According to Paper 360° magazine, North America accounts for 58.3 percent of worldwide paper cup consumption—130 billion cups to be precise. To me, that’s a pretty good reason to stop getting my morning coffee in a disposable paper cup. Lugging a big stainless steel mug back and forth can be a pain though, but after hunting around I found this collapsible cup from Flatterware. When not in use, it flattens down to about the size of a small flapjack, making it easy to store and carry. It holds 12 ounces of hot or cold liquid, is BPA free, and doesn’t cost much. It isn’t without flaws though, like the absence of a lid for use when the cup is full, the somewhat flimsy material of the cup itself, and the unnaturally large base. But it’s a great concept and definitely worthwhile if you are in need of a commuter mug.
Flatterware Collapsible Cup, $6
These things have been around since the 50’s. Classic Boy Scout/backpacking gear.
You’re right toodie jane-I remember having one in boy scouts and so first checked out a few camping stores. The problem I found with those mugs though were that they were either too small (many held only 4 oz) or made of cheap plastic.
No; these are not the same. The ones “since the 50’s” were horrid little affairs composed of a series of concentric rings that were _theoretically_ sufficiently tapered to provide a liquid-tight interlocking seal. Whether of plastic or aluminum or steel, they consistently– even to this day– fail to provide that seal. They are tiny and leak horribly.
This one, as you can see, is radically different: there is only one piece, making leaks impossible. Further, there appears to be a light coil spring inside the material (possibly silicone?) to provide shape when the cup is expanded.
Size should not be an issue, as capacity is listed at 12 oz, sufficient for a can of any so-packaged beverage.
Now is this a thing of beauty? No; not really. Is it rugged and perfect? Not according to the review, though it appears serviceable for its intended market. Is it something new an different? Yes; very much so. Perfect? No; of course not. But honestly, you have to start somewhere ;)