Ozark Trail Thermos Review: If you love hot coffee you need to read this

The Ozark Trail Thermos line delivers a highly functional product at an incredibly affordable price

   06.10.21

Ozark Trail Thermos Review: If you love hot coffee you need to read this

In this review, we’re going to take a look at the various sizes of double walled vacuum sealed thermoses available from Walmart in the Ozark Trail Thermos line.

As an avid outdoorsman, I can say from experience that a hot drink on a cold morning or a cold drink in the blazing heat of a midsummer day is a creature comfort that I can’t live without. I am not only an avid coffee drinker, but I am also the former co-owner of a coffee roasting company, so when I say I take coffee seriously I absolutely mean it. Having such a deep love of a great tasting cup of coffee I am always on the hunt for a  thermos to keep my brew in. This is one of the main reasons that I wanted to take a deep dive in to the Ozark Trail Thermos line from Walmart. I really do enjoy a home brew more than a store bought cup of coffee, so having a well functioning thermos is vital to me, no matter what I have planned for the day.

Like most things in life, there is so much more that goes in to your coffee than flipping on your coffee machine. To achieve the optimal cup of coffee you have both a recommended brew temperature as well as a recommended serving temperature. The crazy thing here is that these recommendations were not only provided by a group of hipsters who assembled at their local coffee shop. There is also over a century of scientific research that has been conducted specifically focused on how temperature can impact your taste buds.

I won’t go crazy with scientific research in this article, but I will reference just a single study to provide some context. Back around 2005, researchers in Belgium’s Katholieke Universiteit Leuven concluded that variables in temperature had a direct correlation with perception of taste, especially as it relates to sweetness and bitterness. To take this a step further, you may encounter a noticeable change in flavor as your coffee’s temperature reduces.

The National Coffee Association recommends a brewing temperature of 195 -205 degrees Fahrenheit and a serving temperature of 185 Degrees Fahrenheit. What I find interesting about the recommended serving temperature is that this may not actually be the temperature in which most coffee drinkers enjoy their beverage. Another study found that 140 degrees Fahrenheit was the desired average temperature for both black coffee drinkers and those who added creamer and other types of sweeteners. So to wrap things up, there isn’t a perfect temperature for you to enjoy your coffee, but we do have a strong baseline for the review of the Ozark Trail Thermos line from Walmart.

To help me understand what the Ozark Trail Thermos line from Walmart could do, I assembled a collection of sizes that I picked up in person at my local Walmart. In total I had 6 of their double wall vacuum insulated thermoses, ranging in size from the 10oz Tumbler up to the 32oz Tumbler.

1. Ozark Trail Double Wall Vacuum Sealed Stainless Steel Tumbler 32 Ounce

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Ozark Trail Double Wall Vacuum Sealed Stainless Steel Tumbler 32 Ounce

Ozark Trail Double Wall Vacuum Sealed Stainless Steel Tumbler 32 Ounce

This 32 oz Ozark Trail Tumbler is in my opinion the most versatile of the bunch. One of the main reasons that you are filling a thermos is to enjoy your beverage at the desired temperature over extended periods of time. To that end, you may be out and about for hours which means having more of your favorite drink on hand will be beneficial.

It features a double wall vacuum seal design and is built from high-grade 18/8 stainless steel. When purchasing from Walmart’s website, you have the option of selecting one of 4 colors; black, mint, silver, or tan. Another great thing that Walmart provides is the ability to purchase the 32oz Ozark Trail Tumbler in quantities of 1, 2, 4, or 6.

With a price point below $10, you are able to get 4 of the 32oz Ozark Trail Tumblers for a price that is comparable to 1 of the competitions 30oz tumblers, which to me is a huge win.

Pros/Ability to keep hot and cold drinks at the desired temperature for extended periods, various color options, base is sized to fit standard cup holders, affordable price
Cons/Locking lid is not included, size can be more difficult to manage if you have smaller hands
Bottom Line/The 32oz Ozark Trail Tumbler is a great option for the budget minded shopper who wants to keep their drinks cold or hot without breaking the bank.

2. Ozark Trail Double Wall Vacuum Sealed Stainless Steel Tumbler 22

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Ozark Trail Double Wall Vacuum Sealed Stainless Steel Tumbler 22

The 22oz Ozark Trail Tumbler is what most people think of when they are envisioning a coffee tumbler. The size is well suited for any coffee drinkers hand and it holds just the right amount of coffee to keep you from going over board and maxing out on your caffeine intake for the day in one sitting. This tumbler is the perfect size for any cup holder and has a sleek design.

With it’s double wall vacuum seal design and high-grade 18/8 stainless steel construction, the 22oz Ozark Trail Tumbler is going to keep your coffee or colder drinks on point throughout your morning commute or morning hunt.

Like the 32oz Tumbler, the 22oz Ozark Trail Tumbler comes in black, mint, silver, or tan and can be ordered in quantities of 1, 2, 4, or 6.

Pros/2 ounces bigger than most other tumblers in it's size class, multiple colors, double wall vacuum seal design
Cons/Locking lid is not included
Bottom Line/The Ozark Trail 22oz Tumbler is a perfect Tumbler to buy 7 of and roll through the week fully caffeinated.

3. Ozark Trail 14-Ounce Double-Wall Vacuum-Sealed Stainless Steel Coffee Mug

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Ozark Trail 14-Ounce Double-Wall Vacuum-Sealed Stainless Steel Coffee Mug

The Ozark Trail 14oz Coffee Mug

A handled coffee mug just gives the feel of sitting back and relaxing as you get ready for your day. Tumblers without a handle are great, but I absolutely love that you can have the feel of a good old fashioned coffee cup while getting the benefit of a double wall vacuum seal in a stainless steel thermos. In my opinion, the Ozark Trail 14-Ounce Double-Wall Vacuum-Sealed Stainless Steel Coffee Mug gives you the best of both worlds.

Built to mimic the design of a standard coffee cup, the Ozark Trail 14 Ounce Coffee Mug utilizes the same double wall vacuum seal technology as their other tumblers, as well as the ultra durable high-grade 18/8 stainless steel.

This mug comes in one color which is silver, so if you like the tough industrial look of steel, you will love this mug. Like the other Tumblers in the Ozark Trail line, you can order this mug in a multipack up to 4 which is also the best value.

Pros/Great design which includes a mug handle, durable and less prone to scratches, perfect size for a cup of coffee, affordable
Cons/Limited color options, the mug may not fit in all cup holders
Bottom Line/If you love the traditional feel of a coffee cup but want to keep your drinks at the desired temperature longer, this is a great choice

4. Ozark Trail Tumbler Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Lowball, 10oz

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Ozark Trail Tumbler Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Lowball, 10oz

The Ozark Trail 10oz Tumbler in silver

If you love espresso or plan to use the Tumbler for a cold beverage, the 10oz Ozark Trail Tumbler is going to be a great option for you. Many outdoorsmen have taken their infield coffee preparation to the next level making pour overs or using a coffee press. If you plan to do something that is more in line with a high end coffee shop, you should consider this Tumbler.

Similar to the coffee mug, the 10oz Tumbler is available in silver only and can be ordered on the Walmart website in a 1, 2 or 4 pack.

Pros/Small design is perfect for a camp cup, affordable, durable design
Cons/Small design may not be large enough for those who want to take this with them for extended periods of time
Bottom Line/Like all products, there is a time and place for them and the 10oz Tumbler will find a place in coffee connoisseur or fireside Bourbon drinker's heart.

5. Ozark Trail 24oz Black Light Weight Stainless Steel Water Bottle

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Ozark Trail 24oz Black Light Weight Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Stainless steel water bottles have really gone mainstream over the last decade with many buyers opting for this over the plastic water bottles of old. The Ozark Trail 24oz Black Light Weight Stainless Steel Water Bottle can serve so many purposes because of its tight fitting screw on lid. Your kids can pack it for their daily water bottle at school, you can leave for work with coffee and wash it out and use it for water later in the day, or because it’s water tight you can stow it away in your hiking pack for a day on the trail.

The Ozark Trail 24oz Black Light Weight Stainless Steel Water Bottle can be purchased in black, mint, or tan and is sold in 1, 2, 4 or 6 packs on the Walmart website.

Pros/Compact design, various colors available, high quality lid, water tight, affordable
Cons/Cannot be used as easily when on the go compared to an open mouth Tumbler
Bottom Line/This water bottle is a great option for anyone who wants a multipurpose Tumbler

Performance Test

To test out the Ozark Trail Thermos line, I used the baseline temperature of 185 degrees Fahrenheit for all of the products I tested. My goal was to see how long I could keep a cup of coffee warm and if there would be variation in temperatures over time across the tumblers. I also used two of the 22oz Tumblers, one with the standard open mouth lid and one with a closed, spill proof lid.

I tested the temperature using a Weber meat thermometer which was $15 off the shelf. I used plain water which I boiled to temperature and placed inside each of the Tumblers and immediately closed with the provided lids.

I decided to do this test inside my house because exterior temperatures in Michigan were exceeding 90 degrees and I wanted to be able to keep a stable room temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the test.

I began with my initial 185 Degrees Fahrenheit temperature and tested each Tumbler 2 hours after placing the water inside, 4 hours after placing the water inside and 12 hours after placing the water inside.

Here are my results:

After 2 hours:

  • 32oz – Tumbler
    • Temperature – 151.8 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 33.2 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 24oz Water Bottle
    • Temperature – 154.7 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 30.3 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 22oz Tumbler with locking lid
    • Temperature – 146.5 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 38.5 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 22oz Tumbler with standard lid
    • Temperature – 145.2 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 39.8 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 14oz Coffee mug
    • Temperature – 138.3 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 46.7 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 10oz Lowball tumbler
    • Temperature – 131.4 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 53.6 Degrees Fahrenheit

After 4 hours:

  • 32oz – Tumbler
    • Temperature – 135.8 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 49.2 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 24oz Water Bottle
    • Temperature – 143.4 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 41.6 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 22oz Tumbler with locking lid
    • Temperature – 131.8 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 53.2 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 22oz Tumbler with standard lid
    • Temperature – 128.6 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 56.4 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 14oz Coffee mug
    • Temperature – 118.8 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 66.2 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 10oz Lowball tumbler
    • Temperature – 111.9 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 73.1 Degrees Fahrenheit

After 12 hours:

  • 32oz – Tumbler
    • Temperature – 100.2 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 84.8 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 24oz Water Bottle
    • Temperature – 111 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 74 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 22oz Tumbler with locking lid
    • Temperature – 96.9 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 88.1 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 22oz Tumbler with standard lid
    • Temperature – 93.6 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 91.4 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 14oz Coffee mug
    • Temperature – 82.8 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 102.2 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • 10oz Lowball tumbler
    • Temperature – 80.8 Degrees Fahrenheit
    • Heat loss – 104.2 Degrees Fahrenheit

Performance Take aways

Overall I was pleased with the results of the Ozark Trail Thermoses I tested. A few of the key points that I think should be mentioned are listed below.

  • There is a direct correlation between the size of the thermos and its ability to retain heat over time.
  • The 24oz water bottle was the clear winner even though it was not the largest of the group. The screw on cap vs. the insulated lids appear to give the 24oz bottle an edge.
  • There is very little difference in heat retention when using the provided lid vs. the additional locking lid, so the real benefit of the additional lid will be in keeping your beverage inside the mug.
  • As a whole, each respective Tumbler has a specific application and will do a very good job at retaining heat when you are on the go.

One more very important thing to mention in the performance category is that when it comes to my personal acceptable temperatures to drink coffee, each of the Tumblers that I reviewed exceeded the performance numbers listed on the Walmart website.

 

What is a Double Wall Vacuum Sealed Thermos?

If you are wondering what makes a double wall vacuum sealed thermos superior to other designs, we can help clear the air.

This design consists of, you guessed it, two stainless steel walls as well as a vacuum sealed chamber that sits in between the two walls. With a traditional single wall thermos, convection occurs transferring the internal heat out or vice versa, impacting the liquids temperature over time and at a greater pace.

The vacuum chamber in a double wall vacuum sealed thermos prevents that convection from occurring and greatly increases the duration that your drink remains at the desired temperature.

 

Difference in Lids

One of the things that I was curious about was how well the lids performed. The locking lid and open mouth lids do seem to provide similar results when paired with the 22oz Tumbler, but I had one more text I wanted to run.

Using a thermal imaging scope from ATN, I filled one of the 22oz mugs with water boiled to 185 degrees Fahrenheit and another filled with water boiled to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can see in the image below that the thermos on the left has the hotter water, however the heat signature on both Tumblers is only present inside the Tumbler.

Thermal 1

Once the lids are placed on to the Tumblers you can see a bit more in relation to how they work. With the locking lid, there appears to be more heat transference than the open mouth lid. Even with the locking lid absorbing more heat, it does provide a few degrees more heat retention over time.

Thermal 2

Are the Ozark Trail Thermoses dishwasher safe?

Yes, for safe dishwasher care it is recommended that you place the Tumblers on the top shelf.

Are the lids interchangeable?

Yes! You will have two different sizes of lids across the Ozark Trail line, one lid size will fit the coffee mug and larger tumblers like the 32oz while the smaller lids fit the more slender tumblers like the 22oz and 10oz.

Does Walmart offer replacement lids?

Yes! You are able to purchase additional lids both in a spill proof configuration and the open mouth version that comes with the tumblers.

Is this line of thermoses BPA free?

Not only is the Ozark Trail line of thermoses BPA free but they are also rust proof and feature a sweat-proof design.

Does Walmart offer a warranty on the Ozark Trail Thermos Line

Walmart provides a lifetime warranty on their Ozark Trail line of thermoses

Does Walmart allow returns on the Ozark Trail Tumblers?

Yes, Walmart has a very easy return process and most returns can be sent back fro free. You can view the return policy here.

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Ben currently leads the editorial staff for Outdoorhub, Alloutdoor, and The Firearm Blog. He is an avid outdoorsman and has hunted for large game across the United States including Alaska, Texas and his home state of Michigan. Ben also has a deep knowledge and passion for firearms and has participated in various civilian courses focusing on precision rifle shooting, carbine, pistol, ammunition reloading, and hunting focused firearm applications. Outside of work, Ben pursues a number of water based activities spending his free time in Northern Michigan boating and fishing on Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan.

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