Can anyone recommend a decent thermos for backpacking. At night around the fire I would like to have a hot drink that I do not have to gulp down before it cools off. Also I would like to start my morning with a thermos of coffee as I walk. I usually have coffee with breakfast, but a second cup for the first part of the morning would be nice - but I would like to sip it and make it last a while. I really don't care if the thermos is stainless, or whatever as long as its pretty sturdy. Also, I'm monetarily challenged. thanks

I settled on Nissan Thermos after trying different brands over the last couple of years. If it is preheated with boiling water, it keeps coffee hot for a long time in cold weather. It doesn't take up much space either.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80734
Jim

Depends on how long you want to keep it hot. How about a Nalgene wrapped in CCF or neoprene? It is cheap, it is light, and it serves double duty as a water carrier, a place to rehydrate while hiking etc..

I have a stainless steel insulated bottle made by Liquid Solution. Like the Nissan, but cheaper; keeps hot liquids hot in cold weather for most of the day. I've tried using a Nalgene wrapped in foam and that just doesn't work for very long. I made a cozy out of blue foam for my steel bottle and that seems to work much better.

Once a thermos is empty, it becomes dead weight, so I never mess with one.
If you are only trying to keep something warm for a day, a platypus bag or nalgene wrapped in bubble wrap, or your sleeping pad, or stuffed in the middle of your sleeping bag, works well. In other words, use insulation you are already carrying to keep the liquid hot or cold.



Since you have a fire going, why not heat up whatever your drinking and ignore everything I just wrote above? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I carry a light-weight coffee/beverage thermo cup...the long ones with the sip top. It works just fine for me. It isn't as heavy as a thermos. I used to use the smaller Nissan (whatever the name) kind, but I like my cup better. It's one of my luxury items. It keeps things pretty hot for a long time, too. I'll store my lighter, or small items inside while hiking.

I frequently see thermoses in thrift shops so you may check there. I've got a Granite Gear and an OR insulated nalgene bottle carriers. They work ok, but not nearly as well as a real thermos.

Heavy stuff. I never bother. However, I always have a pot cozy with me, so my usual thing with a hot drink in the evening is to heat it up to make it in the pot, and stuff the pot into the cozy. This keeps it warm for a good decently long time, and if it gets cool I can always re-heat it. Carry a thermos? sheesh. this is a lightweight forum.. don't forget your expresso machine while you're at it.