"Thermos" flask queries

Broadback said:

I know "Thermos" is a make, however many people refer to flasks to keep
liquids hot a Thermos. Anyway, I have no experience of these containers,
so I would like to know how long will glass ones and stainless steel
ones keep drinks piping hot? I assume the larger capacity ones will keep
hot longer than smaller ones. I imagine glass are better, in this
respect, than stainless steel.

I haven't noticed any particular difference between glass and steel as
regards keeping things hot, but I've certainly noticed differences in
longevity when dropped!

You're right about bigger flasks keeping hot for longer IME. With my 1l
flask I can pour it at the end of a long day and it'll still be very
hot, where the half litre is clearly a fair bit cooler, but still
usefully hot. Also, if you've already dipped into the contents the
remainder will cool off quicker, but even with this a half litre flask
is good for a longish day.

To maximise the effect it's best to "charge" the flask with boiling
water and leave it a few minutes, before emptying and putting in your
drink. That way no heat is lost heating it up the flask itself.

Steel ones are now very widely available and much cheaper than they used
to be.

If you want a hot drink on a day out then highly recommended. An option
that really doesn't cut the mustard is an insulated lining bag for a
standard drink bottle, and those are basically useless IME.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In article <[email hidden]>, Broadback
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I know "Thermos" is a make, however many people refer to flasks to keep
liquids hot a Thermos. Anyway, I have no experience of these
containers, so I would like to know how long will glass ones and
stainless steel ones keep drinks piping hot? I assume the larger
capacity ones will keep hot longer than smaller ones. I imagine glass
are better, in this respect, than stainless steel. Any help would be
appreciated.

A review in a walking magazine a year or 2 ago tested many and found
that after 24 hours the temperature of 100°C water varied between ~60
and 92.

Regards
--
Bernard Hill
Selkirk, Scotland

"Broadback" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I know "Thermos" is a make, however many people refer to flasks to keep
liquids hot a Thermos. Anyway, I have no experience of these containers, so
I would like to know how long will glass ones and stainless steel ones keep
drinks piping hot? I assume the larger capacity ones will keep hot longer
than smaller ones. I imagine glass are better, in this respect, than
stainless steel. Any help would be appreciated.

Glass ones are cr*p but mainly because they break. This is a walking ng and
there is surely no more depressing sound on a windswept hillside than the
sound of broken glass swilling round with your tea, which is also leaking
out into the rucksack.

The trick with stainless steel ones is to *actually* follow the
instructions. Boil the kettle. Fill the flask with the boiling water and
put the lid on. Refill and boil the kettle. Warm the pot well. Make the tea.
Empty the flask and pour in the tea (I add milk at this stage, but that's
just me) quickly. This stays hot for 8hours.

--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

In message <[email hidden]>

Bob Mannix said:

The trick with stainless steel ones is to *actually* follow the
instructions. Boil the kettle. Fill the flask with the boiling water and
put the lid on. Refill and boil the kettle. Warm the pot well. Make the tea.
Empty the flask and pour in the tea (I add milk at this stage, but that's
just me) quickly. This stays hot for 8hours.

And it tastes OK? I've managed to keep it hot before, but never
managed to get drinkable tea from a flask (the best I've managed is to
take separate teabags and milks).

--
Simon Challands

Simon Challands said:

And it tastes OK? I've managed to keep it hot before, but never
managed to get drinkable tea from a flask (the best I've managed is to
take separate teabags and milks).

Make it up like you usually like it and unless that particular formula
degrades over time there's no reason it should taste much different when
it emerges.

Taste will be preference though: for example, from the perspective of
/my/ taste, why ruin perfectly good tea with milk? It's almost as bad
as putting in sugar! ;-)

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Bob Mannix said:

The trick with stainless steel ones is to *actually* follow the
instructions. Boil the kettle. Fill the flask with the boiling water and
put the lid on.

I don't fill the flask. I find that just an inch of boiling water
does the job as long as I put the lid on and leave it to stand. When
winter backpacking I use my flask-warming water for washing myself; an
extra splash of cold water should be enough for a reasonable dhobi
(and no wasted gas). I like a bit of luxury. :-)

Quoted message said:

Refill and boil the kettle. Warm the pot well. Make the tea.

If day-walking, and starting from home or YH etc, I make the tea in a
jug then nuke it in the microwave for 10 or 20 seconds depending on
the size of the flask.

Quoted message said:

Empty the flask and pour in the tea (I add milk at this stage, but that's
just me) quickly. This stays hot for 8hours.

My 1 litre flask is piping hot when I get back to the car at the end
of a long walk. My 350ml flask rapidly loses heat if I drink some of
my tea during the walk, but is still good for a standard day eg 8
hours.

Judith

On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:54:17 +0100, Broadback <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

. I imagine glass are better, in this
respect, than stainless steel. Any help would be appreciated.

First came across stainless 15 years ago or so. Was on a major cave
rescue in Wales. We were trying to get hot soup to the injured who
was a very long way into the cave. All the glass flasks had broken
on arrival at the scene. Then stainless flasks were produced which
solved the problem.

Totally convinced I bought a stainless steel 'bargain' a while later
Was very unimpressed with it.

A year or so later as a result of a long discussion in a pub I tried
an experiment. Took my flask, plus a couple of other borrowed, but
different steel ones, and a glass one.

Warmed them all up with a several shots of boiling water, then filled
them and left them for a couple of hours. Opened them and measured
the temperature.

Can't remember the exact numbers but basically it was something like:

My stainless - 60 degrees
Stainless 2 - 70 degrees
Stainless 3 - 73 degrees
Glass - 88 degrees Nuff said !

As I say this was a while ago and things must have improved -
hopefully.

GrahamC

Graham C said:

On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:54:17 +0100, Broadback <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

. I imagine glass are better, in this
respect, than stainless steel. Any help would be appreciated.

First came across stainless 15 years ago or so. Was on a major cave
rescue in Wales. We were trying to get hot soup to the injured who
was a very long way into the cave. All the glass flasks had broken
on arrival at the scene. Then stainless flasks were produced which
solved the problem.

Totally convinced I bought a stainless steel 'bargain' a while later
Was very unimpressed with it.

A year or so later as a result of a long discussion in a pub I tried
an experiment. Took my flask, plus a couple of other borrowed, but
different steel ones, and a glass one.

Warmed them all up with a several shots of boiling water, then filled
them and left them for a couple of hours. Opened them and measured
the temperature.

Can't remember the exact numbers but basically it was something like:

My stainless - 60 degrees
Stainless 2 - 70 degrees
Stainless 3 - 73 degrees
Glass - 88 degrees Nuff said !

As I say this was a while ago and things must have improved -
hopefully.

GrahamC

I remember reading the review mentioned earlier.
Only problem was that I could never find the better performers in any
shops or online.
I usually take strong coffee or hot chocolate in mine and drink it
within 3/4 hours !
Robert

Broadback said:

I know "Thermos" is a make, however many people refer to flasks to keep
liquids hot a Thermos.

'Thermos' flasks? Only big girls' party frocks use 'Thermos' flasks in
the hills - they're bulky for the volume of liquid they contain and heavy!

Jim Ford

Jim Ford said:

'Thermos' flasks? Only big girls' party frocks use 'Thermos' flasks in
the hills - they're bulky for the volume of liquid they contain and heavy!

I guess that Norway must be a nation of big girls' party frocks, in that
case...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Jim Ford said:

'Thermos' flasks? Only big girls' party frocks use 'Thermos' flasks in
the hills - they're bulky for the volume of liquid they contain and heavy!

I guess that Norway must be a nation of big girls' party frocks, in that
case...

That's right - we proved that at the Battle of Stanford Bridge. 200
ships came over and the survivors went back in 20, less their king!
(I don't think they had Thermos flask with them, though!)

Jim Ford

In article <[email hidden]>, Graham C
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:54:17 +0100, Broadback <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

. I imagine glass are better, in this
respect, than stainless steel. Any help would be appreciated.

First came across stainless 15 years ago or so. Was on a major cave
rescue in Wales. We were trying to get hot soup to the injured who
was a very long way into the cave. All the glass flasks had broken
on arrival at the scene. Then stainless flasks were produced which
solved the problem.

Totally convinced I bought a stainless steel 'bargain' a while later
Was very unimpressed with it.

A year or so later as a result of a long discussion in a pub I tried
an experiment. Took my flask, plus a couple of other borrowed, but
different steel ones, and a glass one.

Warmed them all up with a several shots of boiling water, then filled
them and left them for a couple of hours. Opened them and measured
the temperature.

Can't remember the exact numbers but basically it was something like:

My stainless - 60 degrees
Stainless 2 - 70 degrees
Stainless 3 - 73 degrees
Glass - 88 degrees Nuff said !

As I say this was a while ago and things must have improved -
hopefully.

It's critically dependent on the design of the stopper. You only have to
feel your flask(s) when containing hot water: the only hot/warm place is
the cap. And the cooler the cap is, the less heat it loses.

There are some clever stopper designs out there but don't ask me the
details.

--
Bernard Hill
Selkirk, Scotland

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] writes

Quoted message said:

Graham C said:

On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:54:17 +0100, Broadback <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

. I imagine glass are better, in this
respect, than stainless steel. Any help would be appreciated.

First came across stainless 15 years ago or so. Was on a major cave
rescue in Wales. We were trying to get hot soup to the injured who
was a very long way into the cave. All the glass flasks had broken
on arrival at the scene. Then stainless flasks were produced which
solved the problem.

Totally convinced I bought a stainless steel 'bargain' a while later
Was very unimpressed with it.

A year or so later as a result of a long discussion in a pub I tried
an experiment. Took my flask, plus a couple of other borrowed, but
different steel ones, and a glass one.

Warmed them all up with a several shots of boiling water, then filled
them and left them for a couple of hours. Opened them and measured
the temperature.

Can't remember the exact numbers but basically it was something like:

My stainless - 60 degrees
Stainless 2 - 70 degrees
Stainless 3 - 73 degrees
Glass - 88 degrees Nuff said !

As I say this was a while ago and things must have improved -
hopefully.

GrahamC

I remember reading the review mentioned earlier.
Only problem was that I could never find the better performers in any
shops or online.
I usually take strong coffee or hot chocolate in mine and drink it
within 3/4 hours !
Robert

Exactly my experience. I remember that the top flask was in fact a 1
litre "Thermos" brand and cost about £30.

But I make do with a lesser animal because I drink powdered soup at the
first stop, (typically 2-3 hours) and chocolate at the next, maybe 1-2
hours later. That works OK for me.

--
Bernard Hill
Selkirk, Scotland

Jim Ford said:

Peter Clinch said:

Jim Ford said:

'Thermos' flasks? Only big girls' party frocks use 'Thermos' flasks in
the hills - they're bulky for the volume of liquid they contain and
heavy!

I guess that Norway must be a nation of big girls' party frocks, in that
case...

That's right - we proved that at the Battle of Stanford Bridge. 200
ships came over and the survivors went back in 20, less their king!
(I don't think they had Thermos flask with them, though!)

Jim Ford

Thanks all for your replies, useful and amusing. I have gone for the
stainless steel, not tried it yet, but I am sure it will keep my drink
hot enough for long enough, if not I guess I will have to throw it, buy
a Thermos and a nice dress!

Jim Ford said:

That's right - we proved that at the Battle of Stanford Bridge. 200
ships came over and the survivors went back in 20, less their king!
(I don't think they had Thermos flask with them, though!)

The last line is, of course, why it all went wrong for them. The
followup at Hastings had all the Norman troops sporting a nice tartan
flask with their sandwiches (and eye-on-a-stick for some), and look what
happened there... ;-)

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Jim Ford said:

That's right - we proved that at the Battle of Stanford Bridge. 200
ships came over and the survivors went back in 20, less their king!
(I don't think they had Thermos flask with them, though!)

The last line is, of course, why it all went wrong for them. The
followup at Hastings had all the Norman troops sporting a nice tartan
flask with their sandwiches (and eye-on-a-stick for some), and look what
happened there... ;-)

The Normans were _very_ lucky at Hastings! It always impresses me when I
imagine marching up to York, fighting a major battle, then marching back
down South again to Hastings to fight.

Jim Ford

"Jim Ford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch said:

Jim Ford said:

That's right - we proved that at the Battle of Stanford Bridge. 200
ships came over and the survivors went back in 20, less their king!
(I don't think they had Thermos flask with them, though!)

The last line is, of course, why it all went wrong for them. The
followup at Hastings had all the Norman troops sporting a nice tartan
flask with their sandwiches (and eye-on-a-stick for some), and look what
happened there... ;-)

The Normans were _very_ lucky at Hastings!

Not really - it all went pear shaped when the Saxons thought the Normans
were retreating, went down the hill after them and got cut to pieces by the
cavalry. If they'd kept the shield wall then it's highly probable that
William the [censored] (good name that!) would not have been victorious...

Gordon said:

"Jim Ford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch said:

Jim Ford wrote:

> That's right - we proved that at the Battle of Stanford Bridge. 200
> ships came over and the survivors went back in 20, less their king!
> (I don't think they had Thermos flask with them, though!)
The last line is, of course, why it all went wrong for them. The
followup at Hastings had all the Norman troops sporting a nice tartan
flask with their sandwiches (and eye-on-a-stick for some), and look what
happened there... ;-)

The Normans were _very_ lucky at Hastings!

Not really - it all went pear shaped when the Saxons thought the Normans
were retreating, went down the hill after them and got cut to pieces by the
cavalry. If they'd kept the shield wall then it's highly probable that
William the [censored] (good name that!) would not have been victorious...

Back to the serious bit. My wife bought me a Primus stainless steel
flask from Blacks. Very disappointed. It come with 2 tops, one has a
patent pour gizmo, leeks the heat though. The standard tops but when
screwed in and the flask turned upside down it leeks! Unfortunately she
bought it at Blacks in Manchester and we will not be going back there
for a while to return it. Ha anyone else experience of this make, do
they find it ok, have I just got a faulty one? any recommendations of a
particular make please?

Broadback said:

Back to the serious bit. My wife bought me a Primus stainless steel
flask from Blacks. Very disappointed. It come with 2 tops, one has a
patent pour gizmo, leeks the heat though. The standard tops but when
screwed in and the flask turned upside down it leeks!

Sounds [censored] to me... if you can't get it back to the shop you bought it
in I'd speak to their UK importer, who according to the lists on
www.primus.se is http://www.rosker.co.uk/

Quoted message said:

bought it at Blacks in Manchester and we will not be going back there
for a while to return it. Ha anyone else experience of this make, do
they find it ok, have I just got a faulty one? any recommendations of a
particular make please?

I've never used their flasks, but I've been using their stoves since I
was in the Scouts about 30 years ago, and they have a good reputation so
I would think it's entirely possible you just had a lemon: /everyone/
makes them from time to time.

My flask collection is headed up by a Coleman one: original started
losing heat badly after a couple of years, but though it was out of
warranty they replaced it anyway. That replacement has been fine for
years now. We've got a few others between us, and I think they're
fairly generic "made in China" stuff, but seem to work fine. You can
get them in Tescos etc. now.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/