You may have noticed that this isn’t the first time I’ve reviewed gear that’s essentially for getting pissed.
What can I say? Maybe it’s my Irish heritage, but I like a good drinking sesh. Of course, there are bad times and places to get on it, but sitting around a campfire on a hiking or camping trip is unequivocally the best time and place.

Beer is my drink of choice, but over the years my family and my best mates have slowly but surely introduced me to the joys of a nice single malt. That’s where a quality hip flask comes in handy for me when I’m sleeping in the wilderness.

What’s better than drinking with your mates around a campfire? Sharing a nice Scotch (or better yet, Irish) with them.

Stanley’s Adventure Hip Flask & Shot Set includes the flask, as well as four shot glasses and a container to carry them in, so it’s the perfect addition to an overnight or multi-day hike with good mates. It also makes an excellent gift pack for your outdoorsy loved one.

Design & Durability (Rating: 90%)

The Stanley Adventure Flask holds 236 ml / 8 oz, so it’s probably just the right amount for a night or two in the bush with friends. If you think it isn’t enough, buy your friends one so you can all carry your fair share.

The flask’s dimensions are 25.1cm (L) x 7.1cm (W) x 18cm (H). Not great if you’re looking to conceal your alcohol (ie. if you’re sneaking it into some kind of event), but that’s really not what it’s designed for. It’s still relatively small and weighs in at about 220g empty, so if you’re a dedicated drinker it shouldn’t put you off too much.

Stanley has labelled the mouth on this flask as a “wide mouth” but I have to say I’ve seen wider. It’s probably the perfect size for taking a swig from, even while walking if that’s your thing, but it’s actually a bit small for filling (you don’t want to be wasting precious liquor), and especially for cleaning. I’d never advise putting anything sticky in the flask because you’d never be sure you’ve removed the residue. For spirits, you should be okay as long as you rinse it out well. A funnel may have been a good addition to the pack to assist with filling it up.

It comes with a screw-top lid that so far seems totally leakproof, which is essential really, so that’s good. The lid is attached to the flask so you can never lose it. Brilliant idea.

The included shot glasses are 59 ml, so a half fill is roughly equal to an Australian standard 30 ml shot size. Perfect. For the weight conscious, you’re looking at about an extra 230 g to bring them along in their container.

Both the flask and shot glass container are made from 18/8 stainless steel, so they’re tough as nails, rust proof, and won’t leach anything into your liquid. As would be expected, they’re totally BPA free.

It’d be fair to say that the shot glass container is unnecessary. The shot glasses stack well together and would take up a bit less space in your pack without the container, but it means you can put them away without washing them first and guarantee that they’ll stay together, so it’s good to have the option. If you’re an ultralight hiker, you can always just leave it at home.

The flask only comes in green (the shot glass container is matching) but colour generally isn’t something I’m too fussed about when it comes to outdoor gear. It’s nice to look at anyway and, if you must be restricted to one colour option for an outdoor gear item, it makes sense that it’s green.

In case I haven’t spouted durability enough here already, the set comes with a lifetime warranty.

Functionality & Ease of Use (Rating: 85%)

How easy is it to drink out of the flask? Or pour it into the included shot glasses? Very easy. That’s not really the measure here, though, is it?

Stanley’s shot glasses and their container are perfect. Not much can go wrong. But it’s the cleaning of the flask itself that could be addressed. As I’ve already mentioned, the small mouth on the flask means that you’d have no chance of properly cleaning it after filling it with anything sticky. It’s okay for spirits because a quick rinse out will probably cover you.

Filling the flask is the other issue. It’s big enough to fill straight from the bottle if you’re very careful, but I’m not willing to risk wasting a drop of my nice single malt whisky. They really should have included a funnel. Ideally, one that fits in the container with your shot glasses.

Stanley Hip Flask & Shot Set
On the upside, the flask’s cap is big enough and easy enough to operate with gloves on (because let’s face it, it’s in cold weather that you most need your spirits). As I’ve already mentioned, you’ll never lose the cap because it’s attached to the flask.

What I Like

  • 236 ml / 8 oz is a good size. Not too big to carry, enough booze to share.
  • The flask only weighs about 220 grams, so it doesn’t add too much to your pack weight.
  • Covered by a lifetime warranty.
  • Screw-top lid is attached so you don’t lose it, and it’s big enough to operate with gloves.

What I Don’t Like

  • The small opening makes cleaning the flask difficult.
  • It’d be tricky to fill the flask and there’s no funnel included.
  • Although I’m not in the habit of bringing a flask to events, this one would be a bit bulky if you wanted to do so.

Get One

The Stanley Adventure Hip Flask & Shot Set is available online from Blue Mountains Camping.

Disclaimer: I’ve been supplied with a Stanley Adventure Hip Flask & Shot Set to review. This has no influence on the opinions presented in this article.

Have you tried Stanley’s flasks and thermoses? Got any questions or comments? Let us know by commenting below.