Projects: Hip Flask

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We originally launched the 100ml Hip, our redesign of the traditional hip flask, on Kickstarter here. The flask is now available to buy with customisable inscriptions here. If you already backed us please leave your reviews there or read on to see where the inspiration for the 100ml Hip came from.

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The Wingback Hip Flask Project

The hip flask is iconic. A gentleman’s most trusted travel companion. A possession to be prized, worth its weight in gold (or bourbon). The classic design – flat rectangular shape, small spout – serves a purpose but we believe it can be better. More useful, beautiful and of course minimal.

Fit For Function

Using state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and adhering to our core design values we decided to create our very own Wingback Hip Flask. The first issue we needed to address was how to get your drink into the flask without losing half of it overboard.

Spillage

Hip flasks have such a small mouth that even the most steady handed drinker can wind up dousing themselves in highly flammable spirits when filling them up. A common fix is to use a funnel, but that’s neither practical nor pocket friendly when you’re on the move.

Cleaning

The next problem is cleaning. Short of sawing it in half, then soldering it back together, your old hip flask probably hasn’t had a good clean since it was built. You’ve been drinking dregs since your first sip, old boy.

Materials

In the good old days hip flasks were made from silver or pewter, a mix of predominantly tin plus copper, antimony, bismuth and sometimes lead (be careful if you're still swigging from your grandfather’s hand-me-down). Ignoring the inherent values of the metals, their relative softness means they can be easily bent out of shape.

Manufacturing

Standard flasks are about as seaworthy as a leaky boat. They’re typically made from sheets of metal that are then formed and soldered together. This can leave weak points that can easily split over time, meaning end up wringing out your jacket to get a taste.

ONE FOR THE ROAD

Addressing these functionality issues shaped the design of the Wingback Hip Flask. We eliminated the seams by using an unbroken cylindrical design, CNC machined for ultimate precision, and chose 316 stainless steel with an elastic modulus of 200 GPa. In other words: it's virtually indestructible.

A large lid and screw removable base makes filling and pouring mess-free and every nook and cranny can be comprehensively cleaned. The food-safe seals and stainless steel material have a high resistance to acids, alkalis and chlorides and all parts are dishwasher friendly.

At a capacity of 100ml and weighing in at 180g, our flask is large enough to share a sip between friends but small enough to carry on your whole journey. And as a little bonus, we added a discreet lip detail on the base of the flask that serves as a handy bottle cap opener when you need to crack open a beer (boilermaker, anyone?)*.

The finished product is a robust, pleasingly weighty, cylindrical hip flask that would serve you exceptionally well on any journey.

Wingback Hip Flask in back pocket

Wingback Hip Flask back pocket London view

*Our favourite recipe for this whisky-beer combo: straight Rittenhouse Rye whisky, with a chaser of Innis & Gunn barrel aged beer. Cheers!

Like what you see? You can shop the 100ml Hip here and if you already backed our Kickstarter campaign for the flask, we'd love to hear what you think. Just click here and leave your review at the bottom of the page. Thanks!