Autumn has kicked in, the weather is cooling and the idea of riding my bike to the park and having hot coffee there is very appealing.
I was at the office works eyeing this little unit for $32.
http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/thermos-stainless-king-vacuum-insulated-flask-470ml-red-thsk2000rand trying to determine how much of the cost of the thing was due to its attractive exterior, well respected brand and the retailer's margin.
I didn't sense value. So instead, i went to Ikea and got this little number for $5.59.
http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/10292164/The reviews that I could find are good, and really its role is to manage to keep coffee hot for an hour or so til I get to a park. So the ability to keep something hot for 12 hours is probably overkill. The construction seems just as decent as the Thermos. It's not as pretty, but perhaps to overcompensate the light pink and bright red combo almost look inappropriately anatomical!
Actually, I like the look. Its got a slight German Democratic Republic 60's vibe...
I've used it once and it kept the coffee hot in a cold park. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the other flasks, but i don't actually need them.
Lastly, IKEA have a very generous returns policy so if it leaks or doesn't keep things hot consistently, I can return it with little fuss.
I do value brands as they are often a mark of design quality, good build, reliability etc etc. And I'm typically ready to pay a premium for it. But its liberating to look beyond the brand sometimes and spend less on something that seems just as well built and most importantly, fit for the purpose for which it is intended.
I'm definitely overthinking a vacuum flask purchase but it sets the framework in which to think about larger purchases.
