Sea To Summit X-Mug

I wrote a review which is posted on the GSI Coffee Filter (Java Drip), which addresses the matter of odor rentention, and how to solve "it"

Read the review if you have an interest in reducing unwanted odors.

Including are various uses, which can be applied to this device as well.

I find this cup to be durable, and a good utility which saves space and weight. The last being of equal importance to the first aspect.

But what you may not realise, is that by obtaining a small piece of tubing, you can punch a hole in the bottom (centered), and convert this cup into the perfect size ultra light coffee filter.

A #2 filter trimmed to save weight will fit fine. If you do this, remove the polymer ring since it is superfluous insofar as using this cup for filtering is concerned.

For ultra weight savings, cut the # 2 filter into a circle which simply fits the bottom of the cup.

This works fine and filters the way it is supposed to.

For water pre filtration, purchase a package of circular cotton wipes used to clean off cosmetics. This package is an eighty count. And is food grade sanitised for human use.

One side has a thin linen cover which you pull off. This cover goes on the bottom of the cup over the opening(hole), on top of "it" goes the circular pad, which you cut out of the #2 filter.

When both are in place (on the bottom of the cup), wet lightly and they will stay in place.

You may then filter water before final filtration. This will remove small particulate.
Thus avoiding the clogging of your filtration system.

This method is also very good at removing aromatic oils, which are frequently infused into lesser quality coffee beans.

The reason I'm writing this review, is that this cup is the perfect size for a coffee filter and pre filtration device for water.

All the other aspects can be viewed as stated intially (above). I own this and use it as a cup, since I've modified a GSI coffee filter to make it light weight.

So impressed am I by the size of this cup, that I further modified my GSI Java Drip by cutting off the upper silicone ring to match the size of this cup.

Both work great!!! A good deal all the way around.

Good work REI!!

I picked this up because I also have the bowl. I carry them in my backpack to work and the university along with a can of soup, beans, or whatever else I might pack for my meals. If you let water sit in the cup for about 10 minutes it will start to taste like plastic, not terrible but noticeable. I have a regular water bottle so I typically drink other liquids - tea, coffee, juice, etc. - in the cup so it works fine. I've cooked peas, instant oatmeal, and cereal in it as well. Very easy to clean. I also use the cup to fill up my water bottle if it can not fit under the spout of the fountain or the sink. It is lightweight and collapsable, fitting neatly inside the bowl. I saw that if I had bought the bowl and cup together it comes in a nice zipper carry case but it works fine without in my backpack because I keep it in a flat front zipper pocket without much space to shift around. The silicon is firm enough that it will stand by itself with any worries of tipping over or collapsing. I've used it (and the bowl) in the microwave without any i'll effects. The post below, by Packrafter, has some very cool videos about baking with the cup and I think I will be giving those a try pretty soon. Overall I get a lot of use out of the cup and am happy with my purchase. Although I mostly use it at work and school, I have brought it out on some camping trips for my friend to use because he did not have his own mess kit and it worked perfectly.

I've been on a quest for several years to replace my old green GSR plastic mug. I've had the thing for 10+ years and have found nothing on the market that was worth spending the money on that would end up weighing practically the same or offer any advantages.

Behold the Sea to Summit X-Mug! Weight wise this is negligible. My old GSR mug weighs in at 2.6 oz and the X-Mug at 2.2, nothing to cry over. But the real genius is in the fact that the mug collapses flat. This solves one of my biggest packing problems when packing my backpack. I always seem to be trying to fit my old mug somewhere in my pack that isn't the most efficient on space. This solves this by folding flat and can be tucked into any spot in my backpack.

I've used this several times now and I'm fairly pleased by it. Some shortfalls are that it tends to be a bit unstable because of the narrow bottom and wide top. Also it can be prone to collapse a little, although this has not happened to me. I have noticed that coffee smells can linger a bit before a good scrubbing with soap.

Overall its pluses out weigh the negatives. If you are looking to lighten your load this is probably not the mug. But if you want a very space efficient drinking vessel then this is it.

Plus:
COMPACT
Light
Hard neck ring
Easy to hold hot liquids

Cons:
Not that much lighter then other mugs
Sides are soft
Can retain some odors
Unstable

I wrote a similar review for the sea to summit bowl:

I think its fantastic myself. Its lightweight and holds quite a bit of liquid. I also like that this fits into the center of the sea to summit bowl when collapsed. The two combined take up almost no room in my pack and can fit into so many places. I mostly use this over 2-4 day trips. I have not had any of the issues others have reported about smell/stain/taste with this bowl. I have been with others using this on my trips and they all love it too. With that all said, I think its a toss up between this and the guyout squishy bowl/cup which has the advantage of being .2 ounces lighter and $11 cheaper but holds significantly less than the sea to summit cup/bowl (22oz oz vs 16oz for bowl, and 16oz v 6oz). Plus the sea to summit has the convenient measuring marks in the bowl and cup. So the size plus measuring marks made the difference for me, but I don't think you're wrong with the Guyout either. It depends on your wants/needs.

I remember having collapsible plastic cups as a kid, so the first time I saw the X-Mug it reminded me of those cups. I first purchased one for my son in lime green and he used it on a backpacking trip we took in Ocala National Forest in late December. It was very cold, but the X-Mug allowed him to make hot cocoa and still hold on to the cup without scalding. It was hard to lose because of its bright color, and for my son, losing gear is a sure bet. He loved the cup so much he kept it with him in his pocket for easy access.

The last 19 years I had been using a sturdy stainless steel mug, until I recently misplaced it on a trip to Ohio. I decided to buy an orange X-Mug for myself and am liking it. It works well as a measuring cup when you're cooking and nests easily within my cook kit.

It's a really great backpacking cup and thus far appears to be robust enough to survive lots of abuse on the trail.

The X-mug has been with me for 1500 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail as well as thru hiking the Colorado Trail this summer. I keep it in my cooking pot with my pocket rocket stove. It handles hot and cold very well. I like the measurement marks on the side for measuring water for cooking meals. It can be a pain to clean with all of the accordion folds, but this is no big deal--I carry a few paper towels in my cook gear to take care of it.I though it would lose its' ability to compress flat after many uses, but it never has--it is the same as when I bought it 2 years ago.

The reviews on this product were helpful in making my choice. I only use this cup for one thing: My evening and morning coffee. Because of that, I don't mind a slight (very slight) residual smell after it's cleaned, dried and put away. The rim of the cup works great for handling hot liquids, and saves your fingers and lips from getting burned. It is a touch unstable when full, but not a big deal. I've detected no plastic, or soapy, smells from it. It does exactly what I wanted it to do: holds my coffee, cleans up easily, and folds flat for packing. Good product.

I was looking for a small water bowl for my dog - and was lamenting the fact that travel bowls for dogs are not easily washed. So I headed over to the camping aisle and found this. It is absolutely perfect and can even be formed into a mini 'dog dish' shape. I love that it folds flat for the glove box, and can fit in my pocket for day hikes with the pooch. The best part??? It is about half the price of bowls made for dogs!

Regular cups/mugs are bulky and heavy. This thing is amazing as it flattens - takes very little space and weighs just 2.1 oz. Flattened, it fits into my cook pot but expanded it's a full 2-cups large. It even has measuring-cup markings. I drink hot coffee in this and there is no plastic taste and I can hold the cup by the rim and not get burned. I love it.