the outside of the cup, and I haven’t seen it sweat since using it (unlike some other tumblers I’ve tested). This also makes it great for travel, as the Era won’t sweat and soak other items in your travel bag or backpack.
Cleaning the Era
Lastly, cleaning is a breeze. The whole tumbler comes apart for cleaning, and each piece is dishwasher-safe. The metal straw turns and comes apart, and the top rubber straw twists and detaches from the lid for deep cleaning, too. That’s important to prevent molding, especially if you’re using your tumbler for drinks other than water.
Pros
- 100% leakproof
- Keeps drinks cold for 24 hours+
- Triple-insulated
- Prevents condensation buildup
- Rubber-grip lid, handle and base
- Dishwasher-safe
- Cup holder friendly
- Stainless-steel straw
- Great quality and design
- Multiple color and size options
Cons
- 30-ounce option has limited color range
Stanley vs. HydroFlask vs. BruMate
If you’re looking for a 100% leakproof tumbler, the BruMate Era is the only choice. While the Stanley Quencher and HydroFlask All Around Travel Tumbler are great for several other reasons, the Era is the only tumbler that’s going to be truly spill-proof. However, I will say that the HydroFlask tumbler is close in design—and when I have knocked it over, spillage is minimal—but it won’t survive being upside down in a backpack or tote bag.
As far as design goes, the Era is a sleek, single-color tumbler (the straw, handle and cup are all one color). The HydroFlask tumbler has a similar, single-color design with a longer straw. Both straw tops on the BruMate and HydroFlask tumblers are rubber, which I prefer because hard plastic can hurt when bumped into the teeth and lips.
The Stanley Tumbler is a bit different from the other two. It has a hard plastic straw that slides in and out, and the lid has a sipping option if you’re not someone who likes to use a straw all the time. The HydroFlask and BruMate tumblers aren’t designed for sipping. Size-wise, all three tumblers make a 40-ounce version and a smaller 30- or 32-ounce version of each signature tumbler. However, Stanley makes a giant 64-ounce Quencher Tumbler if you need all-day hydration on the job.
When it comes to ice retention—perhaps the most important feature in a tumbler—all three tumblers perform about the same and can hold ice for more than 24 hours when filled at least halfway full of ice. If looks are more important to you, Stanley offers a wide range of colors and customization options. You can also customize your HydroFlask tumbler with letters and graphics, but there are no customization options for the Era yet.
Final Verdict
If you’re tired of taking old water bottles on trips and wish your favorite tumbler could survive a plane ride, then the BruMate Era is for you.
I tend to drink more water from a tumbler than a water bottle, so I’m excited to have a travel-friendly, leakproof tumbler to take with me on my next trip. It’s great for everyday use too, especially if you have kids or pets who frequently bump into your drink.
Where to Buy the BruMate Era
You can shop the BruMate Era 40-ounce and 30-ounce now at BruMate. Pre-orders are already selling out, so if you want to be among the first round of lucky people who snag the Era when it releases, shop now!
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