Tested: The Best Hot Food Thermoses for Camping

Most folks, especially those deeply ingrained in the world of outdoor adventure and/or physical fitness, are familiar with vacuum-insulated water bottles. And while that marks a quick fix for hydration on the go, that’s only half of the sustenance equation. For longer jaunts on the trails and camping trips, food is absolutely a necessity.

If you’re headed out to your favorite campsite, you can always turn to MREs and emergency rations, but they’re not exactly appetizing. Of course, you could also cook over the fire or bring food from home, but then you might run into issues with storage. But there’s actually a handy solution for that. You see, a number of brands that make those handy vacuum-insulated water bottles have also put that technology into other storage containers specifically designed to carry food and keep the temperature consistent for hours on end. In order to figure out which of these thermoses you should get for yourself, we tested our favorites and have rounded up the best of the best.

How We Tested

With so many hot food thermoses to choose from, it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you and your situation. To make matters easier, we tested the best and most popular options available. First, we created a shortlist based on our own experience with these jars, as well as other criteria such as brand reputation, aesthetic, heat retention, materials, and lid design.

From there, we sourced units for testing and used each one how they were designed to be used. Our tester put hot soup inside, ate from them, shook and dropped them to check for leaking, and also performed a separate test to see how long the food would stay hot for, with temperature reduction results given for each one after a 12-hour period. All of our results are detailed below.

Temperature Safety Zone

Before taking a bite out of the soup you made hours ago before leaving the house, you should know about the temperature safety zone. Essentially, the guideline states that in normal conditions, cooked food should remain above 140ºF for as long as possible. After it comes below that threshold, the food is much more likely to grow bacteria and can be unedible as quickly as 2 hours later. This can be pushed to 4 hours if needed, especially if other conditions (such as lack of oxygen and external moisture) are optimal.

What to Look For in a Thermos

Size: The size of your food thermos will depend on what you’re using it for. If you’re looking to pack a small serving for lunch at work then you won’t likely need anything too big. However, if you’re heading out for a day’s journey and are looking to return to a helping of soup or tea or coffee every once in a while, you’ll want a larger container.

Heat Retention: Heat retention is key to any thermos. However, when it comes to heat, insulated containers can only keep the temperatures at a fraction of the time that it can keep cold for. But note, the more air is inside of your container, the shorter time it stays hot for.

Lid: Make sure you know if the lid of your thermos is leakproof before stuffing it away in your backpack for the day.

Material: Not that it really differs, but you’ll almost always want food-grade stainless steel construction when it comes to keeping foods hot. Not only will you not have to worry about any leeching materials but it will significantly increase heat retention. You’ll also want to make sure that it’s thick enough and insulated enough so that you can hold the container from the outside without burning your hand.

*NOTE: Heat retention times are estimates and will be more accurate if the container is full.

Simple Modern Provision Food Jar 16oz

Best Budget Thermos: If you’re in a situation where you’re trying to save some money and see hot food jars as serving a utilitarian purpose, then Simple Modern should be your go-to. However, you won’t be sacrificing much of anything in the way of visual appeal or performance, with the brand offering an impressive range of products in various sizes and colors, with fun themes for those who want some character to their food and drink transport. Made with double-wall 18/8 stainless steel, their Provision Food Jar comes in two sizes, both of which are well under the $20 price point. These are fantastic options for larger families, especially if you have kids and need to buy more than one or two. Also, they come with a limited lifetime warranty.

My family and I have been using Simple Modern jars and water bottles for quite some time now and swear by them. Aside from being highly affordable, they’re just great products. For the Provision Food Jar, we opted to test the 16oz version (there’s also a 12oz version), which is a great size to fit anything from chili to pasta to even half of a small cheeseburger. While most “cheap” container options will forego any sort of design language, the Simple Modern still gives this thermos a unique look, with some utilitarian function thrown in. I love the look that the handle on top of the lid provides, but also, the handle itself is easy to grab when this jar is down deep in your backpack or tote. Likewise, it gives you nice leverage when opening up the jar.

When it came to heat retention, the Simple Modern Provision Food Jar performed right in the middle, with only 44.1ºF temperature loss over the course of 12 hours. For $18, it’s hard to complain about much, but I will say the clang of these jars is quite startling, especially in a quiet room like a library or classroom where people are trying to focus. The twist top gives you options for tightness, but still won’t leak even if you don’t clamp it shut with a vice. It’s easy to open and close, even for younger users. I also love how it can be washed in a dishwasher (top rack), which is great since you may have several of these due to their low price. Although, the brand says they will last longer being hand-washed.

Verdict: The best option for saving money, this Provision Food Jar from Simple Modern is leak-proof, dishwasher-safe, and features a unique look, even for a budget-friendly thermos. Available in several colors and patterns, these are fantastic for families with kids but are also great for any type of consumer who loves being frugal the smart way.

Thermos Stainless Icon 24-Ounce Food Jar

Best Overall: Like Kleenex, Thermos is so synonymous with insulated food and beverage storage that its name is often used interchangeably. Of course, they’ve also earned a reputation for being one of the best in the game, so that association isn’t simply due to chance. That can be seen in abundance via their Stainless Icon Food Jar you see here. It’s built from stainless steel, can keep up to 24oz of food hot for up to fourteen hours or cold for 24, comes with its own collapsible and packable folding serving spoon, and the lid doubles as a bowl for easy eating anywhere.

For our testing, we opted for the “saddle” colorway, which has a really attractive, old-school, almost rusty appearance. However, there are plenty of other color options available as well. In terms of heat retention, the Thermos Icon performed the best over a 12-hour period, and it wasn’t even really close. After the allotted testing time, the food inside only dropped 24.1ºF (the 2nd-best jar still dropped nearly 39º). And depending on your starting temperature, the food might still be above the 140º recommended for food safety. The reason for these impressive numbers is probably a combination of overall construction and the depth of the lid itself, which plugs the open mouth about 2″ deep. Another nice touch to the construction is the grippy base, which didn’t stick to surfaces so much that caused the thermos to topple over but still prevented loud drops.

Aside from heat retention, the ergonomics of the lid were nice as well. The slanted ridges on the side help with opening and closing, especially if the cap is on tightly. It also lets you tighten the lid as far as you want, relatively. However, I didn’t love how much resistance I got past a certain point; it felt like I had closed it all the way even though I hadn’t. The included cup over the lid is sizeable and has openings between threads for drinking. Other cups like this force you to drink over the threads. Also, I like the built-in spoon, which has a nice quality. However, whenever I had to push a bit into my food, the top part of the spoon kept closing. This only happened when I ate using my right hand and wasn’t as much of a problem when I switched to my left hand. While the Icon doesn’t have the same grooved grip on the exterior housing as the King model, there’s still a decent amount of grip on the side that it won’t slip out of your hand too easily.

Verdict: With the best heat retention of the products we tested, Thermos’ Stainless Icon is a large food jar that looks really great. Featuring an ergonomic lid with an included cup, the vessel sports a thoughtful design, even though we had some troubles with the spoon itself. However, if you’re looking for the originators of these camp-ready food jars, Thermos should be the first name out of your mouth.

Stanley Adventure Vacuum Food Jar

Best for Camping: Thermos probably has the most recognizable name in food and beverage storage, but the Stanley brand is quite literally legendary in the outdoor world — so it should come as no surprise to find them on our list. Their Adventure Vacuum Food Jar can store up to 18 ounces of food inside it and keep it warm for up to a whopping 12 hours. It’s also built from sturdy stainless steel, is completely leakproof, comes with an integrated spork, and the lid doubles as a bowl. Undoubtedly, this is one of the all-time best vacuum-insulated food containers and is completely leakproof. However, it’s not dishwasher safe, so keep that in mind.

Stanley’s bottles and jars are incredibly rugged and this Adventure Food Jar was no different. Never denting upon dropping, the sturdy container is tough without adding much extra weight. The mouth on this thermos is very wide, which is excellent for eating out of. Although it holds 18oz, it orients its weight outward instead of upward. The included cup on top comes on and off easily, although I didn’t love the feeling of sipping from it, with a weird lip that made me too conscious of spilling potential. However, there’s a really cool compartment on top of the inner lid that’s great for keeping dry items such as ketchup packets, bread, or croutons, among other things. I also like the minimal look of this all-stainless container, although I did notice it was a bit slippery in my hand with a lack of grip. On the other hand, the temperature retention was pretty solid, only losing 41.4ºF in a 12-hour period, which was in the upper-half of the products we tested.

My biggest gripe here was the difficulty in opening the lid. It was the only cap of the ones I tested that gave me trouble. There’s not a whole lot of grip and the resistance was unusually high. Not to mention, closing the container also proved to be frustrating and I wasn’t sure if I had the threads on properly. Another issue I had was the equipped spork, which was WAY too difficult to remove and also got in the way of the already-finicky lid. Unlike other built-in utensils, this one is situated on the outside of the container, thus exposing it to the elements like dirt and bacteria. It’s also plastic instead of metal, which could be a problem for some. On the other hand, I did like the included D-ring on the opposite side, which is nice for hooking onto your backpack.

Verdict: Great for camping due to its equipped keyring, hidden dry compartment, and built-in cup and spoon, the Stanley Adventure Vacuum Food Jar had really solid heat retention but could still be improved in some areas. For one, the spoon is situated on the outside and the lid was the most difficult to open and close. However, Stanley’s reputation for toughness holds up here yet again.

Zojirushi Steel Food Jar

Best for Soup: One of the classic uses for a hot food thermos is transporting soups and chilis. However, not all thermoses excel in this regard, in terms of both function and temperature retention. Not requiring as much space for transportation, watery soups may not hold their heat as long as denser chilis or chowders, and some thermoses are simply not as spill-proof as others. Zojirushi has a great option with its Steel Food Jar, which holds 11.8oz of contents inside of its rust-proof stainless steel housing with a wide base for extra stability.

Lightweight and still durable, the Zojirushi Steel food jar may not feature double-walled construction but you’d never guess otherwise. Helping it to shed some weight in the process, the steel of this nearly 12-ounce container kept its food warm really well, with only a 46.3-degree temperature drop after 12 hours. Easy to pick up one-handed despite the slick steel exterior, the thermos admittedly has some plastic components, such as the wide base and the lid’s grip, but these don’t ever come in contact with the hot food. Although it’s not even 6″ tall, the wider base prevents it from toppling over, even though this thing is leakproof either way. Nothing came out during our drop test. I also liked the molded plastic lid, which features some thumb grooves to make this easy to open and close.

On the other hand, the Zojirushi Steel Food Jar isn’t terribly big so it may not be the most favorable option for everyone, especially at this higher price point. It doesn’t come with a spoon, which won’t be a deal-breaker (I’m not sure who’s buying these strictly for the spoons). However, it’s also fairly difficult to drink out of when the contents lessen. The lip on the inside was preventing smaller amounts from coming out slowly towards the end of my meal. I did love the built-in compartment within the lid, which some of these thermoses have. However, unlike the Stanley thermos above, which features a snap-on top (and has a second cap to cover it), the compartment on the Zojirushi is a flimsy twist-on that could potentially come undone on its own.

Verdict: Perfect for hot, liquidy foods, the Zojirushi Steel Food Jar is lightweight and easy to handle. The wide base is perfect for preventing spills, even though it’s leakproof anyway. Featuring some solid temperature retention, the vessel could have used some improvements in the construction of the hidden compartment up top, but it’s still better than no compartment at all.

YETI Rambler Lowball

Best Small Thermos: Technically, YETI’s Rambler Lowball container was actually intended for campground beverages. But its wide-mouth design and dishwasher-safe double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel construction also makes it an exceptional food container. Granted, 10 ounces is not a ton of space and it doesn’t have a leakproof lid, but it will still keep whatever you have in it warm (or cold) for hours and it’s available in a multitude of colors. Just make sure you’re extra careful not to let this one tip over while it has food inside of it. Plus, once you’re done eating, all you need to do is give it a quick wash and you can fill it with coffee in the morning or whiskey at night. And it’s cupholder-compatible for long car rides or car camping.

YETI is a big player in drinkware, especially for the outdoors, and this Rambler is no different. The sipping lid makes it good for soup, although many won’t love how easily it leaks when toppled over. On the other hand, you’re probably getting this thermos knowing the hazards. I love the clear top, which lets you see how much food or soup you have left inside, and the versatility of this thermos is great when camping; it can easily double as a coffee mug. Most people love the sensation of opening and closing the sliding sipper cover, but there’s also a definitive firmness when operating it that lets you know if it’s opened or closed. I’ve used other sliding covers like this where it’s more ambiguous and flimsy. On the other hand, you won’t be able to put this in your backpack because of the nature of the lid itself.

It’s important to note that the Rambler Lowball had the worst heat retention of the jars we tested, at a 65.4-degree loss, but this was very much expected and honestly not as bad as it could have been considering the plastic top and the fact that this was the only jar with actual openings in the lid. Likewise, there was a lot of leaking when turned upside down or toppling over. However, this was surprisingly minimal if you’re just walking furiously. You can also remove the lid altogether if you want an even quicker cool-down. On that note, it’s important to mention that the lid is fairly difficult to remove, and will likely lead to spilling when forcing it open, since you’ll have to tilt the mug at an angle to peel it off. Other Rambler options have handles on the outside, which might be preferred for some buyers.

Verdict: Featuring the quality and ruggedness you’d expect with anything from YETI, the Rambler Lowball is a small yet useful thermos that can easily be converted into a mug with the sipping lid. The thermos is prone to leaking and spilling, however, the lid has a lot of benefits as well, such as its ability to let you see inside and its versatility. Great for camping and the outdoors, this 10-ounce container may not serve the same purpose as the others we tested but is unique and very well-built.

Energify Vacuum Insulated Food Jar

Best for Commuting: Energify’s Vacuum Insulated Food Jar has a lot of the same features you’ve seen repeated on this list: a stainless steel construction, double-wall insulation, a leakproof cap, an included folding spoon, and a lid that doubles as a bowl. But it also has a couple of handy features you might not find elsewhere. That includes a flexible handle for easier carrying and, perhaps most importantly, a lifetime guarantee. Boasting a lifetime warranty for good measure, it’s also available in 12, 17. or 24 ounces and a number of different colorways. For this guide, we got hands-on with the 24oz version.

A major highlight of the Energify container is the innovative silicone strap system built into the lid. First of all, the silicone itself is very sturdy, plus it’s designed to firmly hold extra utensils or napkins underneath, clamping them down so that they won’t go anywhere. On the outside, the silicone makes a loop that can be used for carrying with your fingers or via a carabiner. Colored orange, this extra detail also just adds to the overall unique design language of the thermos, going along with the bicolored housing (we tested the gray and silver unit). Unlike the spoon that comes with the Thermos model above, the spoon in the Energify is better for right-handers and doesn’t close as easily when eating. Underneath the spoon compartment is another fun detail: There’s a yellow button that can be pressed to let air out. This is great for cooling off your food or simply releasing pressure that can build up with any hot food. In terms of heat retention, the Energify had the second-smallest temperature drop at just 38.9ºF in 12 hours.

The one aspect of the Energify Food Jar that could be improved is the exterior grip. The thermos is rather fat and the stainless steel housing is pretty slick. There’s also no real grip on the massive outer plastic lid/cup, which could have made it difficult to open, but fortunately, it doesn’t tighten too hard. As for the practical cap underneath, it features one of the best grips for opening and closing, no matter how tight you have it. However, the deep-set lid could have better agreeability; I found it tricky to get the threads to cooperate on a consistent basis.

Verdict: If you’re looking for something unique but also practical, the Energify Food Jar is your best bet, with an innovative strap system for carrying and storing extra items. Other thoughtful details are the built-in spoon and a button that can release pressure from or ventilate your food. We could’ve used some more external grip but this commuter-friendly thermos with a large built-in cup is an affordable and attractive option nonetheless.

Hydro Flask Food Jar

Best High-End: Hydro Flask has made a name for itself as one of the most reliable and stylish insulated water bottle brands available on the market. As it turns out, they have also taken their expertise and pared it into a handy TempShield double-wall vacuum-insulated food jar perfect for camping. Available in a 20-ounce capacity and a trio of beautiful colorways, it’s built from food-safe BPA-free 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel and it’s powder-coated so you don’t have to worry about it slipping out of your hands.

If you want a wide-mouthed food jar that best resembles a bowl, this Hydro Flask unit is the one to beat. It may not come with a spoon, but that certainly isn’t a deal breaker. Despite the 20-ounce capacity, the dimensions of this vessel are perfect; it’s not too tall nor is it too wide. Since it’s leak-proof, you can throw this into your backpack worry-free, and without it taking up much room. Sporting a minimalist aesthetic, the jar comes in a variety of colorways and finds its details subtly. For instance, the lid doesn’t have any built-in grooves for grip, but instead, it’s rubberized to help you open and close it with ease. Even with hot food inside, the pressure never got too strong that this was difficult to open, no matter how tight the lid was. Likewise, the slight concavity of the cap is conducive to stacking other jars on top of this one.

With a 52.9-degree loss in 12 hours, the Hydro Flask had the second-worst heat retention of the units we tested. Aside from the ability to spoon out your food easier, the wide mouth of the jar isn’t necessarily great for drinking (unless you, yourself, have a wide mouth). Another thing that I noticed was the louder-than-average noise this jar made when clanging against certain surfaces, similar to the Simple Modern food jar above. If I’m nitpicking, I didn’t love the sharp ridge under the bottom edge of the lid, which scratched me a couple of times (no broken skin) but could mess with some of the items you have in your bag if they’re on the more supple side. Also, some have complained about the absence of a built-in bowl with this thermos, especially considering the slightly higher price tag.

Verdict: For a 20-ounce food jar with no external spoon or lid, $40 may seem like a high price, but rest assured that Hydro Flask’s supreme quality control is front and center on this food jar. With meticulous details such as a grippy lid and a wide mouth that’s great for eating, the unit also sports desirable dimensions that balance height and width. Also, it’s leak-proof, making it a solid thermos for tossing into your backpack or tote bag.

Hot Food Thermos Comparison Chart

Honorable Mentions

Average in price, the Bentgo Stainless Insulated Food Container is another bowl-style thermos, but with the ability to hold up to 19oz of soup or food. Despite its triple-layered insulation, the temperature retention isn’t as great as some others.

Black+Blum’s Food Flask is a design-forward yet rugged steel thermos made for the outdoors. However, despite decent temperature retention, it may be a bit more form than function.

We like the minimalist design of this MiiR Food Canister Jar, but the performance was lackluster and the liquid annoying got between the interior compartments when tilted.

Triple-insulated for maximum heat retention, this S’well Eats insulated travel bowl is a popular choice. It also comes with an interior bowl that’s microwave-safe. However for $50, its lack of durability, which impacts the integrity of the vacuum seal, is an issue.

Despite phenomenal products using the latest production techniques and innovations, Stanley is always faithful to its heritage. This rad vintage-style food jar, as part of its Classic Series, features a side handle and a lid that doubles as a cup, and looks like something your dad would have camped with as a kid.

Tested: The Best Insulated Water Bottles

Food is crucial for every camping trip, but so is fresh water to drink. Take a look at our recent guide where we tested the best water bottles around.