Best hip flasks for festivals, camping and more
Hip flasks make a great gift. Read our review of the best hip flasks to buy, to find leather, stainless steel and engraved flasks for carrying spirits.
When choosing a hip flask, there are a few things to consider. Nowadays, most are made from either stainless steel or plastic, both of which have their benefits and drawbacks. The metal ones are sturdy but take a little more maintenance, as most need to be washed by hand, while the plastic ones are usually dishwasher-safe but more likely to take on colours and smells.
Whatever option you go for, be sure you have a hip flask that is easily fillable with a cap that is reliably airtight and think about how portable it is – for example, some will easily slide into a back pocket while others have a bit more bulk.
Whether buying for yourself or looking for a gift, these hip flasks strike the perfect balance between useful and stylish, and will last for years to come. Read on to discover our top picks, ranging from £5.99 to £85, and in style from shiny holographic to sleek leather – there's sure to be a style for everyone.
For more buyer's guides, visit our review section with over 400 reviews, from the best dishwashers to the best personalised water bottles. Check out our range of drinks reviews for inspiration on what to fill your flask with, from the best whiskies to flavoured vodkas and warming spiced rums.
Best hip flasks to buy at a glance
- Best luxury hip flask: Aspinal of London double leather hip flask, £85
- Best porthole hip flask: Penelopetom personalised porthole hip flask, £42
- Best fabric wrapped hip flask: Harris Tweed check hip flask, £30
- Best budget hip flask: Multicolour stainless steel hip flask, £5.99
- Best plain hip flask: John Lewis & Partners stainless steel hip flask, £9.50
- Best space-saving hip flask: Vapur Incognito hip flask, £6.95
- Best eco-friendly hip flask: Hord Rust leather hip flask, £35
- Best hip flask for a party: The Pocket Hip Flask Company rose gold bangle hip flask, £22.99
Best hip flasks to buy 2024
Aspinal of London double leather hip flask
Available from Aspinal (£85)
Best luxury hip flask
Aspinal of London is well-known as a purveyor of luxury accessories, so it comes as no surprise that the double 6oz leather hip flask looks and feels like something very special. Made from high-shine stainless steel, encased in genuine leather with a suede-lined pouch, it would make an impressive gift.
Comprising two 3oz containers, this one is also ideal for couples with different tastes in tipple, or for those who like a mixer. We found each flask to be sturdy and easy to slot back into the pouch, while the textured edge of the caps made screwing them on and off easy, even with wet fingers. Thanks to the rounded and curved finish, the whole thing fits comfortably into a back or chest pocket.
As each flask is so small and embossed in leather, washing them can be a little fiddly, especially as you have to take care not to get the leather and suede wet. We found the best method was to fill halfway with warm water, replace the cap and shake vigorously before spilling it out, then repeating the process.
If you are buying this as a gift, you can choose from four different leather casings and opt for an engraving on each cap, and it comes beautifully packaged in the iconic Aspinal of London navy and cream packaging.
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Penelopetom personalised porthole window hip flask
Available from Not on the High Street (£42)
Best porthole window hip flask
There's a lot to like about this unique hip flask full of interesting details. The first and most obvious is the ship-inspired porthole window design, allowing you to see your liquor inside and how much you've got left – particularly enjoyable if you've got pretty flavoured spirits to show off.
There's plenty of areas for personalisation if giving this hip flask as a gift too – you can add up to three initials on the top of the lid and an engraved message of up to 200 characters on the back of the flask, with six different fonts to choose from. Delivery also makes it special for a gift, arriving in a simple black gift box with the option to upgrade this packaging too.
The hip flask is made from silver stainless steel with brass detailing round the porthole and lid. It comes with a mini funnel for easy refilling. The wide screwtop lid comes completely free, so be careful not to misplace it when filling or cleaning.
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Harris Tweed check hip flask
Available from Not on the High Street (£30)
Best fabric wrapped hip flask
This hip flask stood out for its smart checked tweed wrapping, adding an element of softness to the usual stainless steel and metal options. It's perfect for long country hikes and fits comfortably in a pocket with the traditional curved design.
It has a good 6oz capacity with a hinged, gold screwtop lid for refilling. Due to the fabric cover, it is naturally not dishwasher-safe and should be rinsed out with warm water in between uses.
Like some others on our list, this has options for personalisation if giving as a present, with the ability to emboss up to six characters on the front leather tab which could be a name or special date. There are also three colourways of the tweed (hand woven in the Outer Hebrides) to choose from – decide between blue, grey or red as the dominant pattern on the check, then pick between black or brown for the leather tab.
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Multicolour stainless steel hip flask
Available from Amazon (£5.99)
Best budget hip flask
If you're looking for a cheap and cheerful hip flask for a party or festival and don't want to be worried if it gets lost or damaged, this is the option for you. We love the holographic multicolour option for a bit of festival glam, but there is a plain stainless steel choice too if this is a bit too jazzy. The colourful choice would make a fun option for a stocking filler, secret Santa or bridesmaids gift for a group.
It has a slightly larger 80z capacity than some of the other 6oz hip flasks on this list, which is good if you're going be out all day at a festival or long night out. Made of stainless steel, the lid is hinged and attached so it cannot be lost when refilling.
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John Lewis & Partners stainless steel hip flask
Available from John Lewis (£9.50)
Best plain hip flask
If you don't want to splash out on a leather hip flask and aren't looking for any personalisation, this basic hip flask is a good starter choice. The design follows the simple classics – the curved shape, the screwtop lid and the hinge so it stays put.
This hip flask has a standard 6oz capacity and a short square design, ideal for taking on winter walks or fitting neatly in a pocket. At this price, it doesn't come with a funnel, but is good value for money at under £10, especially if you're not sure how much use you will get out of it. The budget price makes it a good option as a gift for a crowd or a group of groomsmen.
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Vapur Incognito hip flask
Available from Amazon (£6.95)
Best space-saving hip flask
Sometimes we only really care about how functional a product is, rather than how good it looks. This Vapur flask might not be much to look at, but it ticks all the boxes for practicality.
Made from a BPA-free plastic, it's entirely malleable, making it easy to squeeze into the most awkward of spaces and it's very lightweight – exactly what you need if you're heading to a festival or on a camping trip.
Thanks to the material, it can hold up to 10 ounces, so you can take a glass of wine on the go, if you fancy. The only slight issue we encountered was in the refilling. Though it comes equipped with its own decanter spout, the opening is very small, so it's quite a fiddly job and definitely not one you'd want to undertake anywhere where spillages will be a nuisance.
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Hord Rust leather hip flask
Available from Hord (£35)
Best eco-friendly hip flask
Those who like a rugged, antique look will be enamoured by this Hord flask. An inner stainless steel capsule is largely obscured by a beautiful distressed leather outer, which smells just as good as it looks. What makes it even better is that it's made using leather offcuts from other products, so the eco-minded can rest assured that little has been wasted in the making of the flask.
With a choice of three-, six- or eight-ounce capacity and a wide range of fonts for embossing, this flask allows plenty of scope for personalisation.
Arriving in a slim cardboard box with a funnel and description card, it's also a great last-minute gift for anyone looking to send a present directly to the recipient.
In terms of practicality, the flask needs to be washed by hand, which is easy to do when you add a little warm water and give it a good shake. An attached lid with grips makes it simple to swig from and the inclusion of the funnel means filling it is a breeze.
The only issue to watch out for is that with the cap being quite shallow, it's easy to screw on incorrectly, so care needs to be taken to ensure it's fully secure before putting it away in a bag or pocket.
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The Pocket Hip Flask Company rose gold bangle hip flask
Available from Pocket Hipflask (£22.99)
Best hip flask for a party
Made from stainless steel coloured in rose gold and styled to act as a bracelet, this is unlike any hip flask we've seen before. It's perfect for partygoers as you can wear it on the dancefloor and not have to worry about losing it.
Given its shape, it's unsurprising that it doesn't hold that much liquid (just three-and-a-half ounces), so after a couple of swigs, it's simply a piece of large jewellery.
The lid, fashioned into a bobble, is easy to screw on and off (though it needs to be carefully placed to do so) and stays put even after some vigorous jumping around. Luckily, a funnel is included in the box, so filling it was much easier than anticipated.
A major downside is that it's difficult to clean – the bangle shape means it takes some serious shaking to get it thoroughly washed. The best technique, we found, was to shake it first as if turning a door knob, to get rid of any remnants of booze, then do the same with warm water.
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What we looked for when testing hip flasks
Ergonomics: We looked for pleasing aesthetics and styles that were easy to store in pockets and bags.
Ease of cleaning: Hip flasks can quickly degrade if not cleaned properly, so we looked for styles that were easy to fill and had lids reliable enough that you could thoroughly shake them to dislodge any stubborn liquid.
Value for money: As proven by this list, the price of hip flasks can vary wildly, so we seriously thought about whether or not they were value for money as a practical item but also, in some cases, as a thoughtful gift.
Practicality: As hip flasks are meant for use on the go, we carefully considered each for its practically. Is it easy to open and close, easy to pour or swig from and comfortable to store?
What to put in a hip flask
Put a hip flask to good use by filling it with the very best spirits. Use our handy buyer's guides to find you next favourite bottle:
Best personalised water bottles
Best gins
Best rum
Best craft whiskies
Best Scotch whisky
Best bourbons
Best brandy
If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.