Always on the look out for a possible improvement to my gear, Three Points of the Compass tried the GSI Infinity Backpacker Mug. While an excellent piece of kit, there were issues with some of its features. Did it earn a place in the pack?

I am always looking for possible ways that I might improve on my gear selections so tried out the GSI Infinity Backpacker Mug on a few trails. I missed the boat with an earlier incarnation of the Infinity Mug. That mug was far simpler in design and had just about all the features I like and none of the extraneous add-ons that many gear makers and designers insist on foisting upon us. That earlier mug appears to be unavailable today but I have been content with using a squat version of it for some years now. This is the 591ml/20 fl.oz GSI Sipper Mug while backpacking. I have written before on my liking for this and not only do I appreciate the simple design but also value the low centre of gravity and stowability in a shallow 900ml Evernew pan.

I wanted to continue with the features I prefer in a mug on trail. These are decent capacity, insulated, and a lid that prevent both spills and bugs from going for a swim in my brew. I prefer a low profile mug, but that feature doesn’t seem to be found anywhere away from my Sipper Mug. At least the Infinity Mug had a fairly wide base with a non-slip covering.

My trial of the GSI Infinity Backpacker Mug meant accepting the heavier weight. 62g for the Backpacker mug alone, plus an 18g lid and 28g insulating sleeve, 108g in total. My favoured GSI Sipper Mug weighs 67g. That is the latest version, comprised of mug, lid and insulating sleeve.

The 500ml capacity mug itself is made from a clear, tough, BPA-free, non-leaching polypropylene. This has measurements that can be read from inside: 2 cups / 16 ounces, in 4 oz increments / 400ml, in 100ml increments. it stands 115m tall and has a 90mm diameter in its sleeve.

The Infinity mug has a slip on insulating sleeve. When new, this forms a tight fit around the mug but loosens with time and use. There is a small drain hole in the base of the sleeve that also prevent a pressure lock when sliding the mug in. The sleeve is well stitched with a stuck on non-slip base. The mug is dishwasher safe but the insulating sleeve benefits more from an occasional scrub under a tap.

The sealable lid means it could suit cold soaking. This lid clicks on firmly, so much so that it can be a tad difficult to remove without spilling hot contents, though the pressure from a hot liquid can push the lid up past its seal. Loosen the non-spill cap when pushing on the lid to negate this issue. The lid is slightly over designed however. While the mug has clean lines and is easily cleaned, the lid has numerous crevices both inside and out where food and dried drinks can get caught up.

GSI Outdoors have altered the Infinity Mug design only a little since its first release. Early versions never had measurements and the addition of these was a welcome change, though these can be scrubbed off with aggressive cleaning. Most recently the latest design of the mug has got larger, with a slightly increased capacity of 550ml and GSI now uses wholly recycled materials in its construction. The outer covering is now RPET, a woven, recycled environment-friendly polyester. The R stands for recycled, and the PET for polyethylene terephthalate. As a result, the mug has joined GSI’s Eco line. As usual, design tweaks and changes in gear often mean increased weight.

Amongst their many mug options, GSI also sell a similarly insulated Fairshare Mug, with screw on lid that is specifically aimed at cold soakers. I don’t require the features of that mug. There is also a much simplified version of the Infinity Backpacker Mug available as part of GSI’s Personal Javapress kit that lacks measuring increments, insulated base and has a much simpler sipper lid. This is not far removed from the original Infinity Mug design before it got bells and whistles. It looks a better option but I seldom drink coffee on trail (I’m a tea drinker) so much of the kit is superfluous to my needs and I am reluctant to purchase it just for the mug.

There is no denying that the GSI Infinity Backpacker Mug is well made and an excellent piece of kit, but ultimately Three Points of the Compass found it difficult to integrate it into my cook kit system, which is no fault of the mug itself. It is also slightly over designed with mostly unnecessary features that add weight and make it less suited to a lightweight set-up on trail. While a 500ml capacity is pretty impressive it is still less than my 591ml Sipper Mug and I didn’t appreciate the lesser volume, I want my large tea in the morning! As a result of all these issues, I never upgraded to the newer version of the Infinity Mug and mine has been consigned to home duty and sits on the desk, doing an OK job at keeping a frequently forgotten beverage hot. I shall continue to use my GSI Sipper Mug on trail until something better comes along.