EDIT - Owner Review: REI Double Shot Mug (BSADad)
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REI Double Shot Press Mug Owner Review June 11, 2016 Personal information: Brian Rell 47 Male 5'9" (175 cm) 170 lb (77 kg) brianrunrell(at)yahoo(dot)come Vestavia Hills, Alabama Backpacking background: A former Ironman distance triathlete turned solo section hiker and trail runner - who also is often recruited to be a Boy Scout Leader (ASM) on weekend trips. Not necessarily an ultra-light backpacker but mindful of each pound/kilogram carried. Former ground dweller but now true hammock sleeper. Goal for each trip is to cook something in the backcountry each night that is surprisingly tasty yet light weight each trip. Product information: REI 2011 https://www.rei.com https://www.rei.com/ Listed volume: 12 fl oz (0.35 L) stainless steel mug Actual volume: 15 fl oz (0.44 L) Listed weight: 16 oz (0.45 kg) Actual weight: 14.4 oz (0.40 kg) MSRP: (US) $29.50 Product Description: REI has left this stainless steel mug unchanged over the years for the basic reason that it works. It is a 16 fl oz (0.45 kg) stainless steel mug with the REI logo emblazoned across the side. The mug has a tightly fitted lid, which contains a second screen, that houses a coffee press plunger. The coffee press plunger passes through the mug's lid with the screen housed inside. It works by putting the coffee in the mug and then pouring in the desired amount of hot water. The lid with the plunger attached is then fitted onto the mug and the coffee steeps for a minute or so. When ready the plunger is slowly pressed down to keep the grounds at the bottom and coffee on top. The handle is sturdy and has holes available to carabiner it to my pack. As the scratches on the outside indicate this mug has hung off the back of my pack for many years and has withstood countless bag drops against trees, rocks and other hard surfaces. The mug also has a "hidden" compartment in the bottom that can store the fixings for a second cup of coffee. The lids, which also has a screen strainer, stays put when clipped on the back of the pack. The plunger has yet to warp or otherwise lose its ability to keep grinds from floating free in to what is often a much needed cup of coffee in the morning. Field Test: Some of my favorite times in the backcountry are when I am sitting around the morning campfire with this mug full of piping hot coffee while everyone else is still in their tents and hammocks. My one complaint would be that the double walled stainless steel mug itself hold warmth a bit longer. I have never had to worry about my coffee getting cold while drinking it but if I have to put it down to perform another task for a while then it loses more heat than it should. I have used this product countless times in the backcountry of the Pinhoti Trail in north Alabama and along the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and North Carolina. Without fail this mug has provided a great cup of coffee every time. For winter nights I use it for powdered hot apple cider and/or hot tea. While I usually multi-purpose most things in my pack I have yet to use this mug for food as I do not want to risk Thai noodle spices affecting the ultimate luxury in the backcountry: the morning cup of coffee. Conclusion: It is a bit pricey at near $30 and somewhat heavy but it simply works beautifully while holding up to repeated use. The bottom line is that the REI Double Shot Press Mug is worth the weight on in my pack.