This review of the 12 Best Smoothie cups for travel will help you find the perfect container for storing your smoothie, and for taking it out of the house.
I have been getting a lot of people asking me what are the best reusable smoothie containers for taking your smoothies out of the house to work or school or travelling with them.
I own a massive collection of smoothie cups myself because my whole family drinks so many of them.
So I’m going to provide an honest review of these smoothie-to-go cups and will share the pros and cons so you can make up your own mind.
** Please note that this post may contain affiliate links which means that I can receive a small payment if you make a purchase through my links.
I will also highlight some other popular travel smoothie cups including smoothie cups with lids and straws that you may like.
1) Sistema Shaker To Go Smoothie Bottle
This is my number one favorite smoothie bottle that I keep going back to time after time. It’s also very reasonably priced, and you can get it in most Amazon stores across the world. I have about 6 of these in my home and I use these bottles more than any other bottle I’ve owned so far. Here’s what I love about it…
Pros
- It has a large capacity which is important to me. When you cram in loads of spinach into your smoothies, it makes the volume much larger – hence the need for a bigger smoothie bottle. The capacity is 700ml / 23.67oz / 2.96cups. Enough for a nice filling 500 calorie complete meal smoothie.
- It doesn’t leak. This is my primary concern about smoothie bottles – they have to be leak proof, because who wants to be covered in thick green slime?
- It can be easily cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher.
- It is very easy to drink from – just flip open the lid and drink.
- It doesn’t have a built in straw or any areas of the bottle that can’t be reached. Straws are a mold hazard waiting to happen. I like to be able to see and clean all areas of my smoothie bottles.
- It is long lasting and robust. I have had mine for years and they are still going strong. I now have 4 of these, 2 for me and 2 for my husband. You can get them in a range of colors like pink, blue and green.
- It is see through which means I can see whether or not it is clean – yes cleaning is important to me in case you haven’t guess by now :)
- It has a built in shaker on the lid. I never usually use the shaker balls in most smoothie bottles because I lose them and forget to put them back in – and they are fiddly to clean. But not this lid. It is easy to clean. You can shake up your blended smoothie in a few seconds with this built in shaker lid.
- The bottle is slim enough to fit in the water bottle holders in my backpack which is where I put it when I am out and about. Yes I take my green thickies everywhere I go, because I always need energy and vitality out of the house.
Cons
- Dirt can collect in the lid in the dishwasher, so sometimes they need an extra rise under the tap. Tip: put the lid facing down so you can see the top of the lid for the best clean.
- If my smoothie is ultra thick (i.e. like ice cream) I have to remove the lid to drink the thick shake – but that’s no problem to drink from this bottle with the lid off
- You have to be careful to line up the lid properly when screwing it on. But once you are aware of this, it’s no trouble to screw the leak proof lid on quickly.
Marks: 9/10
You can read more about what others think of these Sistema Smoothie Bottles and buy one here.
2 Clear Glass Water Bottles
This pack of 6 Clear Glass Water Bottles are perfect for storing healthy beverages. Boasting a slender design and a wide mouth neck, get ready for easy pouring, drinking and clean up, plus the lids are leak proof. Specifically made for storing beverages and toting them around in your car, backpack or to the gym. Healthy living has never been easier!
I love that my thick smoothies (Green Thickies) never struggle to pour out of this wide mouthed smoothie bottle. I can easily pour in my smoothies straight from my blender, and the glass makes them super healthy and easy to clean.
Pros
This is a nice large container so perfect for a filling meal replacement smoothie.
- An extra wide neck for no-spill drinking
- Airtight caps seal in freshness & won’t leak
- Easy to add ice or pour in a smoothie without spills
- Safe for the environment & health-friendly bottles
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- Made from thick glass to withstand life on the go & freezing
- Great for smoothies, protein shakes, nut milks, sauces, lemonade & water
- Slender easy fit for refrigerators, car cup holders & gym equipment
- No chemicals, toxins or BPA’s to contaminate your beverages
- A wide neck = easy cleanup. No bottle brush needed. Pour your juices, smoothies & nut milks without spills right into the jar. You’ll never need a funnel.
Need to make Green Thickies on the go? Read more about the Clear Glass Water Bottles and buy one here.
3 Bubba 52 oz Travel Mug
Bubba kegs come in a range of sizes to completely suit your needs. Bubbas have dual wall insulation that keep hot food hot for up to 3 hours and cold food cold for up to 12 hours. There is also a bottle opener in the handle.
Pros
I love the large sized bubba mug that I can get my entire blender’s worth of smoothie inside if I want to take a large amount with me. The mug handle makes it very easy to drink despite the size. The drinking hole is just large enough for a thick smoothie to go through. The clasp attaches to the other side of the mug when it’s open so it doesn’t spring back in your face. It’s lovely to be able to take my smoothie with me on a hot day and leave it out in the sun knowing it’s going to stay cool.
Cons
The bubba mug is very thick so it adds a lot of bulk to the mug making it feel quite cumbersome and not so comfortable to handle. The major drawback of bubba mug is that it leaks if it’s laying on it’s side. There is an air hole that always remains open to let steam escape so it can never be fully leak proof. This is a major stumbling block for me as my massive bubba mug won’t fit in my fridge unless it’s lying on it’s side so I don’t end up using it. The bubba mug isn’t dishwasher safe.
Marks: 5/10
Looking to buy a Bubba? Check out more reviews and get your hands on one here.
4 Be Strong BeYOUtiful Smoothie Shaker Bottle (variety of sizes)
If you want to stand out with your smoothie, this bottle certainly makes a statement. Sometimes you can end up with very similar smoothie cups to everyone else. This cup will ensure you stay unique.
Pros
I love using this smoothie bottle for my smoothies as it’s so easy to drink my green thickies from due to the rapid flow designed for easy drinking. It’s very easy to hold and best of all the top is very easy to close and open by just pulling it, but yet it feels extremely secure and I’ve never had any leaks with it. The small size is small enough to fit easily in your pocket and easy to hold and carry around. The larger size is great for those complete meal smoothie which I drink 99% of the time.
Cons
I know this is the most common design for a shaker smoothie bottle, but for me personally, I just don’t like the style of the lid. I know this bottle hasn’t leaked on me yet, but I just don’t trust the design not to leak in the future. So for that reason I don’t find myself using this as often as I could. I do like the smaller sizes for my kids and they love these designs.
Marks: 8/10
Have to have a Be Strong BeYoutiful smoothie shaker bottle? Read what others think about it and buy one here.
5 Fruit Patterned Mason Jar Mugs with Handles, Lids & Reusable Straws (4 x 20oz)
If you want to avoid plastics, you may want to consider keeping your smoothies in a mason jar. Mason jars have become extremely popular as smoothie storage solutions as they are completely air tight and BPA free.
Pros
I always feel better about storing my food in glass jars rather than plastic, especially when I keep my smoothies overnight in the fridge. These are perfect to allow you to make your smoothie in the evening, and grab your smoothie and go when you’re in a rush the following morning.
Kids absolutely love these cute designs and they even have farm animal design options too.
Cons
I use these for the kids and for my smoothie videos, but I don’t actually drink from them myself too often as they are just too small for my massive smoothie servings. They are also fine for storing smoothies in the fridge but not so practical for travelling as they are breakable. And I wouldn’t want to travel with glass containers AND kids as that’s a recipe for disaster.
Marks: 5/10
You can find more reviews of the Fruit Mason Drinking Jars or buy one here.
I haven’t tried the following smoothie containers so I can’t give them a review, but you can read all the reviews that other people have left on Amazon if you click the links.
6 Camelbak Better Bottle
These bottles can be bought in a variety of sizes and are deemed to be no spill as are like sippy cups for adults. You just bite and sip! The lid has a quick flip close and is easy to clean. They come in a variety of colour and are BPA free.
Check out what others think of the Camelbak or buy one here.
7 Healthy Human Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler Cruisers – Travel Cup with Lid & Straw
This Double Walled Vacuum Insulated Cruiser tumblers go above and beyond any glass, plastic or paper cup. These guys were designed to keep your ice 2-3x’s longer and work just as awesome for your steamy hot beverages. No more cold coffee! Includes a push on lid, 18/8 stainless steel straw and straw cleaner for your convenience.er safe.
You can find reviews of this Healthy Human Tumbler and buy one here.
8 FUNCUBE Spill Proof Double Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle (20 oz)
This 20 oz smoothie container is perfect for either hot or cold drinks. It has a built in straw for easy drinking. It has a very funky design so you can drink your smoothie in style! It has a double wall insulation so your smoothie will stay cooler longer. It is perfect for walking around with and is BPA free. It has to be hand washed.
I have had several vacuum bottles like this and I really love them.
Want to buy a Funcube? Read more reviews and grab one here.
9 Klean Kanteen Coffee Set Wide Mouth Insulated Bottle w/ 2 Caps (Stainless Loop Cap and Cafe Cap) – Brushed Stainless 12 oz
This isn’t the biggest smoothie cup but it is made of stainless steel so it’s BPA free and smells don’t linger on it. It’s insulated so your smoothie will stay cold and it has a leak free design.
Check out what others think of the Klean Kanteen or buy one here.
10 Smart Shake bottle 20oz pink
This smoothie bottle has compartments on the top where you can store powders if you use them before you mix it all together. It also has a clip for your keys at the gym. If you’re a fan of bright pink, then this bottle is the ultimate fashion accessory.
Need to take you Green Thickies to the gym? Read more about the Smart Shake or buy one here.
11 Kids 8oz Leak Proof Glass Mason Jar with Silicone Straw Lids
If you want to take pretty pictures of your smoothies, you’ll definitely be needing this trendy mason jar with a handle. I have a stack of these in my house and I mainly use them for photos and videos of my smoothie recipes on this blog.
This mason jar solves the problem I have of finding it hard to drink from as it has a handle and the option of adding a lid. So you’ll be able to drink from a trendy glass mug which is also BPA free.
I personally don’t actually drink from them too often though because I make BIG smoothies which are over 20 ounces/ 500 ml and they simply don’t fit in these jars. But if you drink smaller quantities of smoothie that are around 16 ounces/ 300ml then these drinking jars will be perfect for you.
Kids really love them too.
Love the look of these cute drinking jars? Read why others love this too and buy one here.
12 Rednek Sipper Jar Set: Hillbilly Home Drinking Collection with Lid and Straw
These mason jars have a screw on lid with a reusable straw. They are 16 oz containers so should be easy to hold. These are very trendy looking and perfect for those avoiding plastics.
Read more reviews of the Rednek and buy it here.
Extra: Bebe Dubon Bottle Brush
With all those little nooks and crannies to clean on your smoothie cups, you may find a bottle brush handy. Your smoothie cups will probably be OK if you rinse them out immediately after use but if you leave smoothie to harder it may be harder to get off. However with this bottle brush you’ll have no problem cleaning all those hard to reach places on your smoothie container.
Buy a Bebe Dubon here. Mine is invaluable!
Bonus Smoothie Cups
Since I wrote this post and plenty more great smoothie cups and accessories have come on to the market, so here are a few extras for you!
13) Mason Jar Mugs with Handle, SILVER Lid and Plastic Straws 16 Oz
14) Pewter Daisy Jelly Lid for Mason Jars
15) Biodegradable Paper Straws
16) Mason Jar Camouflage Pink Camo Insulated Lid Straw
By the way, have you ever thought about using a personal blender or a mini blender where you blend up the contents of your smoothie in the cup you are going to drink from? That can save you a lot of time.
You can look at my best blenders for smoothies post to see examples of the types of blenders I recommend.
And if you want more information about blending in general, you can check out my tips and tutorials and over 50 blender recipes in my Ultimate Smoothie Blender Guide by clicking here.
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If you’d love to be one dress size lighter this time next week, why not give my proven smoothie weight loss plan a go?
Check out the reviews by clicking here.
What do you use to store your smoothies in for storing in the fridge and taking out of the house? Do you have any good tips to share?
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Gabby @ the veggie nook says
Such a great post Katherine! It’s so difficult to find a smoothie container that meets all your needs. I usually end up going with a thermal coffee mug, because at least that keeps it cold, even if drinking it’s a little tricky! I have a couple of those mason jar cups though, and that is my cup of choice when I’m enjoying them at home, they are just so cute how can you NOT use them!
I actually have one of those smoothie things with the shaker ball but I forgot it at home when I moved and I regret it!
Katherine Natalia @ Green Thickies says
Thank you Gabby. Yes I still haven’t found the perfect smoothie container. I’ll have to invent one myself! What brand is your thermal coffee mug? I think that’s what a lot of people do too. The whole has to be big enough for green thickies though as they don’t slip through small holes so easily.
I adore the mason jars with straws but can’t get hold of them in this country. They are so cute aren’t they. We also have small fridges here so the containers have to be tall and thin to fit in the door or be leak proof if I lay them on their sides.
Gabby @ the veggie nook says
I use a Starbucks one, yay for staff discounts! It’s double-walled so it keeps things cold. The only down side is, the opening isn’t big enough for a straw- I just take the lid off and drink it that way. Not ideal and not for bumpy roads, but it mostly does the trick!
Heather says
I have the klean kanteen insulated 20oz and it is AWESOME! It is big enough to hold exactly the amount of serving I make and it really does stay cold! As long as your smoothie is cold to begin with or I will prep it with ice and cold water even just 10 minutes before. It is so convienent as a grad student to keep making healthy choices. The only thing I would prefer is to have the cap a little wider but it is really a good thing because you can’t inhale it. (I am spoonable smoothie girl not straw) So really the only downside is convincing your (american diet) friends that green smoothies are delicious :)
Heather says
Actually I just checked and I have the 16oz but I think I will get the 20oz for water because when I do use kanteen for water I drink it so fast- but it’s great because it doesn’t give an off flavor. So obviously I recommend this lol
Nita says
Hello! Thanks so much for sharing your life and info!
Just thought I’d share: I found your fav bottle in 700ml/23oz!
http://back-to-school-essentials-uk.blogspot.com/2012/08/thermos-hydro-active-sports-bottle_30.html
Katherine Natalia @ Green Thickies says
Wow thank you Nita, that’s great you can get it in a larger size. I’ll have to get myself one. Thank you so much for letting me know!
Valerie Priser says
I read your post in the hopes of finding a smoothie cup like Starbucks used to make. You flip open the lid and then pull up on the lid handle and it has a built in little mixer that spins as you pull it up so you can keep it mixed up when it begins to separate or thicken. I still cannot find one. The closest thing I have come across is the wire ball, but I don’t see that cutting through a thick smoothie somehow.
Katherine Natalia @ Green Thickies says
Oh that sounds like a great smoothie cup although I’ve never actually seen those before. The ones with the wire balls do work well though for mixing them up, in fact just giving my container a good shake seems to get it moving well. If it’s too thick I just add a bit of water and then give it a good shake.
Courtney says
Thank you for this post, Katherine.
I ordered my Vitamix 2 days ago and it should be here within a week.
I have the klean kanteen but wouldn’t mind having a mason jar. I love the Klean Kanteen-it really does keep things cold. I’ve had ice last in it for about 16 hours. The only con is that I can’t put it in the freezer. I have a habit of putting my drinks in the freezer and I am not risking damaging my Klean Kanteen. I’m hoping to invest in some mason jars soon. Thank you for the links.
Jaime says
I always use a tall tumbler for my smoothies because I typically drink them on the go. No spilling and I’ve never had a problem drinking them through the straw. I make pretty thick smoothies too! The only con is cleaning the straw if I don’t rinse it out right away. I have found replacement straws pretty cheap though. :)
Anna says
Thanks for this – what a great set of options! I’m going to be having about 2 smoothies a day for a while to improve my health. Your post was such a help as I looked for how to do this efficiently and on the go!
Natasha says
Hello,
A woman at my work has this amazing smoothie maker , let me explain it :
At first sight it looks like a regular smoothie glass/cup, but what is unique with it is that it has a thin blade on the bottom. So basically in the mornings she fills the cup in with whatever smoothie ingredients (berries honey milk etc) and when she feels like having a smoothie she twists the blade which is built in the cup and voilà she has a smoothie without any smoothie machine hassle.
unfortunately this smoothie cup/maker was gifted to her by relative in america, and she has used that a lot so the logo has disappeared. Do you have any idea where I can buy such a smoothie miracle? .
Best regards,
Natasha
Dia says
That sounds like a magic bullet
Peter C says
Hi,
Thanks for the breakdown on these travel mugs for green smoothies. It is really helpful. I was close to choosing the Thermos, but ended up purchasing the Contigo Autoseal West Loop 20 Oz, heard of it? It looks ideal, but my only concern is the mouth hole being slightly too small. I will let you guys know how it is.
Keep up the good work and thanks again.
Jack says
Hi Peter
Please tell us how did the Contigo perform with smoothies – is the mouth hole big enough for smoothies ?
Thanks, Jack
kris says
I take mine to work and put in fridge, so staying cold isn’t a problem. I’m super cheap so I reuse glass mason jars. We used to buy a lot of 32 oz (I think) pasta sauce in those glass jars – they are perfect. I’d like to replace the lids with something better, but 1 thing at a time.
Katherine Natalia @ Green Thickies says
Yes that’s a great idea. I can’t get hold of anything to replace the lids with but I have seen the built in straw in the states which look great.
Natalie Black says
I’m looking for a pitcher or sealable carafe for smoothies. I found one by Martha Stewart that is pretty good, but thicker smoothies have a hard time pouring out. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
JanCarol says
One of the factors you don’t consider in your smoothie jars is ease of cleaning – your Blender bottle with little wire ball looks like a witch to clean!
I’ve always preferred wide mouthed Nalgene camping containers – wide mouthed for making dehydrated meals in while camping. http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Water-Bottle-Reviews/Nalgene I lost my original one, and tried to replace it after moving to Australia – impossible! I got a camping jar, but the mouth isn’t as wide. :-(
It seems like manufacturers don’t always know what the people want.
The reason I’ve preferred these jars to any you have here (except maybe the mason jars) is that I can stick my whole hand into the jar and scrub any fruit & veg fibres that have become stuck to the jar.
Most of the jars you show here, you would have to use a brush to get to the bottoms, and I’m sorry, but that’s not clean. There is no brush which will clean every surface of the bottom of a jar.
Katherine Natalia @ Green Thickies says
Good point and I totally agree with you. I have to soak all of my smoothie containers and rinse them out then I put them in the dishwasher. The smoothies can get really stuck on otherwise.
Monica says
I totally agree that is one of my biggest concerns is keeping them clean as my son will leave it in his ivernight or I might take it to the office and not gave time to clean it. So I would definitely purchase this one! Thank you for that JanCarol! The smoothie jars and bottles are killers to clean
Mari says
I have a few of the Camelbak bottles and while they are WONDERFUL for water-type liquids and are my favorite drinking containers since they don’t spill and I’m always knocking things over, they are TERRIBLE for smoothies. The hole the drink exits the cap through, under the silicone mouthpiece, is very narrow (I would say about half the diameter of a typical disposable drinking straw) and clogs up easily with any bits of pulp or fiber.
I don’t find the Blender Bottle difficult to clean at all – the secret is to rinse it _as soon as possible_ after you finish your smoothie. Take it to a restroom or something. Fill it about halfway with water, shake the living daylights out of it, pour out the water. Repeat if necessary. That cleans off the little wire wossname so stuff doesn’t get stuck to it. Then I just toss all three pieces in the dishwasher. (I have several as they are quite popular promotional-giveaway items where I live.) However, I usually prefer a container I don’t have to tip to drink from, especially since my breakfast smoothies are often consumed whilst driving – yes, I can just stick a straw in the opening, but I prefer something that doesn’t spill as easily – so most often I use the tumblers with lids and straws similar to the “Boston Warehouse Tumbler” pictured. I generally pick them up in thrift shops (usually missing the straw) for less than US$1, and I bought a set of acrylic reusable straws very cheaply on Amazon. Fridge storage usually isn’t an issue as I’m more likely to make a single serving at a time – I don’t think smoothies taste as good after they’ve sat around a while, but if I’m going to store it I usually use one of my Blender Bottles so I can shake it back together after it almost-inevitably separates. I find mason jars unpleasant to hold as they get very cold and slippery, and if it’s humid they sweat and drip, although I recently saw a knitted “mason jar cozy” on Pinterest!
Not all my drinking containers are dishwasher safe and my (plastic) blender container doesn’t fit in the top rack, so I use a gadget that looks like a cylindrical sponge on a stick to get down into the bottom. It’s a slightly abrasive sort of sponge so it scrubs effectively, although nothing beats rinsing the gunk off while it’s fresh or a good soak if it has dried on.
Also, BE CAREFUL with the metal straws, I don’t know if they’re common over there yet. I chipped an upper canine with one and the dentist estimated about US$1500 for it to be fixed! Luckily it’s just cosmetic and the dentist did file off the sharp bits for no additional charge, but I still gave away those “eco-friendly” stainless-steel straws and went back to the softer reusable acrylic ones (which, as a bonus, are translucent, so I can see if I missed any spots with my skinny straw-brush).
Doreen says
My favourite is from Contigo. A BPA free Shake & Go tumbler which comes in 2 sizes, 16 and 20oz. I got mine from Costco last summer for a really good price on 3 in a box. I am hoping they bring them back again. Where the straw goes in is a patent-pending auto close hinge so your drink/smoothie stays freshest and no spill. I make my smoothie then put in the frig until I am ready to go. Like any container that you use a straw with, the straw obviously needs some care in cleaning. The lid is easy to clean despite the hinge. They also have them on Amazon and a few other web sites if you do a search for them.
http://www.gocontigo.com/water-bottles/shake-go-tumbler.html
Sarah says
I love Stojo cups for smoothies and now their making one with a straw that collapses..looks awesome https://stojo.co/biggie/
Mary H says
Hi Katherine,
I am looking to buy this travel blender https://onebagger.com/drink-delicious-smoothies-while-traveling-with-this-portable-blender/
Do you think this will be a good choice?
Thanks,
Mary H