If you are a business owner in Calgary, you know that a lukewarm coffee is a tragedy, especially when you are scraping frost off your windshield in the middle of January. Yet, most companies still hand out cheap, thin-walled plastic mugs that lose heat before you even hit the Deerfoot. It is a massive waste of capital. When you give a client a tumbler that leaks in their bag or lets their latte go cold by the time they reach their office in the Beltline, you aren't building brand loyalty. You are telling them that you don't care about quality. In a city that values high-performance and reliability, your drinkware needs to be a tank. It needs to keep coffee piping hot during a frigid commute and ice-cold during a sunny afternoon at a Stampeders game. If it doesn't do its job, it goes to the back of the cupboard and your logo is never seen again.
At GiftAFeeling, we focus on the "Keep Factor." We want your brand to be on the one mug your customer reaches for every single morning because it actually works. To make sure your brand looks as premium as the hardware feels, we’ve mastered over 106 unique imprinting techniques. We don't just do basic screen printing that flakes off after three washes. We offer high-end laser engraving that cuts through the powder coating for a permanent, crisp finish that survives the dishwasher. We can even do full-wrap digital printing for those high-impact designs that need to stand out at a Calgary trade show. Whether you need rugged stainless steel for a field crew in the energy sector or sleek, copper-lined vacuum insulation for an executive gift, we provide the gear that people actually use. Stop buying trash and start buying real estate on your client's desk.
What are the top-rated custom tumbler brands available in Calgary?
Calgary businesses tend to stick with brands that perform well in cold weather, hold up to daily use, and carry strong name recognition. These are the tumblers most commonly trusted for corporate gifts, employee merch, and client giveaways.
|
Brand |
Why Calgary Businesses Choose It |
Best For |
|
YETI |
Premium quality, legendary insulation, virtually indestructible. Survives job site abuse and lasts for years. |
Oil & gas companies, executives, high-value clients |
|
Hydro Flask |
Excellent insulation, wide color range, lifestyle brand appeal. Modern look with trendy colors. |
Tech companies, startups, younger employees, creative teams |
|
Stanley |
Classic brand with excellent temperature retention and lifetime warranty. The Stanley Quencher became a cultural phenomenon. Strong brand recognition. |
Retail-style giveaways, consumer appeal, lifestyle brands |
|
Contigo |
Mid-range quality with great leak-proof lids. Good balance of quality and budget. |
Most Calgary companies needing decent quality for 100+ employees |
|
Thermos |
Trusted name, solid performance, affordable. Works for high-volume orders where budget matters but you still want name recognition. |
Schools, large events, non-profits |
Can I get bulk custom travel mugs for corporate gifts in Calgary?
Yes. We handle bulk orders from 25 units to 1,000+ for Calgary businesses.
Bulk pricing reality check:
Buying 100 YETI tumblers at $40 each is $4,000. Buying 100 generic tumblers at $12 each is $1,200. That $2,800 difference matters for budget.
But here's what actually happens. People use the YETI daily for 3+ years. Your logo gets seen thousands of times. The generic tumbler stops working in 2 months and gets tossed. Your $1,200 went to landfills, not brand impressions.
Better approach: buy 70 quality tumblers instead of 100 cheap ones. Stay in budget, give fewer people something they'll actually use.
What are the popular printing techniques for custom tumblers in Calgary?
The printing method you choose affects both how your logo looks and how long it lasts. At GiftAFeeling, we offer 106+ decoration methods for custom tumblers in Calgary, but these are the most commonly used options.
Laser engraving (most durable)
Your logo is etched directly into the tumbler surface. Permanent, won't peel or fade, survives dishwashers and years of use.
- Best for: Stainless steel tumblers, premium brands like YETI or Hydro Flask, any tumbler that'll get heavy daily use.
- Look: Subtle, sophisticated, often shows as silver/metallic on colored tumblers or frosted on stainless.
- Limits: Single color (the etched metal), works best for simple logos or text, can't do photos or gradients.
Powder coating + full-color printing (most vibrant)
Tumbler is powder-coated in a custom color, then your design is printed in full color on top. Allows photos, gradients, complex graphics.
- Best for: When you want eye-catching designs, brand colors that match exactly, or photo-realistic images.
- Look: Vibrant, smooth, modern, matte or glossy finish options.
- Limits: Can chip with heavy impact or rough handling, not quite as permanent as laser engraving, costs more.
Screen printing (affordable, decent durability)
Ink is pressed onto the tumbler surface through a screen. Works for simple logos with 1-3 colors.
- Best for: Budget-conscious bulk orders, simple logo designs, event giveaways.
- Look: Flat, clean, solid colors.
- Limits: Can wear off with repeated washing or heavy use, doesn't work well on textured surfaces, limited color options per design.
Vinyl decals (removable, customizable)
Pre-cut vinyl stickers applied to tumbler surface. Can be removed or replaced.
- Best for: Personalization (individual names), temporary branding, DIY-style projects.
- Look: Clean lines, multiple color options, modern aesthetic.
Sublimation printing (full wrap designs)
Design is heat-transferred into special coating on the tumbler. Allows full-wrap designs covering entire surface.
- Best for: All-over patterns, photo tumblers, complex colorful designs.
- Look: Seamless, photo-quality, vibrant colors.
- Limits: Only works on polymer-coated tumblers (not raw stainless steel), coating can scratch over time.
What styles of travel mugs can I customize in Calgary?
Calgary businesses customize travel mugs that people actually use year-round, especially for commuting, job sites, and outdoor events. These are the most popular styles available.
1. Insulated Tumblers (Most Common)
- Standard tapered tumblers (20oz-30oz): Fits car cup holders, double-wall vacuum insulation, comes with lid and straw. Most popular style for everyday office use and commuters.
- Wide-mouth tumblers (16oz-32oz): Larger opening, easier to clean, fits ice cubes. Popular with gyms, wellness companies, and smoothie drinkers.
- Skinny/slim tumblers (12oz-20oz): Narrow design, fits smaller cup holders, sleek look. The Stanley Quencher slim version became very trendy recently.
2. Coffee Mugs
- Handled travel mugs (12oz-16oz): Traditional mug shape with handle, insulated, slide or flip lid. Popular with downtown office workers for morning commutes.
- Handleless insulated mugs (12oz-16oz): No handle, grip-friendly shape, modern design. Popular with tech companies and design agencies.
Specialty Styles
- Wine tumblers (12oz): Stemless wine glass shape, keeps wine chilled. Popular for client gifts in real estate and wealth management.
- Beer/pint tumblers (16oz-20oz): Pint glass shape, keeps beer cold. Great for brewery partnerships and Stampede season.
- Large capacity bottles (32oz-64oz): Handle for carrying, for all-day hydration. Essential for oil and gas field workers and construction crews on long shifts.
- Commuter mugs (16oz-20oz): Designed for one-handed use, leak-proof, fits cup holders perfectly. Built for daily commuters who drink while driving.
Lid Styles (Important but Often Overlooked)
- Straw lids: Easy sipping, popular for cold drinks
- Flip lids: One-handed use, good for hot drinks
- Screw-on lids: Most secure, best leak-proof
- Slide lids: Simple opening, classic travel mug style
We’ll help you match the mug style, lid type, and decoration method to how it will actually be used, so it becomes part of someone’s daily routine instead of sitting unused.


