Drinkware Insulation 101

Tumbler Insulation

In many containers, heat or cold finds its way in and out through convection. Containers with vacuum insulation have a virtually airless space between the walls to stop the convection process and minimize temperature changes. This allows for hot beverages to remain insulated and icy beverages to remain cold and chill – just how your clients like them!

Good: Air Insulation

Air between the inner and outer walls insulates the beverage inside by forcing hot or cold to transfer through a layer of air. This means it takes longer for heat/chill to escape, so your drink stays at the right temperature longer.

Better: Foam Insulation

Foam between the inner and outer walls slows down the transfer of hot or cold from the inner wall to the outer wall. Just like your favorite can cooler insulates cans and bottles, foam insulation helps regulate the temperature inside tumblers.

Best: Vacuum Insulation

This is a high-efficiency form of insulation for drinkware, including trendy stainless steel styles. By removing as much air as possible from between the inner and outer walls, convection becomes ineffective at transferring the heat/chill out of your beverage. The hot or cold can only radiate between the walls so your drink stays hotter (or colder) longer.

Premium: Copper Vacuum Insulation

A copper lining between the inner and outer walls of a tumbler can lead to even better insulation performance. Copper lining helps distribute the hot or cold more evenly across the entire inner surface so your drink is able to stay at your preferred temperature for longer periods of time. With no air between the inner and outer wall, the copper plating on the inner wall adds a layer of effective temperature retention.

Can & Bottle Kooler Insulation

The different materials, colors and features of can coolers do more than just help brand messages come to life. By both insulating the can and reducing the amount of condensation that develops on the outside, can coolers are a great way to keep your beverages cooler, longer.

Good: Foam

The classic choice when it comes to beverage insulation, foam and poly foam, are soft and flexible in your hand. Poly foam material has a good amount of stretch, allowing these can koolers to fit around a larger variety of beverage containers to keep drinks chilled and hands dry. Rigid or collapsible designs are available at a range of price points to fit most promo budgets.

Better: Neoprene

Originally created to keep scuba divers insulated in frigid water, neoprene fabric is a higher-quality material that helps keep beverages cooler, longer. Neoprene has a slimmer profile and an elevated look that may have a more polished appearance for special occasions and events.

Best: Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel

The cream of the crop when it comes to can kooler insulation is vacuum insulation. Removing air between the inner and outer walls keeps the cold in so it doesn’t escape and cans/bottles remained chillier for longer. Condensation is also eliminated so hands stay warm and dry. An example of this performance is the vacuum insulation on the Koozie® Triple (46173), which will keep a can or bottle cool for up to 12 hours and even comes with a drink-thru lid for use as a tumbler.

With a 40 year history, the Koozie® brand has developed can and bottle kooler options for every style and occasion. We take keeping beverages at just the right temperature seriously, so you can feel confident recommending Koozie® patented and award-winning drinkware to your clients. Visit bicgraphic.com to view our extensive range of Koozie® products.

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Carrie Lewis, BIC Graphic North America. Visit the company’s website at bicgraphic.com or call (866) 563-9929