Terribly serious and important question about alcohol and drinking and so on.

[Brickbat]

I'm thinking of buying a hip flask for my partner. I don't carry a flask m'self, so I'm looking for some pointers. Do you carry one? How big (I'm thinking six ounces)? Any classics? Pewter? Silver? Steel? It can't be made in China or otherwise produced in sweatshop conditions, but other than that, I'm kind of clueless. Suggestions?

[Petrushka]

1. Paper?

[Roon]

16. What's the story on that?

If you have your booze in a paper sack the cops can't hassle you because they can't see it's booze? I could never figure that out.

[flvegan]

2. Buy a gift set.

That way your partner will get the whole deal (the funnel is a must have). I don't use one myself, but a lawyer (yeah, go figure) buddy of mine insists that stainless steel is the way to go though I'd have thought pewter would be nicer.

No idea why, just the 2 cents I have to offer.

[Brickbat]

4. The one I was leaning toward has the gift set option, and I will certainly add that.

It has a funnel, as well as two nip cups. (Hee, I said "nip cups.") It's pewter, though. Hmmmm....

Thanks for the info.

[Mugu]

3. I have several, I don't know why, but my friends keep giving them to me.

As stated above the funnel is a must have.

I haven't used any of mine very much, but my favorite is the plastic one. You can see how full it is as you fill it and don't have to just keep filling until it overflows, plastic doesn't dent when you sit on it, it holds a pint, and fits in a hip pocket nicely. All the stainless units I have are 1/2 pint and fit nicely in a breast pocket, but don't bend over from the waist or it will slide out of your pocket and land on the floor.

[Brickbat]

5. A pint? What do you carry in it?

:beer:

I'm also kind of hung up on weather to get the curved flask or the square-edged flask. Hell, I should probably just let him pick it out himself...

[Mugu]

8. It's a snug fit in the hip pocket of my jeans

and the top is exposed. Where it really shines is in the winter. It carries nicely in the breast pocket of a heavy coat or even better, in my ladyfriend's purse. This one also has an inner cap to seal the container and an outer cap that serves as a shot glass.

The plastic one wouldn't make a good present because of being very inexpensive (to the point of being disposable.) But, for general use it makes the best sense. If it was me, I would pick out two. A nice curved (for me curved fits in the pocket best and the corners don't show) stainless or silver 1/2 pint one for special occasions and a plastic one for knock around.

[Brickbat]

11. This is very helpful. Thank you.

[SteppingRazor]

12. I'm in the same boat as you. People keep giving them to me. My favorite...

is stainless steel with a black leather covering, embossed with my monogram.

I've also got a kinda artsy stainless steel one studded with semi-precious stones, but I've never used it.

On edit: The first flask I mentioned looks a bit like this:
http://www.chicboutiquegifts.com/item_46/Black-Leather-Flask.htm

As others have stated, the funnel is a must-have.

[Brickbat]

22. Nice. I like the ones with the leather on 'em.

Might have to get myself one as long as I'm shopping...

[appal_jack]

15. Plastic = Bad Idea

Alcohol = The closest thing we have to a universal solvent

Plastic = Petrochemical stuff full of Pthalates and other endocrine disruptors

Alcohol + Plastic = :-(

I know that one can buy cheap-vodka in plastic bottles, but that does not make it a good idea.

Pewter can have lead and/or bismuth in it, which are also not good to ingest.

Stainless steel is the way to go.

-app

[Brickbat]

19. Thanks for the info.

The one I'm looking to buy says it has lead-free pewter, but nothing about bismuth...but now I'm leading more toward stainless.

[flying_wahini]

6. plastic !

undetectable by those metal wand thingys...

of course will need a plastic cap.

I use a Sprite bottle. ahem

[Brickbat]

7. Classy!

;)

[Mugu]

9. There's classy,

and then there's effective. Different situations call for different solutions.

[Brickbat]

10. True, true.

Point taken.

[MajorChode]

13. I have an 8 oz SS one

I think 6oz would be a bit small, but I suppose it just depends on how you're using it. I use mine for out of town trips so 8oz will get me by for 3-4 days. A 6oz one might be better if you're carrying it around in a jacket pocket or such.

SS flasks seem to be cheaper than pewter. I'm not sure if there's any advantage of one vs another since I've never owned a pewter one. The SS one I have has lasted for many years and it still looks pretty much brand new for other than a few small scratches.

You definitely want one with a captive cap. I had one many years ago that didn't and I lost the cap. You definitely need a funnel of some sort, but you can pick one of those up at most kitchen supply stores. I suppose the gift set is nice if you're giving it as a gift, and if the price is not that much different it would be a good way to go.

[Brickbat]

18. Thanks for the tips...I'm definitely getting one with the captive cap.

The pewter ones might scratch more readily, but I'm not sure. The way I'm wavering between size and design, maybe I should just let him pick it out. I know what *I* would like, but...

[TrogL]

14. You do realize you can't take it most places, right?

It qualifies as "open liquor" and will get you arrested.

[Brickbat]

20. I'm comfortable with where we'll be taking it. Thanks for the warning!

:beer:

[Roon]

17. My Mother used to bring a flask to bingo

It was a silvery metal with a leather sleeve around it. I would pick that!

[Brickbat]

21. Classic!

I liked the ones with the leather sleeve and might pick one of those up m'self. Add a little bingo, and I'm good to go. :)

[Roon]

23. Sounds good

LOL!!! I never saw her draw from it, but she always had it.Probably hit on it in the ladies room.

[appamado amata padam]

24. Just saw a flask

at the Eddie Bauer store. It was pretty cool and outdoorsy-looking, not TOO big.

Sometimes you will see small ones attached to bottles of booze as a "freebie."

I think they're pretty cool; old-fashioned, and counter to the Giuliani-style zero-tolerance mindset...

On edit: though, I think all of the above are probably "Made in China," sorry.

Seems like you are going high-end. Nice!

[Brickbat]

27. Yeah, I'm spending a bit of paper on this one.

It's been something he's wanted for some time, and I'm finally going to do it right. :)

[appamado amata padam]

30. Good -

I think that's a nice present.

[Moondog]

25. I have a few.

All were gifts. Sterling silver, pewter, stainless steel, glass inside of chrome plated brass. I also have one in cheapo translucent plastic that I bought for myself.

I don't use any of them. But if I did, the plastic is the one that is the most useful.

The sexiest looking one, by far, is the one in sterling. Very finely tooled, it really is a work of art. It must have cost a small fortune. I used it once to make the lady who gave it to me happy. I never used it again because I was afraid I'd damage it in some fashion. The most practical one of the lot, other than the cheapo plastic one, is the one in stainless steel. I have no idea what it cost, but it strikes me as a nice balance between form and function. I'd pass on the pewter - it looks nice, until you put in next to the one in sterling, or even stainless. And who knows what the hell they used to make the pewter?

Let your SO pick his / her own out. And after the glow fades, buy a cheapo plastic one to actually use.

[Brickbat]

29. Yeah, the sterling is way out of my league, I've found.

I'm looking at steel, now. Thanks for the input.

[appamado amata padam]

26. stainless steel all the way,

and, they can be practical. I had a small round one that fit great in my pocket and was good for a few nips.

But, the bigger ones are good for winter - you can fit 'em in a big coat pocket.

[Brickbat]

28. I'm starting to scope out the stainless ones...they look sharp!

[appamado amata padam]

31. Yes, and I agree with previous poster -

mixing alcohol/plastic not a good idea. And of different metals, SS is easier to clean, etc.

[LibertyLover]

32. Agree with the gift set idea -

a few years ago my husband and I gave a hip flask gift set of tequila to his daughter so that she would have something to fortify her during visits to her mother's house at the holidays. She loved it and uses it regularly.