Have you been waiting your whole life for a flask with a built-in bluetooth speaker? No, neither have we. But now someone’s invented one, it’s all we want for Christmas…

(Image credit: VSSL)

published 7 October 2022

Boutique outdoor brand, VSSL, who are based in the wilds of British Columbia in Canada and specialise in cunning camping devices including multifunctional flasks, have just outdone themselves, with the launch of a flask that features a bluetooth speaker built into its base.

We get to test out lots of the best thermos flasks and hiking water bottles, but we’ve never before come across a vessel that doubles up as a sound system. With the VSSL Insulated Flask you can pour yourself a hot brew or a cold beverage and kick back with a few tunes, right in the midst of an alfresco adventure.

The 8oz (235ml) VSSL Insulated Flask has a double-walled, stainless-steel vacuum chamber, designed for temperature regulation, but the truly innovative feature is the interchangeable endcap, where - on this new model - you will find an ultra-durable, weatherproof speaker.

To ensure top quality audio, VSSL collaborated with Speaqua Sound Co., a lifestyle audio brand based on the Californian coast, to come up with a speaker endcap that threads directly into the flask’s base. The sound system has a five-hour battery life, and it’s possible to pair two units to one device in order to create a stereophonic audio experience.

The Insulated Flask also offers modular compatibility with VSSL’s other endcaps, so you can swap the speaker for a compass, a carabiner or flashlight attachment.

“We wanted to offer a better drink experience for your outdoor adventures,” said Todd Weimer, founder of VSSL. “There’s something so universally special about the experience of a cold beverage with some friends in a beautiful place at the end of a big day –especially if your favorite songs are playing in the background. The Insulated Flask is here to make these experiences more accessible – and more fun –than ever.

“The Insulated Flask is designed to celebrate the moments in-between –when you put down your fly rod or paddle and take a break with those alongside you… It’s a tool for connection –an excuse to pause, laugh and toast to the adventures of the day, with the people you shared it with.”

With an MSRP of CAD $175, the Insulated Flask will launch nationwide in March 2023, but if you want to get in on the action early, it is available for pre-sale now on Kickstarter (where it's already far exceeded its target). The Kickstarter campaign offers the Insulated Flaskat discounted pricing, including a VIP Special (CAD $115), Early Bird Special ($130), Kickstarter Special ($140).

Author of Caving, Canyoning, Coasteering…, a recently released book about all kinds of outdoor adventures around Britain, Pat Kinsella has been writing about outdoor pursuits and adventure sports for two decades. In pursuit of stories he’s canoed Canada’s Yukon River, climbed Mont Blanc and Kilimanjaro, skied and mountain biked across the Norwegian Alps, run ultras across the roof of Mauritius and through the hills of the Himalayas, and set short-lived speed records for trail-running Australia’s highest peaks and New Zealand’s nine Great Walks. A former editor of several Australian magazines he’s a longtime contributor to publications including Sidetracked, Outdoor, National Geographic Traveller, Trail Running, The Great Outdoors, Outdoor Fitness and Adventure Travel, and a regular writer for Lonely Planet (for whom he compiled, edited and co-wrote the Atlas of Adventure, a guide to outdoor pursuits around the globe). He’s authored guides to exploring the coastline and countryside of Devon and Dorset, and recently wrote a book about pub walks. Follow Pat's adventures on Strava and instagram.