A stainless steel hip flask is one of the few festive gifts still in use long after the wrapping paper has gone. It comes out on winter walks, at the match, round a bonfire and in the quiet days between Christmas and New Year. This guide covers what a hip flask is for and how it differs from an insulated flask. It also covers which size suits which person, and how to fill and look after one for years.
What a hip flask is for
A hip flask is a small, flat metal bottle for a measure of spirits. It travels in a coat or jacket pocket. The flat shape is the whole point. It sits against you without a bulge, so it comes along on days when a bag would be a nuisance.
Most owners use one a handful of times a year. Those tend to be the days they remember:
- A dram at half-time at a cold football or rugby match.
- A capful passed round at the top of the hill on the Boxing Day walk.
- A toast round a bonfire or a garden fire pit.
- A nip of something warming at an outdoor carol service or a Christmas market.
- A small measure at a winter wedding or a day at the races.
Our stainless steel hip flask is made for whisky, wine, liqueur and other spirits. It comes with its own funnel, so filling it from the bottle keeps the kitchen counter dry.
Hip flask or insulated flask: which one do you need?
People searching for a festive flask often mean one of two quite different things. It helps to know which is which before you buy.
An insulated flask is a vacuum-walled bottle. It keeps tea, coffee or soup hot for hours, or water cold. It is usually tall and round, and it holds a mug or more.
A hip flask is a flat pocket flask for a small measure of spirits, served as it is. It is made to be carried. Nobody needs it to keep a drink hot, because whisky is drunk at the temperature of the day.
| If they want | Choose |
|---|---|
| Hot tea or coffee on a long walk | An insulated flask |
| A dram of whisky at the top of the hill | A hip flask |
| Something flat enough for a coat pocket | A hip flask |
| Soup at the football | An insulated flask |
Plenty of people take both: the tea for the walk and the hip flask for the view at the end. If the person already owns a good insulated flask, a hip flask makes a natural partner. It is also the one they are less likely to have bought for themselves.
Why stainless steel
Hip flasks have been made from pewter, silver, glass and leather-covered metal over the years. Stainless steel is now the everyday choice, for good reasons:
- It survives a drop on a stone path, where glass would shatter.
- It rinses clean with warm water.
- It takes the knocks of a coat pocket, keys and all, and still looks smart.
- It is light for a metal bottle. Ours weighs about 100 g.
- Its plain, clean look suits almost anyone, from a grandad to a friend in their twenties.
Silver and pewter have their place if you want something to hand down. For a flask that goes out in the rain and the mud, steel is the one to choose.
Choosing the right size
Hip flasks come in a range of sizes. The right one depends less on how much the person drinks. It depends more on how they will use it.
- The smallest sizes suit a single sip at a cold moment: a nip at the end of a walk, a toast at a wedding. They slip into a jeans pocket or a small bag, and they make a good stocking filler.
- The middle sizes are the everyday choice. They hold a couple of small measures for a match or a walk, and still sit flat in a jacket pocket.
- The larger sizes are for sharing. If they are always the one handing something round at the bonfire, go large.
Our flask comes in a choice of sizes, from a small sip up to one for passing round. So you can match it to the person with no guesswork.
Who a festive flask suits
A hip flask is a classic gift for good reason. It is personal, it is easy to choose, and it gets used. It suits these people especially well:
- The whisky drinker with a favourite single malt and a shelf of good glasses.
- The walker who climbs the same hill every Boxing Day.
- The season-ticket holder who stands in the cold every other Saturday.
- The one who lights the fire pit on any dry evening.
- The dad, grandad or uncle who says he wants nothing this year.
- The friend heading to a winter wedding or a day at the races.
It also works as part of a bigger present. Put it beside a bottle of their favourite, a pair of whisky glasses or a warm wool scarf. Now it is a gift set that feels chosen. For a Secret Santa with a whisky lover in the draw, a small flask on its own does the job.
How to fill a hip flask without spilling it
The narrow neck keeps a hip flask pocket-friendly. It also makes filling it fiddly. This is where the funnel earns its place in the box.
- Rinse the flask with warm water before its first use, and let it dry with the cap off.
- Stand it on a flat surface, ideally beside the sink or on a folded tea towel.
- Put the funnel in the neck and pour slowly from the bottle.
- Stop a little short of the brim.
- Close it and wipe the outside before it goes in a pocket.
Fill it the evening before a walk or a match and leave it by your keys. It is ready when you are.
Looking after it
A stainless steel flask needs very little care. A few habits keep it fresh for years:
- Empty it after each outing, rather than storing spirits in it for weeks.
- Rinse it with warm water and let it air dry with the cap off.
- Skip bleach and harsh cleaners, which can leave a taste behind.
- If a smell lingers, a rinse with warm water and a little bicarbonate of soda usually clears it.
- Store it dry, away from a drawer full of tools.
A word on drinking outdoors
A hip flask is for adults of legal drinking age. The best flask moments are small ones: a single toast, a capful shared at the top of a hill. Leave it at home if you are the one driving. Check the rules before you take one to a stadium or venue, because many grounds ban alcohol brought in from outside.
The short version
Choose a hip flask for spirits and an insulated flask for hot drinks. Pick the size that matches how they will use it. Make sure a funnel is in the box. Our stainless steel hip flask comes with its funnel in a choice of sizes, ready for the walk, the match or the fire.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hip flask the same as an insulated flask?
No. An insulated flask keeps hot or cold drinks at temperature for hours. A hip flask is a flat pocket flask for a small measure of spirits, served at the temperature of the day.
Does the hip flask come with a funnel?
Yes. Our stainless steel hip flask comes with its own funnel, so you can fill it straight from the bottle without spilling.
What can I put in a hip flask?
Ours is made for whisky, wine, liqueur and other spirits. Rinse it with warm water between fillings and let it dry with the cap off.
Key details
| Packed size | 150 x 150 x 150 mm |
|---|---|
| Material | Metal |
| Weight | 100 g |
Supplier-stated measurements.
Stainless Steel Pocket Hip Flask with Funnel - Multiple sizes available
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