Are titanium cups good? Are titanium mugs worth it? These are the most frequent questions people ask. Perhaps you’ve read some individual thoughts talking about cups and mugs but this was not enough. Therefore, let’s go deeper with the questions concerning backpackers and ultralight gear.
The list below is the key points I will discuss in this blog.
- Ultralight
- Durable
- Biocompatible & Hypoallergenic
- Single Wall VS Double Wall
- Heat Conductivity
- Versatility
- Features Of A Good Titanium Cup
- How To Care For Your Titanium Cup
Ultralight
Is a titanium cup light to carry?
The answer is definitely yes! The weight of a titanium cup is only 1/4 or even 1/3 of a Stainless Steel cup. You can instantly feel the weight difference if you pick up stainless steel and titanium cups.
But what does it mean for backpacking or hiking?
The weight of your whole gear is reduced if you switch to titanium. This helps save your valuable energy when carrying a lot of stuff. Imagine thru-hiking where there is no set campsite, you’re carrying everything in your rucksack. In this instance, every weight reduction helps.
Durable
How is titanium's durability compared with other common materials of mugs?
“Durability is the ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage”, source Oxford.
Tensile strength is the maximum stress that a structure can sustain (MPa, short for MegaPascal - A basic unit of pressure or tension measurement in the International System of Weights and Measures). The Mohs scale measures mineral hardness, ranging from 1 to 10. 10 being very hard. A diamond ranks 10 on the Mohs scale.
Titanium's tensile strength is 480 MPa, while Aluminium alloy is 310 MPa and stainless steel is 485MPa. The hardness of titanium on the Mohs scale is 6.0, while Aluminium alloy is 2.75 and stainless steel is 4. So although titanium has a slightly lower tensile strength than stainless steel it is much lighter and has a greater mineral hardness.
That is the unique property that puts titanium in a different category from other materials.
For your adventures of course you want a durable travel cup, and titanium is the logical choice.
Biocompatible & Anti-corrosive
Is titanium toxic when heated?
The primary factor in choosing drinkware is always safety. Therefore, is ultralight titanium gear safe when heated?
This concern is quite reasonable. Like plastic cups, even though they’re quite light, they do leach BPA’s to your beverages even when not heated. Over time Stainless Steel leaches Nickel and Chromium. And Aluminum also has a risk of exposure. These are both dangerous to the human body.
Unlike plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel, titanium is biocompatible, which means it doesn’t leach at all including when heated.
Does titanium affect taste?
Simply put, no, titanium is anti-corrosive and doesn’t react even with the most acidic liquid. Titanium won’t affect the taste of your hot beverages at all. We often hear people say that they notice a metallic taste in their stainless steel mugs. It’s because stainless steel isn’t anti-corrosive and it indeed rusts in certain conditions.
When you buy a titanium cup, you can rest assured that you’re drinking your hot beverage the same way you would enjoy it at home in a ceramic cup.
Does salt water ruin titanium?
Titanium is corrosion-resistant in a wide range of natural and artificial environments, including salt water. Let’s take an example to understand how is that possible.
Salt water is more corrosive than fresh water because of its chemical composition. The salinity of seawater mainly comes from salt ions (Cl−, Na+), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). It’s the hydrogen sulfide that makes sea water highly corrosive.
However, Na+ and H2S don’t react with titanium. You can rest assured salt water can not ruin your titanium mug. So washing your cup in the ocean is a good cleaning method.
Lifetime
How long does titanium last?
Titanium is one of the toughest metals and will last for a lifetime of adventures. When you measure the value of its longevity, the cost is way lower than alternative mugs made of other materials. On top of that, it is also a daily reusable item that can be used outdoors as well as in the office.
The maintenance of titanium cups is quite simple. Just rinse it out and dry it.
At SilverAnt our brand slogan and ethos is - gear built for a lifetime of adventures. When you buy a titanium mug from us you get a lifetime warranty.
Single Wall VS Double Wall
What is a single-wall titanium cup?
A single-wall titanium cup is a titanium cup with just one layer of titanium. It is made of a 0.5mm to 0.6mm thick titanium sheet, generally. This is the most popular design of a titanium mug for backpacking because of its weight advantage. They’re really light to carry. Furthermore, you can also use them to boil water. They’re quick to boil and cool down because of their single-layer construction.
What does a double wall cup mean?
A double-wall titanium cup has two layers of titanium. It is usually made of a 0.4mm to 0.5mm thick titanium sheet for the inner layer, and a 0.4mm to 0.5mm titanium sheet for the outer layer. The space between the two layers works as an insulator. Although this is not a vacuum unless stated by the manufacturer. This double-wall construction will keep your hot liquids warmer for longer.
Good Thermal Conductivity
Do titanium cups get hot?
“The thermal conductivity of a material is a measure of its ability to conduct heat. “ Source Wikipedia
Titanium has phenomenal heat conductivity. It can heat up and cool down quickly. That’s why most titanium travel mugs are single-layer only to make heating faster.
The double-wall construction of a titanium cup can better prevent the body of the mug from getting too hot. So if your primary purpose is to use the mug to keep water hot, a double-wall cup is the better choice.
Do titanium cups burn your lips?
No, titanium cups won’t burn your lips. The reason is the same titanium can heat up and cool down quickly. Of course, some common sense is needed. If the water is 100 degrees and just boiled then it will be too hot to drink. Always wait a while to enjoy your hot beverage.
A double wall design will help to prevent your lips from getting burnt. As we have mentioned before, the double wall design of the titanium mug means that there’s a space between the two walls that helps to insulate and keep the heat in. So rest assured, titanium cups don’t burn your lips.
Versatility
Can you boil water in a titanium cup?
Yes, you can definitely use a titanium cup while camping to boil water. If you pick a single-wall titanium mug, you can use it directly to put it on an alcohol stove or gas stove. Put the lid on, see the steam coming out of the perforated holes, and wait till the water boils. Add a purification tablet for safety and let the titanium camping cup cool down. Of course, if you can boil water you can also boil your dehydrated food pack or cook the morning oatmeal.
With the question of whether you should put the lid on or off while boiling water, a lid will definitely keep the heat in and make the boiling faster. However, if the lid doesn’t have any holes be more precautions. A lid with 3-4 holes is the best for straining. Lastly, don’t put too much water in the travel cup to prevent overboiling.
Can you cook with a titanium cup?
Yes, for the ultralight adventurer, a single-wall titanium mug is incredibly functional. Because of Titaniuam’s good thermal conductivity, it can transfer heat more quickly for faster cooking and less fuel burning. A quality alcohol stove or gas stove works wonders with a titanium cup.
Compared with aluminum or stainless steel cups, titanium cups are anti-corrosive and don’t leach. When you go backpacking, a titanium cup is an absolute must-have. Lightweight, multi-functional, and safe to use.
Henceforth, what can you cook in a titanium mug? There are lots of recipes you can cook on a backpacking trip with a titanium mug. Below are some examples: Spaghetti, Couscous, Oatmeal, Scrambled Eggs, etc.
If you cook something else with the mug, feel free to comment to let us know.
A quick tip: Move the food more frequently while cooking meals without water because of the faster heat transfer.
Features of a good titanium cup
Titanium Lid With A Ring
A titanium cup with a lid is one of the best pieces of gear for a solo adventurer. It’s versatile and great to store your gas canister, stove, or other gear inside. On top of that, when you’re cooking oats while backpacking, you can stick your long-handle spork into the ring to remove the lid to check on the oats. The ring is helpful in many conditions to protect you from burns or scalds.
Straining Holes
Straining holes in the lid is such a practical design, especially when cooking pasta. The holes are great to prevent overboiling. Use the holes to drain the water when the mug cools down a bit.
Retractable Folding Handles
The handles of the SilverAnt titanium mug range are great to avoid burns and scalds. They are strong and durable even when the cup is full. When the cup is not in use retract the folding handles for a slim profile, making it easy to pack in your gear bag. SilverAnt handles are specially designed for the best space-saving shape.
Nesting Design
A nesting design is practical, especially when you need to save space and store each piece of your gear securely without scratching or hitting each other. The nesting design will significantly make your backpacking way easier. Ask does the titanium cup fit a 100g canister and stove. Can it nest a titanium water bottle? These are all great questions to ask before buying yourself a titanium cup.
How to care for your titanium cup
How to clean a titanium cup?
The simplest way to clean your titanium cup is to give it a quick rinse under the faucet and dry it. When out on adventures save some leftover boiled water and thoroughly rinse the titanium travel cup.
At home fill the cup with warm water and add a drop or two of dishwashing liquid. Swirl and shake the cup. Use a nonabrasive cloth to remove food debris such as oats. Use a towel to dry the outside and air-dry the inside with the lid off.
Conclusion
There are endless reasons to choose a titanium mug when you’re backpacking. From weight, durability, versatility, and heat conductivity, to safety, these features are all great for on-trail use. And when your trip is over, you can use the titanium mug for your everyday coffee for years to come.
If you have any questions about our titanium cups, feel free to comment to let us know. To your next adventure.