Hydro Flask · Insulated Travel Mugs
32 oz Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler
Lower concern tumbler, but brand silent on PFAS.
Stainless steel body with plastic lid and rubber gasket, minimal coatings mean lower inherent PFAS risk. Brand stays silent on PFAS testing or commitments.
The better-graded swap
Thermos
Thermos Guardian Stainless Steel Mug
80/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Stainless steel body, plastic lid, rubber gasket
Lab data
No public lab test
What 32 oz Hydro Flask All Around Travel is made of, ingredients and materials
This tumbler uses a 18/8 stainless steel double-wall construction, which does not leach metals into beverages under normal use. The primary non-metal components are the plastic lid (typically polypropylene or similar) and rubber gasket. Stainless steel is chemically inert and has no known food-contact safety issues at any temperature range a beverage tumbler would encounter. The lid and gasket are the only components where polymer-related hazards (BPA, phthalates, leaching) could theoretically occur, but they contact only the rim and seal, not the liquid itself.
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Rubber gasket degradation and contaminant shedding
Repeated thermal cycling and acidic beverages can degrade rubber over 2-3 years. No contamination events are on record for Hydro Flask specifically, but gasket material composition is not disclosed, so whether it contains problematic plasticizers or heavy metals cannot be confirmed.
Lid coating or treatment chemicals (unlabeled)
Plastic lids may receive antimicrobial or water-repellent coatings not listed on packaging. Hydro Flask does not disclose such treatments. Risk is low given minimal contact with beverages, but cannot be fully assessed without ingredient transparency.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
BPA & bisphenols
No recalls or documented leaching reports for Hydro Flask tumblers. Lid material composition is not disclosed by the brand, so specific polymer hazards cannot be ruled out, but risk is low given lid does not submerge in liquid and typical polypropylene used in food-contact lids is BPA-free by design.
Source, FDA ↗Stainless steel leaching (nickel, chromium)
18/8 stainless steel (304-grade) is the industry standard for food contact and does not leach nickel or chromium into neutral or acidic beverages at room or hot temperatures. No credible reports of metal leaching from Hydro Flask tumblers exist.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Hydro Flask has not published detailed material safety disclosures, ingredient lists for lids/gaskets, or third-party certifications (such as FDA food contact compliance statements) on their consumer-facing website. The brand has maintained a general posture of silent-to-limited transparency on chemical content. No major recalls or documented contamination incidents involving Hydro Flask tumblers have reached public record. The company's parent ownership (Helen of Troy Limited) does not appear to have made industry-leading commitments to PFAS phase-out or hazard reduction.
How it compares in its category
Stainless steel double-wall tumblers have lower concern than some other insulated drinkware because they are not materials linked to the ceramic glaze, enamel coating, and Teflon-type coating (non-stick) risks that affect other material choices. Hydro Flask's design is standard for premium tumblers in this material class and carries no unusual hazard profile relative to competing brands like YETI or S'well. The main differentiator is brand transparency, some competitors (notably Klean Kanteen) provide more explicit material certifications, while Hydro Flask does not.
If you buy it
Clean the lid and gasket regularly with warm soapy water and air-dry to prevent bacterial or mold growth in the seal. Do not place in a dishwasher if the manufacturer advises against it, as repeated heat cycling can degrade plastic components. The stainless steel body itself is durable and will not degrade; replace the lid or gasket if cracks appear. For hot beverages, allow liquids to cool below 200F before sealing the lid to avoid pressure buildup and stress on plastic components.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Hydro Flask has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Insulated Travel Mugs
Owala
FreeSip Sway Stainless Steel
- Stainless steel body, no interior coating disclosed
- Silicone and plastic lid/valve leachables
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Owala
Stainless Steel Straw Tumbler Route 66
- Stainless steel tumbler, bare uncoated
- Coating degradation and microplastic shedding from exterior print
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Thermos
18 oz. Icon Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Mug
- stainless steel exterior, vacuum insulation, stainless steel interior
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Nickel leaching from stainless steel
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More insulated travel mugs grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.