It’s been said that what separates us from other apes are our opposable thumbs–but we know the real answer: The ability to keep hot things hot and cold things cold.

You want to see a complete breakdown of society? Give us warm beer and cold coffee. Mad Duo

The YETI Rambler

Apocalypse Josh

I recently received a care package from JTF Awesome member Propper, which included some fine pieces I’ll be covering over the next little while. One of the first in the new batch of things is something near and dear to my heart. I’m a big tea-drinker, all kinds, but strong dark and sweet is my preference. This taste for tea comes from traveling so much.

It can be hard to find good coffee, but pretty much everywhere you go in the world there is good tea to be found. And better than hot, dark and sweet tea, is HOT tea. Lukewarm drinks are a hardship that we can do without. Let’s not even get started on lukewarm COLD drinks. There are few things as satisfying as a frosty bubbling beverage after a hard day’s toil, but no one wants the cold wet perspiration you get on the outside of regular cans and bottles. The clever folks at Yeti took on that age old problem: cold drinks getting warm, and hot drinks going cold to heart.

This is the Yeti Rambler in its 20oz size. Because when you are baking out in the sandbox, all shiny and chrome, or chilling with your friends on the icepack, you want to keep your beverage at optimal enjoyment temperatures for as long as possible.

Double walled vacuum sealed Dewar vessels have been around since 1892, around the same time as the venerable Winchester lever action, so Yeti has 110 years of refinement to draw upon for this product. The Rambler tumblers are over-engineered with kitchen-grade 18/8 stainless steel (18/8 for its composition of 18% chromium and 8% nickel.) and double-wall vacuum insulated. There’s a thin seam at the outside bottom and a lip inside the tumbler to fit the lid to, but otherwise the Rambler is a smooth and easy cleaning cup with no give to the walls. It’s a really solid design.

The lid that keeps your drink in its place is easy to clean, dishwasher safe, shatterproof and crystal clear so you know exactly how much of your drink is left. The silicone rubber gasket keeps it fit snugly into the cup, and I’ve had no spill problems with the seal. The drink hole is a decent size, and there is also a breather hole. The clear lid does fog up with steam from a hot drink, and some might not like that, but it’s a good indicator that the drink is still hot. There is no seal for the drink hole, so some sloshing may occur. The Rambler fits nicely in the cup-holders I’ve used it in, but the same problem of over-flow from the always-open lip occurs.

I made myself a tea as I sat down to watch Fury (best job I ever had) and as the credits rolled, 135 minutes later, my tea was still hot. In fact, I’ve burnt myself a few times having made myself tea and left it in the Yeti, because it is insulated so well.

So overall, a great design, with a couple of provisos. Watch out for sloshes and remember hot drinks are hot!

Mad Duo, Breach-Bang& CLEAR!

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About the Author: Josh Orth is a second generation expat currently dwelling in the arguably civilized outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. He’s lived in deserts, jungles and urban sprawls around the world and traveled/adventured into assorted inhospitable places around the world and has a keen sense of the speed with which the trappings of ‘civilized Western life’ can disappear. This has led him to begin writing about his interests and observations when it comes to the gear, skills and other necessities of self reliance of being equipped for whatever a capricious, occasionally indurate life might throw at him. This isn’t by any means to say our eccentric friend truly experiences genuine vorfreude about dystopian life, but if he had to he might not complain. Read more by Josh at Apocalypse Equipped.

Grunts: vorfreude.

We’re not saying Josh flies a PL-12 Airtruk. We’re just saying this guy and Josh have never been seen in the same room together at the same time.