After a brief conversation with the PR to check I'd be in the following day a flask was despatched in what I have to say was the most inspired piece of PR I've witnessed in years. Expecting the delivery I wasn't surprised by the postman's knock next day but on being passed the box I had that sinking feeling as I heard what sounded like a familiar rattle. Convinced it was yet another broken vacuum flask I insisted on examining the contents before providing a signature for the delivery. Ready for a flask full of broken glass I unscrewed the top to find instead a flask full of ice cubes!

The flask's contents on arrival.

The flask had been posted the previous day and almost 24 hours later they were still almost completely intact. Having confirmed delivery with Spring PR we decided to see just how long the ice would last, checking every couple of hours initially. Eventually, more than 48 hours after posting, the final small ice cube tumbled out of the flask.

31 hours and still some big pieces

The last piece, 48 hours after posting.

After allowing the flask a couple of days to adjust to the ambient air temperature we started the hot drink test and after 2 hours the freshly boiled water had dropped to 84 degrees. Unfortunately that also coincided with the death of our digital thermometer. With a prolonged gap overnight ahead we let the timer click over to nine hours and emptied the contents into mugs for cofeee; by fortune or coincidence the timing was perfect with the water just on the limit of what you'd want to make a drink with.

Hydro Flask is the market leader in insulated flasks in the USA but until now has been absent from Europe. Available in 9 colours and a choice of 18,21,24 (standard mouth),32 and 40oz capacity (wide mouth) the manufacturers claim the Hydro Flask will keep drinks hot for 6 hours and cold for 24 hours. The flask uses the highest quality 18/8 stainless steel, with an easy grip powder coat finish, and is both BPA free and recyclable.

The Hydro Flask is initially available from Snow & Rock and Tiso, but we can see it becoming a brand you'll soon see a lot more of. Next year the company plan to introduce its Insulated Flex Cap, which it claims will give even longer insulating times. I still feel there's not a lot you can say about a flask. It does what it does, but thanks to a piece of genius PR I've found that Hydro Flask does it better than any other flask I've ever used.