Contigo Autoseal West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug Review

We purchased the Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug with Autoseal Lid so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

If you like to sip coffee or tea on your way to work—and you’re all too familiar with the horror of spilling a hot drink all over your desk or your laptop—you’ve probably looked into travel mugs. Specialty travel mugs, such as the Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug, have lids to prevent drips and spills. In addition, they're typically designed to keep liquids hot for much longer than a standard mug. To see if Contigo's West Loop mug delivered on its promise of being leak-free and temperature-maintaining, we put it to the test for a few weeks. Read on for everything we discovered. 

Design: Pretty sophisticated, actually 

While the outward appearance of the Contigo West Loop is pretty standard for a travel mug, there are a handful of welcome features hidden within. The mug is vacuum insulated, meaning that it’s comprised of two layers of stainless steel, and the space between the layers has been voided of air, leaving an empty channel that doesn’t conduct heat well. This technology allows the mug to keep drinks hot (or cold) for so long and explains why the mug doesn’t burn your hand when filled with hot liquids. Contigo calls this their Thermalock system and claims the mug can keep drinks hot for up to seven hours.

In our testing, the Contigo performed even better than promised. When filled with hot coffee, the mug maintained high heat for roughly three hours. Though the coffee slightly cooled after that, it was still warm enough to drink for another three to four hours. When filled with ice water, the Contigo kept it cool enough to maintain the ice cubes for 12 hours. Even 20 hours later, when we checked back in, the water was still very cold. 

The mug’s most sophisticated features are hidden in the lid, though. Rather than having a flip-top, there’s a small hole with Autoseal technology. This means the hole stays closed unless the user presses and holds the lid’s button. This technology worked extremely well in our testing. The lid has a second lock that can be depressed to add even more assurance against spills. This lock prevents the spout button from accidentally being engaged. With this lock engaged, we filled the mug with coffee and carried it around in a bag all day without any leakage.  

In terms of downsides, there are only a few minor issues. Firstly, the 20-ounce size is a bit wide for smaller hands to hold comfortably. Secondly, the lid’s complex construction is made of plastic pieces and springs, which has us wondering how long it’ll be able to withstand heavy use—especially if tossed in a backpack or backseat. Finally, we found that the sipping spout would occasionally splash a few droplets of our drink when unlocked—but this almost always happened if it had been bumped around beforehand. 

Material: Stainless steel and BPA-free plastics

The Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug is designed with double-wall stainless steel and a BPA-free plastic Autoseal lid. A few reviewers reported issues with the exterior paint chipping or flaking, but we chose the stainless steel version, so we didn't test that particular issue. 

Cleaning: A bit complicated for a mug

Unless you’ve chosen the unpainted stainless steel version of the mug, it’s not dishwasher safe. However, the lid can be washed in the dishwasher, provided you put it on the top rack. 

If you’re washing the Contigo by hand, be prepared for a bit of inconvenience, as it comes with specific washing instructions. To wash the lid in the sink, you must submerge it thoroughly in hot, soapy water for around 10 minutes before washing and rinsing it by hand. Contigo suggests that you give the mug a thorough washing immediately after each use. However, if purchasers are anything like us, that won’t always happen; you can simply run the mug underwater in an office sink during the weekdays. We found that a thorough daily rinse was enough to remove any stains or coffee grounds, but it’s worth noting that Contigo does not recommend this as it could lead to build-up or mildew. 

The locking mechanism built into the lid is somewhat complex, but fortunately, Contigo designed the parts for easy cleaning. There’s a small tab on the underside of the lid that pulls up, providing easier access to the parts inside the lid.  

Price: Very affordable

The Contigo travel mug is available in 16, 20, and 24-ounce sizes. Each will run you between $20.99 and $30.99, depending on the size and color. Making a small investment in one of these mugs and making coffee at home is a financially savvy move for those trying to avoid the cost of daily Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts runs. 

Contigo West Loop 2.0 Stainless Steel Travel Mug vs. Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

The Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug is pretty comparable to the Contigo. It retains heat for just as long as the Contigo and is cooler to the touch when filled with a hot beverage. Though it doesn't boast Contigo’s Autoseal technology, the Zojirushi mug has a flip-top and is equally leak-proof. It’s also available in various colors, from smoky blue and lavendar pink to champagne gold and stainless steel. It only comes in 12- and 16-ounce options, so if you’re looking for a larger capacity, you may want to go with the Contigo.