My wife and I went to the annual fair a few weeks ago, and we left feeling like we had been violated. Beer was $6 for a small paper cup, and drinking was confined to a fenced off area. We ended up going to a nearby 7/11, and buying beer and coffee cups to hide it in like a pair of teenagers! We’re definitely not what you’d call heavy drinkers, but who wants to be sober at a fair? So, yesterday I bought a 1oz keychain hip flask for snuff, and the idea struck me that I could get a pair of full size hip flasks for my wife and I to use at events such as mentioned above. There seems to be a disparity with hip flasks, they are either very inexpensive, or extremely expensive. There are mid priced models, but as far as I can tell, these are simply the cheap Chinese-made ones with a price hike. Not wanting to spend a lot of money on something we’ll use maybe once or twice a year, I took a gamble and bought two 6oz flasks on ebay for around $7 and change. Does anyone have any experience with these things? Did I make a shrewd purchase, or did I waste money I could have put towards better quality flasks? My main concern is the cheap flasks leaking, which would spoil the fun…
I have many flasks. Cheap and expensive. I’ve never had a problem with the cheap ones. Just make sure that it is labeled “stainless steel” on the bottom.
Yes, they are definitely stainless steel, and are thus stamped on the bottom. I read a few reviews on Amazon in which people complained of leaks and pinholes developing, so that made me wonder if cheap flasks were a false economy. I got a freebie Jack Daniels 4oz flask a few years ago that I guess was a cheap Chinese one and that was fine. I guess the incredibly cheap price is making me unnecessarily suspicious. As someone who obviously has experience with these things, would you say that 6oz is a good size? I was torn between capacity and concealability, and I had trouble deciding what size would be a good compromise.
6 oz flask does me fine. I’ve a 7oz one I take out with me when I’m pruning and holds enough for me for most of the day. I look at as 1oz = 1 drink. So your carrying 6 drinks with you. 3 if you prefer double shots. There are different shaped flasks as well if your thinking about hiding it. Some are the same width, but longer. Some are skinny and wide. Fit into your inner coat pocket nicely. check these guys out. http://www.bewild.com/flasks.html I’ve personally not purchased from them, but they have cool flasks.
lol… Ah, the wit…
Lol well at least he’s not a bus driver… I used to have a biology teacher that used to have ‘liquid lunches’. We always used to look forward to biology if it was in the afternoon, because he was so much more jolly and used to tells us amusing anecdotes. Funny thing is, he was also a very good teacher and I got an exceptionally good grade in my biology exam. @nightcap: those are some really nice flasks, if these ones turn out to be useful I may be tempted to buy nicer ones. Isn’t a US shot size 1.5oz? I figured I’d get four drinks not six…
I must admit that, as a college student, I have a strong love-affair with flasks. Convenient, portable, concealable, good stuff! The only issue that I’ve ever had is that, depending on the climate, the liquids you store in them can get a tad to warm and that tends to jigger with the flavor of said liquids. Otherwise I’ve never had a problem with them and have had a 6oz stainless for quite some time now.
The other thing to watch out for is legality, as I just discovered when I googled it. Apparently, at least here in NY, you’re not allowed to have an open container of alcohol in public. Furthermore, ‘open’ means anything but a factory sealed original container, so a hip flask is ‘open’ even when it’s not open.
I’ve had a bunch. Go for steel ones if you are going to use them regularly. Pewter is too soft unless its an occasional shooting day or something.
I love the flask I used to have. I used it to drink in school when I was in high school. I drank juice out of it for about a month or two. Long enough that teachers stoped asking me what I had in the flask. Yeah there was a thrill in breaking the rules so openly. If warmth is an issue? Brandy is great from a flask.
Have had the same Sheffield Pewter flask for many years, and while it looks a little worse for wear now, I love it and it gets the job done. Take it along for fall/winter activities outdoors and it is always a big hit. 8-oz. capacity works best esp. when passing it around!
@Furious: how do you like pewter as a flask material? I’ve read a lot of negative things about it affecting taste, but you’ve evidently been using yours for ages. Have you noticed a detrimental effect?
Hey Doc…pewter is very appealing visually but it does lack the necessary strength for routine use. That’s why stainless steel is so popular. I use my flask occassionally so it hasn’t really been a problem. A couple of dings but nothing serious.