Whether you are rushing out the door or in the mood for an afternoon treat, a smoothie is a fast, affordable, and most importantly, healthy alternative to grabbing packaged foods that can be full of fat and sugar which might give you a quick boost, but before long will just leave you feeling sluggish and tired.
Modern blenders are convenient, powerful, and compact enough to keep on your countertop for easy access. Once you find a few smoothie recipes you love, by keeping fresh ingredients on hand you can make them in a matter of minutes, pour them in a travel smoothie cup and take them on the go.
Smoothie cups are made for quick and easy convenience, often allowing you to prepare, store, and drink your smoothie all in the same cup.
In order to aid you with your search for the best smoothie cup, we’ve chosen a selection of five travel-friendly drink containers that are simple to care for, made to suit a variety of tastes and applications, and are good at what they’re made to do. We think you’re sure to find a smoothie travel cup that is perfect for you.
Features of the Best Smoothie Cups
Of the cups featured on our list, only the Tritan Nutri Ninja cup is single-walled because it is made to work specifically with the Ninja blender systems, attaching directly to the bladed component for mixing. Single-walled cups are made for drinks that are intended for consumption fairly quickly, as they do not maintain thermal control.
The other four options on our list – the MIRA bottle, Tervis and Simply Green Solutions tumblers, and the Vitamix To-Go Cup – all have double-walled insulation, which is best for keeping your beverages hot or cold on a long term basis and also keep your cup or bottle from sweating condensation.
All of these potential smoothie containers are made of either plastic or stainless steel, both of which have good insulation properties, offer durability and are simple to care for. With that said, here are detailed descriptions of each of the top smoothie cups.
Vitamix To-Go Cup
The Vitamix cup is dual purpose, able to serve as either an additional, high-quality blending container for your Vitamix blender or with the included lid, a handy travel cup. This cup can hold 20 ounces of either hot or cold beverages, making it great for taking a healthy and delicious smoothie or blended coffee drink to go.
Its sleek, elegant shape fits very well in most car cup holders and the included flip-top lid can snap closed to make the cup spillproof, great for taking along your smoothie on your drive to work or play.
When I updated to the Vitamix S30, I found that two cups came standard. I’ve used this machine for a while now and find it best for smoothies. The cups have never leaked and kept the contents hot for soups and cold for smoothies.
This cup is made to work specifically with the Vitamix s-series machines, although it can also serve as a standalone, durable travel mug, and is BPA-free and dishwasher safe, though it is recommended to use the top rack of the dishwasher. The Vitamix To-Go cup is made of clear plastic.
Nutri Ninja Cup
The Tritan Nutri Ninja Cups are the most popular attachable cups made to work with the versatile Ninja Kitchen System bullet blenders. They are conveniently sold in pairs, making them a good choice for busy couples or families.
These cups attach directly to the blending component, so ingredients will just need to be placed into the cup, blended quickly, and then you’re ready to put on one of the included Sip & Seal Lids and go. They hold 24 ounces of your blended, fresh juice or smoothie.
The durable cups are single-walled, clear plastic, and both cups and lids are dishwasher safe and BPA-free. They are made to perfectly fit with all of Ninja’s Auto-iQ line of blenders, kitchen, and compact systems.
Tervis “Big T” Tumbler
The popular Tervis line of plastic, double-walled, insulated cups are a standalone brand that isn’t affiliated with any blending systems, but they are great for just about any liquid you might want to put in them.
The 24 ounces “Big T” Tumbler cup is what I’m referring to here, but a definite draw for this brand is its very reasonable price range and a wide variety of styles and sizes. Tervis cups are free of Co-polyester BPA and Melamine and are really versatile.
They are safe to use in the microwave or the freezer, and are dishwasher friendly, making them a cinch to clean. With their double-walled insulation, they keep your drinks at the temperature you want them at for a long time and they also come with a “Made for Life” guarantee, which means that the company will replace any cups that they confirm to have manufacturing defects – this doesn’t include normal wear and tear, like fading or scratching.
This cup does not come with a lid, though Tervis does make a few styles of lids that can be purchased separately for a reasonable price, handy if want to have a couple of options.
Simply Green Solutions Stainless Steel Drink Tumbler
This sleek and attractive cup holds a little less than most of the other cups featured here with an 18-ounce capacity but is a great option for someone who neither wants nor needs to carry around a large cup all the time.
The Simply Green Solutions cup has other strengths, with extremely durable double walls – the inner liner is made of vacuum insulated stainless steel, and also comes with a matching stainless steel lid which screws on (the screw threading is plastic) and a plastic straw.
It does require a little more care to stay in top shape – the tumbler body can be washed in the dishwasher, but the lid needs to be hand-washed, and because it’s made of steel, the cup obviously can’t be used in the microwave or the freezer. The insulation works very well, particularly for keeping cold drinks cold – a great feature for smoothies.
This tumbler won’t brake the bank, and if you aren’t a fan of the plastic straw, stainless steel straws that come with their own cleaning brush can also be purchased separately.
MIRA Insulated Double Wall Steel Water Bottle
A different approach to the other travel options featured on this list, the high-quality, steel MIRA bottle is a great option for taking drinks or smoothies you want to enjoy later in the day.
Beautifully constructed, MIRA describes the bottle as “Cola Shaped”, referring to the soft curves of a glass cola bottle.
The most compact option featured here with a 17-ounce capacity, the vacuum insulated double walls make this bottle perfect for taking a smoothie to go and can then be rinsed out and used as a water bottle for the rest of your day – the stainless steel won’t hold the flavor of anything you’ve had in it beforehand and the double-walled insulation will keep whatever you choose to drink cold for up to six hours without causing the bottle to sweat.
The bottle does need to be hand-washed, although this is simple enough not to be an issue, there have been a few issues with the paint scratching or chipping, so if that would bother you try to avoid having the bottle stored or carried with things that might damage the finish.
MIRA bottles have a screw-top lid that is BPA and Phthalates free and come in a few color options. The versatile bottle is a good choice for someone who wants to use it for more than just smoothies.
Each of these cups is of excellent quality and built to last, and which one is best for you really comes down to a matter of personal tastes and needs. Consider the intended use of your cup, various features such as portability and thermal control, then choose a great smoothie cup that will let you take your delicious drinks with you wherever you go.
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| MIRA Insulated Bottle
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