Ninja Thirsti review: Keep it hot

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Is a travel mug really a product you need to make an informed decision while buying? It’s an insulated cup that you drink from!

But having just tested the Ember travel mug 2+, I couldn’t say no when the offer to test the new Ninja Thirsti came my way, if only for a point of comparison.

This $59 mug offers a low-tech counterpoint to the Ember. There’s no battery, no LCD screen and no charging coaster.

But despite its low-tech nature, it produces high-end results. It may have a slight premium over other models, but the Thirsti is a worthwhile investment for Saturday morning sports or for camping trips.

What is the Ninja Thirsti offering?

Ninja’s launch announcement was all about the Thirsti’s ability to keep carbonated drinks bubbly for longer.

But at its core, this is simply an insulated mug with an extremely smooth internal surface. That means it’s good for keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold.

Because it’s designed for carbonated drinks, it has a leak-proof lid that promises not to spill, even when you’re cracking open a fizzy drink. 

And it worked. I carried this cup around to multiple sporting days, drinking coffee or lemonade or Solo, and it didn’t spill once.

What does the Ninja Thirsti do well?

The very first time I used the Thirsti, I made my wife a peppermint tea before we went to watch the kids play sport. 

I made the drink at about 10:30am, for a midday netball game. My wife burnt her tongue on her first mouthful.

After netball, we made our way to my son’s soccer match, and she could still barely drink it.

By the end of the day after dinner, the drink was still hot. Not scalding anymore, but a comfortable drinking temperature.

It was a similar situation with cold drinks. I popped some ice in some water, to test the Thirsti out, and the ice lasted a full 24-hour day before it was dissolved.

On the carbonated front, a can of Solo was still kind of bubbly after 24 hours. It was like when you’ve had an open bottle in the fridge for a week or so – the bubbles are there, but they’ve lost their spark.

But the drink was still reasonably cold, and that combo is pretty impressive.

What could the Ninja Thirsti improve?

I may have been a little paranoid on this front, but the secret sauce to this cup is the polished and smooth internal surface. The manual says to avoid abrasive cleaners, but it is very difficult to wash right down the bottom with a cloth given the narrow neck.

While the Thirsti may be technically dishwasher safe, I found it too tall to fit on the top shelf. And while it fit on the bottom shelf, I felt guilty about it, like it wasn’t the right thing to do.

I’d also love to see the actual Ninja Thirsti drink system arrive in Australia. I don’t think there’s ever going to be a situation where I would take fizzy drinks out of a can or a bottle and put it into this travel cup.

But freshly carbonated drinks from the Thirsti? Absolutely.

Verdict

I’ve got to say: this is a pretty good travel mug. It keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold all day long.

I can’t see myself ever really taking carbonated drinks with me in here instead of just taking a can or bottle, but for Saturday morning sport in Winter, it’s a lifesaver.

At 700 ml, it’s pretty large for a travel cup of coffee or tea, equating to about two cups worth of drink. But it conveniently fits into my cup holders and bags, doesn’t leak, and keeps drinks hot and cold.

If you’re prepared to pay the asking price, it won’t disappoint.

Buy the Ninja Thirsti online

Ninja Thirsti Travel mug

The Ninja Thirsti may be low-tech, but it offers impressive insulation and intelligent design features to keep your drinks hot or cold, depending on what you need.

Check price @ The Good Guys