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GSI Outdoors Fairshare Mug

rated 4.5 of 5 stars
photo: GSI Outdoors Fairshare Mug cup/mug

Very stable, completely sealable, and holds a whole quart!

Pros

  • lightweight
  • sealable
  • volume capacity
  • good design

Cons

  • bulky

I bought this specifically with coffee/tea in mind, when I drink either it's always in large amounts and I didn't want to monkey around with smaller mugs and having to make second batches of anything.  A 32 ounce mug is the perfect solution. 

Things I like in addition to its volume:  the handle is solid and will work for gloved hands, the lid seals tightly making this practical for rehydrating food in your pack while you're on the move, and my Trangia mini burner and pot stand fit inside perfectly.

Things I think could be better about it:  I wish they sold this in a double-walled version as well.  It retains heat about as well as a Nalgene bottle which can be sapped away very quickly in cold weather.  I found a great cozy for the Fairshare at 40below dot com that helps with this issue.

Oh, one thing, if you are using a drip coffee filter be aware that the top opening of this mug is very wide.  My old little drip filter wouldn't span it.  I upgraded to the GSI collapsible coffee filter which fits it perfectly and is wonderfully stable while brewing (important to me as I'd rather not get burned by falling filters and molten coffee grounds).

Overall, I love this mug.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $8.50

I wish this mug would'a been around when my wife and I started backpacking in 1972. 

What makes it special are several things: one is the 32oz quantity it can hold; another is the screw top lid which seals very tightly without a gasket (I've never had one that leaked); and the lightness coupled with the well designed handle.

Not to mention it's Lexan, an almost unbreakable plastic. Obviously, you couldn't cook on a stove with it.

Now I'm using them at home (I'm retired) for soups, noodle/shrimp dishes, chili and many other things. I absolutely hate to use a bowl. I can fix something hot and sit in a comfortable chair watching whatever, and don't have to loom over a bowl with a spoon or fork.

And its heat retaining quality is remarkably good, especially when used with the lid.  Not too great for cold iced drinks though.  Use a thermal tumbler instead. 

So if you could care less about "table manners", then don't sit at a table! Hope you like them as much as I do. 

Price Paid: $5.50 (clearance)

Solid bowl, good for storing leftovers.

Pros

  • Sealable
  • Durable
  • Funny background story
  • Washes easily

Cons

  • Handle is big

The Fairshare is a cool bit of mess kit. I find it's not all that handy for most of my two-person trips as my pot sets have their own mugs. When a bowl is needed though it's handy.

It's resealable so you can store leftovers very easily. The big opening allows you to shove your hand in and clean it out with ease. Definitely a solid bit of kit.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $15

Great as a bowl, too big for beverages.

Pros

  • Keeps food warm
  • Indestructible
  • Tight seal

Cons

  • Too big to drink from

Really sturdy, but hard to store in pack.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $8

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Specs

Price MSRP: $10.95
Current Retail: $16.95-$19.95
Historic Range: $4.93-$19.95
Reviewers Paid: $5.50-$15.00
Weight 7.5 oz
Dimensions 6.50 in x 5.00 in x 5.10 in
Materials Co-polyester
Product Details from GSI Outdoors »

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