The 10 Best Hip Flasks for Drinking on the Go

Quick Comparison: 10 Top Hip Flasks

What to Know When Choosing the Best Hip Flask

There are a large number of things you should be aware of when picking the right hip flask for yourself or as a gift. Everything from the material used to make the flask to the shape of the flask and its capacity will factor into whether it meets your specific needs. We’ll go into more in-depth information below about all these things (and others), so you get the flask that works best for you.

The Differences Between Traditional Flasks and Hip Flasks

Not sure what makes a hip flask so different from a traditional flask? There are really only two things that make them unique products on the market. Hip flasks are typically smaller than regular flasks so they can be slipped into pockets or other small spaces. These flasks also often come in a different shape, something similar to a kidney bean, which makes them stand out from typical flasks.

The reason for this unique shape is that these containers are designed to conform to the leg or thigh without causing discomfort, which also explains their name. They also differ from a traditional flask because the lid is typically connected to the flask, so there’s no chance of losing it. All in all, the hip flask is meant to be subtle and capable of being concealed.

On the other hand, a regular flask is more substantial and can be sipped from the top or through small cups that come with the flask in some cases. However, the bulkier shape makes this a harder item to conceal. Some people use hip flasks to avoid paying high prices for drinks at clubs, concerts, and sports games.

What Capacity of Flask You Should Choose

While some sizes of flasks are more common than others, you can find hip flasks with many different capacities. All of the flasks on our list hold eight ounces, which is the most common size for this kind of container. However, those who feel they want a smaller or a larger flask can also find those on the market.

Keep in mind that hip flasks do tend to be smaller in size, though, so getting one with a massive capacity may not be easy. Since the idea is to offer discrete drinking, a larger flask would be much harder to conceal. Those who want a large flask to cover themselves and all their friends might be better off with a traditional flask or a larger container.

Choosing the right size is all a matter of personal preference. If you only want a few sips, you could look at the smaller hip flasks that are more comfortable to carry. Those who want more should go with the traditional eight-ounce option in most cases.

Selecting the Best Materials for a Hip Flask

Hip flasks come in a wide variety of materials, including stainless steel, plastic, glass, pewter, leather, and more. Stainless steel hip flasks are by far the most popular option on the market and make up every spot in our top 10 list for this review. There are many reasons for this, and we’ll list some of the most important below:

• Features a rust-and-corrosion-resistant body that doesn’t scratch and stays shiny for years
• Stainless steel flasks are durable, easy to clean, and entirely safe for use
• Falls, rough handling, and other abuse won’t lead to damage
• Available in many sizes, shapes, and colors with gold, copper, or silver plating for aesthetics
• Tends to be less expensive than other materials commonly used to make hip flasks

The second most popular material for the hip flask is pewter. While it has many great benefits, it also tends to be extremely expensive, so fewer people opt for these flasks. However, this can be a good choice for a gift or a collector’s item for those who are really into drinking or a specific kind of alcoholic beverage. This material isn’t as strong as stainless steel, but it does offer a higher-quality finish.

Hip Flask Shape Choices and Their Differences

When it comes to the shape of hip flasks, we mentioned that many have a kidney bean design. However, there are also round and straight hip flasks to consider. There are pros and cons to choosing any of these options, so we’ll be looking at each of them in a bit more depth below.

Kidney Bean Shaped Flasks

These flasks are the most common and they have a shape much like a kidney bean, which is precisely where they get their name. However, you can find them with an exceedingly small curve to them, a huge curve to them, and all degrees in between the two. The curved shape will not affect how much liquor of other liquids the bottle can hold, only the way it fits against your body and how it looks.

Straight Shaped Hip Flasks

The second most common flask you’ll run into is the straight or rectangular shaped one. However, finding one that is completely straight from top to bottom can be more challenging than you would think. There is often a bit of a curve with this flask, but it will be much less than you would associate with a kidney-shaped flask.

What makes this flask popular for many is the fact that the shape is ideal for placing it into a pocket, which doesn’t work so well with the kidney bean shape flask.

Round Shaped Hip Flasks

The least popular of the three traditional shapes for hip flasks is the round flask, the reason being that these flasks usually can’t hold as much alcohol as others.

How to Clean and Maintain Your Hip Flask

Thankfully, the process of cleaning and maintaining a hip flask isn’t overly involved and can easily be done. However, avoiding the cleaning process can cause your flask to degrade more quickly, so being aware of proper care and maintenance is essential. We’ll walk you through the process and share some tips below so you can make sure your flask stays in good shape for years.

The easiest way to ensure your flask stays clean is to limit the time it has alcohol in it. If you’ve had liquor in it for three days, it’s time to give a good deep cleaning to remove any metallic taste from the hip flask. If you have a glass flask, this problem won’t be present, but glass flasks have their own issues, such as being hard to find and easy to break.

Cleaning the Flask Using Only Water

If don’t have any other cleaning products, water can be used to clean out the flask, as long as you follow the steps recommended here. While it might seem that using dishwashing soap would be a good choice, it isn’t in most cases, since it can leave unwanted residue inside of the container. Instead, all you want to do to start is boil up a cup or so of water and then pour that water into the top of the flask.

After you have the flask wholly filled with hot water, put the cap back onto it and give it a good shake for at least 30 seconds. Then all that’s left to do is emptying the flask, turning it upside down, and allowing it to dry. Simple and straightforward, this is an excellent option for situations where a quick clean is better than nothing.

Using White Vinegar as a Cleanser

White vinegar is an excellent cleanser for all sorts of things, and that includes your new hip flask. This is just as easy as using water and you don’t even have to boil anything to get things squeaky clean. Instead, put a tiny bit of vinegar into the flask, shake for 30 seconds, and empty out the vinegar again.

You’ll want to use water to rinse out your flask after you are done. Then let it dry in an upside-down position like the former cleaning option. Always make sure there is no moisture left inside before you put the cap back on.

If you do not have white vinegar, don’t try to use another sort of vinegar. Some of these will leave a flavor behind that will not mix well with your scotch or whiskey.

Lemon Juice Can Also Clean a Hip Flask

Those who have no white vinegar and prefer to use something more than just water can use lemon juice, which is extremely acidic and capable of serious cleaning. Either dilute it with some water or use it full strength, depending on your preference. As with the previous cleaning option, you want to shake it up, rinse it out, and then leave it in the proper position to dry.

Of course, you should always pay attention to any cleaning and maintenance instructions that come with your flask. What works for the average flask might not be right for the one you buy. However, most flasks can easily be cleaned using water, lemon juice, or white vinegar.

Additional Tips for Maintenance and Cleaning

Now that you have the three best ways to clean your flask now, let’s have a look at a few additional tips that can make maintaining your hip flask a breeze:

• Clean the Flask Before the First Use – You never know where a flask was before it got to you and how long it was sitting there, so an initial cleaning is never a bad idea. This can be as simple as filling it with warm water, shaking it up, and dumping the water out. Repeat a handful of times if you want to be extra cautious.
• Never Use the Dishwasher for Cleaning – There are so many simple ways to clean a flask that you should never need to place it in a dishwasher. Dishwashers are a considerable risk for flasks, especially if they are made of stainless steel. The detergent used in them can ruin the finish on your flask, meaning you’ll need to buy a new one.
• Use it for the Intended Purpose – What we mean by this is that flasks are made to hold hard liquors and not made to hold things like cocktails or carbonated beverages with tons of sugar. Whiskey, rye, gin, vodka, bourbon, and scotch are all appropriate for the flask, but other drinks are not. It can cause issues if you mix cocktails in a flask, so use a glass instead.

Conclusion