I bought a ten pack of these. I've been using two of them (one upstairs and one downstairs) for over a week. I wash them out occasionally, but they've shown no signs of wear. There's no way I would keep a plastic cup that long. I really like them.
@@theboywithathorninhisside.4179 That doesn't really work in my workshop areas. Glass becomes a hazard really quickly. Even things like travel mugs tend to get banged up. With the aluminum cups, I don't really care if one gets dented up.
@@earhornjones I use a couple "Bubba" insulated steel containers. Yes, they get banged up and scratched up, but they hold up well to being dropped on concrete. In fact, the only way I lose them is to the river gods when I forget to bungee one to the deck of my kayak (they sink if they're completely full).
Very nice. I use a lot of solvents in different projects and the majority of them eat right through any plastic container that I use. I will have to buy a pack of these Ball aluminum cups.
While metals are "infinitely recyclable" it is still far better to have an infinitely reusable product. Recycling uses a lot of energy, and possibly water, too (depending on what is being recycled).
I don't know why these couldn't be used basically indefinitely. I bake on aluminum sheet trays that are now 20 years old, and they're still fine. I don't get why, if you wash them, they're not basically "for life" cups, barring physical destruction. And as others have noted, if you're using them for craft or industrial/ technical uses, again, so long as they're physically intact, I don't see you'd ever stop using them.
Aluminum is still a natural metal of the earth. If it goes into the land, it's not going to hurt the land. And while they may not get as much money in recycling as cans with an RV amount (CA, HI, and so forth), aluminum is still taken in as scrap metal. I've been recycling cat food cans for a while now as scrap metal.
To add to this; recycling in the USA is mostly about what we can sell to China for a profit. In Tucson AZ they stopped accepting glass bottles in your recycling because China lowered the price that they are willing to pay for it.
@@SandrA-hr5zk - Aluminum is better than plastic, no doubt. It's just that recycling isn't as green as re-using because recycling takes a lot of energy and water (way more than washing a reusable item).
Hey! I actually use these full time in my apartment (college life lol) -- here are my thoughts: 1) RE: Temp Holding, the cup actually will get WARMER faster if you hold the cup, since the warmth from your hand can travel through the metal easier 2) I've been using them since august so -- they work long term
Exactly what I was thinking with point #1. Metal conducts heat more difficult efficiently than plastic. Not holding it didn't show too much of a difference because heat diffusion doesn't occur as quickly with air as it does with a human hand.
I was waiting for someone to say this. Let's say you have a party at your home. It's common to have cheap cups and people will be freezing their hands on these cups. The plastic cups would keep the cold away from party goer's hands more.
I am glad they are doing this with The Ocean Cleanup. Those guys are amazing. They send out ships at the end of rivers to catch plastic before it washes into the ocean. They also have send cleaning ships to the big plastic garbage patch in the ocean to clean it up.
Our trash company doesn't let us put glass into our recycle bins the glass has to be taken to a special bin just for glass I always thought that was weird
@@6181green Very odd, where I live we get charged for not recycling our glass. The only real use for these that makes environmental sense, is using them at fast food restaurants.
Glass is only recycled because it's cheaper. There is no reason whatsoever to recycle glass other than cost savings and minor energy savings. Glass will physically break down into something resembling sand. It's pretty environmentally safe. The two problems glass has is that it's heavy and that it's fragile and dangerous when broken. It probably costs more money to make the plastic coke bottles than the glass ones, but that money and energy is saved via shipping.
Glass is glass, and glass breaks...só, aluminium cup can be bendt but you can fix it easy. I understand your point but, this are more to "special party's" and so on. Diferent end of Glass cup.
they still make the heavier non-disposable versions similar to the ones you speak of. these ball cups are just a less 'disposable' replacement for paper and plastic cups
With your first coldness test, I wonder if the plastic cup was warmer on the outside because it was a better insulator. It also did not accumulates condensation on the outside like the aluminum one. I'm curious to know how quickly each drink would heat up from the warmth of your hand (if you were carrying your drink around at a party, for instance)
The alu cup will warm up quicker because aluminium conducts heat much better than plastic. It feels cold because it "sucks" the heat away from your hand.
@@mrHello420__ and if you don't have your hand wrapped around it, it will stay colder longer if used outside in a very cold temperature(colder than the cup contents). Not that anyone would use these in that situation, just saying. 😂
The aluminum can will heat up faster because aluminum does that if you've ever seen the inside of a computer you'll know why there's aluminium in there.
My guess would be that it's more of a safety thing. They don't want to be responsible for people burning their hands; metal cups are impossible to hold with a hot beverage.
you may be correct since the reason for them not being dishwasher safe could be due to heat as well, especially since lye is increasingly uncommon in dishwasher detergent.
@Fugp Basis my assumption is both. Single walled metal is going to burn pretty quickly, assnd the plastic liner is probably also not meant to stand up to heat either.
I must say, I really loved the outtakes section at the end of the video. If this is an exploration of a new direction, I’d say go for it. I was not only laughing out loud, but it definitely made you seem more human.
All right. I have few uses for either cup as glass glasses and ceramic cups work well. I seldom use aluminum though because it will leach if acidic beverages are placed in it (lemonade) although beverage cans have a supposedly "safe" inner coating to prevent leaching (how true that is is debatable). Where the aluminum glasses would be stellar would be for parties and outdoor events. Recyclable and sturdy. Great Review as usual! Thanks.
I keep them by my water dispenser. I love them since I tend to be a real klutz and have broken more glassware than one should. I haven't had to buy more glasses since I got these. I use glass for a sit down meal, but outside of that I use these. I still have the set of 10 I bought in the beginning of the year.
That canned lemonade or soda you buy all have a protective plastic liner coated(even if you can't see it) so you aren't drinking metals along with your beverage of choice. Canned alcohol is the same here. This product you see here is made the same way as those soda cans you see in the store.
@Fugp Basis As long as the beverage isn't in the can for years, that's correct. Then again, people that drink soda that's decades past it's expiration date are asking for bad things to happen.
i wouldnt recommend using aluminium with hot or acidic drinks. the reason the cups dont last forever is, that they slightly dissolve into the liquids over time once the added plastic barrier is broken. contact with abrasive or hot stuff destroys that thin layer pretty fast.
i am not sure these have a plastic coating inside. Lots of cooking utensils use blank aluminum, camping gear, commercial cooking pots and baking trays develop a passive layer over time and usually turn ugly especially in the dishwasher, but they do not dissolve unless you pour excessive amounts of hot vinegar into them. The bigger question is how much enery is wasted during production and recycling of those cups and how that is generated. And like any beer can they probably get razorsharp edges when crushed.
@Fugp Basis yep. wax coated paper is probably healthier for that reason. Or hemp/plant based plastic. Bring your own beer, bring your own cup would be better for the environment
I just use glass cups though, and ceramic mugs for hot beverages. These do have their place I guess, for like large group events when you need more cups than you otherwise have?
they are meant to be a superior disposable replacement for disposable paper and plastic cups. Otherwise non-disposable aluminum drinkware has been around for decades. I have a couple tumblers that were made in the 60's.
@Fugp Basis uh we don't drink from the cups on the table because all the dirt and debris that gets on the balls. I usually rewash the plastic cups a few times until I swap them out for a new color. I also have a set of normal cups that look like solo cups, but they play different on the table. And I like that if I have a killer hangover or have had it up to here with dishes, I can just toss these in our recycle bin (instead of the trash) and go back to bed. They just look fun and you can also crush them at your opponent for a distraction!
Here in India we use Paper cups. A lot of those paper cups come from older recycled paper (turned into a mash, dried and then repurposed into cups and straws) and those are good for 1 time use. Paper is much easier to recycle and is completely biodegradable. If you have that option, it is one of the best option when you don't want to carry around these kind of metal cups in your bag or purse.
The first thing I did was look up the energy. 5.8 MegaJoules to make a disposable plastic cup and 47MJ to make a kilogram of aluminum. But this is probably around 20 grams, which is only about 0.9MJ Presumably neither number includes the energy to mine bauxite or oil in the case of the plastic cup, but that is a significant savings of energy. One thing I would like to know is if the aluminum cup is lined with varnish the way an aluminum can is. That could be the reason he doesn't taste the aluminum can and why it is not dishwasher safe or for hot beverages.
Enjoyed your outakes at the end! Makes one realize making videos aren't as easy as it appears. Thanks for adding the fun to your already fantastic reviews. I am one that likes the longer in depth reviews vs a quick overview reviews especially on the cooking products you have from time to time. Thank you for what you do!!
Dude! So happy to see you be a part of this! You are one of the most genuine creators on youtube. Rock On! P.S. love your Little Rascals hat. (Bill Burr Joe Rogan Little Rascals)
James… the aluminum cup feels colder than the plastic but it isn’t. They are the same temperature. The difference is aluminum is a better conductor and “sucks” the heat from your body better than the plastic.
@@Masterpeace0_0 I agree. And over time holding the drink, the aluminum will transmit more of your body heat to the liquid than the plastic will. So, the plastic should keep the drink cooler in a real world situation where you are holding the cup.
I just watched Mr Ballen who is doing the teamseas movement also. I was so happy to see you're on board with it also. I think this is a great organization and much much needed. I dont use plastic and don't buy it either. I make my own products cleaning and otherwise and use glass. It's funny 30years ago all over TV and radio use plastic bottles one time use and done throw it away and start again. It didn't take long before all that plastic is now covering our planet and oceans. And more and more companies are trying to go back to glass . Support teamseas and help clean up our oceans 💙 and help our animals live better.
Thank you for bringing attention to the team seas movement. I just donated to it. I figured if you sponsor the movement it must be something worth contributing to. Thank you again! I hope to see more reviews geared towards environmental friendliness.
I've been to Lake Mead Marina 2 years ago pre pandemic. It had some good scenery and the food was ok. I will probably go to Vegas for my cousin's graduation this December.
I love these cups. Have used a set of 5 or 6 in my house for months. They also work just fine in the dishwasher. The plastic version sucks, and last one time, at best. Sure they cost more, but you get what you pay for.
The recyclability may be an issue in areas that don't recycle anymore. Some cities have stopped their programs since it's not cost effective any longer. But if you get many more uses out of these cups, it still helps the environment. Maybe 1 aluminum cup to every 5, 6 or more plastic cups. Still helps.
Or they could make a " tripple strength cup" increase thickenes and strength a cup like this could last forever but they'd loose all there bussines. It's a catch 22 for them
You're not supposed to throw these out when you're done with them. You're supposed to recycle them. As long as you're recycling the same number as you're buying, there's not much impact. Plus, you still need something for parties or situations where glass isn't ok.
You know what's infinitely recyclable and infinitely reusable? Glass. Households, bars and restaurants are not the ones throwing out millions of plastic cups a day, it's garbage fast food chains, and they're not going to switch over to aluminum cups if the money they lose on them is less than what they gain in corporate image.
I’d like to point out that if you squeeze the red cup, it could crack and then you’ve got potential leaks. The Ball cup is pretty unlikely to crack. If I were having a party, I’d definitely consider these. Then I’d leave a small dishwashing tub for people put the cups in. Then I’d be able to quickly wash them up.
The question is, how is that better than just using cheap reusable plastic cups that can be put in the dishwasher? These cups are a neat idea, but the whole value of disposable cups for parties is that you don't have to wash them. If you're gonna wash your cups anyway, you might as well use something with a bit more longevity.
@@danielleanderson6371 I have had the same set of 10 I bought the beginning of the year. Advantage over reusable plastic cups is the price. I paid about 4.00 for a set of 10. They take up less room. They are thin and stack quite compactly. So to store 30+ of these to use for large gatherings would take up less space. Plus, they never have that weird plastic smell. I bought mine on a whim and ended up living them. Another plus is you can't accidently melt them.
For general home use, I've been using the same thick plastic cups for a decade. I guess the aluminium cups might make sense for parties. Maybe they're slightly better for the environment than disposable plastic cups. But I guess there's still an environmental cost in the recycling process. I also use ceramic mugs and glasses, but sometimes they get broken if they fall. My stainless steel double walled water bottle gets used every day and keeps my drinks hot or cold for longer than I could ever need. I've been using that every day for many years.
Yes, recyclable is good and all, but can't beat durability. Using a few good durable cups for more than a decade vs hundreds or thousands of recyclable cups... One is more sustainable than the other.
@@girlsdrinkfeck I'm American and I 100% agree, but if I say aluminium in the US I will get crazy looks. Learning international values is useful. I've even learned Celsius and kilometres because I plan to move in with my Canadian wife next year. Still need to learn litres and kilograms.
it's more than "slightly" better than plastic. You're fooled by petrol-propaganda if you think plastic actually gets recycled whereas you can sell aluminum back as scrap that absolutely will be completely recycled.
Recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy than producing aluminum from raw materials. It also saves 97% of greenhouse gas emissions produced in the primary production process. ... It is 100 percent recyclable, forever, so carbon savings increase every time it passes through the recycling loop.
My family has used plastic party cups since I can remember. We reuse them for probably like 4-6 months, whenever they start getting too wore out. I guess the aluminum ones would only be good if you actually recycled them. My family and most people I know don't recycle I don't even know where the nearest recycling plant is (I live in the middle of no where in ohio).
I remembered your review of this. I just bought 2 boxes of these cups for 20¢ on the clearance rack at Kroger yesterday. No of course I didn't really need them. But for 20¢ a box I figured why not. They seem to be pretty sturdy compared to the plastic cups.
The reason you don't want hot beverages in it isn't because the cup gets hot...I mean obviously yes, the cup may become too hot to handle if the liquid is hot enough...but it's because it will leach aluminum and that's generally not considered a good thing to ingest.
As someone who grew up in the 70’s in Arizona, I can say from experience that aluminum cups are a bad Idea. They let cold drinks heat up sooner. There is a reason why radiator cores are made of aluminum. They instantly get as hot as whatever drink is inside of them. Plus they feel terrible against your teeth. Moms liked them because they were unbreakable but us as kids hated them.
HEY! I had no idea these even existed.. thanks for the info! I've got a pkg of solo cups that I use for holiday family get togethers.. I will totally switch over to these once my Solo cups are gone.. I like the way these look, and they hold much more.. that's really nice!
These cups would be great for camping or at the beach. I like that that they can be recycled. I've seen them in stores near me... I will give it a try. Thanks for posting
I understand that the process of making aluminum uses a lot of energy ( this carbon impact). Is there any study of the environmental impact between in making a plastic vs throw away aluminum cup?
Just like with amything recylcleable, people are just going to throw it away. Especially depending on the plastic, it will be more harmful then other plastics. Aluminum cups propably aren't to great either when thrown away. I know recyling can be good, but I never liked plastic, and it's gross to think about something made out of 50%+ recycled plastic. I have been using ceramic cups at home for many years, and they only get thrown away when they break.
Thats a really cool product so simple yet can be an effective change in the plastic problem in the world plus for a few cents more but last 10 times longer its worth it in the long run
You kind of forgot the most important thing with an aluminium cup. Well, aluminum cup can react with acidic liquids. It would have been interesting if you would have tested with acidic juices like orange juice or even coke. Soda cans have a plastic lining on the inside prevent acid from corroding the aluminum.
@@alexdavis9324 hey you know the saying don't trust your drink if you ever set it down at a party, I wouldn't want to re use something that may have been drugged
There's a not secret secret in my small city. Behind city hall there's a bunch of dumpsters for recycling. They have to keep adding more dumpsters because they are always full.
Yay,every one of my favorite RU-vidrs is participating! Thanks for being freaking awesome! Already donated happily and I'm glad to see how many people are helping, warms my cold little heart 💕
$30 MIllion dollars to remove 30 MIllions Pounds of trash from the ocean. The math does not add up. How about a dollar for dollar layout of where the money is going. With specific granular details. That job will run less than $15 million. The "slush" in a conn like that is quite impressive.
In the 70s or 80s, one of my dad's friends made a prototype of a resealable aluminum bottle, with a flip top, basically its a metal bottle that is as thin as a soda can. My parents have the prototype, for some reason. I will see if they can find it, the next time I see them.
The only way I would buy these is for my camper. Looks like they would nest well and if one slips through the cracks (gets taken by a guest) I wouldn't cry over it, kind of like the Rubbermaid Take-alongs.
I love the fact we are trying to clean the ocean, but this won’t change things because the reality is after the cleaning is done the trash will continue to be put in the ocean. I hate to say it but it will continue, I’d spend weeks cleaning the ocean when the goal is reached.
I grew up in the ‘70’s when everyone had aluminum cups. We were told they were hazardous to our health and to discontinue using them. I don’t think I’d ever buy these. And I have found that you can run Solo cups through the dishwasher.
You guys doing the team seas movement should have got Liquid Death on board, they have the potential to really put a dent in the plastic usage problem. That and the water is surprisingly decent.
Yeah... no. These are for outdoor parties. No way I'm trucking all my drinking glasses to the park for a 5 year old birthday party and spend the rest of the day cleaning up glass shards.
I guess some people have never drank hot liquid out of a metal cup before, the great steal canteen cup made boiling water handy but putting that hot metal cup to your lips to sip some coffee not so fun. For sure use them for parties, and drop the cups off in the recycle bin at your nears store or recycling center.
I didn’t even know these were a thing. I’m going to have to pickup some and check them out. I don’t typically use disposable plastic cups if I can avoid it, but I’d like to at least give them a shot.
The biggest difference is if the aluminum cup gets thrown out a car window (because jerks will do that) or out of a truck bed, in a few weeks or so it will break down and just go back to the ground. That plastic cup will still be around when the dinosaurs return.
What I'm wondering might be feasible as a way around the potential lack of recycling in some areas is if maybe Supermarkets can set up to take them similarly like they do with bottles and cans. Like even if you don't get a deposit back, at least if there is a convenient place to take them to, they might be more likely to be recycled properly.
FYI aluminum cup felt colder because it has a greater heat transfer coefficient -> higher heat transfer -> FEELS colder because it transfers heat from your hand to the cup faster. Also aluminum WILL melt ice faster than plastic due to this. You can test by putting a plain ice cube on aluminum and one on plastic and watch the ice cube melt
Actually I use Silver Buffalo tumblers. Have only been able to find one big one in the stores but I see the small ones all the time. Good for hot and cold for hours.
Aluminum conducts heat better than plastic so its not going to keep your drinks colder for longer or hot drinks hotter for longer. it feels cold but its just cause its "radiating heat" outwards from the liquid. Thats also one of the reasons there's a bottle neck on glass bottles, grab the part that doesn't have liquid so your hand doesn't warm it up while you hold it
During the Summer I put a frozen water bottle in my Aluminum Cup and left it in my car. When I came back 2 hours later my water hadn't melted much; oppose to when I just use a plain water bottle. Its good for when you have errands to run.
Speaking from a students pov: red solo cups are very much infinitely recyclable unless someone breaks them. Use wash ruse. Over and over. Not just for privat use but also party reusable (beerpong). 🤣🤭
I wonder if it would cool drinks with little to no ice if you keep empty cups in the fridge/freezer. Also can they double as emergency pots while out and about for boiling water and cooking.
It would work about as well as stone "ice cubes" (unsure what the exact name is, I am not an alcohol drinker), which is not well. The real cooling power of ice comes from the ice melting into the drink, cold objects don't last as long and aren't as effective
Plastic is a better insulator, so the metal cup will conduct heat faster, thus warming the cold beverage faster. However, as your testing shows, the effect is relatively minor. I would personally use a cozy with these cups (I use them on cans, too), however, and I suspect that ice-cold beverages will actually be uncomfortable to hold in these cups for long periods. This effect could be nice on a very hot day, though, but your hands will warm the drink faster (or use more ice). @3:50. I strongly suspect that the ice disappeared from the metal cup first and this is more important than the temperature until the ice is melted, so your test needed to last slightly longer ;). The temperature of the water *cannot* substantially change until the ice is gone. The same is true in reverse, such that putting the drink in the freezer will keep the water right at 32F until *all* of the water has turned to ice. Only then can the temperature drop below freezing. Latent heat is either being released or absorbed right at the point of phase change, preventing a change in temperature. That's why ice is such a marvelous thing to have ;). So, a better test would be to put identically cold water in each cup *without* ice. If you test 2 rooms to see which stays warmer, you can't just check the temperatures while burning a fire in each room; you have to either see how much wood is used or stop heating the room and see which cools down faster. In your test, the ice is the opposite of fire as it is absorbing heat and preventing temperature rise until it is used up. I hope that this makes some sense ;).
I miss grass in vegas. One time i was was working for stanley steemer and we were scheduled to clean pat mulroys house the former head of the water district. She had a huge lush lawn. This was at a time when water schedules were new. Its actually the rich who abuse water the most in vegas. Including well off politicians. Rules for thee but not for me!
i wonder if you are not supposed to reuse them a lot because like soda cans they have a protective lining on the inside to keep the aluminum safe from the drink its holding. so a lot of washing could remove the lining(if there is one) from the aluminum cup.
