Contigo West Loop and Randolph travel mugs

» What are they: Stainless-steel mugs

» How they work: The West Loop (without a handle) and Randolph (with) mugs use the company’s Autoseal technology to prevent spills.

» The good: The mugs are supposed to keep beverages hot for four hours or cold for 12. I tested both extremes and found that the mugs do exactly as advertised. They’re sleek and attractive and come in several colors, and they fit in standard auto cupholders. The removable lids are also (top rack) dishwasher-proof.

» The bad: Some reviewers have said they had difficulty cleaning residue from the lids, but we tested black coffee and iced tea and had no problem with cleanup. Hot chocolate or a banana milkshake might be different. But both mugs came with insert sheets that offered detailed lid-cleaning instructions.

» Cost: The West Loop mug comes in 16-ounce ($20.99) and 20-ounce ($24.99) sizes; the Randolph is available in 16 ounces ($22.99).

» Available from: gocontigo.com.

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