Owala
Smoothsip Insulated Mug 12 Oz.
The Owala Smoothsip Insulated Mug is a 12 oz (355 ml) stainless steel travel mug designed for hot or cold beverages. It features triple-walled vacuum insulation, a patented leak-proof slider lid, and a base that fits most cup holders. User reviews highlight its easy one-thumb opening and spill-resistant design, though heat retention and slider durability vary.
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Tableware > Drinkware > Mugs
Size
Specifications
- Material
- 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel BPA-free, plastic
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Tableware > Drinkware > Mugs
Product Insights
Owala's Smoothsip Insulated Mug 12 Oz. is a 35 CAD vacuum-insulated 18/8 pro-grade stainless-steel (Type 304) direct-sip mug for one-handed drinking from a car or desk cup holder, with a two-move built-in slider lid: press the tab to vent steam/pressure, then slide it back to sip, while a silicone gasket seals both spout and air vent and a tiny vent hole prevents glugging; it replaces the FreeSip's multi-part straw-and-chug cap, the contoured spout is for direct sipping rather than a reusable straw, the flat-sided body gives a single-hand grip, the roughly 3.4-inch base fits standard cup holders, the exterior stays condensation-free and touch-safe, and the interior leaves no metallic taste, has no liner, and uses a lead-, BPA- and phthalate-free lid, with the 18/8 steel resisting fatigue and release and scuffs re-passivating. The core tradeoff is sealing that is reliable under normal conditions rather than absolute, plus limited hot performance: the leakproof gasket system holds under normal handling, but there is no slider lock, jostling can nudge the tab open, carbonated drinks are excluded, and hot drinks can spray or leak when the slider opens; it is rated about 6 hours hot and 24 hours cold with the slider lid as the thermal ceiling, yet an independent test measured a 70°F drop in hour one; sealing near-boiling coffee flattens aroma unless the lid is left off five to ten minutes; the spout is not a reusable-straw slot; the alloy contains 8-11% nickel, which Health Canada advises nickel-allergic drinkers to avoid; the lid disassembles fully for cleaning because silicone gaskets trap coffee oils and can grow mold, and coffee-and-cream residue should be rinsed soon, with stale or lingering notes coming from coffee-oil film on the lid and gasket rather than the steel. It weighs about 10.65 oz (302 g) empty, not the 5.92 oz some listings show; only the 12 oz capacity is offered, in Black, White, Baby Blue and Dusky Pink, all at the same 35 CAD, with Black the only dark finish and White the only true neutral; buyers gift it repeatedly, call it attractive and immediately practical, report colors matching the listing photos, and keep using it daily; 23 reviews.
Verified claims
- Leak-proof
- One silicone gasket seals both the spout and the air vent, keeping the closed mug leak-proof in a bag.
- Leak risk
- Sealed only under normal use: not for carbonated drinks, and jostling can nudge the tab open.
- Lid design
- Lid opens in two thumb moves: press the tab to vent steam, then slide it back to sip.
- Drinking flow
- A tiny vent hole prevents glugging, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted sipping.
- Spout comfort
- Spout is contoured to the lip and built for direct sipping, not a reusable-straw slot.
- Slider construction
- Slider is built into the lid, not a magnetic disc that pops off when the mug is dropped.
- Carbonation
- Not for carbonated drinks; hot drinks can spray or leak when the slider opens.
- Closure security
- No slider lock: leakproof under normal handling, not against jostling or built-up pressure.
- FreeSip comparison
- One sliding tab replaces the FreeSip's multi-part straw-and-chug cap.
- Heat retention
- Rated for about 6 hours hot and 24 hours cold, with the slider lid setting the thermal ceiling.
- Hot retention duration
- Rated to keep hot drinks hot up to 6 hours, though an independent test measured a 70°F drop in hour one.
- Cold retention
- Keeps cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours.
- Exterior
- The vacuum gap keeps the exterior near ambient: condensation-free under iced drinks, touch-safe when hot.
- Coffee flavor
- Sealing near-boiling coffee flattens its aroma — leaving the lid off five to ten minutes keeps it tasting right.
- Pressure-release safety
- Two-step lid vents pressure before opening, preventing scalding.
- Highway use
- Opens and closes with one hand; the motion is learnable within a sip or two.
- Cup holder fit
- About 3.4 inches across, seats in standard car cup holders and stays sealed over bumps.
- Grip
- Flat-sided body gives the hand an edge to grip, and the 12 oz stays in the single-hand bracket.
- One-handed use
- Opens and sips one-handed while it sits in a car or desk cup holder.
- Material
- 18/8 pro-grade steel (Type 304) interior leaves no metallic taste, with no liner and a lead-, BPA- and phthalate-free lid
- Longevity
- The 18/8 interior does not fatigue or release into drinks, and scuffs re-passivate instead of exposing bare iron
- Off-note source
- Stale or lingering notes come from coffee-oil film on the lid and gasket, not the 18/8 steel
- Nickel sensitivity
- Carries 8-11% nickel in the alloy; Health Canada advises nickel-allergic drinkers to avoid it
- Cleaning
- The lid disassembles fully — silicone gaskets trap coffee oils and grow mold if left assembled.
- Residue
- Rinse soon after finishing — coffee-and-cream residue left sitting carries into the next brew.
- Weight
- Weighs about 10.65 oz (302 g) empty, not the 5.92 oz some listings show
- Gift appeal
- Buyers gift it repeatedly, and recipients keep using it daily.
- Finish
- Finish looks as good in person as in the photos and earns compliments.
- Color options
- Black, White, Baby Blue and Dusky Pink are all in stock; Black is the only dark finish and White the only true neutral.
- Color pricing
- Every finish lists at the same 35 CAD, with no premium for the pastels.
- Capacity
- The 12 oz fill is the only size; no colorway buys a larger mug.
- Gifting
- Buyers describe it as a gift that is both attractive and immediately practical.
Product record
- Title
- Smoothsip Insulated Mug 12 Oz.
- Brand
- Owala
- Price
- 35 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
- Rating
- 23 reviews
Buying Guide
1 comparison · 12 sourcesUses
All-day coffee and tea sipping at your desk
This 12-ounce insulated mug is made for sipping coffee or tea throughout the day, with a triple-walled, vacuum-insulated body that keeps drinks hot or cold for several hours. Reviewers highlight the comfortable spout and easy clean-up as reasons it works well for desk-side coffee and tea, though experiences with heat retention are mixed — some say coffee stays hot for hours while a few find the keep-warm time short for extended sipping.[3]
Comfortable sipping for coffee and tea
For all-day coffee or tea at your desk, the Smoothsip's curved spout is designed to fit the natural curve of your lip, and reviewers specifically call out how comfortable it is to drink from. A tiny vent hole keeps liquid flowing smoothly instead of glugging, and one commenter reports sipping without liquid spilling from the sides of the mouth.[1,2,3,4,5]
Toss it in your bag without worrying about spills
Heading to work, class, or errands with coffee in tow? The mug has a patented waterproof lid that slides open, and reviewers describe chucking it into purses and diaper bags with no fear of leakage. One commenter even reports it stays sealed until tilted more than 90 degrees, though individual experiences vary.[3,4,6,7]
A car-commuter mug that fits your cup holder
Bring your coffee along on the daily drive: this 12-ounce insulated mug has a base that fits most cup holders, and customer reviews analysis describes it fitting snugly in standard cupholders without feeling bulky. With its sealed lid, it's a practical pick for sipping on the road.[3]
Easy disassembly for everyday cleaning
For daily coffee or tea drinkers, the mug can be taken apart — including the slider lid — so each piece is easy to clean and stays fresh with minimal effort. Reviewers note the slider is simple to open and close after being cleaned and reassembled, and one says taking it apart for cleaning is a huge plus. The manual cautions that pressure may build up inside, so keep hands and face away from the joints when removing the lid and splash barrier.[3,4,5,8]
A gift that looks as good as it works
This insulated mug is popular as a present for people who appreciate something both stylish and practical. Per the reviews analysis, it's attractive in person and recipients find it useful and stylish, making it an easy pick for gift-giving.[3]
Product comparison
Compared within this brand.
| Smoothsip Insulated Mug 12 Oz.: Choose this if you want a compact 12 oz (355 ml) travel mug for commutes and desk-side sipping: its triple-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel body is rated to keep drinks hot for about 6 hours or cold for 24, the base fits most cup holders, and reviewers praise the patented waterproof slider lid for tossing the mug into bags without leaks. The curved spout and one-thumb slider opening are repeatedly highlighted as comfortable and easy to use, and it comes in Black, White, Baby Blue, and Dusky Pink. Note that hand-washing is recommended, and experiences are mixed on heat retention for all-day sipping, with some owners finding the keep-warm time short or the slider feeling flimsy.[1,3,7,9,10] | Smoothsip Insulated Mug 20 Oz.: Choose this if you want a large 20 oz (590 ml) stainless steel travel mug for all-day hot or cold drinks, with a triple-walled, vacuum-insulated body and a patented waterproof slider lid that reviewers describe as easy to open with a thumb and leakproof enough to toss in a bag. Its tapered base fits most cup holders, and available colors like pale pink are cited as making it a stylish gift or desk accessory. Note that hand-washing is recommended, and some owners report mixed experiences, including units that did not keep drinks hot long, a slider that felt flimsy, or paint chipping, in one case followed by a slow warranty replacement.[7,10,11,12] |
Image Analysis
2 images- 01
Product
Single-walled looking insulated mug with a matte light-blue cylindrical body, a dark gray recessed lid with an integrated sip channel, an orange trim ring below the lid, and a round olive-green push/plug on the lid. Vertical painted black brand wordmark appears on the mug body.
- Overall shapeTapered cylindrical travel mug profile with a slightly narrower base and a rounded bottom edge; shown upright with lid on.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.28 · w 0.56 · h 0.62 (high) - Body finishMatte light-blue painted exterior on the mug body with a smooth, slightly textured appearance.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.37 · w 0.42 · h 0.52 (high) - Lid geometryOne-piece dark gray lid with a recessed, concave drinking area and an integrated small circular cavity for the round plug; lid rim is slightly raised above the body.
1 region
x 0.25 · y 0.15 · w 0.50 · h 0.22 (high) - Round lid plugRaised circular olive-green plug centered in a shallow circular depression on the lid; appears to be a removable or push element and has a smooth matte finish.
1 region
x 0.47 · y 0.18 · w 0.12 · h 0.07 (high) - Orange trimThin orange ring separating the lid from the mug body running circumferentially under the lid.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.29 · w 0.46 · h 0.03 (high) - Brand wordmark“Vertical lowercase wordmark printed near the lower right side of the body reading 'owala.'”
1 region
x 0.58 · y 0.60 · w 0.20 · h 0.28 (high) - Logo detailSmall circular registered symbol or dot appears immediately above the final letter of the vertical wordmark.Partial
1 region
x 0.72 · y 0.58 · w 0.03 · h 0.03 (medium)
Other
Product shot on a two-tone background with soft studio lighting and a visible cast shadow to the left of the mug. Neutral teal backdrop and warm terracotta flat surface create contrast; image is centered and cropped to show entire mug upright.
- Background and surfaceTeal gradient backdrop occupying the upper portion and a flat warm terracotta surface occupying the lower portion where the mug sits.
2 regions
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 0.60 (high); x 0.00 · y 0.60 · w 1.00 · h 0.40 (high) - Lighting and shadowSoft directional lighting from the right front creates a diffuse shadow cast to the left and subtle highlights on the right side of the mug and lid.
- Shot compositionThree-quarter front view of the mug centered vertically with top of lid visible; image crop includes full product and several centimeters of surrounding surface.
Colors
light powder blue· bodydark gray· lid#5C5C5Colive green· lid plug#A0ADB3bright orange· trim ringblack· wordmark- Overall shapeTapered cylindrical travel mug profile with a slightly narrower base and a rounded bottom edge; shown upright with lid on.
- 02
Product
Close-up of the mug showing the top drinking lid and a round push button; visible portion of the insulated cylinder body with a contrast trim ring.
- Lid geometryRound recessed drinking lid with a concave top surface and an integrated drinking spout opening on the rim.
1 region
x 0.39 · y 0.23 · w 0.57 · h 0.57 (high) - Push buttonCircular raised push button centered in the lid, slightly domed, with debossed text running across its face.
1 region
x 0.54 · y 0.45 · w 0.17 · h 0.18 (high) - Button text“owala”
1 region
x 0.57 · y 0.51 · w 0.11 · h 0.07 (high) - Body visiblePortion of the insulated cylindrical body visible at left, with a smooth matte finish and a slightly textured surface.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.05 · w 0.53 · h 0.68 (high) - Trim ringNarrow contrasting ring between the lid and body, slightly raised and glossy compared with the matte body.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.30 · w 0.40 · h 0.13 (high) - Drinking spout detailOval drinking spout opening molded into the lid rim, with a smooth rounded inner edge and visible shadowing inside.
1 region
x 0.74 · y 0.69 · w 0.17 · h 0.16 (high) - Material appearanceLid appears to be hard matte plastic; push button appears to be soft-touch silicone with a slightly satin sheen.
Other
Product photographed on a matching pale blue background with soft directional lighting from top-left creating gentle shadows and a visible cast shadow below the mug.
- BackgroundSingle-color pale blue backdrop and supporting surface with slight texture, matching the product color family.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high) - Shot compositionClose-up angle focused on the lid at slight diagonal, product cropped at left showing only part of the cylinder body.
- Lighting and shadowSoft directional lighting from upper left producing subtle highlights on curved surfaces and a soft shadow beneath the product.
Colors
light pastel blue· bodymuted orange· trim ringmedium slate gray· lid#5C5C5Cpale sage green· push button- Lid geometryRound recessed drinking lid with a concave top surface and an integrated drinking spout opening on the rim.
Variants
4 SKUs| SKU | Title | Price | Avail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4490935 | Smoothsip Insulated Mug 12 Oz. - Black - One Size | CA$35.00 | Yes |
| 4581700 | Smoothsip Insulated Mug 12 Oz. - White - One Size | CA$35.00 | Yes |
| 4418242 | Smoothsip Insulated Mug 12 Oz. - Baby Blue - One Size | CA$35.00 | Yes |
| 4350913 | Smoothsip Insulated Mug 12 Oz. - Dusky Pink - One Size | CA$35.00 | Yes |
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
23 total23 reviews · out of 5
The keep warm time not
The keep warm time not long enough
Perfect
Perfect
Ma tasse préférée de tout les temps
Taille parfaite, ne coule pas et facile à nettoyer. Je l’adore!
Perfect mug
It was perfect
Good
Great
Great design, perfect coffee cup
Absolutely love it!
Meilleure tas
Meilleure tas
Easy to drink
Very comfortable to drink it, but it does not keep warm well.
Format parfait
Super tasse, format parfait pour un café, ne coule pas du tout et le bec est étonnamment confortable. Bien contente de mon achat.
Coffee!
This is a perfect travel mug. Great size, lightweight, doesn’t leak, easy to clean. I love it.
No leak
Very nice leakproof mug
Perfection
So cute, keeps warm and is leak proof! The size is perfect, I don't like bulky cups.
Super belle!
Super belle, pratique et entre bien dans les cup holder de nos 2 autos.
Tasse isotherme
Cadeau de Noël qui sera certainement apprécié, car il m'a été suggéré
Awesome sturdy travel mug
Sturdy, big enough for a large coffee. Doesn't spill. Love it.
Perfect
Perfect
Good
Good
Parfaitement étanche
Cette tasse est 100% étanche et garde les breuvages chauds de nombreuses heures. Je n’ai pas peur de la transporter dans un sac fermé ou une boîte à lunch, car je suis certaine qu’elle ne coulera pas.
Excellent!
C’est parfait, ça tient la chaleur et le froid assez longtemps, bien conçu.
Great size, secure lid
This is a great thermos for throwing in my purse or diaper bag without worrying about leaking. It also fits in the car cupholders.
Brillante conception
Parfait pour siroter son thé
This will be given as a Christmas gift
It was a Christmas wish from my granddaughter. Ordering was easy and delivery was prompt. I liked that.
Je l’adore
Couleur aussi belle qu’en photo, confortable et garde chaud.
Reddit Insights
6 threads · r/OwalaThe Owala Smoothsip is widely praised for its leak-proof design and comfortable sipping, but users are divided on heat retention and the durability of the slider mechanism.
Positive highlights include spill-proof design and comfortable mouthfeel, while recurring negatives cite inconsistent heat retention and slider durability concerns, resulting in a mixed overall sentiment.
Themes
Use Cases
- Daily coffee and tea consumption
- Commuting and travel in bags/purses
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Brumate MUV line
Owala chosen over Brumate for easier one-thumb opening and superior spill-proofness.
Source Threads
Negative experience with heat retention and slider feels flimsy
I’m gonna play devil’s advocate and say I probably wouldn’t purchase it again if I had the choice. Mine doesn’t keep drinks very hot for long and the slider on the lid feels cheap and flimsy.
u/justnadieView thread →
Chose Owala over Brumate for spill-proofness and ease of opening
I'm extremely picky about coffee mugs and did some extensive research between the Owala SmoothSip Slider vs. Brumate's MUV line. I ultimately went with Owala because of how easy it is to open with your thumb (I drink coffee while driving to work) and how spillproof it is (I've literally chucked them in relatively expensive purses with no fear of leakage).
u/Unique_Following41View thread →
Size comparison between 12oz and 20oz; 12oz may be too small for some
The 12oz is so cute but I use a 20oz everyday. I wish there was a middle version because I don't fill up the 20oz but know the 12 would be too small for my needs. 16oz seems better
u/silent_antelope28View thread →
Slider becomes easy after cleaning; completely leak-proof and easy to clean
I really like it, the slider is not stiff after you take it apart to clean it and put it back together, which I did immediately after getting it. Now the slider is really easy to open and close and I like the spout since it is easy to sip from and doesn’t spill from the sides of my mouth. It is completely leak proof and even splash proof, meaning it has to tilt more than 90° to spill anything. It is also extremely easy to clean after you take everything apart, which is a huge plus.
u/mochimmy3View thread →
Paint chipping and poor warranty/customer service experience
The first one, the paint started chipping off less than 2 weeks after I got it. Owala did not want to honor their warranty, and it took almost 3 months for me to get a replacement after much back and forth and many delays. It left a very sour taste in my mouth.
u/sinjin_wolfeView thread →
Smoothsipper loves mouth feel, long heat retention, and easy cleaning
Definitely a smoothsip slider. Love the mouth feel. Stays hot for soooo long. Only the gasket of the top is silicon. It stays on super well. The slider does not leak and is super easy to take apart and clean once you watch the video.
u/Reasonable_Ideal_356View thread →